I Wouldn't Want to Be Outside the Bubble on This One
50 Cent feat. Akon: "I'll Still Kill"
from Curtis
50 Cent feat. Diddy & Jay-Z: "I Get Money (Forbes 1,2,3 Billion Dollar Remix)"
It's out of fashion to like anything about 50 Cent these days. He's allowed himself to be perceived purely as enemy, capitalistic bully and artless vampire; fair charges if myopic. The reason we buy it is because it's essentially what he's selling. In nearly every interview he's given he's been happy to bulldoze his way through the softball questions about last week's showdown and the larger questions about his musical career — does music matter to him anymore, will he continue to make it, if so why, etc. — with little insight and a hard-charging "I am the best" arrogance. His apparent "loss" (if you can call upwards of 600K albums sold in one week a loss) has revealed that devilish, cannibalistic impulse we have with stumbling celebrities, disinterested in the minutiae of fame, eager merely to watch them fall. The media, in some ways, appears ready to declare America done with 50 Cent as a cultural force.
Still, despite all the vilifying there is a strange moment on the absolutely entertaining Forbes 1,2,3, Billion Dollar Remix of "I Get Money." After 50 finishes his second verse he announces Jay-Z's verse with "Fuck wit 'em Jay" and at that point you sort of realize, "Oh yeah, Jay laid a verse for this song. He doesn't hate 50 — maybe they're even friends." Sure, it's good business to get on the remix of the best New York rap record in years, but 50 still had to pull it off, getting Diddy and Jay to record their verses. Diddy is obviously game for anything. He must be thrilled to be wedged in between these two. But getting Jay took more clout, perhaps more than we remember 50 having now that he is an insta-memory of the 2003-2007 half-decade of glittering gangsta-pop decadence. Some want this to be a turning point of sorts. A time when the only rappers selling product are thoughtful veteran MCs like Common, UGK and Kanye.
But the Forbes Remix, which exists almost strictly as event, made me want to hear Curtis again. And while an "event" is a dubious honor, it did reveal "I'll Still Kill" to me. The violent Akon-featured song won't be a single but it is easily my favorite Curtis song, after "I Get Money," which directly follows it. It's a stark reminder that before the onstage teenage humping, the Verizon sponsorship dropping, the horrible love songs, the pop success, etc. — Akon was a cold motherfucker exuding an intensity that matched his musicality. 50, in many ways, is his sonic equal: Calculating, precise, endlessly listenable, vicious if in the mood. And sure, there's no "Baltimore Love Thing" or "Get In My Car" or "Ryder Music" or "Hate It Our Love It" on Curtis. And he's about to be outsold by 212,000 copies. And his artists hate him. And America wants him to fail. But is 50 Cent really the enemy? Listen to Curtis again and ask yourself the same question.
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Comments
1.
dana says:
how is kanye "conscious" ???? dude thinks he is Jesus. all he cares about is labels (prada, gucci) that aint conscious to me! personally, i hate the both of them. 50 is just pathetic! anyone who stoops to the lows he does just to create buzz about an album no one was gonna buy anyways....WACK!! kanye is the biggest bioch in the industry!! who in the fuck cries cause they didnt win a VMA?? that aint the grammy's nicca!
09/24/2007 at 5:50 AM
2.
T.R.E.Y. says:
i'm sick of people using this "conscious rap" tag with Kanye. whether it's backpackers supporting him or haters simplifying his appeal. the reason why 'Ye is more interesting than a Talib or a Common is because he seems like a dude you can relate to, someone who's both justifiably arrogant and willing to admit his flaws, in a real honest way. it's not "conscious rap" where "oh, i have to cover this subject, tell this story, do a cheesy-ass love song" or that bullshit. 'Ye's backpacker buds could do well to learn from his appeal.
and damn kid, stop with the one-line nitpicking already. people (purists?) who can't find any value in 'Ye's rapping are the worst kind of rap fans.
09/20/2007 at 12:19 AM
3.
Tray says:
I think it's unfortunate that America's turned on 50 for a so-called 'conscious' rapper in Kanye who's no more conscious, socially aware, lyrical, or good at rapping than 50 is. It's as if one day everyone decided to boycott Exxon and get their gas from BP because BP claims to be really good for the environment - except, if BP's gas gave you substantially worse mileage than Exxon's. 50's usually in third gear, to continue this tortured mixed metaphor, but what does that matter when Kanye still can't rap when he's in first? This guy's putting out maximal effort and still the best he can come up with is this poorly delivered prattle about paparazzi whom he hates "even more than the Nazi" chasing him around the street. Haters fixing their lips like collagen at him. Lists of mink articles of clothing he does and does not wear. Rhyming "of me" with "of me" four times in a row. Who do you think you are, Juelz Santana? You need charisma to pull off being a horrid technical rapper and you don't have any. Go back to the Late Registration model and have a feature on every one of your songs. I haven't heard so much terrible rapping over great beats since Group Home. At least 50's still capable of giving a good performance or two, like on Smile or Fire ("you can hate this but face it, Tupac and Big just ain't around") or I Get Money.
09/20/2007 at 12:09 AM
4.
T.R.E.Y. says:
i wanted 'Ye to win, but i wouldn't consider myself a 50 hater as far as his music. still i can't help but see your post as part of some clearly nefarious "c'mon y'all 50 ain't that bad" scheme now that he's become the "underdog" again.
09/19/2007 at 6:43 AM
5.
Alex says:
Very well written. Also, I happen to agree on Akon's contribution, an excellent track.
09/19/2007 at 5:06 AM