Yeah, he talks the talk, but can he walk the walk? I think so. Curtis James Jackson III, also known as 50 Cent, definitely got the point across in his most recent album Curtis, which was released on Sept. 11, 2007. 50 is pissed!
With lyrics like, “I’ll hurt you, I’ll merk you, I’ll pop summin’/ Drop summin’, I ain’t gonna stop hunting/ Run, run till you’re spun/ One shot, One gun/ One-9.../ 1-1 emergency.” 50 Cent obviously has it out for someone. And that someone is Kanye West.
West’s Graduation album was released on the same day as Curtis, and the two are said to be feuding.
“I feel like Kanye West is successful because of me,” 50 Cent said in a MTV interview. “After 50 Cent, [hip-hop fans were] looking for something non-confrontational, and they went after first thing that came along. That was Kanye West, and his record took off.”
If I were Kanye, I’d be fearing. 50 Cent shows a lot of built-up anger, but this anger only makes this CD even more powerful. If you’re looking to buy Curtis, you have to buy the uncensored version, otherwise you might not hear most of the music. 50 uses a lot of explicit language to express himself.
I do not recommend this album for children or people who cannot handle extreme violence. 50 makes it quite clear he is in favor of private ownership of firearms with songs like “Fully loaded clip,” “My gun go off,” and “Still will kill.” But do not be misled, 50 has a kind heart.
“Follow my lead /baby I could be all you need, If you follow my lead... I’ll hold you down put your trust in me, baby follow my lead... /I think God made you for me.../Follow my lead /I’m the one Girl in time you’ll see /if you follow my lead.” These lyrics definitely show he knows how to treat a lady, if he finds the right one, of course.
“I wanna be your joy and /(Be
the reason you smile) /Baby you know my style, you know how I get down /Provide by any means to be /(Be the reason you smile).” 50 Cent is a ladies’ man.
In the album Curtis, all elements of 50 are revealed. And does Kanye even compare? I think not. If you are intense enough, go buy 50 Cents’ Curtis album. But if you’re not, I recommend maybe something a little weaker, say Kanye’s new CD Graduation. 50 is the best of all worlds!
In today’s world, when most rappers are rapping about drugs, sex and violence, it’s refreshing to hear something different from the ordinary. From the time Kanye West released his first CD, The College Dropout, in 2004, to his newly released album Graduation, he has always delivered with catchy beats and thoughtful creative lyrics.
Already being a fan of Kanye, I was not surprised that I liked his first
single from Graduation, “Can’t tell me nothin’.” And his second single “Stronger” is one of the catchiest songs of 2007. With its techno beat mixed with Kanye’s inventive lyrics, it makes for a popular single today. So, I decided to check out his full CD, I didn’t expect to like all of it because I thought “Stronger” would have been the best track on the album.
Surprisingly, I thought the best track on this album was the last one, “Good Life,” a track where Kanye raps about the “good life” with singer T-pain. This album can be enjoyed by everyone, no matter what kind of music you listen to. From his collaborations with Coldplay’s Chris Martin to Elton John, his guest writing on the album makes everything extraordinary.
With the media pinning Kanye and 50 Cent against each other, and their albums being released the same day, it’s easy to compare.
Both are featured on the cover of Rolling Stone facing each other with the title “who will be crowned the king of rap”? Based on both albums, I would give Kanye the title hands down. Curtis is an interesting album about someone who really needs to go to anger management or therapy. If you like to go shoot people and talk about it, I would recommend 50’s album all the way. Here is something I leave you with from Kanye’s CD, “now that, that don’t kill me/Can only make me stronger/I need you to hurry up now/Cause I can’t wait much longer” I would hurry up Curtis, because I think Kanye just graduated into music genius!