Curtis (50 Cent album)

Curtis is the third studio album by rapper 50 Cent. The album was released on September 11 2007. The album features production from Dr. Dre, Eminem, and Timbaland, among others. Guest appearances include Akon, Justin Timberlake, Nicole Scherzinger, and other notable musicians.

History

File:Curtisposter.jpg

Promotional poster for Curtis.

Initially, 50 Cent's 2007 album was supposed to be Before I Self Destruct,^[1] however, he decided to push back its release date to 2008,^[2] and to release Curtis in 2007 instead.

The album was push back a several times first in going to be released in June 19 then push back a week to June 26. Later had got push back to September 4 because 50 didn't like the sound so, he went back to the studio and recored eight record ( I Get Money was one of them). finally got push back to September 11 because September 4th was too close to Labor Day.

The album's title was changed twice. The first time, it was changed from "Curtis" to "Curtis S.S.K.". The second time, it was changed back to "Curtis". The "S.S.K.", which stood for "SoundScan Killer", was intended to show the pressure 50 Cent felt to succeed.^[3] The "S.S.K." also stands for "SouthSide King"^[4] (mention it in the album booklet) and "Shoot, Stab, Kill".

In July 2007, Kanye West changed the release date of Graduation, his third studio album, from September 18 2007, to the same release date as Curtis, September 11 2007.^[5] This means that the albums will go head-to-head and compete for higher sales against each other. 50 Cent claimed that if Graduation sold more records than Curtis, he would stop releasing solo albums.^[6] However, he later dispelled his comments.^[7]

Sales

As of September 14 2007, Curtis has sold about 603,000 copies in the United States.^[8]

Reception

Curtis received generally favorable reviews from music critics.^[9] All Music Guide wrote that Curtis "is entertaining but only impressive in that 50 can run in place and still be on top."^[10] AllHipHop.com called it "a step backwards" and "while the album is not a total brick, it lacks a true consistency where his previous work flowed seamlessly and almost every record worked."^[11] The Chicago Tribune wrote that, "at a time when consumers are expressing their dissatisfaction with music-industry product", the album provides "exactly what they say they don't want: More of the same."^[12]

Rolling Stone noted that 50 Cent is "out to prove he's everything he used to claim", and like The Massacre, he "divides between hard songs ("Man Down," "Fire," "I'll Still Kill") and soft songs ("Follow My Lead")". Rolling Stone also noted that, on Curtis, 50 Cent is for the first time "letting guests sing most of the hooks."^[13] The Boston Globe stated that, "artistically, West is always moving, while 50 is at a standstill."^[14]

Track listing

#	Title	Producer(s)	Featured guest(s)	Time
1	"Intro"			0:51
2	"My Gun Go Off"	Adam Deitch & Eric Krasno		3:12
3	"Man Down" (censored)	Detroit Red, co-produced by Don Cannon		2:50
4	"I'll Still Kill"	DJ Khalil	Akon	3:41
5	"I Get Money"	Apex		3:44
6	"Come & Go"	Dr. Dre (keyboards by Dawaun Parker & Mark Batson)	Dr. Dre	3:29
7	"Ayo Technology"	Timbaland, co-produced by Danja	Justin Timberlake & Timbaland	4:08
8	"Follow My Lead"	Tha Bizness	Robin Thicke	3:18
9	"Movin' on Up"	Jake One		3:24
10	"Straight to the Bank"	Ty Fyffe, additional production by Dr. Dre		3:11
11	"Amusement Park"	Dangerous LLC		3:09
12	"Fully Loaded Clip"	Havoc		3:14
13	"Peep Show"	Eminem (keyboards by Mike Strange, additonal keyboards by Jeff Bass & Tony Campana)	Eminem	3:52
14	"Fire"	Dr. Dre (keyboards by Dawaun Parker & Mark Batson)	Nicole Scherzinger & Young Buck	2:50
15	"All of Me"	Jake One	Mary J. Blige	3:52
16	"Curtis 187"	Havoc		3:58
17	"Touch the Sky"	K-Lassik Beats	Tony Yayo	3:10
18	"Hustler's Ambition" (UK bonus track)	B-Money "B$"		4:02

Credits

Producers: 50 Cent (exec.), Adam Deitch, Apex, Dangerous LLC, Danja, Detroit Red, DJ Khalil, Don Cannon, Dr. Dre, Eminem, Eric Krasno, Havoc, Jake One, K-Lassik Beats, Tha Bizness, Timbaland, Ty Fyffe
Mixing: Demo, Doug Sadler, Dr. Dre, Mahal, Ms. Lago, Shameless, Steve Baughman
Assistant mixer: Shameless, Veto
Keyboard: Adam Deitch, Dawaun Parker, Detroit Red, Eminem, Jeff Bass, Mark Batson, Mike Strange, Tony Campana
Guitar/bass: Eric Krasno
Engineers: Veto
Assistant engineers: Roomio

Samples

"Intro"

Contains dialogue from the motion picture Shooters, dialogue excerpts spoken by Andrew Howard and Matthew Rhys

"Man Down"

Contains elements from "Scooby Doo Theme" by Ben Raleigh and David Mook

"I Get Money"

Contains elements from "Top Billin'" by Audio Two

"Come & Go"

Contains replayed elements from "Just Be Good to Me" by Jimmy Jam and Terry Lewis, performed by The SOS Band

"Movin' on Up"

Contains elements from "Give Me Just Another Day" by The Miracles
"Do It Baby" by The Miracles
"Nuttin' But a Drumbeat" by Russell Simmons

References

^ Fullmetal (April 30 2007). 50 Cent "G Unit Album Coming soon". Def Sounds. Accessed September 2 2007.
^ Joseph Barracato (September 9 2007). Hot Seat – 50 Cent. New York Post. Accessed September 11 2007
^ Shaheem Reid, with reporting by Tim Kash (April 27 2007). 50 Cent Talks Timberlake Collabo, Star-Studded New LP Curtis. MTV. Accessed August 18 2007.
^ Curtis liner notes.
^ Jokesta (July 19 2007). Kanye Competes with 50, Album Pushed Back to September 11th. Def Sounds. Accessed August 11 2007
^ Jokesta (August 9 2007). 50 Cent: Outsell Kanye or Stop Trying. Def Sounds. Accessed August 11 2007.
^ Jayson Rodriguez, with reporting by Tim Kash (August 15 2007). 50 Cent Explains Last Week's Blowup, Says 'I Will Be #1 on September 11'. MTV. Accessed August 15 2007.
^ Andreas Hale (September 14 2007). 50 Cent Still Confident Although Well Behind. HipHopDX. Accessed September 14 2007.
^ 50 Cent: Curtis (2007): Reviews. Metacritic. Accessed September 11 2007
^ David Jeffries. 50 Cent – Curtis Review. All Music Guide. Accessed September 9 2007.
^ Martin A. Berrios (September 4 2007). 50 Cent: Curtis. AllHipHop. Accessed September 4 2007.
^ Greg Kot {September 10 2007). 50 Cent won't save hip-hop with 'Curtis'. Chicago Tribune. Accessed September 10 2007.
^ Rob Sheffield (September 4 2007). 50 Cent – Curtis Review. Rolling Stone. Accessed September 6 2007.
^ Julian Benbow (September 11 2007). After the hip-hop hype. The Boston Globe. Accessed September 12 2007.

[1] Fullmetal (April 30 2007). 50 Cent "G Unit Album Coming soon". Def Sounds. Accessed September 2 2007.

[2] Joseph Barracato (September 9 2007). Hot Seat – 50 Cent. New York Post. Accessed September 11 2007

[3] Shaheem Reid, with reporting by Tim Kash (April 27 2007). 50 Cent Talks Timberlake Collabo, Star-Studded New LP Curtis. MTV. Accessed August 18 2007.

[4] Curtis liner notes.

[5] Jokesta (July 19 2007). Kanye Competes with 50, Album Pushed Back to September 11th. Def Sounds. Accessed August 11 2007

[6] Jokesta (August 9 2007). 50 Cent: Outsell Kanye or Stop Trying. Def Sounds. Accessed August 11 2007.

[7] Jayson Rodriguez, with reporting by Tim Kash (August 15 2007). 50 Cent Explains Last Week's Blowup, Says 'I Will Be #1 on September 11'. MTV. Accessed August 15 2007.

[8] Andreas Hale (September 14 2007). 50 Cent Still Confident Although Well Behind. HipHopDX. Accessed September 14 2007.

[9] 50 Cent: Curtis (2007): Reviews. Metacritic. Accessed September 11 2007

[10] David Jeffries. 50 Cent – Curtis Review. All Music Guide. Accessed September 9 2007.

[11] Martin A. Berrios (September 4 2007). 50 Cent: Curtis. AllHipHop. Accessed September 4 2007.

[12] Greg Kot {September 10 2007). 50 Cent won't save hip-hop with 'Curtis'. Chicago Tribune. Accessed September 10 2007.

[13] Rob Sheffield (September 4 2007). 50 Cent – Curtis Review. Rolling Stone. Accessed September 6 2007.

[14] Julian Benbow (September 11 2007). After the hip-hop hype. The Boston Globe. Accessed September 12 2007.

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