If this combination of big-name backers, undeniable skills, radio-ready tracks and a marketable thug persona make Get Rich or Die Tryin’ a sure-shot smash hit, it also makes it a great record. His songs have been all over MTV and the radio, and even casual pop fans are aware of the most arresting part of his biography - namely that this former hustler, crack dealer and inmate has taken more bullets than most platinum-selling rappers have hits. He was touted as “the illest motherfucker in the world” by none other than Eminem, who signed 50 Cent to his label for a reported $1 million. Check his credentials: Years before the 8 Mile soundtrack introduced him to the world, 50 Cent established himself as one of the underground’s best MCs, turning out dozens of bootlegs and mix tapes full of hilarious disses and first-rate freestyles. By now, 50 Cent’s coronation as the new king of hardcore hip-hop is all but assured.
