By shelz.
Hip-Hop has a love-love relationship with the grind. It is the new pinnacle of respect and now outweighs musical quality or lyrical ability and 50 Cent has been one of the deacons of grind for some time. Whether he is riding on a lyrical enemy, living in the studio or puffing out his chest for a self-aggrandizing promotion, he is most definitely full throttle. So it’s no shocker that we have two mixtapes from him in less than four weeks. What is shocking is in that short time he produced two quality projects instead of resting on the laurels of work ethic.
While War Angel was light on melody and heavy on thump, Forever King takes an airy approach. The G-Unit General lays his still aggressive musings over mostly 90’s R&B tracks with the final result being more complimentary than contradictory. The youngest of 50’s consumers will undoubtedly be disappointed by 50 cutting his rhymes short to leave the tail end of the tracks intact. But anyone who was around during these songs release dates will enjoy the trip down memory lane.
There is a reprieve for those who can’t get with the R&B vibe of this tape. The release opens with “I’m Paranoid,” a song about well… paranoia. Sleepless nights, heat under the pillow, drug deals and hazardous hood fame all layered over RZA’s “Heaterz” picks up where War Angel left off. “Respect It or Check It” and “Suicide Watch” also flow with Hip Hop inspired tracks. The former is a study in self-big ups and the latter features Fif going bar for bar with Notorious BIG over Biggies ode to the most disturbing of late night phone calls, “Suicidal Thoughts.”
From then on it’s R&B cassette single nostalgia. With the likes of Christopher Williams, Case and Intro holding it down on the hooks, 50 rides with the same aggression as on War Angel but the lyrics still fit well into the Billboard Hot 100 singles of last decade.
“Things We Do” is a little lady pandering over the Bad Boy track, but the lyrics are far from soft. His hard core cockiness and affinity for the b-word are still intact. But the ladies like him hood, or at least that’s what he declares. Then there’s “Get the Money.” 50 takes Horace Browns track and fires some serious shots at anyone who isn’t making money or getting hoes. Then of course, there’s more obligatory gun play talk. “Funny How Time Flies” and “If You Leaving, Then Leave” are again for the ladies and 50 allows the records to just spin after rather minimal lyricism.
50 acknowledges the loss of Michael Jackson with the “MJ Freestyle” but outside of the track and the title, the song just gives him another canvas for aggression. The hardcore fans might find the track a strange fit and the MJ fans might find the disconnected Michael Jackson shout outs inappropriate, but the song is still a head nodder.
Unfortunately, there is a “London Girl Part 2” that comes complete with his awful British accent and some really raunchy lyrics. Of all the songs on War Angel, this is really the last that should have been considered for reprise. But the tape is free, so just hit skip and act like you didn’t hear it.
Also, Whoo Kid is back for Forever King after his War Angel absence. If you missed him, you’re in luck. If you prefer your 50 without Whoo’s incessant shouting, there’s a NO DJ version just for you.
So the bottom line is 50 is hungry and its evident in Forever King. He says it in his lyrics. You hear it in his voice. The hardcore element that has waned in the advent of rapper assisted hooks and Hip-Hop/pop nonsense is prevalent on this release to the sheer delight of 50’s staunchest fans. This is what your boy does best. Even if it is layered over top of some old school melodies that some of you don’t even remember.
Out of 5 if it was retail. 4/5 for free.
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