1. "INTRO"
With the clang of two quarters and the sound of a gun being loaded, 50 Cent quickly sets the tone of Get Rich or Die Tryin'. The tone feeds into the money-on-my-mind approach set in stone by the Jiggy era, while gesturing to the aggressive establishment of street credibility that pervades the album.
2. "WHAT UP GANGSTA"
A casual flow offsets the devilish rhymes on the album's first proper song "What Up Gangsta," touting a Reef-produced instrumental clipped with thick rimshots and a sliding string sample.
3. "PATIENTLY WAITING (FEAT. EMINEM)
Where 50 used "What Up Gangsta" to cement his fearlessness, he gets slightly personal on the album's first collaboration, a lyrical onslaught delivered with ease. A singsong chorus from the Shady Records honcho, who also produced the track, seals the deal, while one-off couplets prove 50's knack for quote-worthy rhymes.
4. "MANY MEN (WISH DEATH)"
Reenacting his brush with death, 50 sets off album standout "Many Men (Wish Death)" with a brief skit where he's assaulted with gunfire. Soon, the twinkly, brooding instrumental kicks in and the rapper's sung chorus brings the track to life. Hosting one of the catchiest hooks on Get Rich Or Die Tryin'.
5. "IN DA CLUB"
As 50's biggest hit, "In Da Club" married his propensity for unshakeable hooks with strong wordplay. It's wrapped in one of Dr. Dre's pinnacle beats. The track appealed to the hardest thugs while bringing Top 40 to its knees, spanning demographics to dominate the Hot 100 and Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs charts for nine weeks.
6. "HIGH ALL THE TIME"
The rapper has gone on record several times to declare he doesn't mess with drugs or alcohol and lives a straight-edged life. Boasting rhymes about smoking the best marijuana, 50 used the drug to show that even if he doesn't like to fly high, he's still plugged into street culture -- the foundation of the album.
7. "HEAT"
Possibly the greasiest gem on the project, "Heat" is certainly more about the beat than the lyrics. Gunshots carry the rhythm on the organ-festooned anthem accented by deeply troubling threats -- an accouterment to the music at hand. It's one of the catchiest displays of braggadocio, as well a triumphant feat of terror softened only by melody.
8. "IF I CAN'T"
"If I Can't" was 50 at his melodious best, invoking the party hardy reliance of "In Da Club" and applying it to what became the piano-laden fourth single from the album. With Dr. Dre on the boards, 50 indulges in the comfort of luxury on the chorus, capping two-liners with memorable jolts of rhyme.
9. "BLOOD HOUND"
50 may have mastered the hip-hop game at the start of his career, but even he couldn't predict the future even if he declared himself that with his breakout mixtape. With one of the icier instrumentals on the album, "Blood Hound" continues in a hustler's vein that goes at alleged enemies.
10. "BACK DOWN"
"Back Down" conveyed how not all hooks were slung alike. As the first song on the album that clearly addresses his beef with Ja Rule, "Back Down" channeled the playful honesty of his underground hit "How to Rob" without the jocularity.
11. "P.I.M.P."
the steel drum-driven song was a solo attempt on the album, preserving the flavor of the remix without losing the focus. The song served as the second-bestselling single from the release.
12. "LIKE MY STYLE (FEAT. TONY YAYO)"
50 showed his versatility with "Like My Style" featuring G-Unit compatriot Tony Yayo. The Rockwilder-produced zinger is stilted with an offbeat instrumental. It's one of the most challenging cuts on the LP. Fif attacks it with ease, proving that his flow could thrive in any musical environment.
13. "POOR LIL RICH"
Alliteration rules "Poor Lil Rich," an exercise in grammar that keeps the album alive during its weaker moments. 50 isn't as intent on lacing tracks with skin-burrowing choruses, instead packing the latter half with street paeans.
14. "21 QUIESTIONS (FEAT. NATE DOGG)"
Fif shows his softer side, posting answerless hypotheticals to his girl about how she would handle his shortcomings. For a man whose foundation is based on using self-actuated aggro taunts, "21 Questions" is a refresher, reminding listeners that there's more than meets the facade.
15. "DON'T PUSH ME (FEAT. LLOYD BANKS & EMINEM)"
There's a vulnerability to "Don't Push Me" that's undermined by the Eminem-produced aggressor. It's a nod to his past with an unsure look at what lays ahead, a proclivity for second-guessing that pushes the track beyond basic boasting.
16. "GOTTA MAKE IT TO HEAVEN"
Another hood anthem, "Gotta Make It To Heaven" closes out the tracklist for the standard version of "Get Rich or Die Tryin'." It's not the strongest finale to an album that's dotted with songs that pair surefire hooks with street stories, but serves a purpose, veering into storytelling territory that refocuses on non-50 characters.