CD: 50 Cent — ‘Before I Self-Destruct’

Rapper keeps it raw and disrespectful on his fourth album

By Marcus Desveaux

Posted on Dec. 07, 2009, at 12:56 a.m.

Lloyd Banks showed up in Orono on Saturday to promote 50 Cent’s new album, according to T.J. Jozefowicz, founder of Flophouse Records. On “Before I Self-Destruct,” 50 Cent’s fourth studio album, and his last one released on “Interscope Records,” he delivers his old “Get Rich Or Die Tryin’” mentality.

50 Cent’s fans waited patiently for this album, because it was supposed to come out in 2008. The release of “Curtis” pushed “B.I.S.D.’s” release date back another year. However, the anticipation was well deserved for 50 Cent’s fans.

In his own words, 50 Cent describes this album as darker than previous releases. With songs sung in collaboration with Eminem, Ne-Yo and Governor, 50 Cent delivers a different and indeed much more aggressive album than before. Tracks titled “Psycho,” “Death To My Enemies” and “So Disrespectful” are featured on “Before I Self Destruct” and are truly, to some people, “So Disrespectful.” 50 Cent takes shots at his feuders like Jay-Z and his old business partner, former G-Unit member The Game.

In “So Disrespectful,” 50 Cent says, “Come on Game you will never be my equal / Your homies shoot doors, my n—-s shoot people.” In the same song, 50 Cent takes a shot at his former partner Young Buck, claiming he’s “Mad ’cause the world won’t treat him like Weezy.” 50 Cent also talks about Buck’s deliberate drug use and prolific spending of money on cocaine.

50 Cent’s wealth is also, as expected, bragged about with lines such as “Yeah, he used to share that paper now he oh so greedy” and “Got my son on some fly s— / now I gotta buy s— / Man I can’t even flaunt s— cause everybody want s—.”

50 Cent’s street credibility is also discussed, mainly in the song titled “Psycho.” 50 Cent talks about how he is still ruthless as ever, with a chorus going: “You see, I’m a psycho, a sicko, I’m crazy / I see, I got my knife boy, I kill you, you make me / They wanna see me shot up, locked up and cage me / I’ll come back bigger, stronger and angry.” Threats are made, along with verses from Eminem, who talks about Christopher Reeves, killing, guns, Dr. Dre and the police.

This album shows raw feeling that 50 Cent has been holding in for almost a year. It takes it to that next level with blatant threats and flaunts. 50 Cent makes the line for people to cross. He is close to climbing back up to the top of the charts with at least three of his songs, proving why he is in the rap game to begin with. Though his material is unoriginal, his rhymes are funny, hard and threatening. He finds a way to weave them all together and make great albums. 50 Cent is hungry and shows it with this recent release.

Grade: B+

This entry was posted on Monday, December 7th, 2009, 12:56 am. You can follow any responses to this article through the RSS feed.