Curtis - 50 Cent
User Score
3.4 out of 10

Generally unfavorable reviews- based on 166 Ratings

User score distribution:
  1. Positive: 54 out of 166
  2. Mixed: 8 out of 166
  3. Negative: 104 out of 166

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  1. Ex
    Sep 13, 2007
    4
    Formulas are a double-edged sword. They are the telltale mark of a conservative. Conservative people, once they've found a formula that works, stick unflaggingly to the same routine. The problem is that, in a world a formulas, nothing new would ever be created. Even so, 50 Cent's formula of two-to-three half-assed verses and a poorly-sung hook wasn't all that interesting in the first place. To be fair to 50, by now the actual recording process is most likely just a formality for him. He doesn't make his money by spending a lot of time on making great songs, now does he? He makes his money by keeping himself on the news and selling Vitamin Water. So I hesitate to even review this album, as it's almost unnecessary. But alas, I will. To be fair to 50 though, I'll try to keep it brief. The intro is a clip from the 2002 film Shooters, which really has nothing to do with 50 Cent or this album, except for the fact that it features a lot of guns. So I'm guessing the intro serves to let us know that 50 Cent likes guns and movies about guns; and that he's probably going to rap about guns. Well what do you know? The first track is called "My Gun". It's produced by Adam Deitch and Eric Krasno but the beat is a clear ripoff of a circa-2003 Eminem production. 50 Cent even style-bites his employer a little bit. The next track "Man Down" is about guns and killing people too. So is the next track, "I'll Still Kill" (not surprisingly). It features Akon, who has the impudence to guest on everything from socially critical tracks with India.Arie, to a song called "Bartender" even though he is an avid non-drinker, to songs about murdering people with 50 Cent. The beat to this sounds a lot like Dre/Eminem as well. I like "I Get Money", partly because it's the only completely honest song on the album. Being rich is one thing that 50 Cent doesn't have to lie about, and despite 50's trademark laid back flow, you can tell the extreme boost of charisma he has on a song about something he actually participates in currently. Beyond that, the old-school drum rhythm works perfectly with Fiddy's bouncy flow, and the 90's-style sampled hook is a needed departure from the terrible singing that's usually found in his choruses. Speaking of choruses, Justin Timberlake provides a strange one for "Ayo Technology". 50 Cent, Justin Timberlake, and Timbaland should never collab again. Or maybe if they do, they should consider something other than a double-timed song with a beat that sounds like something from an Nintendo game. Also I think this song is about watching pornography, which is kind unique, but also kind of weird. Strangely enough, the collab with one white-guy-who-does-black-music fails, but the collab with the other white-guy-who-does-black-music kind of works out. "Follow My Lead" featuring Robin Thicke sounds alot of like the previous hit "21 Questions", but that song was good so that's okay, and as we've established anyway, 50's a man of formulas. More songs about being rich and killing people, and of course "Amusement Park", which is the logical follow up to "Magic Stick" and "Candy Shop" as the obligatory corny double-entendre single. Unlike its predecessors, however, the beat (created by the Dangerous LLC production team) for "Amusement Park" is delightful, and its a shame that it was wasted on such a dumb song. A lot of the songs sound like the producer was specifically requested to mimic Dr. Dre or Eminem's style; I suppose because that's part of 50's formula. There is a song produced by Eminem though, and one produced by Dr. Dre. The former, "Peep Show" features Eminem on the mic as well, and his verse is the best verse on the album. He actually doesn't try to act "hard" like he usually does when he's within ten feet of 50 cent. On this track he's the psychopath that America fell in love with seven years ago; turning 50's peep show into a "creep show". Dr. Dre's production features Young Buck on the pre-chorus and Nicole Scherzinger (you know, the only Pussycat Doll that's talented). Scherzinger's presence is a welcome break to 50's general monotony, and the combination of her sexy vocals and an authentic Dr. Dre beat gives the song a little boost. Unfortunately 50 Cent still has to rap on it. Like I said, 50 knows that he doesn't have to be creative, or even interesting (beyond the general appeal of being a guy who used to sell crack and shoot people) to sell records, and Curtis is evidence of that fact, especially considering this album came out two days ago and has sold about a half a million already. And Curtis isn't creative, and not very interesting either. The production is fairly solid, but it pales in comparison to the mostly-Dre produced Get Rich or Die Trying and even The Massacre which featured Eminem, Dr. Dre, Scott Storch, and Hi-Tek among others. Well-produced and interesting tracks like "I Get Money" and "Follow My Lead" help, but overall the album is a snooze-fest.… Expand
  2. JeremyW.
    Nov 27, 2007
    5
    Definitely not as good as his previous albums, a few memorable tracks then lots of filler. Nothing new here.
  3. k0b.
    Oct 13, 2007
    0
    50 cent should rather sell crack than recording another bullshitin' Album like 'Curtis'.
  4. DanA
    Sep 10, 2007
    5
    This album is disgusting. It's not even about 50 vs Kanye or whatever. It's about 50 Cent taking his entire career for granted. This guy's famous for being shot nine times and half his fans are females while the other half think realism creates good music. Well that isn't the case. Curtis is somehow WORSE than The Massacre. 50 loses himself in the moment while he tries to recreate his previous success. Unfortunately it never happens and instead he just knocks off his own songs with shittier lyrics. Amusement Park is what you would get if you took the quality production off Candy Shop and took Lil' Kim off Magic Stick and mashed them together. I Get Money is a ridiculous attempt at innovation that ceases to do anything. I only gave this alubm a 5 because anything lower is still the same: A Failure.… Expand
  5. SophieM.
    Oct 18, 2007
    0
    Don't like 90% of rap music, but believe me I don't give out 0/10s unless the album deserves it. I'm not a Kanye West fan, but if you're going to get either definitely get Kanye's, from what I've heard it's decent.
  6. 50Cent'sFuturemurderer
    Oct 20, 2007
    0
    This album is a bag of wank. It is just some dirty nigger 'rapping' about how ace he is, but he is black therefore he is not ace cos he is black. I wish he was dead. His rapping makes me feel like me ears are being RAPED. Why God why? Why does 50 Cent exist. He is an ANAL CUNT. His mom was a dirty slag. His rapping is like a child with AIDS singing. If I had one wish it would be that 50 cent was blinded then set on fire then put out then hung from a tree. Yes I really do hate 50 Cent. I know, I think this review was fairly balanced. Overall, the album has some good points and some bad points. 50 cent takes it up the arse from mergi. The good point is that I will kill him tomorrow. LISTEN TO THE SHINS YOU CUNTS.… Expand
  7. Shayvonda
    Sep 11, 2007
    1
    I was so looking forward to this album but it's junk. Sorry fiddy, it's really junk. But I guess I should have seen this coming after he released Candy Shop as a single.
  8. [Anonymous]
    Sep 10, 2007
    4
    most tracks are just lame...
  9. georgeh.
    Sep 13, 2007
    0
    50 cent is a disgrace to all humanity.
  10. Bryanm.
    Sep 13, 2007
    9
    I beat the people who are rating this Cd lower then 5 are West fans. that also means they are cock suckers too. Listten this is the new 50 you get to look at a more kindder verson of him. but whats so dang bad about that? any was in the long run 50 is a hell lot better then any rapper even one of my favs Slim shady.
  11. IndroneilB.
    Sep 15, 2007
    2
    Get rich ...made him rich!!! ; Massacre proved to be a massacre!!!! ; but Curtis fails
  12. AurelianI.
    Oct 16, 2007
    0
    yuck!
  13. KevinF.
    Nov 9, 2007
    0
    This is even worse than my album.
  14. JohnB.
    Oct 20, 2007
    8
    I liked it.
  15. Rose
    Oct 27, 2007
    0
    Really shit to be honest. The lack of effort he gives in his music deserves a 0.
  16. RoyalCash
    Sep 11, 2007
    1
    I heard this cd on myspace..ummmmm garbage. Still sucks he's gonna sell more than Kanye
  17. ChrisW.
    Sep 10, 2007
    0
    Is that 50 Cent or a slow Fifth-Grader? Why is it that some rappers need to dumb themselves down in order to Rap? Even "The Game" has shown some promise in expressing himself lyrically... but 50 keeps on mumbling worse than Shannon Sharpe. When is there going to be the Next Generation for Rap. Wake me up when we get there.
  18. CJF
    Sep 10, 2007
    0
    NOT THE BEST STUFF
  19. CraigC.
    Sep 12, 2007
    1
    Buy Graduation - get rid fitty forever.
  20. johnc.
    Sep 12, 2007
    10
    you guys are wack this cd 50 made iS FIRE AS SHYYYYT great cd he did a great job
  21. BigT.
    Sep 13, 2007
    3
    I think maybe this could be seen as a decent album if graduation had not been relased at the same time(because graduation is incredible). 50 has dropped off substantially with this one. Lyrics are wack. Only a handful of songs have good beats. And you would think with collabos with dre and eminem, and producers like timbo and dre, that something could be listenable. Negative. Cd last 15 minutes in my player. Go buy Graduation.… Expand
  22. jeffd.
    Sep 13, 2007
    10
    nice album best song peep show, fire, come and go, my gun go off, and all the single g unit
  23. PeterM.
    Sep 18, 2007
    0
    This album really sucks! I must say that Kanye West beats Curtis big time!!
  24. UNReal
    Sep 18, 2007
    8
    The album wasn't bad at all, but light years behind 'Get Rich or Die Trying'. Hardcore fans are probably going to be disappointed, see the other reviews, but casual fans should like it for its club beats and some of the love songs (personally, I believe those weaken the album). Kanye's album was much better though, go buy that one.
  25. LiefS
    Sep 20, 2007
    0
    I'm from queens ny and i can honestly say all of our prayers have been answered, he isn't gonna outsell kanye and hopefully this waste of life truly retires like he said he would. him, eminem and dre should never touch music again, they have no idea what dignity means, they would sell their souls as quick as anybody who supported them would buy it.
  26. SuziZ.
    Sep 24, 2007
    0
    it's impossible to listen to an entire album of 50 Cent (as usually). Only a few selected tracks. But that doesn't make an album, does it?
  27. AlexK.
    Sep 7, 2007
    10
    Somewhere in between Get Rich Or Die Tryin' and The Massacre
  28. DarrentJ.
    Sep 7, 2007
    2
    This is the poorest rap album 50 has ever put out. The rhymes are stretched so thin over hit/miss (mostly miss) beats. Definitely the biggest disappointment of a year with hardly any good hip-hop.
  29. ChrisM
    Mar 5, 2009
    1
    It's almost impossible to believe people were expecting a masterpiece after listening to his debut. His albums keep getting worse.He used to be a rapper with potential!
  30. AlexS.
    Nov 5, 2007
    10
    Good cd.
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Critic Reviews

All reviews »
Metascore
58 out of 100

Mixed or average reviews - based on 22 Critics

Critic score distribution:
  1. Positive: 9 out of 22
  2. Mixed: 9 out of 22
  3. Negative: 4 out of 22
  1. Sputnikmusic
    60
    'My Gun' is one of the best tracks Fifty's lent his name to; Adam Deitch and Eric Krasno's skilful production keeps the tension bubbling just below the surface with a muted hard rock guitar riff; 50's rhyme and flow is more varied and expressive than his usual monotone drawl.... The remainder of the album is as inconsistent as Fifty’s career to date.
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  2. All Music Guide
    70
    In the end, Curtis is entertaining but only impressive in that 50 can run in place and still be on top.
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  3. Billboard
    60
    Though the album is good, for an artist of 50 Cent's caliber, it's not great.
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See all critic reviews »