50 Cent, "Curtis"

Backstory: With a gaggle of artists now contesting Fiddy’s once undisputed crown, hip-hop’s heavyweight champ returns with “Curtis,” his third full-length studio album. Initially titled to reflect his feud with Cam’ron, who attempted to goad 50 by chanting his given name, Curtis, on a series of battle tracks in early 2007, the album’s final incarnation is essentially an hour-long punch in the face to every rap artist in the game.

Why you should care: As the man who brought gangsta rap back to New York, 50 deserves respect. Plus, you can’t deny a dude who’s WWE-style marketing sensibilities have kept hip-hop fans gossiping like school girls for five years now: “Ooh, who’s Fiddy gonna beef with next?”

Verdict: While not completely whack by any means, “Curtis” is still a rather disappointing effort. From flows to beats to lyrical content, every song on “Curtis” sounds like something that didn’t make the final cut for “Get Rich or Die Trying.” While there are a few certified bangers (“Curtis 187,” “My Gun”) and top-notch production by Havoc, Timbaland, Eminem, Dr. Dre and Adam Deitch, the incessant repetition of the theme that 50 Cent will kill anyone who opposes him ends up approaching self-satire. This is most evident over the regal piano and synth loop of “Man Down,” as 50 sings, “I’ll murder them, I’ll murder them” to the point where it starts to sound funny.

X-Factor: Featuring collaborations with Justin Timberlake, Eminem, Robin Thicke and Adam Deitch, “Curtis” sets a new record for white boy participation on a gangsta rap album.

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