If you believe rapper 50 Cent’s beef with fellow superstar Kanye West really exists, you deserve to be shot nine times. Their alleged rivalry, inflamed by the fact that both released albums on the same day last week, is pure marketing hype aimed at papering over the fact that 50’s new disc, “Curtis,” is a disappointing retread of his thug-hailing past. Continue reading
Tanking album sales, record label splits and a dustup with Jay-Z have left the career of hip-hop duo Mobb Deep in something of a tailspin of late. But by joining forces with 50 Cent’s G-Unit crew on their new comeback record, has the New York pair forsaken what makes them distinct to be just one of the gangstas? Continue reading
The Grammys will be doled out on Thursday and David is again putting on his swami hat to give a rundown of who’s likely to walk away with the music industry’s most prestigious awards. Continue reading
50 Cent’s latest album is the soundtrack to the partially fictionalized big-screen biopic of the star rapper’s pre-music business life as a big-time drug dealer. The film is doing so-so business at the box office, but David explains why the disc proves that 50 should still keep his day job. Continue reading
The Game is hip-hop’s hottest property. Sponsored by Dr. Dre and 50 Cent, the West Coast rapper has a debut album that soared to the top of the charts and he’s compiled an impressive list of headlines on MTV.com for the verbal scuffles that he’s had with some of rap’s biggest names. Soundbytes clues you on whether his record is worth the accompanying hype. Continue reading
With everyone from 50 Cent to Warren Zevon squaring off for Grammys this year, Soundbytes weeds through the categories to give us his picks for who’ll emerge as winners from this Sunday’s event. Continue reading
Soundbytes Music Column 