Get Rich or Die Tryin'

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Get Rich or Die Tryin' is the commercial debut of New York City rapper 50 Cent on Interscope Records.

Background

The album was supposed to be released on February 11 2003 but due to leakage and heavy bootlegging on the internet it was released on February 6 2003. It was produced by Eminem and Dr. Dre, and featured singles "In da Club", "If I Can't", "P.I.M.P." and "21 Questions". The single "In da Club" was Billboard Magazine's number one single for the year. It was the first time since 1994 that an artist had both the number one song and album for the year (Ace of Base held that distinction last with "The Sign"). The song depicted club culture and its "vibes" and ebbs.

Get Rich or Die Tryin' was also released in an edited version that was highly censored. This version of the album completely cuts all violence, profanity, and drug content. Also the track "Heat" is cut from the edited version of the album due to heavy use of violent language including references to weapons and murder, but especially having a shotgun pumping beat throughout the song.

The album also included disses of artists such as Ja Rule, Irv Gotti, Cadillac Tah, and Black Child. The song "Back Down" is often considered a classic diss song.

Early pressings of Get Rich or Die Tryin' included a limited edition bonus DVD.

Reception

Commercial reception

In its first week of release, Get Rich or Die Tryin' sold 872,000 records making it one of the highest week of sales of any rap album in history. The album spent a total of six weeks at #1 on the Billboard 200 charts, eight weeks on the Hip-Hop/Rap charts, and three weeks on the UK Album Charts. It was the best selling album of 2003 selling 6.3 million copies by the end of the year. The album has since sold over 8 million in the U.S. and 12 million copies worldwide and it has been certified 8x platinum. In the year of its release it won several awards and managed to break Snoop Dogg's record for highest selling debut in rap history.

Critical reception

Get Rich Or Die Tryin' has been called the most hyped rap debut in over a decade. [1] The album opened to very positive reviews, many praising the production, 50 Cent's melodic flow, and his hard-hitting wit. All Music Guide called the album impressive and incredibly calculated in their positive four star review. [2] Christian Hoard, a writer for Rolling Stone, comended 50 Cent's undeniable showcase of skill, radio-ready tracks, and marketable thug persona in addition to the album's production for its dark synth grooves, buzzy keyboards, and persistently funky bounce. [3]

It is one of only 16 rap albums to receive a perfect rating from XXL Magazine.

Singles

Main article: In da Club

"In da Club" was the first official single released to promote 50 Cent's commercial debut album Get Rich or Die Tryin'. The song was produced by Dr. Dre with co-production from Mike Elizondo. The track was released in late 2002 as the album's lead single and was well received from music critics.

"In da Club" became 50 Cent's first number one single and was one of 2003's most popular songs after reaching number one in the United States and peaking inside the top five on the majority of the European charts it entered. At the 46th Grammy Awards, it was nominated for Best Male Rap Solo Performance and Best Rap Song.

Main article: 21 Questions

"21 Questions" was the second official single and featured Nate Dogg, who gives additional vocals but is featured uncreditedly on the chorus and outro. The song was written by 50 Cent, K. Risto, J. Cameron, and V. Cameron for 50 Cent's commercial debut album Get Rich or Die Tryin' (2003). Released in 2003 as the album's second single, it became his second number one song in the United States after "In da Club". The track was produced by Dirty Swift and samples Barry White's "It's Only Love Doing Its Thing". Lil Mo made a remix to the song titled "21 answers".

Main article: P.I.M.P. (remix)

The "P.I.M.P. remix was the third single and official remix of P.I.M.P.. It features G-Unit and Snoop Dogg and peaked at #3 on the Billboard 200. The song begins with 50 Cent's first verse from the original version of the song, followed by verses from Snoop Dogg, Lloyd Banks, and Young Buck.In some countries P.I.M.P. Remix is featured as a Bonus Track.

Track listing

#	Title	Producer(s)	Featured guest(s)	Time
1	"Intro"			0:08
2	"What Up Gangsta"	Rob "Reef" Tewlow		2:59
3	"Patiently Waiting"	Eminem	Eminem	4:48
4	"Many Men (Wish Death)"	Darrell "Digga" Branch		4:16
5	"In da Club"	Dr. Dre and Mike Elizondo		3:40
6	"High All the Time"	DJ Rad and Eminem		4:29
7	"Heat"	Dr. Dre		4:14
8	"If I Can't"	Dr. Dre		3:16
9	"Blood Hound"	Sean Blaze	Young Buck	4:00
10	"Back Down"	Dr. Dre		4:03
11	"P.I.M.P."	Denaun Porter		4:09
12	"Like My Style"	Rockwilder	Tony Yayo	3:13
13	"Poor Lil Rich"	Sha Money XL		3:19
14	"21 Questions"	Midi Mafia	Nate Dogg	3:44
15	"Don't Push Me"	Eminem	Lloyd Banks & Eminem	4:08
16	"Gotta Make It to Heaven"	Megahertz		4:00
17	"Wanksta" (bonus track)	John "J-Praize" Freeman		3:39
18	"U Not Like Me" (bonus track)	Red Spyda		4:15
19	"Life's on the Line" (bonus track)	Terence Dudley		6:21
20	"Sam and Kathleen" (bonus track)	Havoc/ArmKim	3:38