50 Cent...a polarizing figure in today's Hip-Hop climate...either you love him or you absolutely hate how he has "Massacred" the musical landscape...pun definitely intended. In a piece of revisionist history..when 50 dropped like an atom bomb a little over a decade ago the entire world was in his clutches. Back in 2002/3 I personally witnessed "Backpack" rappers from the neighborhood become gat-toting A-BB-A Bar gangsta rappers. The influence was undeniable and you couldn't help but fall in line with the movement. Fast forward to 2014 and things seem to be on a 360 trajectory meaning that many of the styles we literally grew up on are back like they never left.
"Hold On" serves as the albums opener which is actually a great tactical move from the G-Unit General..looking at the track listing you notice something peculiar...No Intro...Skits...Interludes...Just 11 (14 if you have the deluxe version) tracks of straight music which means to me at least that he's all about business this go around..Judge him on the overall music and nothing more. Dope opener.
"Don't Worry Bout It" is deceptively catchy...you may think that you won't like it due to the tried and true subject matter and repetitive production but trust me..50 is a master of cadences and flows and proceeds to to demolish the beat...Yo Gotti comes through for the assist...(I see what you did there 50) This song works at any party, strip club or shake joint throughout the country..trust me.
"Animal Ambition" the titular track is literally bananas. If "Hold On" is vintage street 50...Then this song is vintage club 50...The production is literally animal..If you listen you can hear the grunts and growls of wild jungle beasts like Lions, Elephants, Tigers...oh my.
"Pilot" is another superbly produced banger...The opening bridge and muted bass licks leads into a lush and airy track that 50 just slides and slinks over. By my latest guesstimating..50 is firing on all cylinders and hasn't had a filler track yet.
"Smoke" is yet another banger...you have to admit. The layers to this hook are nothing less than astounding. The right hook can be the difference between a hit and flop...50 knows this and that's why the 2nd Hook is even more layered than the first..Trey Songz fits perfectly and even though this may be viewed as a "throwaway" Dr. Dre track...how many of you could do something with this beat...don't worry...I'll wait.
"Everytime I Come Around" is the first album cut of the project in my opinion. The pulsating beat provides a instant head nod factor. Again there isn't any new ground being broken here a s far as subject matter but that isn't the reason why you're listening to this album...Its all about how its makes you feel. Kidd Kidd impressed me though..I was ready to hate and even scoffed at the fact that he was on 3 of the albums songs..that's damn near a third of the album. But I must say Kidd Kidd held his own alongside Fif and dare I say might have even stole the show flow wise on this song..Dope Song.
"Irregular Heartbeat" is this project's strongest record. 50 departs from his normal vocal tone and reduces it to a damn near whisper...its matches the beat perfectly. It was great to hear Jadakiss alongside 50...I got the same feeling when I heard Nas and Jay finally link up. Kidd Kidd returns again to round out the features on this song and fared extremely well...My bad 50 you obviously heard something that the rest of didn't. To put him on a track with Jadakiss could have been a train wreck..but it was calculated risk that worked out better than many could have imagined.
"Hustler" is another smooth track in the same vein as "P.I.M.P." and "Get In My Car". These are the kind of songs where 50 shines the most. Speaking from a pure winner's circle perspective 50 gives you the kind of song can do nothing more than inspire you to get on your grind for whatever you want out of this life.
"Twisted" would have to be the album's first filler song however. The hook is pretty banal and doesn't do much to add to the 50's content and the beat is just a tad bit too hard for the subject matter. t serves its purpose though...I sure it will be a nice number for the 30+ crowd out there that is at one of their after hour spots.
"Winner Circle" is the 2nd filler song on the project but its better than the previous song as far as execution. Its another "nice" number but doesn't do much to stretch the boundaries of what this song could have been. It gave me that "Its lonely at the top" feel...A feeling that many of us commoners wont get too...yet
"Chase The Paper" brings the listener out of the doldrums and gets you nodding again..The vintage G-Unit beat (circa 04/05) still sounds fresh and relevant. Kidd Kidd shows up again and again does not disappoint..he doesn't sound outmatched or out of place.. I'm still impressed. Prodigy and Styles P round out the rest of the features on the song. Both give solid performances but nothing extraordinary.
If you purchased the "Retail" version of the album then "Chase The Paper" would have been your last stop. But since there is a Deluxe Version of the LP...there are three bonus tracks for you to digest and enjoy.
By now many of you would have or should have heard "The Funeral" so there is no need to explain the song any further..I will say that considering theme and feel of this album "The Funeral" fits perfectly into this set and is very welcomed addition to the LP. More Vintage 50.
"You Know" sounds like a "Beg For Mercy" track and would have been dope to hear Yayo, Banks, and Buck on this..As of today though...A "G-Unit" song has indeed surfaced and the rap world is a much better place for it.
"Flip On You" is a GREAT album closer...50 and SchoolBoy Q just sound damn good together...Q's style is West Coast 50 and sounds like a young version of him ( Think the young and old Professor X meeting at the same place) that's the feeling I got. The beat is a soulful sample and string laden banger and makes you thirst for more Q and 50 collaborations...they sound THAT great together.
Like I said earlier...50 Cent is a polarizing figure in today's Hip-Hop climate. Either you love him or you hate him. This album while not a flat out smash like his first two LP's it is definitely a true return to form for the legend. An album that is sequenced perfectly between street anthems, album cuts, and club bangers in a traditional sense of course. We all know that TRAP sound is running the clubs and streets nowadays and I was happy 50 opted to not try and fit in with whats now but instead compete with what HIS sound is and thus introducing himself to a younger generation of listeners that is starving to hear other forms of this beloved Hip-Hop than what is being forced upon us on the radio...Stay True 50...your sound is still a winner even a decade plus later.
@LeebHatesRapMusic
Lyrics- 7.5/10 Content- 7.5/10 Production- 9/10 Overall- 8/10
