There has been a lot of hype in the musical world lately leading up to 50 Cent’s latest release, Curtis. Many were interested to see how the album would differ from his last albums, how it would sell compared to Kanye West’s new album, and ultimately, like always in music, if the songs would be any good.

I really hope you did not hop and your car and fly down to the local CD store on September 11th to pick up the new album from 50 Cent. Now, don’t get me wrong, the album might be worth picking up, but there really is no reason to fluster yourself and rush and get his latest album, because, when it comes down to it, it just isn’t that good.

Let’s start off with what we know about 50 Cent, his lyrics are far from meaningful to say the least. He proves this once again throughout the record saying things like, “My gun go off.” ” N**** now you learnin’, N**** my gun go off.” And “Now you can ride the horse round the carousel. Explosion, Trojans, all in the hotel. Put me to the test girl, I don’t fail.” I really wish I could write and tell you that the rest of the album was not plagued with the same ol’ “gangsta rap” lyrics, but unfortunately I can not.

The new album, Curtis, is so far from original it might not even be worth a mention two years from now. Throughout listening to Curtis I was amazed at how little musical progression 50 Cent has made throughout his career.

Although 50 Cent has never really produced worthy lyrics, there was something about his first two releases that caught audiences everywhere. Curtis seems to be lacking that “edge” that draws people in. Sure, there are some worthy tracks on there, heck, most of the songs aren’t even that bad. But, the hard “street beats” that everyone loved off his last two albums, seem to be beginning to become overdone.

Get Rich Or Die Tryin’ and The Massacre were huge successes, both thriving of the persona of 50 Cent and his ability to make very catchy singles in a time where he had mastered the “club beat.”

Curtis does produce some club beats, that’s not the question, it just seems that all the songs don’t have the staying power that they used to and as we all would hope.

It is quite ironic to think actually, that 50 Cent might well be becoming outdated in the genre or rap he helped bring to the mainstream.

The genre of rap seems to be striving off of one hit wonders that back more intense beats than 50 can even match. One of 50 Cent’s biggest criticisms in the music world is that his beats tend to sound a lot alike each other and never really progress.

Although using numerous producers (almost a different one on every song), Curtis, seems to meet the critics analysis quite nicely.

Overall, Curtis, will get a few listens from everyone for a while and it will definitely get some air time on the radio. But, in the end, I really do see this CD falling by the wayside, as well as 50 Cent and his musical career.

For 50 Cent’s new album I rate it 5.5 out of 10.