Get Rich or Die Tryin'

by 50 Cent

Overview

Probably the most hyped debut album by a rap artist in about a decade, most likely since Snoop's Doggystyle (1993) or perhaps Nas' Illmatic (1994), 50 Cent's Get Rich or Die Tryin' certainly arrived amid massive expectations. In fact, the expectations were so massive that they overshadowed the music itself -- 50 becoming more of a phenomenon than simply a rapper -- so massive that you had to be skeptical, particularly given the marketing-savvy nature of the rap world. Even so, Get Rich is indeed an impressive debut, not quite on the level of such landmark debuts as the aforementioned ones by Snoop or Nas -- or those by Biggie, Wu-Tang, or DMX either -- but impressive nonetheless, definitely ushering in 50 as one of the truly eminent rappers of his era. The thing, though, is that 50 isn't exactly a rookie, and it's debatable as to whether or not Get Rich can be considered a true debut (see the unreleased Power of the Dollar [1999] and the Guess Who's Back? compilation [2002]). That debate aside, however, Get Rich plays like a blueprint rap debut should: there's a tense, suspenseful intro ("What Up Gangsta"), an ethos-establishing tag-team spar with Eminem ("Patiently Waiting"), a street-cred appeal ("Many Men [Wish Death]"), a tailor-made mass-market good-time single ("In da Club"), a multifaceted tread through somber ghetto drama (from "High All the Time" to "Gotta Make It to Heaven"), and finally three bonus tracks that reprise 50's previously released hits ("Wanksta," "U Not Like Me," "Life's on the Line") -- in that precise order. In sum, Get Rich is an incredibly calculated album, albeit an amazing one. After all, when co-executive producer Eminem raps, "Take some Big and some Pac/And you mix them up in a pot/Sprinkle a little Big L on top/What the f*ck do you got?" you know the answer. Give Em (who produces two tracks) and Dr. Dre (who does four) credit for laying out the red carpet here, and also give 50 credit for reveling brilliantly in his much-documented mystique -- from his gun fetish to his witty swagger, 50 has the makings of a street legend, and it's no secret. And though he very well could be the rightful successor to the Biggie-Jigga-Nas triptych, Get Rich isn't quite the masterpiece 50 seems capable of, impressive or not. But until he drops that truly jaw-dropping album -- or falls victim to his own hubris -- this will certainly do. ~ Jason Birchmeier

Product Details

Release Date:	02/06/2003
Label:	Interscope
UPC:	0606949354428

Tracks

1. Intro
2. What Up Gangsta
3. Patiently Waiting
4. Many Men (Wish Death)
5. In da Club
6. High All the Time
7. Heat
8. If I Can't
9. Blood Hound
10. Back Down
11. P.I.M.P.
12. Like My Style
13. Poor Lil Rich
14. 21 Questions
15. Don't Push Me
16. Gotta Make It to Heaven
17. Wanksta
18. U Not Like Me
19. Life's on the Line

Album Credits

Performance Credits

50 Cent   Primary Artist,Vocals
Snoop Dogg   Primary Artist,Featured Artist
Eminem   Primary Artist,Featured Artist,Guest Artist,Vocals,Co-Producer
Tony Yayo   Primary Artist,Featured Artist,Vocals
Young Buck   Primary Artist,Featured Artist,Vocals
Lloyd Banks   Primary Artist,Featured Artist,Vocals
Nate Dogg   Primary Artist,Guest Artist,Featured Artist,Vocals
Tom Coster   Keyboards
Brooklyn   Featured Artist
Theron Feemster   Fender Rhodes
Luis Resto   Keyboards
Mike Elizondo   Bass,Guitar,Keyboards,Co-Producer
Sha Money XL   Co-Producer
Ruben Rivera   Keyboards
Ron Feemster   Keyboards,Fender Rhodes
Tommy Coster   Keyboards
Tracie Spencer   Vocals
G-Unit   Featured Artist

Technical Credits

Tom Coster   Composer
Megahertz   Producer
Commissioner Gordon   Engineer,Mixing Engineer
Dana Stinson   Composer
Darrell Branch   Composer,Producer
Freddie Perren   Composer
Dr. Dre   Producer,Mixing Engineer
Richard Travali   Mixing Engineer
Francis Forde   Assistant Engineer
Kairi Cushine   Assistant Engineer
Justin Bendo   Engineer
J.B. Freeman   Composer
Pat Viala   Mixing Engineer
Jimmy Cameron   Composer
Mike Strange   Engineer
David Brown   Composer
Steve King   Mixing,Producer,Mixing Engineer
Theron Feemster   Composer
Andy Thelusma   Composer
Marvin Bernard   Composer
Michael Clervoix   Composer
Dorsey Wesley   Composer
Dirty Swift   Producer
Rockwilder   Producer
Luis Resto   Composer,Additional Production
Vella Maria Cameron   Composer
Denaun Porter   Composer,Producer
Brandon "DirtyBird" Parrott   Composer
Mike Elizondo   Composer,Producer
50 Cent   Executive Producer
Sha Money XL   Engineer,Producer,Executive Producer
Carlisle Young   Editing,Engineer,Digital Editing
Christopher Lloyd   Composer
Rob Tewlow   Composer,Producer
Mauricio Iragorri   Engineer
Ruben Rivera   Assistant Engineer
John "J. Praize" Freeman   Producer
Sean Henderson   Composer
Curtis Jackson   Composer
Tom Rounds   Engineer
Kenneth St. Lewis   Composer
Ted Wohlsen   Engineer
James McCrone   Assistant Engineer
Marcus Heisser   A&R
Tracy McNew   A&R
Marshall Mathers   Composer
Sacha Waldman   Photography
Sean Blaze   Engineer,Producer
Conrad Almonacy   Composer,Producer
John Freeman   Composer,Composer
Scott Storch   Composer
Nicole Louis-Jeune   Composer
Terence Dudley   Composer,Producer,Mixing Engineer
Andre Young   Composer
Eminem   Mixing,Producer,Mixing Engineer,Executive Producer,Additional Production
Red Spyda   Producer