ARTIST: 50 Cent
ALBUM: Animal Ambition
LABEL: G-Unit
RELEASE DATE: June 3, 2014
Stay Hungry
Written by Jeremy Weeden
50 Cent is back on the music scene with his 5th studio album, Animal Ambition. Ambition is an album in the vein of the mixtapes 50 used to drop before albums like Before the Massacre. The main attraction, the upcoming album Street King Immortal, will be coming out later this year. Ambition is reminiscent of 50 Cent’s earlier work and acts as a good reintroduction.
Animal Ambition kicks off with a bang with “Hold On,” a track that will take listeners back to 50 Cent’s earlier days. Over a slow beat with hard hitting drums 50 raps about the crazy life he leads with the lyrics, “I woke up this morning, this is insane/Rich as a motherfucker, and ain’t much changed/Open my eyes, no surprise, I’m with a different bitch/Different day, different ass, different tits.”
“Don’t Worry Bout It” features Yo Gotti and the two rappers tell people not to worry about what they have or what they are doing. “Animal Ambition” appropriately includes animal sounds in the beat and is about 50 Cent’s ambition and desire to achieve success. He raps “Got the eye of the tiger, I’m on that animal shit/I got the heart of a lion and the looks of an elephant/Yea I’m scared of rats, but I’m ready for anything.”
“Smoke” features Trey Songz and is one of the more upbeat songs on the album. Over a heavy synthesized beat from Dr. Dre, 50 raps about a woman who has him feeling high. This song has garnered the most airplay and will probably be the biggest single from the album.
Another standout track on the album is “Irregular Heartbeat” featuring Jadakiss and Kidd Kidd. Jadakiss proves he has yet to lose a step dropping the lyrics, “Trying to back pedal and stumble on the curb/You starin at the ground, you mumblin your words/Literally I can see your heart pumpin through your shirt/Pussy your whole life, you always been a bird/Scared for so long it’s all up in your nerves/Screw 9-1-1, you probably call up the reserves.”
“Winner’s Circle” catches 50 reflecting on his successes while also acknowledging he is trying to reclaim his legendary status. He raps the lyrics, “Consider this the theme song for victory/The shit you say to yourself when you make history/I’m trying to make it feel like the first time/Like a junkie I’m sort of chasing my first high/I’m focused, I’m disciplined, I’m ready/Mentally on point, sharp as a machete.”
“Chase the Paper” is another song on the album that fans of classic 50 Cent will love. Over a rhythmic beat 50 raps about how he chases money while other dudes chase women. The song also features Prodigy of Mobb Deep and Kidd Kidd.
“The Funeral” finds 50 telling one of his classic hood tales. He proves he is still a very adept storyteller with vivid descriptions of what is taking place. “Flip On You” features Schoolboy Q who shows why he is one of the best young rappers in the game with the lyrics, “Live my life behind the rules/Running from the cops, smash the rocks up under my shoes/Spit out the eighth that once hid in my face/Bounce spring over the gate/Didn’t get caught, I guess my escape/Nigga was fate.”
Overall, Animal Ambition is a good album and probably 50 Cent’s most complete work since The Massacre. The album is sure to wet the appetites of his fans and have them waiting impatiently for Street King Immortal, which is scheduled to drop in September.