50 Cent is quite possibly the most hyped rapper since Eminem. Not only was he signed by Dr. Dre & Eminem to Shady Records for a reported 1 million dollars, but this rapper epitomizes the street thug mentality, having been shot nine times and survived. This hype has translated into a profit as 50 Cent broke the record for most first week sales of a debut album with some 850,000+ sales.

For those who think 50 Cent is a rookie, think again. He's been on his fair share of mix tapes, had a hype street album entitled 'Power of a Dollar' shelved by Columbia and can even be traced back to his appearance on Onyx's 1998 hit single 'React.' Regardless, he's managed to establish himself as a gully rapper with a style that grows on you like Scarface, while making his case for being dubbed "the man with the catchiest choruses."

Is this album worthy of being designated a classic? I'm going to have to say 'no.' In my eyes it doesn't compare to works by his cohorts Dre and Eminem, but then again I've never been much of a fan of consciously empty thugged out rap lyrics best exemplified on 'Heat,' and 'What Up Gangsta.' However, when 50 Cent gets deep on the infectious 'Many Men' and the introspective third single '21 Questions,' I found myself much more satisfied. With 14 different producers on the album, I also found it interesting that 50 Cent's business partner, Sha Money XL, produced my favorite joint with 'Poor Lil Rich.'

Although it's not my birthday, 50 Cent has still managed to impress me with his debut album Get Rich or Die Tryin'. However, he remains a bar or two below the level of smooth-tongued Eminem and hard-knockin Dre. For fans of thugged out gully gangsta rap, this album ought to be a classic as long as you can shade your eyes from its mainstream mass appeal.

Click here to buy the album at amazon.com