Album Review: The Massacre by 50 Cent

50 Cent :: The MassacreShady Records/Aftermath/InterscopeAuthor: Steve 'Flash' JuonEasily the most anticipated record of 2005 thus far, 50 Cent's "The Massacre" was so hot the record label couldn't even keep it under wraps until the originally scheduled release date. Due to the overwhelming amount of bootlegging and digital theft, Interscope and everyone else involved agreed to push the release date up to Thursday, March 3rd - or at least that's what their hype and PR machinery would have you believe. New CD's normally come out on Tuesday, as you've no doubt noticed either by your shopping habits or the fact that's the day each week that RapReviews is updated.

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Following up one of the biggest debuts in hip-hop history, crack dealer turned charisma dealer 50 Cent makes some bold moves, recycles plenty of old ideas, and sprinkles in some perfect party singles for The Massacre. Crafty man that he is, 50 must have known following up the massive Get Rich or Die Tryin' was going to be extremely difficult, especially for a rapper rightfully known more for creating headlines than rhymes. To cushion the blow, 50 released an album by his G-Unit crew, made numerous guest appearances on other artist's tracks, and helmed ten mixtapes in his G-Unit Radio series.

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Curtis "50 Cent" Jackson's sixth album was heralded not by an extensive media campaign - pleading itchiness about internet piracy, his label sent The Massacre to journalists after the album's release date - but a hail of gunfire. The more waspish observer might suggest that, in Jackson's case, the two amount to the same thing. You would certainly be hard pushed to find another gangsta rapper who has traded so heavily on violence, who has turned a propensity for getting himself stabbed or shot - as a result of provoking pointless arguments with other rappers - into a career.

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