In the early 2000s, no rapper had the game in a chokehold the way 50 Cent did. Get Rich or Die Tryin’, his 2003 national debut, was the reason. Most would say the album is a classic. If you disagree, that’s another debate for another day. However, I would like to debate about The Massacre, Fif’s follow up.
After coming off a solid freshman album, the question was posed: could Fifty do it again? I sensed that he was on a mission to prove that he could. “My Hood” and “I’m Supposed to Die Tonight” were in alignment with the South-Jamaican Queens rapper that we were becoming accustomed to.
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Just like his debut, 50 Cent was calling names. And he didn’t hold back. Mobb Deep, Jadakiss, Nas, and Fat Joe, among others, felt the wrath in “Piggy Bank.”
“That fat n**** thought ‘Lean Back’ was ‘In Da Club’,” Fif spits. “My shit sold 11 mil’, his sh*t was a dud. Jada don’t f**k with me, if you wanna eat, cause I’ll do yo’ little a** like Jay did Mobb Deep. Yeah homie, in New York n****s like your vocals, but that’s only New York dog, yo’ a** is local.”
If you were a female on Fif’s sh*t list, you weren’t spared either. “Yayo bring the condoms, I’m in Room 203, freak b***h look like Kim before the surgery.”
50 Cent continues in “Get In My Car”: “Went out with Vivica, I thought I was on to somethin’. But then the next week, nah, man it was nothin’.”
Of course, it wasn’t all bad for the females. Ironically, many critics thought that Fif was a little laxed to cater to his female-fan base. “Candy Shop,” “Disco Inferno” “Just A Lil Bit” “Build You Up” and “So Amazing” were definitely created with the ladies in mind. The former and latter featured his signee, Olivia. I think it is safe to say he was setting her up for the alley oops!
“Ryder Music” wasn’t directly made for the ladies, but smooth enough for a gangsta to play while riding up the coast with his significant other.
Despite Fif showing off his street side in tracks such as “Ski Mask Way” and “My Toy Soldier,” he dedicated a track to the Most High in “God Gave Me Style.”
Fifty also shocked the Hip Hop world when he and Mobb Deep teamed up for the “Outta Control (remix)” track, which was on the special edition release. The Queens natives were at odds for a while. However, they were able to make peace before the special edition was release.
It was hard for 50 to duplicate the success of Get Rich or Die Tryin’. However, The Massacre, was a legit sophomore. It featured hits “Piggy Bank,” “Candy Shop,” “Just a Lil Bit,” and “Outta Control (remix)” featuring Mobb Deep. It debuted atop of Billboard 200 and earned a Grammy nomination for Best Rap Album.
This was a special album because statically, after most rap artists have a big debut, (Snoop Dogg’s Doggystyle, Mase’s Harlem World) the second album usually doesn’t fare well. Some referred to it as “sophomore jinx.” Fif definitely killed that myth.
50 Cent’s ‘The Massacre’; Classic, Dope, Regular, or Garbage?
Classic! – 45%
Dope – 36%
Garbage – 9%
Regular – 9%