Today marks the 10th anniversary of the release of 50 Cent’s massive debut album Get Rich or Die Tryin’, the album that introduced 50 Cent, then protegé to Dr. Dre & Eminem to the world. I first heard of 50 Cent at my friend’s house during an episode of the long running series 106 & Park. It was a black & white commercial with Eminem stepping off the stoop talking directly to the camera, as he spoke a swollen black man I had never seen before stood behind him with a wave cap on. Eminem said something to the effect of “You know who this guy is? This is 50 Cent, he was shot 9 times! -9 times – 9 times!” they cut to each one of 50’s 9 bullet holes, ending with the bullet fragment that’s still logged in his mouth!!!, as the 13-year-old version of myself said “wow he’s like a superhero – this can’t be real.” TV Eminem responded “Yeah, he’s like Superman, and it’s a true story!” the commercial informed me of his debut album which was dropping February 6th, 2003, only thing I had to do next was convince my mom to buy the explicit version of a rap album!….When that didn’t workout, I borrowed it from a friend.
On the surface what truly attracted me to “Get Rich”, was simply the title ‘GET RICH OR DIE TRYIN‘, as this was the most inspirational mantra I had ever heard. (NOTE: Still, to this day, the words ring the same.) This was like Tony Robbin’s on 100 for me, I kept repeating “Get Rich or Die Tryin’, failure wasn’t an option for 50, and in 2003 the dude was hotter than fish grease. I remember how he used his power to kill the career of Ja Rule, he said in that beef video “If you like Ja Rule, yous a faggot!” and I remember being like dude, I’m not gay….I guess I can’t like Ja Rule, and made a mental note to never buy another album from the guy. 50 Cent had the ear, mind, and pocketbooks of the youth.
The album was full of stories that felt cinematic, and I had never heard anything like it; in the beginning of Many Men (a song I’ll touch on in a moment) where you hear 50 get shot, and it’s like mentally watching Scarface get gunned down at the end. You have a bittersweet feeling toward 50 and his success by the fact that he survived.
The song MANY MEN, I first heard it when my older brother played it full blast in my dad’s truck, sonically the song blew my mind. The only rapper I heard that really sang at the time was Nelly, and I wasn’t a St. Lunatic, if you will. Many Men touched on the fact that a man was on people’s hit list, but refused to stop his train chugging towards success because of how someone else feels. I’ve watched grown men cry to the lyrics of this song, because it touched them that much, it’s easily 50’s best song.
The production and beats on this album was unsurpassed by any rap album, to that moment in time. To say Get Rich helped shape the person I am today, would be an understatement. I’ve applied strategies 50 said on the album, to various points of my life, and it’s worked. It has heavily influenced me as a person, in the same a way an addictive book, comic strip, or movie can to some people.
It’s taken me 10 years to say it, but THANK YOU 50!
