Seattle Times Critic Disses 50 Cent

Message Bookmarked

Bookmark Removed

Co-star 50 Cent's "The Massacre" CD, which is well on its way to becoming the best-selling album of the year, has some of the most violent raps ever recorded, with plenty of gun shots and gangsta versions of the N-word. But fans have been passing on those cuts. The only ones they want to hear are the sexy, dance-oriented hits, like "Candy Shop" and "Just a Lil Bit," which make the best use of 50's obvious talents for rhyme and rhythm. The boastful, streetwise raps about how tough he is sound hollow and stupid. They're credible, because of his violent, criminal background, but the genre seems played out. Only fools buy into the gangsta myth, anyway.

http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/artsentertainment/2002382211_emcent15.html

― kay, Saturday, 16 July 2005 06:20 (twenty-one years ago)

best use of 50's obvious talents

"obvious"

― Alex in NYC (vassifer), Saturday, 16 July 2005 06:23 (twenty-one years ago)

there are tons of great lines in there but my favorite is "gangsta versions of the N-word."

― Al (sitcom), Saturday, 16 July 2005 07:26 (twenty-one years ago)

I like how this thread title is phrased. like there's gonna be a whole G-Unit Radio mixtape dedicated to firing back at Seattle Times critic Patrick MacDonald.

― Al (sitcom), Saturday, 16 July 2005 08:25 (twenty-one years ago)

"Patrick MacDonald doesn't even know the meaning of 'ghetto'"

― donut ferry (donut), Saturday, 16 July 2005 08:36 (twenty-one years ago)

Only fools buy into the gangsta myth, anyway.

I teach a lot of fools.

― peepee (peepee), Saturday, 16 July 2005 15:22 (twenty-one years ago)

Both headliners are bringing along their posses, unfortunately. Em has his D12, an all-black rap troupe that, let's fact it, exists to lend him credibility with black audiences.

― Gear! (Gear!), Saturday, 16 July 2005 15:27 (twenty-one years ago)

gangsta myth = no such thing as gangstas?

― deej.., Saturday, 16 July 2005 15:37 (twenty-one years ago)

yeah cuz d12 get em so much respect from black folk

― 3, Saturday, 16 July 2005 15:41 (twenty-one years ago)

I was gonna say!

― miccio (miccio), Saturday, 16 July 2005 16:02 (twenty-one years ago)

50 Cent is horrible.

"P.I.M.P." had the most hideous use of a steel drum ever.

― Bootney Leaf Farnsworth, Saturday, 16 July 2005 16:57 (twenty-one years ago)

Yeah! He's just a gang-banger!

― deej.., Saturday, 16 July 2005 17:07 (twenty-one years ago)

yeah but just because ppl on ilx will call you a racist for saying otherwise doesn't mean 50's actually worth a shit

― Banana Nutrament (ghostface), Saturday, 16 July 2005 18:09 (twenty-one years ago)

How often does that happen really? Mostly people will call you an idiot because he's made great music.

― deej.., Saturday, 16 July 2005 18:26 (twenty-one years ago)

And by "people" i mean "me."

― deej.., Saturday, 16 July 2005 18:27 (twenty-one years ago)

I wouldn't call someone an idiot for not liking 50 but you know that moment where you've been hating someone for a while and then they surprise you with a smile and then suddenly its love? I think that happened for me the first time I heard him say "top" on the chorus of Hate It Or Love It.

― miccio (miccio), Saturday, 16 July 2005 18:30 (twenty-one years ago)

Miccio I'm calling him an idiot for off the cuff dismissals, this guy obviously has no interest in, you know, actually listening to 50 Cent's music.

And I think Ghetto Qu'ran was the first time I realized 50 cent was hot shit.

― deej.., Saturday, 16 July 2005 18:42 (twenty-one years ago)

I don't think you need to get so worked-up about defending multiplatinum criminals from people who don't bother to find reasons to give their reprehensibility a pass.

― miccio (miccio), Saturday, 16 July 2005 18:45 (twenty-one years ago)

I love the idea that critics should be defending artists from the whims of the general populace, rather than, you know, other critics. Like, the millions of 50 Cent fans care what any of us have to say? We're in a dialogue with each other, and most people on ILM think 50 Cent sucks. So there you go.

― deej.., Saturday, 16 July 2005 19:11 (twenty-one years ago)

There's nothing idiotic about dismissing 50 Cent. If anything it would be idiotic to not realize the obvious reasons someone would be within their rights not to want to deal with the dude.

― miccio (miccio), Saturday, 16 July 2005 19:19 (twenty-one years ago)

But Miccio this is ILM!

― deej.., Saturday, 16 July 2005 19:24 (twenty-one years ago)

As opposed to what, Earth?

― miccio (miccio), Saturday, 16 July 2005 19:25 (twenty-one years ago)

Where fun rules with an iron fist.

The point I'm making is - strictly speaking of critical circles here - if 50 Cent is default crappy here, where is that not the case?

― deej.., Saturday, 16 July 2005 19:26 (twenty-one years ago)

that statement doesn't make sense.

― miccio (miccio), Saturday, 16 July 2005 19:28 (twenty-one years ago)

Like "Man, fuck that mainstream rap shit, its all guns and gangsters and bitches and hos!" Next thing you know we'll be voting "Hey Ya" and Kid A as music milestones of the 00s.

― deej.., Saturday, 16 July 2005 19:29 (twenty-one years ago)

Miccio you like "Disco Inferno" and "Just A Lil Bit" WTF you lose

― Al (sitcom), Saturday, 16 July 2005 19:30 (twenty-one years ago)

although I too have no idea where deej is going in this thread.

― Al (sitcom), Saturday, 16 July 2005 19:31 (twenty-one years ago)

Al, one can understand why others don't like something and yet like it yourself.

― miccio (miccio), Saturday, 16 July 2005 19:31 (twenty-one years ago)

GANGSTA FITE ILM-STYLEE!
Miccio, you gets tha guns; I'm gettin' tha pitchforks!
Al and Deej, keep watch for rockists!
Le's smoke dem versions of the N-word!

― Forksclovetofu (Forksclovetofu), Saturday, 16 July 2005 19:33 (twenty-one years ago)

true!! (xpost)

― Al (sitcom), Saturday, 16 July 2005 19:33 (twenty-one years ago)

then how did I 'lose'?

― miccio (miccio), Saturday, 16 July 2005 19:36 (twenty-one years ago)

miccio i'm saying i like ilm because normally its a place where assumptions are questioned. It seems like that doesn't happen very often with 50. I mean, don't get me wrong, i thought Massacre was mostly crap but these generic "50 cent sucks" posts are sort of frustrating. I don't go in beck threads and do that shit.

Al, one can understand why others don't like something and yet like it yourself.

I don't disagree with this!

― deej.., Saturday, 16 July 2005 19:38 (twenty-one years ago)

I dunno, i just thought it was funny that you were backing up the 50 haters in this thread but you like his dullest singles. not much of a point to make, I know, but I'm pretty sure if you and deej kept going at it like that without anyone else jumping in the middle it would've gone on all day. (xp)

― Al (sitcom), Saturday, 16 July 2005 19:38 (twenty-one years ago)

Besides, enjoying an inescapable radio hit makes you a winner.

x-post deej, if anything it sounds like you're making assumptions.

― miccio (miccio), Saturday, 16 July 2005 19:39 (twenty-one years ago)

yeah true. whenever i can find something to like in a song I'm going to be hearing a few times a day for a couple months it makes my life a little easier.

― Al (sitcom), Saturday, 16 July 2005 19:41 (twenty-one years ago)

I'd rather have sex with the corpse of Marie Antoinette than own a 50 Cent album. And I love rap.

― 50 Cent is Awesome, Saturday, 16 July 2005 19:42 (twenty-one years ago)

Huh? I just think going in a thread and saying 50 cent is crap is lame.

i can understand why people don't like something if, you know, they actually explain why.

(xp for example...)

― deej.., Saturday, 16 July 2005 19:43 (twenty-one years ago)

50 Cent is a minstrel show for suburban white kids anyway.

― James Slone (Freon Trotsky), Saturday, 16 July 2005 19:47 (twenty-one years ago)

And the train rolls on.

― deej.., Saturday, 16 July 2005 19:48 (twenty-one years ago)

haha, what's up James? this is Rob from the SSMT ...err...rogthefrog forums ;)

how about this--50 Cent is excess at best. The production on his albums is sterile, his rhymes are stagnant and uninspired, and the whole thing just reeks of laziness. He's just cashing in on the current trends....but he's really boring.

― 50 Cent is Awesome, Saturday, 16 July 2005 19:53 (twenty-one years ago)

i like his kittenish lisp

― miccio (miccio), Saturday, 16 July 2005 19:55 (twenty-one years ago)

I think my given reason for dislinking 50 Cent is pretty specific.

― James Slone (Freon Trotsky), Saturday, 16 July 2005 19:57 (twenty-one years ago)

I also like how the moment of penetration is represented by a sitar solo

― miccio (miccio), Saturday, 16 July 2005 19:58 (twenty-one years ago)

the girl who took my eye care appointment today was cute but needed to wax her upper lip....

― 50 Cent is Awesome, Saturday, 16 July 2005 19:58 (twenty-one years ago)

What, a suspect assumption that relies on subjective "evidence"? xp

― deej.., Saturday, 16 July 2005 19:59 (twenty-one years ago)

Actually, two xposts.

― deej.., Saturday, 16 July 2005 19:59 (twenty-one years ago)

Most of the reasons I like 50 have been discussed on other threads, but from what I remember... I like the way each lyric (at least on his great songs) is like its own mini-hook, the way he makes morally questionable decisions seem downright reasonable ("next day same shit..."), well I like the whole GRODT album but specifically "He got shot like I got shot but he ain't fuckin' breathin'" on "Many Men," the way when he's pissed his voice sounds twisted, etc. etc. etc.

― deej.., Saturday, 16 July 2005 20:03 (twenty-one years ago)

Music tastes are completely subjective. What evidence should I provide? That I find 50 to be a laughable caricature of tough guy bravado, that his songs are neither compelling nor interesting, that in general his whole schtick is irredeemably silly. Or that a racist white fantasist couldn't come up with a better representative of a stereotyped black community. Actually I don't really mind him, but I can see why many dislike him.

― James Slone (Freon Trotsky), Saturday, 16 July 2005 20:04 (twenty-one years ago)

Hate to break it to you deej, but most all opinions (other than assessments of the technical side of things) on music are "subjective". Hence why it's an "opinion" and not a concrete "fact". Those who cannot deal with that often spend their time on ILM whining.

― 50 Cent is Awesome, Saturday, 16 July 2005 20:06 (twenty-one years ago)

Of course all opinions are subjective. Some opinions are also cliche and boring, though.

― deej.., Saturday, 16 July 2005 20:07 (twenty-one years ago)

Skipping 225 messages at this point... Click here if you want to load them all.

Miccio OTM; this is a stupid argument and I'm embarrassed for contributing to it.

― The Ghost of Dan Perry (Dan Perry), Monday, 18 July 2005 14:15 (twenty-one years ago)

yeah but does that kinda shit affect 50's standing w/ most ppl? when it comes to 50 im alot closer to a midwestern white girl than a g-unit dickrider so dont act like im shittin on any of that

― 3, Monday, 18 July 2005 14:17 (twenty-one years ago)

oh get off it dan how is this stupid?

― 3, Monday, 18 July 2005 14:17 (twenty-one years ago)

I think what 3's getting at is that a couple million sales does not = respect.

― deej.., Monday, 18 July 2005 14:19 (twenty-one years ago)

i don't think even the most sociopathic people on ILX should assume what "most" people are up to. There are still people who cut themselves for Better Than Ezra, I think we can assume 50 has a few.

― miccio (miccio), Monday, 18 July 2005 14:19 (twenty-one years ago)

yeah maybe its just a south thing!! if you asked me if young buck still got fans itd be a difft story

― 3, Monday, 18 July 2005 14:20 (twenty-one years ago)

look i know new york is desperate to be important in rap again but cmon, candy shop!?!

― 3, Monday, 18 July 2005 14:21 (twenty-one years ago)

El-P should produce for ghostface! That'll put NYC on the map.

― deej.., Monday, 18 July 2005 14:23 (twenty-one years ago)

Yes that was a joke.

― deej.., Monday, 18 July 2005 14:23 (twenty-one years ago)

you'd be surprised how many towns in the US have MTV but not much in the way of a rap game, dude.

― miccio (miccio), Monday, 18 July 2005 14:24 (twenty-one years ago)

It's stupid because we're talking from to completely different demographics here; 50 Cent is still ginormous in my everyday context and no one could give a shit about him in yours. Okay, fine. What's really left to discuss? "No, MY anectdotal experience is way more important than yours." "No you're wrong, and furthermore since I'm on the real tip I can speak for everyone in the country who laid down cash for this album." "No actually, my massive brain and my enormous penis are both points against you." "Lick the balls." etc etc etc etc

― The Ghost of Dan Perry (Dan Perry), Monday, 18 July 2005 14:25 (twenty-one years ago)

i came from a town of 1000 ppl in south carolina and we still decided what rappers was hot and what rappers was trash

― 3, Monday, 18 July 2005 14:26 (twenty-one years ago)

yeah i understand what you mean dan i guess i didnt realize you were arguing from a mainstream viewpoint instead of what rap actually thinks of 50

― 3, Monday, 18 July 2005 14:27 (twenty-one years ago)

I'm not sure what just happened, but my point upthread was strictly the world of ILX and critics, (neither of which are two far removed from the other), on which 50 Cent plays a bit part compared to the likes of M.I.A. and the Hold Steady.

― deej.., Monday, 18 July 2005 14:27 (twenty-one years ago)

Did somebody say "Lick the balls"?

http://www.vh1.com/shared/media/news/images/s/Slick_Rick/sq-plaid-shirt-intvw-03.jpg

x-post: did somebody say "rap"?

― the ruler (miccio), Monday, 18 July 2005 14:28 (twenty-one years ago)

Hahahahaha I am the LAST person who would try to talk about what rap thinks of anyone!

― The Ghost of Dan Perry (Dan Perry), Monday, 18 July 2005 14:28 (twenty-one years ago)

What does rap think of Three Doors Down, ethan? I know Ludacris big-upped them in Blender.

― miccio (miccio), Monday, 18 July 2005 14:29 (twenty-one years ago)

I think the Massacre is 50 Cent's New Jersey as opposed to Get Rich's Slippery When Wet.

― M@tt He1geson (Matt Helgeson), Monday, 18 July 2005 14:30 (twenty-one years ago)

man im not tryna say i alone know what rap thinks of artists just that we can argue that sensibly

― 3, Monday, 18 July 2005 14:31 (twenty-one years ago)

xpost here comes more juelz = neil young comparisons

― 3, Monday, 18 July 2005 14:31 (twenty-one years ago)

btw i actually said this shit early in the thread when i mentioned d12 and nobody disagreed then! they did like 3 million on that last CD

― 3, Monday, 18 July 2005 14:33 (twenty-one years ago)

A fellow professor - a fortysomething white male – was mumbling "Just a Lil Bit" to himself in the library elevator this morning, which should fuck with some people's observations about who buys Fitty's records.

― Alfred Soto (Alfred Soto), Monday, 18 July 2005 14:36 (twenty-one years ago)

you better hope it was to himself

― miccio (miccio), Monday, 18 July 2005 14:49 (twenty-one years ago)

50 Cent > D12 no matter what the context is!

― The Ghost of Dan Perry (Dan Perry), Monday, 18 July 2005 14:51 (twenty-one years ago)

d12 world >>>>>>>>>>> the massacre

― 3, Monday, 18 July 2005 14:53 (twenty-one years ago)

If the album tracks are more like "My Band" than "How Come," maybe.

― miccio (miccio), Monday, 18 July 2005 14:57 (twenty-one years ago)

and even then it would be just a single >

― miccio (miccio), Monday, 18 July 2005 14:58 (twenty-one years ago)

hahahah how come is wack as fuck but they come w/ some lyrics on most of that album! did you never hear 40 oz?

― 3, Monday, 18 July 2005 15:00 (twenty-one years ago)

yeah true i would save >>>>>>>>>> for devils night vs massacre

― 3, Monday, 18 July 2005 15:00 (twenty-one years ago)

I could totally see Fiddy doing "Drips."

― Alfred Soto (Alfred Soto), Monday, 18 July 2005 15:11 (twenty-one years ago)

drips was obie not any of the d12 cats, but yeah classic song!! i can see lloyd banks doin it, angrily

― 3, Monday, 18 July 2005 15:13 (twenty-one years ago)

no, dude! "Drips" is VILE. Eminem and D12 only work when they collab on novelty meta-songs like "My Band.'

― Alfred Soto (Alfred Soto), Monday, 18 July 2005 15:15 (twenty-one years ago)

I haven't heard Devil's Night in ages but I loved what I heard - just a bunch of guys passing the mic around and trying to gross each other out.

― miccio (miccio), Monday, 18 July 2005 15:16 (twenty-one years ago)

yeah its shamefully one of my favorite albums, stands up alot better now than all that old eminem too

― 3, Monday, 18 July 2005 15:19 (twenty-one years ago)

It does sound a bit like every lunchroom gross-out gag you told in 6th grade.

― Alfred Soto (Alfred Soto), Monday, 18 July 2005 15:20 (twenty-one years ago)

D12 are like that Method Man skit on the first Wu-Tang album in which he threatens to tie your asshole closed and then he'lll keep FEEDIN' YA and FEEDIN' YA

― Alfred Soto (Alfred Soto), Monday, 18 July 2005 15:25 (twenty-one years ago)

yeah but they do it with a real flair that alot of the detroit horror rap folk aint got

― 3, Monday, 18 July 2005 15:26 (twenty-one years ago)

I love that skit!

― miccio (miccio), Monday, 18 July 2005 15:31 (twenty-one years ago)

40 oz is so great! Underrated clearly.

― deej.., Monday, 18 July 2005 15:36 (twenty-one years ago)

It also helps that it's a much-needed funny interlude in an album that's unrelentingly grim.

(xxpost)

― Alfred Soto (Alfred Soto), Monday, 18 July 2005 15:38 (twenty-one years ago)

anyways, how are TI and Saigon "no frill" rappers?

― Sym Sym (sym), Tuesday, 19 July 2005 01:12 (twenty-one years ago)

3 you know I love you but I seriously don't think you know shit about album sales & demographics, you're talking like you got your info outta magazines or something

― Banana Nutrament (ghostface), Tuesday, 19 July 2005 01:44 (twenty-one years ago)

2 page spread vs 1?

― 007 (thoia), Tuesday, 19 July 2005 01:49 (twenty-one years ago)

hey can ppl list more great winter 0203 rap cds you cld almost hear passin all those girls in scarves or wonderin if itd snow just once? i like how loyaltys got that kay slay dropin and then its just memories

― 007 (thoia), Tuesday, 19 July 2005 02:00 (twenty-one years ago)

heehee:

WASHINGTON (Reuter-CP) -- Canada's Alanis Morissette has tied Whitney Houston for having the best-selling album ever by a female solo artist, the Recording Industry Association of America said Wednesday.

notice it doesn't say "tied them crazy bitches bjork and tori amos"

just sayin'.

― hstencil (hstencil), Tuesday, 19 July 2005 02:04 (twenty-one years ago)

crazier! i myself wouldnt suggest either did more #s career cuz im always shocked ppl know bjork at all, wait at virgin for midnight boxes etc. im kind of hoping the two cld stay steady and tied for like a decade, till ties broken

― 007 (thoia), Tuesday, 19 July 2005 02:10 (twenty-one years ago)

i really liked whitney and bobby together at last the last place i ws that there ws cable!

― 007 (thoia), Tuesday, 19 July 2005 02:32 (twenty-one years ago)

yeah whitney's nuts. anyway that was clipped from an article a while back, alanis probably beat out whitney eventually. dunno where crazy bitch mariah carey is in the standings.

― hstencil (hstencil), Tuesday, 19 July 2005 02:54 (twenty-one years ago)

maybe only doing the 400 relay and not really wanting to attach a 3200

― 007 (thoia), Tuesday, 19 July 2005 03:01 (twenty-one years ago)

fourteen years pass...

aw snap poor fiddy

― Bo Johnson Coviddied (Neanderthal), Friday, 10 April 2020 04:20 (six years ago)

You must be logged in to post. Please either login here, or if you are not registered, you may register here.