It can be the difference between life and death. Lesson Learned: Being aware of your surroundings and knowing the laws of the land you walk on is a must. Lyric: “I got pennies for my thoughts, now I’m rich/See the twenties spinnin’ lookin’ mean on the six/N***as wearin’ flags ‘cause the colors match they clothes/They get caught in the wrong hood and filled up with holes, motherf**ker” Know the difference between friends and associates concerned about your best interests and those loyal to their self-interest. 4080 is one that is not to be forgotten and has proved true time and time again. Lyric: “In this white man’s world I’m similar to a squirrel/Lookin’ for a slut with a nice butt to get a nut/If I get shot today my phone’ll stop ringin’ again/These industry n***as ain’t friends, they know how to pretend” In celebration of 50 Cent’s classic debut, we highlighted 10 life lessons we all learned from listening to Get Rich or Die Tryin’ that still hold true to this day. diss track “Back Down” circulating in the streets, Get Rich or Die Tryin’ proved to be the biggest album of the year and was hailed as an instant classic, which it is still considered today.įifteen years after the release, 50 Cent may have shifted his attention to interests beyond music, but is still regarded as one of the sharpest and most savvy characters in all of music, a reputation that was first solidified with this album and has led to him becoming a life and business guru. With hit singles like “In Da Club” and “21 Questions” both topping the Billboard Hot 100, and album cuts like “What Up Gangsta,” “Many Men (Wish Death),” “Heat,” and the scathing Murder Inc. READ: Watch The Trailer For The 50 Cent-Produced TV Series ‘The Oath’ Although hailing from the East Coast himself, 50 Cent, who developed a slight vocal drawl as a result of catching a bullet to the face, was able to build a following across the board and transcend regional borders due to his knack for catchy hooks and refrains. New York City was still the dominant force in rap, with established superstars like JAY-Z, DMX, Ja Rule, Nas and others thriving at the forefront of the culture and selling millions of records.

6, 2003, Get Rich or Die Tryin’ arrived at a interesting time for hip-hop. often dominate the narrative of his career arc, but all of the above would be a footnote without his debut album, Get Rich or Die Tryin’, making good on all of the tough-talk and bravado spewed by 50 and exceeding the most lofty of expectations. His classic mixtapes and the beef with Ja Rule and Murder Inc. By now, the Southside Jamaica, Queens native’s backstory is common knowledge: Ex drug-dealer and convicted felon-turned-rapper who got shot nine times after a failed record deal, only to emerge from the brink of obscurity to become the hottest free agent in rap history.

50 get rich or die tryin album