Power Of The Dollar

Ok, let me clear this up, since the rapper known as 50 cent released his first album I have always hated him. He's one of the persons that have turned rap as commercial and shallow that it is today. A couple of days ago I heard a track by him and to my surprise I thought it was quite good, deffinitely over average in modern rap, anyways I looked up from what album it was and it was from an unreleased album named "The Power Of The Dollar" it was from the time when he wasn't yet signed to aftermath, I listened to other songs from the album and they were totally different from his new tracks.

I really like his old flow and his lyrics are ok, though of course not anywhere near the level of, let's say Nas. He sounded as he truky had fun rapping and making his tracks. Now I wonder what the changed his entire style and mind set from a "dreamer" to a arrogant idiot rapping about women, and fancy "bling-bling", was it aftermath and the money? The beef with Ja Rule? He getting shot (3 times, not 9)?

Compare these two tracks:

"The Good Die Young" (Power Of The Dollar)

[Fifty talkin' to himself]
Yo, you know what I want? I want the beat to drop right..now
*****s be thinkin' I'm crazy right?
you are crazy..
I ain't crazy...
you are crazy....
atleast I don't think I'm crazy
I think my **** is hot, I think I'm hot
you hot but you crazy..
why they wanna?..man..I don't know...

[Verse 1:]
It's the money that - makes **** get ugly
It's the money that - makes these hoes love me
It's the money that - makes *****s wanna slug me
man..I thought the money would make it all lovely
Yo, I actually write what I do or see
the felonies from day to day make me say what I say
when I die my art will be worth more than Picasso's, don't cry for me,
smile for me
and if you see them *****s that wet me, wile' for me
remember the good times, the chips we stacked
the clips we packed
and all the bricks we cooked from coke to crack
let my tombstone read "I Tried" and from the start everything I wrote
was from my heart
so it'll always be number one on my chart
I get sensitive with my ****, don't **** with my art
sometimes it sounds like I'm playin' but I'm sayin'
this **** is real, it ain't a game.

[Chorus]
They say the good die young, I guess these grimy *****s live a
long time, sit in fancy whips, sip champaigne and shine, keep your eyes
on yours while I keep my eyes on mine. [Repeat]

[Verse 2:]
First it happened to Stretch then to Pac and Big
I'm convinced it can happen to anybody kid
so I get vest up when I get dressed up
in the hood it's messed up, *****s runnin' 'round shootin' **** up
if it's Dom that you drinkin' fill up my cup
if you got somethin' to doubt me, shut the **** up
why do *****s act like they hard when they know they butt?
and gettin' robbed ain't a good time to press ya luck
duke listen, if you move I'm'a hurt you
you'll get your turn to shine later, patience is a virtue
right now what you need to do is gimme the cash
forget about your Boss bein' mad, just save ya ass
be a good Boy now, go and get your stash
I seen you throw it next to the garbage can like it was trash
alright run along before I shoot ya ass
I hate to do this to you but I really need this cash.

[Chorus 2X]

[Verse 3:]
I know we all gotta go, but I'd hate to go fast
then again I don't think it'd be fun to stick around and go last
man listen, if you really really like this ****
***** call Steve Stoute and I'll write ya ****
call him now before I drop for real 'cause after I drop
I'm'a be chargin' ya'll *****s like Forty a pop
to each his own, me? I got it while it was cheap
typical mentality, I know, I'm straight from the street
1999's the year of the predator, I'm killin' to eat
*****s'll treat you like a egg, you come to cop you get beat
gimme your dough, oh, you wore your jewels? what a treat
you're a generous guy
take 'em off or die
man, we hurtin' 'round here, ain't nobody slingin' pies
look around, ain't nobody 'round here fly
why you 'round here with this **** anyway? huh? you high?
see, you done made the wrong move, kiss your ass goodbye.

[Chorus 2x]

"Candy Shop" (The Massacre)
(feat. Olivia)

[Intro: 50 Cent]
Yeah...
Uh huh
So seductive

[Chorus: 50 Cent & Olivia]
[50 Cent]
I'll take you to the candy shop
I'll let you lick the lollypop
Go 'head girl, don't you stop
Keep going 'til you hit the spot (woah)
[Olivia]
I'll take you to the candy shop
Boy one taste of what I got
I'll have you spending all you got
Keep going 'til you hit the spot (woah)

[Verse 1: 50 Cent]
You can have it your way, how do you want it
You gon' back that thing up or should i push up on it
Temperature rising, okay lets go to the next level
Dance floor jam packed, hot as a teakettle
I'll break it down for you now, baby it's simple
If you be a nympho, I'll be a nympho
In the hotel or in the back of the rental
On the beach or in the park, it's whatever you into
Got the magic stick, I'm the love doctor
Have your friends teasin you 'bout how sprung I gotcha
Wanna show me how you work it baby, no problem
Get on top then get to bouncing round like a low rider
I'm a seasons vet when it come to this ****
After you work up a sweat you can play with the stick
I'm tryin to explain baby the best way I can
I melt in your mouth girl, not in your hands (ha ha)

[Chorus]

[Bridge: 50 Cent & Olivia]
Girl what we do (what we do)
And where we do (and where we do)
The things we do (things we do)
Are just between me and you (oh yeah)

[Verse 2: 50 Cent]
Give it to me baby, nice and slow
Climb on top, ride like you in the rodeo
You ain't never heard a sound like this before
Cause I ain't never put it down like this
Soon as I come through the door she get to pullin on my zipper
It's like it's a race who can get undressed quicker
Isn't it ironic how erotic it is to watch em in thongs
Had me thinking 'bout that ass after I'm gone
I touch the right spot at the right time
Lights on or lights off, she like it from behind
So seductive, you should see the way she wind
Her hips in slow-mo on the floor when we grind
As Long as she ain't stoppin, homie I aint stoppin
Drippin wet with sweat man its on and popping
All my champagne campaign, bottle after bottle its on
And we gon' sip til every bubble in every bottle is gone

[Chorus 2x]

Now I wonder what the changed his entire style and mind set from a "dreamer" to a arrogant idiot rapping about women, and fancy "bling-bling"

The answer actually lies in the title of his unrealeased album. Money and the desire for money change people, even to the point where they will "sell out" on their original ideas. If he didn't rap about bling and women he might not sell as many albums, or he might receive less publicity, or he may even be dropped from from his label. White sububan kids(who account for 90% of rap/hip-hop sales), don't want rappers talking about the real politcal and social problems of living in the ghetto. Bling Bling and hoes provide a much more appealing form musical escape.

I am a white suburban kid who you could call a wigger, I think the whole ho's and bling bling **** is ****ing gay.

Originally Posted by Tecumseh

The answer actually lies in the title of his unrealeased album. Money and the desire for money change people, even to the point where they will "sell out" on their original ideas. If he didn't rap about bling and women he might not sell as many albums, or he might receive less publicity, or he may even be dropped from from his label. White sububan kids(who account for 90% of rap/hip-hop sales), don't want rappers talking about the real politcal and social problems of living in the ghetto. Bling Bling and hoes provide a much more appealing form musical escape.

Indeed. Rap is unfortunately controlled by those who have no relation to the reality of the culture of these artists. Artists must then conform to a set idea in order to push their tracks, and suburbia only wants a particular type of 'image' to worship; after which, of course, many chastise the African American Community for producing a culture that is self destructive.

Perhaps, I should rant elsewhere though.