ON THE SHELF:


After countless delays with the official release date of the album 50 Cent finally released his long awaited fourth studio project “Before I Self Destruct” The build-up behind this new work has been backed by the fact that this is his last album under contract with Interscope Records. The well-documented beefs with Miami boss Rick Ross and god M.C. Jay-Z have also provided a push for the undisputed king of controversy.

“Before I Self Destruct” is the aptly titled album from music’s resident bad guy, Curtis Jackson. Aptly titled because as far as his previous three LP’s this one does not measure up to the standard of work that he has put out in the past and may be signaling an end to his reign on top of the hip hop world. This is not a terrible piece of work, 50 hearkens back to his darker days and chose to go the ski mask way. Staying close to the roots that made him the icon he is, the album focus is more on gunplay than wordplay. References to his days as Boo-Boo pumping packs can be found from the onset of the album making fans wonder does he have anything left to talk about anymore. If this was album number two then it would make sense hearing about how the AK has cats under pressure but when someone has reached the status that he has, the masses need more. The double edged sword of the situation is that 50’s persona is based on that type of talk so to change now can possibly jeopardize who he is.

The album does not have the household name producers that are normally expected of a star of his magnitude. He first track is the Premier done ‘ The Invitation’ this is one of the standout tracks on the album but is followed up by the clichéd ‘Them Days Went by’ an ode to his days on the streets. Dr. Dre is behind ‘Death to my Enemies’ but that track does not really land with the punch that I am sure he thought it would. But he lands a shot with a line letting it be known this is not Carter; since he didn’t say a first name it is up to the listeners imagination which Carter he is getting at. But don’t worry he does not mince any words or names on the track that probably best sums up his career ‘So Disrespectful’ in which former group mates and current head of hip hop are not safe from the usual venom that accompanies a 50 Cent dis.

Its not always about barking at enemies as he addresses the fairer sex on a couple of tracks, however the magic that he had with previous songs like ’21 Questions’ and ‘P.I.M.P’ is not there. The single ‘Baby By Me’ featuring R&B crooner Ne-yo promises the lady the world but not an entirely great song. Even R. Kelly does not provide vocals that make the track jump but ‘Do You Think About Me’ is not bad.

Overall this like I said is not the worse thing that I have heard. The bangers exist such as the Team Demo produced “Crime Wave’ and ‘Stretch’ but the misses are there as Mobb Deep’s Havoc did not do this album any justice with the nonsensical ‘Gangsta Delight’ “Get it Hot’ and even Eminem’s appearance was so so at best. When talking about albums of 2009 this does not rank up there but it does not sink all the way to the bottom either.

RBMVibes rating: 3/5 coupons

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