“50 came through like hurricanes do.” This is a line from J. Cole’s song ‘A Star Is Born’ featuring Jay-Z. And just like Jay-Z said in the line 50 Cent did come through like a hurricane because when he came into the mainstream, people were not ready for him. Hip-hop fans were blown away by his pure talent and whirlwind of aggression.
50 is the perfect example of a gangster rapper. Why? well, we will discuss it in this article. He entered the mainstream in the early 2000s and immensely garnered a strong fan base. 50 was so impactful that his music divided the whole culture. Biggie and Jay-Z made fancy rap songs about rich life. But 50 Cent was different. He talked about tough things and the criminal world, like DMX and Cassidy. 50 Cent’s stories were real and rough, showing a different side. This made him special in the world of music.
50 Cent stormed the rap scene with his unique style, but when he signed to a record label, his first album ‘Power Of The Dollar’ got shelved. The label hit pause after he survived being shot nine times, adding a plot twist to his musical journey. Later, 50 signed a deal with Eminem‘s ‘Shady Records’ and Dr. Dre‘s ‘Aftermath Entertainment.’
In a whirlwind of success, 50 Cent’s first album, ‘Get Rich Or Die Tryin’, skyrocketed to the top of the Billboard 200 chart. Within a mere year, a staggering 12 million copies found homes across the globe, painting a portrait of triumph in the musical realm. Furthermore, undoubtedly, the album boasts standout tracks such as the iconic ‘In Da Club.’ Yet, it wasn’t the only gem in 50’s musical treasure chest. ‘Many Men’ emerged as another fan-favorite, earning love and praise for its unique resonance among listeners.
This song was special because it talked about when 50 Cent got shot. In the song, 50 gets shot, and the person who shot him also gets shot later. The important difference is that 50 is still alive as he says he’s “here for a real reason, cause he got hit like I [50 Cent]] got hit, but he ain’t fu*kin’ breathing.”
Produced by Digga, and recorded in 2002, the track itself was written in a Long Island safe house, the home of producer Sha Money XL. Talking to Insider, Sha said, “I was 24, I just got my first big pay cheque and bought my first crib, and that was the same year 50 got shot, I was telling him, ‘Bro, I got my own crib. I’m out the hood.’ I kept calling his grandmother’s house and kept telling him, ‘Call me.’ And then he came to my house every day, Monday through Friday, for like 1 ½ to two years.
Listen to Many Men by 50 Cent in the video below.
