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50 Cent intimidates. Kanye West innovates. In recent years, their respective musical philosophies have blossomed into lucrative endorsements and continued success in their sophomore efforts. Now the two artists have decided to release their third albums simultaneously. West brings his smooth, politically charged flow with “Graduation,” and 50 Cent stays true to form with the grimy, ghetto lyrics that made him one of the biggest musical acts in recent history on his self-titled – sort of – album “Curtis.”
The problem is that innovation, at some point, will trump intimidation. Fifty’s street-inspired rhymes were once genuinely impressive. He rapped often about getting shot nine times, and people were in awe of him. But that was then. Now, we’re not impressed that he took nine shots. We’re not impressed that he sold crack. We’ve heard it all before. The issue is that Mr. Ferrari believes his Hip-Hop 101 rhymes about guns and drugs still hold the allure that they did early in his career. He makes little attempt to deviate from the formula that made him a star.
West on the other hand has eschewed typical “gangsta” rap lyrics for his whole career, instead focusing on introspection, materialism, religion and political activism. He has relied heavily on samples of popular soul and R&B records from generations passed, focusing more on clever, thought-provoking lyrics, avoiding the simple, menacing lyrics of his hip-hop nemesis. The result is an album that will assuredly net him another Grammy nomination.
Finally West’s hip-hop gambit has paid off. Just when Fifty’s arrogance ironically reached Kanye-like levels, he took the shot that will ultimately lead to the death of his rap career. After vowing to never release another record if his album is outsold by West’s, Fifty may need to start looking into some Florida real estate, because retirement appears to be approaching faster than anticipated.
After a week, West has the clear upper hand and doesn’t look to lose it. “Graduation” outshines “Curtis” on just about every level, but West has kept an uncharacteristically low profile about the feud, only showing appreciation for the abundance of good music being released simultaneously.
Fifty, after overloading most of his tracks with played out gun, drug and more gun references, makes the obligatory attempt at showcasing a softer side on tracks like “All of Me” with Mary J. Blige – who steals the song – and “Follow My Lead” with a head scratching appearance by R&B singer Robin Thicke. Both songs fall far short of similar hits like “21 Questions” and “Best Friend.” The only thing he boasts over West is that his retired hip-hop mentor Eminem contributes a humorous verse on the song “Peep Show,” while West’s retired mentor Jay-Z remains conspicuously absent on “Graduation.”
Although an irritant to some, West samples as much as he ever has, but his lyrics remain exceedingly catchy and defiant in the face of his critics. While the album is true to the style people have come to love from West, he broadens his musical horizons with sounds borrowed from diverse genres, particularly the first single “Stronger” which samples French house band Daft Punk. Appearances from Coldplay’s Chris Martin and John Mayer cement West’s ability to blend different styles into catchy hooks and cleverly crafted lyrics, while appearances from rap veterans like Mos Def and Lil’ Wayne provide additional credibility among hip-hop fans.
West looks like he’ll dominate the charts for the next decade if he can stop whining at every awards show, but Fifty has become a victim of his own success. He has long ceased to intimidate or inspire awe and his act has run its course. “Curtis” may sell well, but if he does not make a dramatic change to his style on his next album, then its rumored title, “Before I Self-Destruct,” may be more appropriate than Fifty ever imagined.
Bangor Daily News