Feb. 6, marked the 10-year anniversary of the release of 50 Cent’s “Get Rich or Die Tryin’,” one of hip-hop’s most significant albums.
50 Cent put the rap game in a stranglehold in 2003 after his “In Da Club” single helped sell more than 6 million copies of the album by the end of the year, and by selling 872,000 copies in its first week. According to Recording Industry Association of America, “Get Rich or Die Tryin’” has gone platinum eight times, selling more than 8 million copies.
“Get Rich or Die Tryin’” debuted at No. 1 on the U.S. Billboard 200 Chart and was nominated for Best Rap Album at that year’s Grammy Awards.
Aside from the statistics and acclamations, “Get Rich or Die Tryin’” usually comes up in the “best hip-hop album of all time” conversation. Even though albums coming after the year 2000 are rarely considered classics, 50 Cent made the entire rap world pause with his mainstream success.
“Get Rich or Die Tryin’” was street rap. It had its single, “In Da Club,” but aside from that, the entire album showed the hunger of a guy from South Jamaica of Queens, N.Y., who after being shot nine times, sees no other options than getting rich or die trying in the process.
50 Cent’s hunger was so intense on “Get Rich or Die Tryin’” that it may have contributed to 50 never matching the success of his debut album.
Eminem paired 50 Cent with Dr. Dre after signing 50 Cent to Interscope Records. After putting the “Wanksta” single on the “8 Mile Soundtrack,” 50 Cent and Dr. Dre made history with their chemistry.
Those following hip-hop’s biggest star today, Kendrick Lamar, might think that story sounds a little familiar.
In 2012, exactly 10 years after Interscope Records signed 50 Cent, the record label signed Kendrick Lamar and helped him to release one of the most critically-acclaimed albums since “Get Rich or Die Tryin’”, titled “good kid, m.A.A.D. city.”
In a stagnant time in hip-hop, there was no one bigger than 50 Cent during that early-to-mid 2000’s time period. In terms of sales, there still has yet to be an album bought like “Get Rich or Die Tryin’.”
50 Cent’s numbers may never be touched with the impact of the internet on music today. But don’t worry, 50 Cent is rich. According to celebritynetworth.com, he is $250 million rich.