50 Cent’s newest project, Before I Self Destruct, gets released a week from yesterday but i already got a copy. Why did i already get a copy? Don’t ask stupid questions (haha).

Let me give a break down of what i thought about the album but in summary, if you liked Get Rich or Die Tryin’ and The Massacre, you shouldn’t dislike this album. It’s not more of the same because 50 hasn’t been putting out this kind of music for a while.

Track 1: The Invitation. This song is a crazy introduction to 50’s album with lines like “you want some, come get some/it’s murder one when i toss my gun” and “i just squeeze and squeeze til the whole clip come/you just bleed and bleed til the police come”. Sure, they are disturbing and violent lyrics but they are what 50 Cent is known for.

Track 2: Then Days Went By. This track slows it down a bit and talks about a chick. He obviously throws in some crazy lyrics but this slowed down jam is something you can bop to after The Invitation infuriated you with violent energy.

Track 3: Death to My Enemies. The title explains it all. 50 realized after The Massacre that people weren’t feeling the whole violent message in his music so he made a movie with the accompanying soundtrack and then the album Curtis. He soon found out that the soft, non-violent stuff wasn’t as popular so he’s back with a vengeance. The hook includes the line “i bring money to my n****s that bring death to my enemies”. I can understand that people don’t like this message but it’s what he’s good at. It’s like expecting Justin Timberlake to do well at a heavy metal song. He can’t because it’s not his niche. Non-violent stuff is not 50’s niche.

Track 4: So Disrespectful. This track was leaked weeks before the album dropped and it’s on fire. What’s good about this album and song is that 50 doesn’t hold back with lyrics or who he swings at. He talks about being disrespectful and talking smack to people like being in a higher tax bracket and somewhere that people can’t reach. The song starts off with some weird crazy lyrics but you can’t get past the hook and beat just getting you to listen to this song over and over again. You might even hear it on the radio.

Track 5: Psycho featuring Eminem. The undeniably unstoppable duo are back at it together. The last time you might recall they were on a track together was for Patiently Waiting off Get Rich or Die Tryin’. What i like about 50’s style is that he’s condescending and constantly tells people that he’s crazy and that they can’t mess with him. Psycho is nothing different. Eminem’s verse doesn’t disappoint either. Every time i hear this song i can’t help but think about Patiently Waiting

Track 6: Hold Me Down. It’s a “love song” about a girl telling her that she’s important and that 50 needs her to hold him down. There’s nothing more to say than it maintains having heavy beats like the rest of the album but the message and lyrics are more “romantic” for lack of a better word.

Track 7: Crime Wave. The title says it all. This track was also released early, it was the first leaked track after the release of “Baby By Me”. Just take a guess at what this song is about, 50 Cent protecting his empire and telling haters that if they try to screw him, he’s going to get back at them with a crime wave.

Track 8: Stretch. The little summaries and reviews of each song keep getting shorter because there’s only so much to say about 50’s music. Each song is a different short-story of violence. The good thing is that they’re all the same but it doesn’t get repetitive because they’re original. This song is about drug dealing and stretching your product. Some stuff just makes me chuckle…

Track 9: Strong Enough. With all due respect to 50, i’m not going to write anything else about this song. Just scroll up and read what i wrote before. This song is slower than the other bangers though.

Track 10: Get It Hot. When this song started on my iTunes, i thought it was “So Seductive” because the beat is very similar. This song though is about girls wanting 50. Here’s a line “she want me, why you think she want me”.

Track 11: Gangsta’s Delight. This one is a little gangsta parody/tribute to Sugar Hill Gang’s “Rapper’s Delight”. The beat is a little electro and 50 starts off with the same song format as “Rapper’s Delight” but it takes a 50 Cent twist. It’s actually pretty good/funny and keeps you listening.

Track 12: I Got Swag. Let’s leave it at this song combining all the songs about being the shit, not being able to be taken down and seducing girls all in one. It’s a 50 Cent song orgy.

Track 13: Baby By Me. You all know this song by now already. if you dont, get on this quick. it features Ne-Yo and it is FIRE. this is what you hear on your radio all day everyday. “have a baby by me baby be a millionaire”

Track 14: Do You Think About Me. 50 slows it down for this song and instead of getting the girls running to him with his boisterous lyrics, he asks the chicks if they’re thinking about him.

Track 15: OK, You’re Right. This is the second to last song of the regular edition CD, without the bonus tracks and 50 goes hard all the way thru. there are barely any tracks (maybe one or two) that are not straight fire songs. 50 Cent calms down with this track by listening to his critics and instead of getting mad and “killing” them, he gets them to shut up by saying that they’re right but that they dont know what they’re talking about.

Track 16: Could’ve Been You featuring R. Kelly. Did i read that right? does it say R Kelly? Yeah it does, R. Kelly is featuring on this track donating his vocals to the last track on the album. The song has drum beats with a snare and maracas. It’s just a regular old song with no specific message but the one that everyone loves, live large and just chill with your girl.

Overall rating for this album: 9/10

I gave it a 9 because not all the songs made me beat my head but Crime Wave, So Disrespectful, Psycho, Baby by Me, Death to My Enemies and others made the album too good to give a low rating.

On another note, i’ve only given one album in my (recent) life a 10/10 and that was Kid Cudi’s “Man on the Moon”.