By Odeisel
In a world of skinny jeans, and overly emo guys, 50 Cent stands as the last action hero; the last link to mainstream hardcore that isn’t strictly crack rap. Before I Self Destruct is probably the last hurrah in his cycle as a true heavyweight musically. His successes off the field have gotten him more money than he can spend in two lifetimes, but as an artist, his career has seen better days.
Before I Self Destruct is 50’s attempt to get back in the good graces of his fans, and for the most part it is a familiar 50 Cent: at his best with his teeth clenched uttering guttural syllables to driving, thumping beats and annoyingly off when he overtly aims for the club/chick song. What do you do when the ground beneath your feet and your power base shrinking? You go all out and that’s what Before I Self Destruct attempts with gusto.
The album begins with a snarling 50 rhyming through chaos on the track “The Invitation.” It’s straight up hardcore 50, with no chaser. Beat is robust, and 50’s pace and delivery are in fighting form. Staying in that lane, but switching backdrops to 70’s soul, “Then Days Went By” delivers the same sentiment with more melody. The organs give it a really heavy feel and another win in the book.
Dr. Dre comes in for the impressively heavy “Death To My Enemies.” 50’s aggression takes a back seat to the production as he continues to pop shit and threaten but over this tracks it’s really hard to deny his force. The chorus is very simple but the execution is flawless. Death is certified rider music featuring an energized 50 going all out.
If you were waiting for the asshole 50, wait no longer as “So Disrespectful” hits you with that beef flavored sauce from the opening salvo:
Jay’s a big man, too big to respond/ I’m a big dick you know, the one everybody on
Come on Game you can never be my equal your homies shoot doors, my homies shoot people
Though the winds have shifted away from Mr. Jackson, he’s not going quietly. This track either alludes to, or mentions by name Jay-Z, Game, Young Buck, his baby mama Sheniqua, Lil’ Wayne, Young Jeezy and a few others. This change is followed by the obligatory Eminem duet “Psycho.” Needless to say the blonde bombshell blows the track up lyrically but drops another track that sounds pretty much like every other track he produces. Still a good verse from Eminem and a solid 50 performance more than make up for the lack of luster.
“Hold Me Down”is another pistol-as-woman allegory rap song. Nas and Tupac did it better. No need for this track. The trademark griminess returns with teeth-gritting, face-frowning gullyness with “Crime Wave.” The beat alone is a win but 50 nails this one cold. Music to drive-by.
The album begins to lose momentum as a few very average songs come in succession and derail the general forward momentum of the album. A brief return to the hardcore comes with “Gangsta’s Delight” which is what would have happened if the Sugar Hill Gang were armed with AK-47’s and Timbs with Carhart hoodies. I can see people viewing it as sacrilege; I can see people digging it.
The singing starts with the disappointing “I Got Swag” followed by the annoyingly wack “Baby By Me” featuring NeYo which features a Manny Fresh sounding beat, 50’s sex rhymes, and Neyo pulling a Rihanna on the hook for a trilogy of terror we can do without. Also wack is “Do You Think About Me.” Meh rhymes, tired theme, and 90s sounding R&B crooners on the hook. What began firing on all cylinders goes out with a whimper with the average “Ok, You’re Right,” and the tired R.Kelly-helmed “Could’ve Been You.” The track is very synth/bubbly/distortion filled. The R.Kelly hooked big rapper song has been done for over a decade. This isn’t “F**kin’ You Tonight.” It isn’t Fiesta, anything Best Of Both Worlds or even “Go Getta.” It’s just filler. You don’t close an album this way.
Before I Self Destruct is a tale of two albums. For most of the front end, he is invigorated and the beats are husky and power his aggression. It runs out of gas towards the end and waffles in the middle of club and chick song aspiration. Had the entire album kept that unity of purpose that it began with, it probably would have been less well rounded but it would have suited his true strength as an artist and perhaps gave a good send off before he tick…tick…tick…BOOMs.
[Ed Note-this version of the album is marked “International Version.” The US release may be different. If so, we will review the US release when it drops in the interest of fairness.]
3.25 out of 5
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