On the Sofa: Get Rich or Die Tryin'

GET RICH OR DIE TRYN'

Well it has been a while since I've put a post on the sofa. I've been wrapped up musically in my personal project and focused on other things as well. But I did however come to a point and time where there was nothing new I felt I wanted to purchase or even listen to in iTunes. This state of mind lead me to thinking of "oldies but goodies" and I found myself coming across one that EVERYONE loved, but most have forgotten. Yes, im talking about an album that as of 2011 sold eight million copies making it the fourth best-selling rap album in the US!

A man by the name of Curtis "50 cent" James Jackson III <-- (i just found about the III myself.) came on the scene officially with his album Get Rich or Die Tryin which jumped out and topped the charts from the start. Released February 4th, 2003, this album came with a mix of gangsta rap, up tempo beats, stories of his life and the situations and lessons that came of it. To me it seemed 50 cent focused on the way he came up, and how he feels and thinks of the world. Alot of his influence on this album came from his rough up bringing on the streets of the South Jamaica neighborhood of Queens in New York City. In my eyes, this album was a perfect example of a rapper actually making good music from talking about what they KNOW, not what they dream up or watched on movies and tv. With that said, this album mad a tremendous debute. Within a few days of it's release, this album sold almost one million copies! To be more precise, in about 4 days, the album sold 872,000 copies. By December of the year of its release, Get Rich or Die Tryin' had reach an astonishing six million copies sold in the United States. Yes! Certified sextuple platinum. The album went up against OutKast's Speakerboxxx/The Love Below for a Grammy Award for Best rap Album but lost. Still without the Grammy it stands as one of the greatest.


With a single song, In Da Club, being noted as the MOST listened to song in radio history, there were a plethera of hits on this album that became instant classics. Another single P.I.M.P, hit the charts just as well being number 3 on the Billboard top 100. Even though that is a "big deal", that actually made it the FIRST single from the album that DID NOT top out at number 1. Give the man credit! Around that time and on thru 2005 maybe even as far as 2006, you didnt hit a club or turn on the radio without hearing his name or song. Not only In Da Club and P.I.M.P, but there was Wanksta and 21 Questions as well. Wanksta, being the debute single, which ya'll know yall were smack in front of the TV when 106 and park dropped that joint. I personally was thinking "Yo, this dude goin hard at SOMEBODY!"


Thats when that Benz truck he was ridin started poppin up EVERYWHERE. Funny side story about that. I live acrossed the street in GA from a lady who was dating an Atlanta DJ Greg Street at that time. I had never seen that truck actually. Next thing you know I saw a silver one across the street and Greg Street jumping out. Then its in 50 cents video. Im thinkin " Dang! This a rich a^# DJ. He got the 50 joint!" Haha!...Anyway.

HIP HOP RATER

HOP- This album came with that gangster swag that most would be scared to carry. He mentions his life threatening shootout AND names those involved. Alot of songs talk of how people want him dead and then DARES them to act on it. DAT DUDE CRAY!


PP- This album brought a couple hits you heard on the radio from the day they dropped until about 2 or 3 years ago. I mentioned such earlier and they cant be denied.


This album was, and as far as the facts go, still is one of the best. Alot of tough guy talk goin on. But at least is proven fact on most of the stuff the man is rapping about. He was in the drug game, he spoke on it. He's been to jail, he mentioned that. He had "Many Men" (one of my favorite) who had problems with him. I just give him the respect as an artist for being real and presenting good music and keepin rap alive along with the rest of the real lyricist.

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