Get To Know H.E.R.

I’m not gonna lie. I’m not very excited about today’s review. No hate, but 50 Cent hasn’t exactly been my go to man for quality hip hop for a long time now. His last album Curtis was nothing special whatsoever, and besides, the man got beat fair and square by Kanye in record sales and no matter what anyone says, I’m gonna say it was a bitch move for 50 to justify his not keeping his word by bringing in international sales into the equation. So with their lead man not really impressing anyone these days, what else does G-Unit have going for them? Lloyd Banks has slowly been deteriorating from above average to showing less and less talent with every song. Tony Yayo sucks and always has sucked. Young Buck, who I’ve always considered the only person on G-Unit really worth anything, isn’t even an official part of the damn group anymore. But, despite all of that, I’m gonna go into this hoping that by some miracle, it won’t just sound like any typical cookie cutter 50 Cent recording that’s ever come out. Hell, I loved Power Of The Dollar so I really, really want 50 to sound hungry again.

1. Straight Outta Southside - It’s nothing special, and I’m not exactly jumping out of my seat, but I haven’t felt the urge to push the skip button, so the first track is at least alright. Still, what I wouldn’t give to be reviewing Straight Outta Compton instead right now.

2. Piano Man (ft Young Buck) - It’s not bad, but the hook is pretty damn boring. I’ve tired of Fif’s singing since day one.

3. Close To Me - I knew sooner or later, it would all come crashing down. Hopefully, this track is the exception and the rest of the album is a lot better.

4. Rider Pt 2 (ft Young Buck) - Fuck. I already hate T-Pain doing that voice change shit. Where the hell did 50 get the idea that people want to hear him do the same thing. If they took out that ridiculous hook, this song would actually be pretty good.

5. Casualties of War - No real opinion on this. It’s a typical G-Unit song I guess.

6. You So Tough - I honestly believe that most of the songs on this album could’ve been vastly improved by cutting out 50’s sing-a-long hooks. Ignore the hook on this and it comes off as a good song.

7. No Days Off (ft Young Buck) - I’m liking the dark, eery production on this. I wish this album had some better guest rappers on it. I mean, at least Eminem. I think he’d sound great over this beat. It damn near sounds like something he would produce himself.

8. T.O.S. - Ehh…for the title track, it’s really not that good. Can’t cosign this shit.

9. I Like The Way She Do It (ft Young Buck) - The same complaint I had with Three 6 Mafia applies here. There is no variety in topics and it’s not like they’re rapping about the same old stuff in fresh, original ways ala Ghostface. At least Three 6 had banging production going for them. I can’t truly say that about this album.

10. Kitty Kat - This song frustrates me. I wish you could see my face right now. Not pretty at all.

11. Party Ain’t Over (ft Young Buck) - Five songs left. There’s still hope that something crazy will happen in those last tracks. Please let something happen.

12. Let It Go (ft Mavado) - It’s alright. Fifty actually gets someone else to do the singing and it works ok for the most part.

13. Get Down - One of the worst Swizz Beats tracks I’ve heard in a while. It sounds chaotic and not very focused at all. Rapping doesn’t do much to save it.

14. I Don’t Wanna Talk About It - Mmm. With this track, if we’re lucky, the album might at least finish strong with its final three tracks. So far, so good.

15. Ready Or Not - Em would’ve sounded pretty good here too. Still, G-Unit does a decent job with this track. One more track on point, and this album will at least have a good ending.

16. Money Make The World Go Around - The Wu Tang C.R.E.A.M. reference in the first verse gets a thumbs up from me. Tired subject matter, but considering that, it’s not bad at all.

Final Score: 6.5

It beat my expectations, but not by much. It does have it’s moments though and it’s in those moments, that he shows that he can still rap if he tries. Fifty has made some stuff that I’ve enjoyed in the past, and Lloyd Banks still shows some potential here and there. Hopefully, this will move zero units, making Fif realize that the same tired formula isn’t gonna work anymore. Then hopefully, he’ll stop singing and do some actual rapping. Also, hopefully, either Yayo will go back to jail, or just be dropped from the group. And please make up with Buck and the Game. Those two were the most talented rappers to ever be in G-Unit. IF all that happens, then the next G-Unit album will be banging. Til then, I don’t recommend picking up any of their albums.