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Curtis starts off with a Mafioso-intro. Crafted to get you ready to enter a dark, gritty, street, and blood-ridden world, that is Curtis' mind. Then, "Man Down" booms through the speakers and 50 Cent rises to the occasion, sounding like when he first entered the game: daring, defiant, a true rebel. "I'll Still Kill" is a simple gangster tune brought to life with Akon. It’s loud, and reminiscent of Akon and Jeezy's "Soul Survivor", while the mega-street hit, "I Get Money" is filled with so much bravado, ruggedness and a catchy hook that’s hard not to fall victim to. In comes Timbaland. The product of the collaboration is "Ayo Technology," an over-synthesized mess that has Justin Timberlake giving sexy away while 50 Cent makes sure to leave nothing to the imagination. And you notice all of his flaws.
You notice 50's boring drawl, 50's lyrical simplicity, and overall lack of creativity. From this point the pattern continues, "Come & Go" is as commercial as it is lame; any rapper in the game could have easily done this song. "Follow My Lead" starts off soulful but ends up a pseudo attempt to be personal with basic-level lyrics. With "Movin' On Up", "Straight To The Bank", "Amusement Park", and "Fully Loaded Clip" there's nothing but pure dullness on 50's part and the subject matters are nothing new or worth hearing about. 50 Cent redeems himself with "Peep Show" which is as raunchy and simple as it sounds. 50's using a Busta Rhymes-esque flow and serves up an okay party track. "Fire" falls flat, and the listener loses all hope for 50 Cent until "All Of Me" blasts through. 50 Cent does his best Common-impersonation and tries to get deep and introspective. But what really saves the song is Mary J. Blige. Her vocals are as rich and soulful as ever and steal the whole show away from 50 Cent. She's the actual main event. Curtis could have concluded with the enjoyable, gritty, and street, "Curtis 187", but Fiddy chooses to end it with the depressingly lame "Touch The Sky".
50 Cent is a genius businessman, but a lame man when it comes to the actual music business. It seems he has forgotten that while the business is all about money and exposure, the music part is not to be dismissed. 50 could've easily stayed true to the grit and braggadocio that got him famous, and spewed an album that was reminiscent of his breakthrough album, Get Rich or Die Tryin'. Instead he opted to fall victim to the pop/radio-machine and churn tracks that are typical, boring, and clones of everything else that is on the radio. Despite a few gems, this album is a dud. If this album was an attempt for us to get acquainted with Curtis, the person, I'd pass. And stick to 50 Cent, the character, any day.
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- Label(s)
Shady Records
Aftermath Records
Interscope Records
- Release Date
September 11, 2007
- Producer(s)
Adam Deitch, Eric Krasno, Detroit Red, Don Cannon, DJ Khalil, Apex. Roomio & Veto, Timbaland, Tha Bizness, Jake one, Ty Fyffe, Chris Styles, Havoc, Eminem, Dr. Dre, K Lassik
- Executive Producer(s)
n/a
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Listen to a few tracks...
