Various Artists GET RICH OR DIE (EX)

Personnel: Traci Nelson (vocals); Mike Elizondo, Fredwreck Nassar (guitar, keyboards); A. Jermaine Mobley (guitar); Daniel Jones (electric piano, Wurlitzer organ); J.R. Rotem , Mark Batson, Wayne Parker (keyboards).
Audio Mixers: Dr. Dre; Patrick Viala; Steve Baughman; Fredwreck Nassar.
Recording information: Bass Clef Studios; G Unit Studios, New York, NY; Headqcourterz Studios, New York, NY; Integrated Studios, New York, NY; Live Wire Remote Mobile Studio; Mayfair Studios, London, England; Nate's Crib, Los Angeles, CA; Outfit Studios; Patchwerk Studios, Atlanta, GA; Record One, Los Angeles, CA; RPM Studios, Los Angeles, CA; Sound on Sound Studios, New York, NY; TekLab Studios, Cincinnati, OH; The Big House, Farmington Hills, CT; The Engine Room-Pulse Studios, Dublin, Ireland; TransContinental Studios, Orlando, FL.
Photographers: K.C. Bailey; Michael Gibson ; Sheryl Nields.
Though critics may disagree about the success of superstar rapper 50 Cent's foray into acting, few would question his skills when it comes to supplying the accompanying soundtrack. GET RICH OR DIE TRYING is packed with the lyrical honesty, gritty immediacy, and plain-spoken realism that originally endeared 50 and G-Unit to their legion of fans. The film in question is a semi-autobiographical story of a drug dealer turned MC, and most of the tracks here are of a piece, addressing either the desperate struggle for ghetto survival ("Hustler's Ambition," Young Buck's "Don't Need No Help") or the cultural difficulties that can accompany a quick rise from dire poverty to fame and fortune ("Talk About Me," Tony Yayo's "Fake Love"). Musically, many of the songs are influenced by classic 1970's and '80's R&B, whether it's the go-go-style synthesizers of "We Both Think Alike" or choice samples from Maze, Valerie Simpson, and Bobby Womack. A rare example of a huge seller (not to mention multi-media enterprise) that manages to retain hip-hop street cred, GET RICH OR DIE TRYING shows 50 Cent and his G-Unit comrades at the top of their game.

• Format: CD
• Genre: Soundtracks & Film Scores