Before I Self Destruct
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Before I Self Destruct is expected to be the fourth studio album by rapper 50 Cent, his final solo release in his current contract with Interscope Records, excluding a "greatest hits" album.[1][2]
Background
Initially, Before I Self Destruct was planned to be 50 Cent's 2007 album,[3] however, he decided to release Curtis instead, and thus Before I Self Destruct's release date was pushed back to 2008.
The album's release date was initially announced to be February 4, 2008, but later moved to March 2008, due to the release date of Curtis being pushed up to September 2007.[4] However it was later revealed, in an interview with G-Unit members Tony Yayo and Lloyd Banks, that the album is scheduled to be released during the 4th quarter of 2008,[5] with 50 Cent himself later stating that the album is due to be released December 9, 2008.[6][2]
In a red carpet interview 50 Cent stated that while he was working on the album, he wrote, produced, and directed his first film saying that the release of the film will coincide with the release of the album.[2]
Music
Concept
50 Cent told MTV that he named the album "Before I Self Destruct" because "It could potentially happen." He also stated that Rich Harrison will be producing for the album.[7]
In an interview with DJ Semtex, 50 Cent discussed working on Curtis and Before I Self Destruct, saying,
Some people think I changed the title of my album from "Before I Self Destruct" to "Curtis", but what I did was, I changed albums. I had Before I Self Destruct, I recorded twelve songs under that actual topic, and then I created the material that is under Curtis, and I felt like this album should come out right now and Before I Self Destruct is gonna be my follow-up record, so I'm probably like three or four records away from completing my next album at this point. And I signed a five-album deal with Interscope, so this Curtis is my third album, Before I Self Destruct is scheduled to release February 4th, which will be the anniversary of Get Rich or Die Tryin' and my final studio recording album because the fifth album in my recording contract is a greatest hits album, so technically, I'm about three songs away from completing my music career.[3]
50 Cent described the album as "darker" and more "aggressive" than his previous album and stated, "hands down, [it] will be the best record of that time period".[8]
Production and guests
In contrast to Curtis, 50 Cent explained that you "should not expect to see guest appearances like you saw on Curtis".[9] He also described Before I Self Destruct as an entirely different concept, which will setup "the next batch of records" in his career.[9]
In an interview with HipHopDX.com, 50 Cent confirmed that he has completed twelve songs for the album.[10]
After 50 Cent's collaboration with Akon on "I'll Still Kill", which appeared on Curtis, Akon stated that 50 Cent and himself would be working on each other's upcoming albums due to the successful experience they developed while working on Curtis.[11] Akon spoke on upcoming collaborations between the two stating,
Shortly after the song was completed, we met face to face, gave each other a pound, gave each other a hug, like, ‘Nigga, we got a hit.’ Now we’re gonna do more records for both our upcoming albums. We’ll swap out. Whoever’s album it feel right on, that’s where we gonna put it.[11]
In an interview with MTV, Timbaland stated that he has worked with 50 Cent. He said:
I did some more records for him. I know he's gonna use them, but I don't know for which album — this one [Curtis] or the next one [Before I Self Destruct].[12]
In an interview with MTV, 50 Cent was asked about the album and said that the Kanye West produced track will not make the final cut of the album.[8] Swizz Beatz will provide production for Before I Self Destruct after not having any tracks make the final cut of Curtis.[13]
J.R. Rotem also spoke about working on the album, he said:
I just sat down with him and we went through tracks," Rotem said. "He's definitely into soulful stuff. He's at a level where he doesn't have to put an album out for money or anything — he's in it for the love of hip-hop. For the next album, he's trying to bring a very powerful new sound. He's an innovator. He puts out a sound and people will copy it. He wants to set a trend. At this point I can't give any more details, but it's definitely going to be a remarkable project.[14]
Play-N-Skillz also confirmed working with 50 Cent for the BISD project saying:
Our rhythm on the drum pattern, we had to switch it up a little bit. 50 Cent said he wanted to go back to the boom-bap hard-core gangsta stuff. We tried to fit his style. I think 50 is gonna come back. He's a hitmaker. He's written a lot of hits for a lot of people. Sha told me 50's getting back in the Get Rich or Die Tryin' mode. 50 is a person who doesn't like to know how the producer is. He just likes to go in with the music. But Sha Money XL is going crazy for the tracks we sent.[15]
Sha Money XL and Ty-Fyffe have also worked on beats for the project. Ty-Fyffe posted his listening session on YouTube.[16]
Confirmed Tracks
Title | Producer | Featured guest(s) |
---|---|---|
Norman Bates Motel [17] | Dr.Dre | Eminem |
Girl Come Over | Nate Dogg |
References
- ^ Darryl Gudmundson & Andres Tardio (March 24, 2007). HHDX News Bits (Lil Jon Sets Record, Ron Artest, 50 Cent Album News). HipHopDX. Accessed July 14, 2007.
- ^ a b c ITN (September 15, 2008) 50 Cent on what he's been up to and his good mate Eminem YouTube. Accessed September 20, 2008.
- ^ a b Fullmetal (April 30, 2007). 50 Cent "G Unit Album Coming soon". Def Sounds. Accessed August 17, 2007.
- ^ visiontellie2 (September 13, 2007). 50 Cent on Jimmy Kimmel Live 9-11-07 pert2. YouTube. Accessed May 14, 2008.
- ^ DefSounds. May 22, 2008. G-Unit Q&A Session Part 2. DefSounds. Accessed May 24, 2008.
- ^ 50 Cent (September 14, 2008) 50 Cent New Single in Albany!!(Mocking Kanye West) YouTube. Accessed September 14, 2008.
- ^ Corey Moss (November 30, 2006). 50 Cent, Almost Ready to Self Destruct, Unloads on Critics First. MTV. Accessed July 14, 2007.
- ^ a b MTV (November 16, 2007). EXCLUSIVE |Curtis tells MTV about mentor Eminem, collaborating with Kanye West and reveals all about his next album.... MTV. Accessed November 16, 2007.
- ^ a b Shaheem Reid (October 22, 2007). 50 Cent Talks Akon, G-Unit, Next LP from Set of 'I'll Still Kill' Video. MTV. Accessed October 22, 2007.
- ^ Kevin Clark (August 13, 2007). 50 Cent: Shut Me Up...I Dare You!. HipHopDX. Accessed August 14, 2007.
- ^ a b Jokesta (September 4, 2007). Akon Loves 50 Cent, Warren G Works on Detox. Def Sounds. Accessed October 19, 2007.
- ^ Shaheem Reid (August 8, 2007). Timbaland Talks About His and Justin Timberlake's 'Hot' Collabo with Madonna. MTV. Accessed October 21, 2007.
- ^ Slava Kuperstein (January 31, 2008). Swizz Beatz Keeps Busy in the Studio. HipHopDX. Accessed February 4, 2008.
- ^ Shaheem Reid (December 19, 2006). Producer J.R. Rotem Helping 50 Get Soul, Tossing Beats For Dr. Dre. MTV. Accessed August 27, 2008.
- ^ Shaheem Reid (August 26, 2008). Lil Wayne Almost Didn't Get 'Got Money' -- Pitbull Had It First. MTV. Accessed September 7, 2008.
- ^ YouTube. Episode 5 Ty Fyffe - 50 Cent Before I Self Destruct Listening Session (August 20, 2008). Youtube. Accessed September 9, 2008.
- ^ Blender. 50 Cent & Eminem on a new track (Octomber 2, 2008). Blender. Accessed 3 Octomber 2008.