Power of the Dollar is the debut EP and unreleased debut studio album by American rapper 50 Cent. The EP version was released September 12, 2000, by Columbia Records and Trackmasters Entertainment. The album version was originally set to be released as 50 Cent's major-label debut on July 4, 2000, but he was ultimately dropped by Columbia Records after being shot nine times and the album was shelved.[1] Subsequently, the album was heavily bootlegged.[2] As of 2024[update], Columbia has no plans to release the album.
| Power of the Dollar | ||||
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| Studio album and EP by | ||||
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| Recorded | 1998–2000 | |||
| Studio | Bearsville Studios, Bearsville, New York | |||
| Genre | ||||
| Length | 63:01 | |||
| Label | ||||
| Producer |
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| 50 Cent chronology | ||||
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| Singles from Power of the Dollar | ||||
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The EP features guest appearances from Destiny's Child, Noreaga, and the Madd Rapper. The album version was set to feature all the artists included on the EP as well as Bun B and Dave Hollister. The album's production was handled by Trackmasters, Red Spyda, Sha Self, DJ Scratch and Erick Sermon, among other producers and was leaked on YouTube in 2012.
Reception
edit| Review scores | |
|---|---|
| Source | Rating |
| AllMusic | |
| The Source | |
AllMusic writes that the tracks utilize "penetrating wit and funk-infused beats, accompanied by grand orchestrations of commanding horns, pronounced percussion, and various string elements".[3]
Singles
editThe album's lead single, "How to Rob", was released on August 10, 1999, and was also included on the Power of the Dollar EP and the soundtrack to the film In Too Deep. The single attracted significant controversy due to its content, which was him comically telling how he would rob several high-profile hip-hop & R&B artists.
The second single, "Thug Love" featuring Destiny's Child, was released on September 21, 1999, and was also featured on the EP release.[5] Days before 50 Cent was scheduled to film its music video, he was attacked by a gunman in the infamous shooting incident that left him with nine gunshot wounds and gave him his dimple scar; an event that 50 Cent often references in his lyrics.[6][7] While hospitalized, he signed a publishing deal with Columbia Records; however, he was dropped from the label after it was discovered that he had been shot.[8] The track, "Ghetto Qur'an (Forgive Me)", has been speculated to be the reason for the shooting.[9]
The third and final single, "Your Life's on the Line", was released in 1999. The song was produced by Terrence Dudley, and was perceived as a diss song to Ja Rule, which would begin their highly publicized feud on records. 50 mocks Ja Rule's catchphrase "Murdaa!", on the chorus of the song, rapping "Murdaa, I don't believe you/Murdaa, Fuck around and leave you/Murdaa, I don't believe you/Murda Murda, your life's on the line". A music video for the song was shot on the streets of New York in 1998. The song was included on the Power of the Dollar EP, and would later be included on both 50 Cent's debut mixtape, Guess Who's Back?, and his officially released debut album, Get Rich or Die Tryin', in 2003, as a bonus track.
Songs officially released
editOf the 19 songs featured on both the EP and album versions of Power of the Dollar, 9 have been officially released.
- "Thug Love" (feat. Destiny's Child) was released as a single and was featured on Power of the Dollar EP
- "I'm a Hustler" was featured on Power of the Dollar EP
- "Da Heatwave" (feat. Noreaga) was featured on the Power of the Dollar EP and was not set to feature on the album
- "Your Life's on the Line" was released as a single and was featured on Power of the Dollar EP, Guess Who's Back?, and Get Rich or Die Tryin'
- "How to Rob" (feat. The Madd Rapper) was released as a single and was featured on Power of the Dollar EP, In Too Deep, and Best of 50 Cent
- "The Good Die Young" was featured on the B-side of the "Your Life's on the Line" single
- "Corner Bodega" was featured on Guess Who's Back?
- '"As the World Turns'" was featured on Guess Who's Back?
- "Ghetto Qur'an (Forgive Me)" was featured on Guess Who's Back?
Track listing
edit| No. | Title | Writer(s) | Producer(s) | Length |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1. | "Intro" | 1:11 | ||
| 2. | "The Hit" | Randy Allen | 3:41 | |
| 3. | "The Good Die Young" | Al West | 4:02 | |
| 4. | "Corner Bodega (Coke Spot)" | L.E.S. | 1:36 | |
| 5. | "Your Life's on the Line" |
| Terence Dudley | 3:38 |
| 6. | "That Ain't Gangsta" | Trackmasters | 3:25 | |
| 7. | "As the World Turns" (featuring Bun B) | Ron Francois | Red Spyda | 4:20 |
| 8. | "Ghetto Qur'an (Forgive Me)" |
| Trackmasters | 4:34 |
| 9. | "Da Repercussions" | Kurt Gowdy | 3:28 | |
| 10. | "Money by Any Means" (featuring Noreaga) |
| 4:03 | |
| 11. | "Material Girl" (featuring Dave Hollister) | Trackmasters | 4:35 | |
| 12. | "Thug Love" (featuring Destiny's Child) |
|
| 3:16 |
| 13. | "Slow Doe" | Trackmasters | 3:54 | |
| 14. | "Gun Runner" |
| Trackmasters | 1:55 |
| 15. | "You Ain't No Gangsta" |
| Sha Self | 3:37 |
| 16. | "Power of the Dollar" | Trackmasters | 3:26 | |
| 17. | "I'm a Hustler" |
| DJ Scratch | 3:55 |
| 18. | "How to Rob" (featuring the Madd Rapper) |
| Trackmasters | 4:25 |
| Total length: | 63:01 | |||
| No. | Title | Writer(s) | Producer(s) | Length |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1. | "Thug Love" (featuring Destiny's Child) |
|
| 3:16 |
| 2. | "I'm a Hustler" |
| DJ Scratch | 3:46 |
| 3. | "Da Heatwave" (featuring Noreaga) |
| Erick Sermon | 3:56 |
| 4. | "Your Life's on the Line" |
| Terence Dudley | 3:44 |
| 5. | "How to Rob" (featuring the Madd Rapper) |
| Trackmasters | 4:24 |
| Total length: | 19:06 | |||
References
edit- ^ "50 Cent live at The Tunnel NYC 1999". YouTube. 2008-11-07. Retrieved 2012-03-05.
- ^ "50 Cent Biography". Rolling Stone. Archived from the original on February 11, 2016. Retrieved April 19, 2021.
- ^ a b link All Music Guide review of Power Of The Dollar. Accessed Aug 17, 2008.
- ^ Bonanno, Jonathan "Gotti" (August 2000). "Record Report: 50 Cent – Power Of The Dollar". The Source. No. 131. New York. pp. 227–228.
- ^ 50 Cent | Thug Love CD | Album. MTV. Accessed May 21, 2008.
- ^ Ninja (December 2002). 50 Cent Interview. Dubcnn. Accessed May 21, 2008.
- ^ Admin (December 9, 2002). 50 Cent - Teflon MC Archived 2010-01-02 at the Wayback Machine. Sixshot. Accessed May 21, 2008.
- ^ Jonah Weiner, April 2005. Dear Superstar: 50 Cent Archived 2008-12-18 at the Wayback Machine. Blender. Accessed May 21, 2008.
- ^ Surveilling 50 Cent Archived 2007-05-09 at the Wayback Machine. The Smoking Gun (September 6, 2005). Accessed May 21, 2008. In 2003 50 Cents mixtape 24 shots was released, which includes 8 tracks from the Power of the Dollar LP.