50 Cent: Get Rich Or Die Tryin'. Hip-Hop's Lazarus Comes Forth...

<p>B. Cox &amp; J. Owe review <strong>50 Cent</strong>&#39;s explosive debut album <em>Get Rich or Die Tryin&#39;</em> as it turns 20. After a successful run as a protege of Run DMC&#39;s Jam Master Jay, the Queens youth turned drug dealer turned emcee was set to make his mark after series of setbacks including being shot multiple times, being dropped by his label while having his debut album scrapped and being blacklisted from the industry. After getting back on his feet and releasing several independent mixtapes, his free agency prompted one of the rap game&#39;s most competitive bidding wars. <strong>Dr. Dre </strong>and <strong>Eminem </strong>emerged victorious, signing him to a $1 million deal to Shady Records and Aftermath Entertainment and prepared to record his debut album. </p><p>Working under the masterful guidance and tutelage of Dre and Eminem, the album was also boosted by production from the likes of several standout producers such as <strong>Sha Money XL, J-Praize, Rockwilder, Megahertz, Dirty Swift, Mike Elizondo, Darrell &#34;Digga&#34; Branch</strong> and others. The multi-layered, multi faceted production approach was the perfect soundtrack behind 50s trademark voice that laced the tracks with a mix of wittty bars and gritty street tales. He was also assisted with features from the likes of Eminem, <strong>Nate Dogg and his fellow G-Unit comrades Lloyd Banks, Young Buck and Tony Yayo.</strong></p><p>The debut week was massive, selling over 870,000 copies, becoming at the time the biggest debut for a hip-hop album ever. the album was boosted by many singles, including the Billboard Hot 100 #1 singles &#34;In the Club&#34; and &#34;21 Questions&#34; along with the Top 10 hit &#34;P.I.M.P&#34;. &#34;In the Club&#34; became one of the most successful hip-hop and crossover singles in the 2000s. The album would also become RIAA-certified 9x platinum. It has led to 50 Cent being one of the most successful hip-hop artists of all time and led to his additional successes in branding, entertainment and l