Power of the Dollar

Power of the Dollar
Studio album by 50 Cent
Recorded Bearsville Studios, New York; 1998–1999
Genre East Coast hip hop, gangsta rap, underground hip hop
Length 63:16
Label Trackmasters Ent., Columbia
Producer Trackmasters, Randy Allen, Al West, Terence Dudley, Red Spyda, Rashad Smith, Joshua Michael Schwartz, Brian Koerulf, Sha Self, DJ Scratch, Erick Sermon
50 Cent chronology
Power of the Dollar
(2000)		 Guess Who's Back?
(2002)
Singles from Power of the Dollar
  1. "Thug Love"
    Released: September 21, 1999
  2. "Your Life's on the Line"
    Released: October 12, 1999
  3. "How To Rob"
    Released: October 10,1999
Professional ratings
Review scores
SourceRating
Allmusic[1]

Power of the Dollar is the unreleased debut studio album by American hip hop recording artist 50 Cent. The album was originally set to be released as his major-label debut on July 4, 1999, by Columbia Records.[2] The album's release was cancelled, after 50 Cent was dropped from the label, when Columbia discovered that he was struck by nine bullets in a May 2000 shooting. Subsequently, the album was heavily bootlegged.[3] The album features guest appearances from Destiny's Child, Noreaga, Dave Hollister, Bun B and The Madd Rapper. The album's production was handled by Trackmasters, Red Spyda, Sha Self, DJ Scratch and Erick Sermon, among others.

Reception

Allmusic writes that the tracks utilize "penetrating wit and funk-infused beats, accompanied by grand orchestrations of commanding horns, pronounced percussion, and various string elements".[1]

Singles

The first single, "Thug Love" featuring Destiny's Child, was released on September 21, 1999.[4] Days before 50 Cent was scheduled to film its music video, he was attacked by a gunman in the infamous shooting incident that left him with nine gunshot wounds and gave him his dimple scar; an event that 50 Cent often references in his lyrics.[5][6] While hospitalized, he signed a publishing deal with Columbia Records. However, he was dropped from the label after it was discovered that he had been shot.[7] The track, "Ghetto Qu'ran (Forgive Me)", has been speculated to be the reason for the shooting.[8]

The second single, "Your Life's on the Line", was released in 1999. The song was produced by Terrence Dudley, and was perceived as a diss song to Ja Rule, which would begin their highly publicised feud on records. 50 mocks Ja's famous catchphrase "Murdaa"!, on the chorus of the song, rapping "Murdaa, I don't believe you/Murdaa, Fuck around and leave you/Murdaa, I don't believe you/Murda Murda, your life's on the line". A music video for this song was released, which was also the only song with a music video of the whole album. The song would later be included as a bonus track on 50's officially released debut album Get Rich or Die Tryin'.

Track listing

LP Unreleased
No. TitleWriter(s)Producer(s) Length
1. "Intro"     1:11
2. "The Hit"   Randy Allen 3:41
3. "The Good Die Young"   Al West 4:02
4. "Corner Bodega (Coke Spot)"   L.E.S. 1:36
5. "Your Life's on the Line"  Dudley and JacksonTerence Dudley 3:38
6. "That Ain't Gangsta"   Trackmasters 3:25
7. "As the World Turns" (featuring Bun B)Ron FrancoisRed Spyda 4:20
8. "Ghetto Qu'ran (Forgive Me)"  JacksonTrackmasters 4:34
9. "Da Repercussions"   Gowdy 3:28
10. "Money by Any Means" (featuring Noreaga) Trackmasters, Teflon 4:03
11. "Material Girl" (featuring Dave Hollister) Trackmasters 4:35
12. "Thug Love" (featuring Destiny's Child)Jackson, Koerulf, Schwartz and SmithRashad Smith, Joshua Michael Schwartz and Brian Koerulf 3:16
13. "Slow Doe"   Trackmasters 3:54
14. "Gun Runner" (featuring Black Child)JacksonTrackmasters 1:55
15. "You Ain't No Gangsta"  Clervoix and JacksonSha Self 3:37
16. "Power of the Dollar"   Trackmasters 3:26
17. "I'm a Hustler"  Elliot, Jackson, Jacobs, Moore, Philips, Spivey and StylesDJ Scratch 3:55
18. "How to Rob" (featuring The Madd Rapper)Angelettie, Barnes, Casey, Jackson and OlivierTrackmasters 4:25

References

  1. 1 2 link All Music Guide review of Power Of The Dollar. Accessed Aug 17, 2008.
  2. ↑ "50 Cent live at The Tunnel NYC 1999". YouTube. 2008-11-07. Retrieved 2012-03-05.
  3. ↑ 50 Cent: Biography : Rolling Stone. The New Rolling Stone Album Guide. Accessed May 21, 2008.
  4. ↑ 50 Cent | Thug Love CD | Album. MTV. Accessed May 21, 2008.
  5. ↑ Ninja (December 2002). 50 Cent Interview. Dubcnn. Accessed May 21, 2008.
  6. ↑ Admin (December 9, 2002). 50 Cent - Teflon MC. Sixshot. Accessed May 21, 2008.
  7. ↑ Jonah Weiner, April 2005. Dear Superstar: 50 Cent. Blender. Accessed May 21, 2008.
  8. ↑ Surveilling 50 Cent. The Smoking Gun (September 6, 2005). Accessed May 21, 2008. In 2003 50 Cents mixtape 24 shots was released, which includes 8 tracks from the Power of the Dollar LP.
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