The Joker: I don’t want to kill you! What would I do without you? Go back to ripping off mob dealers? No, no, NO! No. You… you… complete me.
50 Cent has just released a new “street album” called War Angel for the downloading delight of his fans, haters and the curious bystander.
All eyes are on 50 right now.
It truly appears to be make it or break it time for the rap mogul, who appears to have sustained some collateral damage in the kinda-sorta battle with Miami’s Rick Ross. Based on the marketing behind War Angel, one gets the impression that 50 Cent has reloaded and is ready to shoot up the competition.
“I Line N***ad,” the first song, proves 50 Cent isn’t really playing and, in fact, is working really hard to re-establish his lyrical presence. The song is standard hardcore street-hop that is appealing to aficionados. Similarly, “Talking In Codes” and “Redrum (Murder)” are short, terse songs that will satisfy advocates of samples and boom bap music. Lyrically, 50 sounds hungry and the ad libs on several songs are even equipped with animalistic growls. “You are now under my hypnosis / Summer Time grind, come out with the toasters / I return like an animal ferocious / New money breed new enemies, n***a you know this,” 50 barks on “C.R.E.A.M. 2009.”
There are no production credits, but whoever helped paint the sonic backdrop had a great set of brushes. It truly feels good to hear abrasive Hip-Hop in an emerging era of colorful hipsters. There are moments when you hear 50 trying a bit too hard still it’s easy to forget this rapper is a multimillionaire that rolls tight with Bette Midler.
With a street album called War Angel, this reviewer could have done without “I’ll Do Anything,” “London Girl,” and “Cocaine,” all which deviate from the theme of angst and hostility. Certainly, there is a place for such songs on a commerical album so the ladies and other proponents of smoother sounds will likely appreciate them.
And for The Joker? When it comes to quality of his music, it almost seems that 50 Cent’s best work is indelibly linked to Ja Rule – his mortal enemy. The hatred 50 had for Ja, brought out the best in the G-Unit General. But, he opted to kill Ja’s career instead of letting him linger. Same with Rick Ross. Rick Ross has continued to diss 50 Cent, but 50 never lashes back at Ross. War Angel is more than sufficient, however it falls short of picking off where Get Rich Or Die Tryin’ left off. However unfair that may be, it is what it is.
With other mixtapes on the way, War Angel is a good indication that 50 Cent will be 100-percent by the time Before I Self Destruct comes out.
[Download] 50 Cent – “War Angel LP”
