50 Cent Curtis (Aftermath) 50 Cent's motives for getting into music were signposted four years ago by the man himself. 'And if they hate, then let 'em hate and watch the money pile up,' was his calling card on breakthrough hit In Da Club, which was closely followed by debut album Get Rich or Die Tryin. Two uninspired albums later and a Forbes magazine-estimated personal fortune of US$32 million, 50 Cent is, indeed, rich. Evidently, he has also stopped trying. If anything, the front cover articulates exactly how the listener feels after hearing this album. If only Fiddy would simply concentrate on his soft drink empire, because there's nothing on Curtis that suggests a willingness to progress musically. With titles such as My Gun Go Off, I'll Still Kill, I Get Money, and, tellingly, Straight to the Bank, Curtis is as good a demonstration of tired gangster pantomime as you could ask for. Nothing has changed. The usual suspects, including Timbaland, Akon, Dr Dre, and Eminem are all on board, but none can save Curtis from its mind-numbing mediocrity - indeed their presence here serves to under- mine their efforts elsewhere. The production seems faxed in and most of the tracks are barely credible filler. Only the duet with Mary J. Blige, All of Me, is noteworthy, due to the strength of the collaborator as opposed to the mumbling cash machine she's teamed up with. Although his ability to monetise his fame and turn it into a multitude of businesses may be admirable, as a musical proposition 50 Cent is now bankrupt. He stated recently that he'll retire from the music industry if Kanye West's album outsells his. Let's hope he stays true to his word.
