50 Cent “Before I Self Destruct” Review
// November 5th, 2009 // No Comments » // Music Reviews, Recent Posts
“Before I Self Destruct” is 50 Cent’s 4th studio album and will be released on 23 November 2009
The album has been put back for release on several occasions. It was said that this album should have been released at the time of “Curtis” ( album 2007) however “Curtis” was released instead, going head to head with Kanye West’s offering “Graduation” which out sold “Curtis”. In contrast to Curtis, 50 Cent explained that fans “should not expect to see guest appearances like you saw on Curtis”.
50 Cent told MTV that he named the album Before I Self Destruct because “it could potentially happen.” 50 Cent described the album as “darker” and more “aggressive” than his previous album and stated, “hands down, [it] will be the best record of that time period”.
Producers on the album include Dr Dre, Rich Harrison, Sha Money XL, Ty-Fyffe and Play N Skillz.
The album comprises of 16 tracks and 3 bonus tracks are included with downloads from iTunes.
1. The Invitation
2. Then Days Went By
3. Death To My Enemies
4. So Disrespectful
5. Psycho
6. Hold Me Down
7. Crime Wave
8. Stretch
9. Strong Enough
10. Get It Hot
11. Gangsta’s Delight
12. I Got Swag
13. Baby By Me (Ft. Ne-Yo)
14. Do You Think About Me
15. Ok, You’re Right
16. Could’ve Been you
Bonus Tracks:
17. Flight 187
18. Baby By Me
19. Man’s World
DOWNLOAD HERE : http://www.rapgodfathers.com/download/9979-50-cent-before-i-self-destruct-advance
This album really sees’s 50 going back to the hardcore gangster sound. He said in an interview with MTV “[Not particularly this song, but the entire project] – I meant for it to be a little harder and what I fell in love with about hip-hop and within hip-hop, I accomplished it. Before I Self Destruct is absolutely harder than Get Rich or Die Trying’ or other projects in between. The Massacre had some real aggressive content on it, but there were other things I wanted to do, like ‘Ryder Music,’ ‘Baltimore Love Thing,’ ‘Build You Up,’ featuring Jamie Foxx. This project, I kept all of those things out of it. I just made it what I wanted it to be. This album is my album right now. It’s like the prequel to Get Rich — the things I missed on that project.”
“I didn’t do a lot of collaborating,” 50 revealed. “I wrote the record and I had so much time to write so many ideas that I wanted to make sure people heard me…I had the time to make it what I wanted. Me and [Eminem] doing the ‘Psycho’ joint is crazy on the record. I did this joint with R. Kelly; it’s actually a bonus because its track 16 on the joint…R.Kelly was the last one [besides Ne-Yo]. [Me and Dre,] we did four joints on this album. I had more time with Dre on this record than the other one…” (Shade 45).
Looking at other reviews circulating at the moment, people are giving this album a hard time. These are probably the guys who used to love In da Club and think that’s what hip hop is all about. I think 50 and the producers have done a great job in limiting the annoying pop element that seems to inflict itself on every hip hop and R&B album and have made this an album that serious hip hop fans can enjoy.
I saw someone say that there is no stand out track that will do particularly well – but I think that the collaboration with Ne-Yo on Baby By Me will be a big commercial success. Others have slated his take on Gangster’s Delight – which samples Rappers Delight – come on its not THAT bad! Day Went By has a real soulful vibe while still retaining that gritty street feeling. Death To Enimies is going for the real hardcore sound. So Disrespectful is a classic hip hop banger.
Psycho features vocals from Eminem and has a really catchy hook but it’s Eminem who really steals the show on this track. Hold Me Down see’s 50’s softer side – well as soft as he can be – with him almost singing the chorus! Crime Wave is a really dirty beat – a real hard track that you can’t help but bob your head to. Stretch has got amazing rhythm and vocals from 50. Strong Enough has also got some soulful sampling going on in the background – but this track is more of a grower for me.
Gangsta’s Delight as said before is a take on the classic Rapper’s Delight with a hard beat – hasn’t got the sparkle of the original but not offensive to the ears as some reviewers had stated. I Got Swag also sees a little sing/rap on the hook he’s no Marvin Gaye but still! It’s Baby By Me that is the absolute stand out track on this album. The other tracks up to this point kind of sound similar – but this really is the jewel in the crown with gorgeous vocals from Ne-Yo and a great vocal performance from 50.The album really sparkles from here. Do You Think About Me is really melodic and tranquil a real chill out track – thought it was going to be a rip off of Daz Dillinger’s Do You Think About Me (which sampled Tupac’s Keep Ya Head Up). I was really pleasantly surprised and this holds as much weight as Baby By Me – if not more with the soulful male vocals on the hook – this is my personal favorite from the album. Another harder track here with some more sing/rap from 50 Ok You’re Right. Could’ve Been You feat R Kelly is a real wind-down from the beginning of this album which started to gritty and hard vocals are what you would expect from Kelly’ this needs to be ‘ which started gritty and hard. Vocals are what you would expect from Kelly.’
As well as music album, along with the release is a 90 minute film starring 50 Cent or Curtis Jackson as it so states and is his directorial debut. The film is a coming of age story about an inner city youth raised by a hardworking single mother. When his dream of becoming a basketball player fails to materialize after his mother is tragically gunned down, Clarence (played by Jackson) is consumed by revenge and takes up a life of crime in order to support his younger brother. He said
“Because I had additional time, I wrote, produced and directed my own film, ‘Before I Self Destruct’ and it’ll actually be within the album’s packaging, so when you buy the record, you’ll get the film that I wrote.”
Louise Hill
). The tune is emotional, yet, comes with a positive and happy vibe. “Sorry” didn’t realy get too much play . I’m like a lost little child after hearing this. Then switching on “Slags” and various other semi-degrading taunts towards Women. It’s a nice little tune noe the less, just very much not a legacy setter.
