http://rap.about.com/od/reviews/gr/50CentBeforeISelfDestruct.htm
The Bottom Line
50 tries to reconnect with his inner goon on his fourth outing, Before I Self Destruct.
Pros
* 50 sounds hungrier than a pack of wild wolves
* Stellar production
Cons
* Betrays a lack of originality
* Contrived, predictable
Description
* Production courtesy of Dr. Dre, Polow da Don, Rick Rock
* Guests include Eminem, R.Kelly, and Ne-Yo
* Before I Self Destruct was recorded before Curtis
Guide Review - 50 Cent - 'Before I Self Destruct' (Shady/Aftermath)
Six years after he hit da club armed with champagne bottles and assorted models on Get Rich or Die Tryin', 50 Cent came under fire for the litany of pop crossover hits that followed. Before I Self Destruct finds him revisiting the hardcore formula that gave yield to his monumental debut. The bad news is that he's singing from a familiar hymn book.
Despite Fif's gritty delivery and hard-knocking beats, his boasts sound terribly clichéd. Spreading those artistic wings can be tough when your sound is built around your ability to amass a fictitious body count in the hundreds. Still, Fif is surprisingly captivating when he wants to be. Some of the songs here overflow with catchy hooks and stellar production that make it easy to overlook the mishaps. The best cuts include the fearless "Strong Enough" and the playful "So Disrespectful."
Though 50 promised a return to classic form, he lacks the drive and initiative to make good on that promise. Before I Self Destruct in three words: guns, cash, booty. Heard that song before.
Top Tracks
* "Strong Enough"
* "Crime Wave"
* "So Disrespectful"