50 Cent: Gangsta Rap, Hip-Hop’s Love Child

The late 80’s through the mid 90’s saw the controversial rise and the harsh fall to the genre of gangsta rap.
Led by Ice-T, NWA (Ni**gas Wit’ Attitudes) and the late Tupac Shakur, the hard rapping style “bullied” all genres in comparison.
The latter 90’s also saw the rise of materialistic hip-hop with most rappers rapping about fast cars, faster women and the “ice” around their necks.
While the talk of “Bling, Bling” filled airwaves, gangsta rap and hip-hop were developing a “love child” that would change how we partied for our birthdays. That child is 50 Cent.
Late last year, the New York native 50 Cent became a household name. It could have been because he was Eminem and Dr. Dre’s protégé, because he was shot numerous times or his on and off feud wax with Ja Rule. Many felt their feud was one-sided from the beginning and Ja could not compare to 50 Cent’s gangsta attitude.
“Ja Rule needs to be quiet because he isn’t a gangsta. He is a wannabe. He should be careful before he gets hurt. Ja has a wife and kids to think about,” said Baton Rouge’s Max 94.1 disc jockey “Sashika, the Island Princess.”
Curtis “50 Cent” Jackson’s album, Get Rich or Die Tryin’ was so heavily anticipated, Shady/Aftermath executives took a chance and released the album five days early. The following week 50 Cent slammed into the charts with a record-breaking debut of 872,000 copies sold.
This accomplishment secured gangsta rap’s position in the music industry.
“50 Cent is hot! He is a real lyricist and does not care if people don’t like his songs. He is just tight,” said the “Island Princess.”
50 Cent is the topic of conversation everywhere. People of all ages and races are singing him praises including students at Southern University, as well as comparing him to other rap artists.
“Fifty is the biggest rapper since Eminem. He has brought the rap game to new levels, but I don’t think he deserves to be compared to Tupac Shakur so early in his career,” said Jacques Coleman, a freshman biology major from Houston.
Currently, 50 Cent has control of most of Billboard’s major tallies. His hit “In Da Club” has held its position at the top of the Hot 100 charts, the Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Singles & Tracks and the Hot Rap Tracks. His album Get Rich or Die Tryin’ is still leading the album charts. Beyonce’ of Destiny’s Child is also cashing in on 50’s with her version of “In Da Club,” climbing the charts.
With all the attention, on 50 Cent many students are surprised with his popularity.
“I’m surprised that he has crossed over into mainstream ‘popular’ music with his gangsta credentials. Evidently being shot in the face and overcoming obstacles are the new trends,” said Jessica Ransby, a freshman marketing major from Chicago.