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Lopezand · 02-23-2004, 03:44 PM

50 Cent.

I don't mind 50 Cent in the context of once in a while. He has some lines and songs that I can listen to. But overall as an an artist, he's no better than a Nelly, Master P, or anyone else that just doesnt have anything to rap about, either because they can't write or because they have nothing to write about. Calling 50 Cent a "Gangster" rapper is also kind of ridiculous. Just because he sold crack in Queens doesnt mean he is a "gangster rapper." Just because he got shot up for being connected to some stuff doesnt mean he is a "gangster rapper." If selling drugs at one point in your life and being shot at is the criteria for being a "gangster rapper" then we might as well toss Biggie in that category. I'm personally not gonna call Biggie a "gangster rapper" because hip-hop has adopted that term for primarily West Coast Rappers who were still rapping about doing that kind of stuff.

People are also acting like 50 Cent is this new deal, when the fact is, he has been around in this rap game for a while now and was recognized. In response to his "How to Rob," which first came out on one of DJ Clue's mixtapes in the summer of '98 or '99 (not positive) Jay-Z came back with:
"I'm about the dollar, what the **** is 50 Cent?" Possibly early on in the game he was being creative with his lyrics:

"Run up on Missy and Timbaland with the pound, like "You, give me the cash! You put the hot dog down."

"Caught Juvenile for his Cash-Money peeps. Told him I wanted it all, he said 'Even my gold teeth?'"

Although these lines are funny and creative, it's basically the extent of 50 Cent. He lacks the ability to come with true hard hitting lines like a true MC. There's no doubt in my mind that I could find 5 true MCs (easily alive, much more easily dead) that could take 50 Cent in a battle. 50 Cent currently represents what white-teenage-MTV-watching Americans are willing to accept as "Gangster Rap" because sure he used to get shot at and now he wears a bullet-proof vest, but he really cant be that bad if he is gonna show up to the MTV VMA's with Vivica A. Fox, a nice black actress. And oh yeah... he roles with Eminem and Dr. Dre so he's got to be cool....

The bottom line: 50 Cent shouldnt be considered a true MC, good rapper, or anything else flattering until he realizes what this game is really about and starts to rap about something besides "Groupie Luv."

02-23-2004, 03:44 PM	#4 (permalink)
Lopezand Groupie Join Date: Feb 2004 Posts: 19	50 Cent. I don't mind 50 Cent in the context of once in a while. He has some lines and songs that I can listen to. But overall as an an artist, he's no better than a Nelly, Master P, or anyone else that just doesnt have anything to rap about, either because they can't write or because they have nothing to write about. Calling 50 Cent a "Gangster" rapper is also kind of ridiculous. Just because he sold crack in Queens doesnt mean he is a "gangster rapper." Just because he got shot up for being connected to some stuff doesnt mean he is a "gangster rapper." If selling drugs at one point in your life and being shot at is the criteria for being a "gangster rapper" then we might as well toss Biggie in that category. I'm personally not gonna call Biggie a "gangster rapper" because hip-hop has adopted that term for primarily West Coast Rappers who were still rapping about doing that kind of stuff. People are also acting like 50 Cent is this new deal, when the fact is, he has been around in this rap game for a while now and was recognized. In response to his "How to Rob," which first came out on one of DJ Clue's mixtapes in the summer of '98 or '99 (not positive) Jay-Z came back with: "I'm about the dollar, what the **** is 50 Cent?" Possibly early on in the game he was being creative with his lyrics: "Run up on Missy and Timbaland with the pound, like "You, give me the cash! You put the hot dog down." "Caught Juvenile for his Cash-Money peeps. Told him I wanted it all, he said 'Even my gold teeth?'" Although these lines are funny and creative, it's basically the extent of 50 Cent. He lacks the ability to come with true hard hitting lines like a true MC. There's no doubt in my mind that I could find 5 true MCs (easily alive, much more easily dead) that could take 50 Cent in a battle. 50 Cent currently represents what white-teenage-MTV-watching Americans are willing to accept as "Gangster Rap" because sure he used to get shot at and now he wears a bullet-proof vest, but he really cant be that bad if he is gonna show up to the MTV VMA's with Vivica A. Fox, a nice black actress. And oh yeah... he roles with Eminem and Dr. Dre so he's got to be cool.... The bottom line: 50 Cent shouldnt be considered a true MC, good rapper, or anything else flattering until he realizes what this game is really about and starts to rap about something besides "Groupie Luv."