50 Cent is the Britney Spears of hip-hop - at this point, it’s barely about the music. First and foremost, Curtis James Jackson is a business, an almost absurdly profitable corporate empire that spans a record label, a clothing line and more investments than Warren Buffet. Second, 50 is an icon, a muscle-bound and bulletproof-vested symbol of rap’s most masculine roots (a symbol that also sells a s**t ton of Vitamin Water and video games). Third, 50 Cent is a rapper-killer, the undisputed heavyweight champ of the beef game, although his demolition of Rick Ross … ...Read the full album review
Fans can also check out 50 Cent's previous albums: 50 Cent - 5 (Murder By Numbers) | 50 Cent - The Lost Tape | 50 Cent - Before I Self Destruct | 50 Cent - Curtis
DJBooth Album Review
50 Cent is the Britney Spears of hip-hop - at this point, it’s barely about the music. First and foremost, Curtis James Jackson is a business, an almost absurdly profitable corporate empire that spans a record label, a clothing line and more investments than Warren Buffet. Second, 50 is an icon, a muscle-bound and bulletproof-vested symbol of rap’s most masculine roots (a symbol that also sells a s**t ton of Vitamin Water and video games). Third, 50 Cent is a rapper-killer, the undisputed heavyweight champ of the beef game, although his demolition of Rick Ross hasn’t slowed sales of Deeper Than Rap. And then, last but not least, 50 Cent is a rapper.
Forget Eminem, forget Kanye, 50 is easily the most polarizing rapper alive. He’s a lightning rod of controversy that inspires either fanatical devotion or unyielding hatred, and the reaction to his new mixtape/LP War Angel won’t be any different. War Angel is reportedly the first of three LPs scheduled to drop before his upcoming opus Before I Self Destruct, a tightly packaged album that should make hardcore fans very happy, and haters froth at the mouth. In fact, I’m going to take a cue from Mr. Jackson himself and embrace the controversy head-on: behold, a fully customized review! Just figure out where you fit in, and start reading. Of course, if you’re one of the select few who can think intelligently and objectively about Fiddy, feel free to read the whole thing. Enjoy.
For the G-Unit Army
Hip-hop has taken a heavily militarized turn in the last decade, and 50 Cent has been its unquestioned general. With a rhyme style that bleeds intimidation and violence, 50 is, to put it bluntly, the rapper you’d least want to f**k with. Let’s start with RedRum (Murder), a track that proves 50 still goes for the jugular at every opportunity, and has watched The Shining. With a surprisingly soulful beat and 50 dropping lines like mortar shells, RedRum takes no prisoners. Much of War Angel follows in Red Rum’s heavyset footsteps, must notably the pounding OK, Alright. Featuring one of the album’s best beats and 50 spitting in his trademark “so relaxed I sound dangerous” rhyme style, OK hits and hits hard. Even better is C.R.E.A.M. 2009, a track I dig not because it’s as good as the original (what could be?), but because it reveals 50’s East Coast streets roots, roots that are now often hidden behind a fleet of private jets. Ultimately, 50 deserve credit. He could have put out almost anything and fans would have rushed to download it, but instead he chose to fill War Angel with legitimately quality material. A good businessman never puts out a bad product.
For the Haters
A much as anything, War Angel is a continuation of 50 Cent’s pronounced ladies’ jam slump. Not only has 50 not had a hit for the females since Magic Stick, he suddenly seems incapable of making even non-terrible tracks. London Girl, a quasi-remake of Estelle’s American Boy, might be the most unintentionally hilarious track in Fiddy history. First, picture 50 singing softly. Now picture 50 speaking in a bad English accent. Now combine the two. Yeah, it’s as bad as it sounds. If an unsigned artist walked into a record label with London Girl, they’d be laughed out of the room. The fact that I’ll Do Anything is substantially better isn’t saying much - actually, I can make this real short: stop singing hooks on romantic songs 50. Just stop. Go get Lyfe Jennings. Go get Trey Songz. Hell, even a John Legend hook might work. You’ve got one of the best thug voices in the game, using it to croon works about as well as Robin Thicke singing about dealing cocaine. Wait…that actually happened. Inexplicably the album’s only guest feature is Thicke’s mediocre hook on Cocaine, a track that’s all downhill after the classic “I can’t feel my face” quote in the intro. There you go haters. I’ve given you plenty of ammo. Fire away.
As always, the truth lays somewhere in the middle. If you’re a 50 Cent soldier you absolutely must download War Angel. If you’re not, don’t bother. And if you’re neither…um…flip a coin. I know that’s not the answer that’s going to get me a job at G-Unit, or shot by G-Unit, but it’s the truth. What can I say, even though it might do wonders for my career, I’d rather not get shot in the face nine times.
Click here to download War Angel.
Listen to More: 50 Cent Written by Nathan S.
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Member Reviews and Ratings
Average Member Rating: ![]()
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Total Ratings: 24
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Tastemaker |
GOOD MIXTAPE NEED PICK IT UP REAL TALK...............
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| Posted on Jun 18, 2009 |
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Tastemaker Total Ratings: 573 |
Yeah, I'll agree that it's not too bad...50 did ok on this one. It's on the iPod, and it's in rotation.
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| Posted on Jun 18, 2009 |
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DJ Booth Member Total Ratings: 7 |
This is really what I have been waiting for. Most of 50's stuff since "Get Rich or Die Tryin" has been about his money, takin' said money to the bank, or about his "magic stick."
The real hood 50 is comin back. |
| Posted on Jun 18, 2009 |
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DJ Booth Member |
50 i love you so much your #1 in my eyes
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| Posted on Jun 18, 2009 |
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DJ Booth Crew |
Never been a Fiddy fan. I still haven't listened to "Curtis" and I recall listening to "GRODT" and "The Massacre" only once, so I wasn't overly enthusiastic about this so-called "comeback" mixtape. I didn't even bother downloading it when it dropped last night, but when I stumbled upon a full stream of the tape earlier today, my duty as a hip-hop follower kicked in. 50 said he recorded "War Angel" in a mere three days, and while the project's overall mood highlights his early tough guy persona, there is really nothing else I come away with after listening (I wasn't expecting much in the first place anyway). Under the throbbing beats and street rhymes, 50 is basically just trying to prove to the masses that his position as one of hip-hop's powerhouses is still alive and well, which is evidently far from true. At least he has confidence. Maybe if he threw in a couple of Rick Ross jabs...
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| Posted on Jun 18, 2009 |
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DJ Booth Member |
its a great mixtape. 50cent is bak on top of his game. im loving his raw stuff and his songs ill do anything and london girl sorta brought the album down tbh but the rest is fire
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| Posted on Jun 18, 2009 |
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Tastemaker Total Ratings: 242 |
Banger
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| Posted on Jun 18, 2009 |
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Tastemaker Total Ratings: 433 |
I think with the recent feedback from his last few singles, he knew he had to step it up a notch or it would just be another Curtis. This mixtape is the best work i've heard from 50 since The Massacre, with only a few songs I didn't really like. I just hope he doesn't decide to release BISD on Sept. 11th, cause he will not sell any on that date.
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| Posted on Jun 18, 2009 |
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DJ Booth Member |
i dont like people that start beefs just to sell its wack real wack idk what anyone one says its wack
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| Posted on Jun 18, 2009 |
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DJ Booth Member |
people on caton ave are lovin 'ok, alright' and 'redum'. so i'm siding with the hood on this one.
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| Posted on Jun 18, 2009 |
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DJ Booth Member |
I agree. he did alright with this one. could of been better
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| Posted on Jun 19, 2009 |
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DJ Booth Member |
50 getin good again. I was worried after Curtis, but this proves that 50 can once again enter the Get Rich era. Sure there are a couple of weak tracks, but the majority is hot. Still two more tapes to come, then Before I Self Destruct will drop soon after. (Favorites: I Line Niggas, Ok, Ya Right, Redrum (Murder), CREAM 2009)
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| Posted on Jun 19, 2009 |
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DJ Booth Member |
wen comes the album?
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| Posted on Jun 19, 2009 |
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Tastemaker Total Ratings: 1189 |
The vitamin water advertisement is the best thing (by a mile) on this LP.
There are a couple of decent tracks on War Angel, though there's nothing I would put in my rotation. @#1my - I assume your talking about 'Before I Self Destruct'. That album is scheduled (currently) to be released in September |
| Posted on Jun 20, 2009 |
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| Posted on Jun 21, 2009 |
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DJ Booth Member |
decent offering. 50 needs to bring it with this next album or he's finished. as for thicke, the original "cocaine" track was a banger, understated and smoky. the two could create something 20 times as catchier as teachnology.
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| Posted on Jun 21, 2009 |
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DJ Booth Member Total Ratings: 24 |
50 IS BACK. Cant wait for the album. Mixtape is a good tease. Keep it coming. Not feeling all the songs but most are good. Hopefully the album steps it up from his last. He seems to do well with some good featured artists in the mix, but seeing as he starts beef with everyone I dont see it happening alot. Rotation.....
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| Posted on Jun 23, 2009 |
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| Posted on Jun 23, 2009 |
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| Posted on Jun 28, 2009 |
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DJ Booth Crew Total Ratings: 8038 |
This Mixtape is SICK! I believe that some of these songs are those that didn't make the cut for the next album. This is definitely "old" 50 type material and that's exactly what he needs right now. Good $hit!
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| Posted on Jul 24, 2009 |
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DJ Booth Member |
TAKE A GOOD LOOK AT WHO'S POSTING & SAYING THIS CD IS GOOD... NUFF SAID.
FREE DOWNLOAD, SWAZY BABY, "HALF OF IT" OFFICIAL BANGER!!! http://www.djbooth.net/index/tracks/review/yung-l.a.-ft.-rico-barrino-futuristic-love-elroy/ |
| Posted on Aug 02, 2009 |
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DJ Booth Member |
fire
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| Posted on Aug 05, 2009 |
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Tastemaker Total Ratings: 303 |
50 came hard on this one! Hopefully this is an early sign that BISD will be an album worth listening to. Fif should continue down this path from now on.
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| Posted on Aug 12, 2009 |
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DJ Booth Member |
50 cent is going crazy maybe its the drugs This mixtape is being distributed to the world and is the worst thing to happen right now Did he really say….
“where pain is a headcrack the sign of the devil trip 6 6 6 im back on my bull**** see clear thru my third eye theres gonna be a murda” Here’s another example … “go head curl up and die (yeah), tell GOD when you see em, ill be happy to meet em, i went to service this evening, HE FORGIVES NOT I” AND WHY DID HE CHOSE “BEFORE I SELF DESTRUCT” AS HIS NEXT TITLE ? Does anybody else find this crazy or believe in GOD I wonder if this is a move for publicity or if 50 cent worships the devil Anybody who thinks ” murder ” is cool ,are in for a rude awakening the streets aint no joke its not a game. 50 cent displays killing people as if its fun in “war angel”. He’s giving “war angel” out for free so the whole world will listen to his lyrics and follow his music. Leading to more murders and more drug use. Don’t be fooled into thinking this is real music ,its coming from his heart but obviously 50 cent is crazy. |
| Posted on Aug 15, 2009 |
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DJ Booth Member |
this is the next to the greatest alumb.
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| Posted on Oct 29, 2009 |
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DJ Booth Member |
Pretty good mixtape although he has fallen a great deal in my hip hop list he still deserves his respect for putting pressure where it needs to be put
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| Posted on Nov 05, 2009 |
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DJ Booth Member Total Ratings: 125 |
I LIKE THIS ONE MORE.
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| Posted on Nov 11, 2009 |
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DJ Booth Member Total Ratings: 125 |
I LIKE THIS CD MORE THAN MY OTHER ONE
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| Posted on Nov 11, 2009 |