50 cent:
Get Rich or Die Trying OST

Release Date: 7th November 2005

Reviewed By: Usman Sajjad

1. Hustler's Ambition

2. What If

3. Things Change

4. You Already Know

5. When Death Becomes You

6. Have A Party

7. We Both Think Alike

8. Don't Need No Help

9. Get Low 

10. Fake Love 

11. Window Shopper

12. Born Alone Die Alone

13. You A Shooter

14. I Don't Know Officer

15. Talk About Me

16. When It Rains It Pours

17. Cloud 9

18. Best Friend

19. I'll Whip Ya Head Boy

The Game - The Documentary
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Since dropping his major label debut in 2003, this man has sold more than 15 million records worldwide, crafted a clothing line worth over $150 million dollars, and had his own homies release platinum  albums on his own label. Not forgetting, of course, the feuds and beefs that have had his name attached in some way or another. Not ever one to stop making money, 50 Cent has signed many other well known acts to his empire, and with his own video game now in stores, and his new film ‘Get Rich or Die Trying’ about to hit cinemas in January 2006, the bank account of this powerhouse is more than likely to blossom. 

50 Cent is the typhoon behind all the credentials above, and in the past two to three years, has successfully risen from an underground hopeful to a household name. The film is loosely based around the Queens native’s life, with the rise of a drug dealer Marcus, only for him to turn in his drug peddling occupation for a chance at a rap career. The soundtrack sees 50 throw in some of his newest stuff, and also features appearances from the whole G-Unit clique, including Lloyd Banks, Young Buck, Tony Yayo, Olivia, Mase, M.O.P, Mobb Deep and Spider Loc.

The first single, ‘Window Shopper’, has the rap star flaunt his well deserved million dollar lifestyle, and on ‘Hustla’s Ambition’, the next single to come from the soundtrack, 50 switches to his street level mentality, rapping from his character point of view in the film. The track is more complex than ‘Window Shopper’, possessing a well used retro sample and a more mellow sound.

‘When It Rains, It Pours’, a stand out on the album, sees creeping guitar strings and a slower beat, on which 50 rhymes with street stories and tales. The likes of Lloyd Banks are provided opportunities to shine on ‘U Already Know’, whilst newcomer Spider Loc’s performance on ‘Things Change’ is timeless.

With the recent signing of M.O.P, Mobb Deep and Mase, 50 Cent extended his empire and showed potential of competing with the likes of Roc-A-Fella and Bad Boy. Along with 50 Cent, Lloyd Banks and Spider Loc, Mase and Prodigy from Mobb Deep jump in on ‘I Don’t Know Officer’, the album’s finest. With the hard, repetitive high-pitched keyboard synths, impressive deliveries from all five rappers, particularly Mase, seal the deal. Other standouts include ‘What If’ and the club record and seemingly follow-up to ‘Outta Control Remix’, ‘Have A Party’ featuring Mobb Deep.

However, with slight slip ups, 50 seems to sway in shaky directions on the album, including tasteless tracks such as ‘We Both Think Alike’ featuring Olivia, and due to the performance of his last album, Tony Yayo fails to consolidate on ‘Fake Love’.

‘Best Friend’ almost sees 50 take off from where Lloyd Banks left on his record ‘Smile’, in which we see the professed current ‘King of New York’ soothingly talk to the ladies.

Overall, the soundtrack is a decent record, despite a few disappointments – one for all 50 fans out there.

Rating: 3 out of 5

Top 3 Tracks:

14. I Don’t Know featuring Mase, Lloyd Banks, Prodigy, Spider Loc

18. Best Friend

2. What If

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