Get Rich or Die Tryin'

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

あのエミネムとの電撃的な合体→シェイディ入りに興奮を抑えきれないファンも多かろう、ヒップホップ・シーンきっての問題児、50セントがついにフル・アルバムを完成させた。実質的なファースト・アルバムとなる本作は、当然エミネム&ドクター・ドレーが完全バックアップという最高の御膳立てなわけで何かと外野も騒がしいのだが、50セント自身は至ってクールだ。ストリートで絶大な支持を得た“Wanksta”をはじめ、無駄な装飾を極端に排除し、淡々と紡がれていく彼のスタイルへ合わせるように、用意されたビートも一際ハードボイルドでシリアス。エミネムからエンターテイメント性を丸ごと抜き去ってコアな部分だけを抽出したかのような手法で制作されており、ゲストもネイト・ドッグ以外は身内で固める野暮っぷり。予定調和気味のメジャー・リーグを活性させるハードコアな一撃となるのかも、と思わずドキドキする。
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