Common Sense Note
Strong language, violent imagery, and super-consistent sexism would make this sometimes interesting album uncomfortable for most parents. It's really not for kids, and we don't recommend it for anyone under 17. Also, note that the edited version had to be SO edited that is sounds like nonsense -- it's not worth buying.
That said, many teens are going to listen anyway. It might be worth having a conversation about what exactly they like about this music, and why they think 50 Cent feels he needs to use violence, sex, and profanity to get his point across. Also, what is the difference between the man 50 Cent and the myth he is trying to build?
Common Sense Review
Reviewed By: Kathi Kamen Goldmark
Remove the sleeve of the deluxe edition of 50 Cent's THE MASSACRE, and you'll see a photo of the artist aiming a gun at the camera, surrounded by a display of firearms of all kinds. Look further and you'll find an insert advertising Reeboks, complete with discount coupon. The booklet in the edited version includes a photo of the artist pouring water into a lovely, scantily-clad woman's cleavage instead of the gun picture...And then you get to hear the album, which begins with a girl's voice sighing over a valentine, followed by blasts of gunfire.
Strong language and constant references to guns, violence, drugs, and explicit sex with objectified women combined with monotonous backing tracks and monotone delivery make THE MASSACRE a hard album for any parent to love. With an intensity so overdone that it would seem like self-parody if his lyrics weren't so deadly serious, 50 Cent weakens the power of his talent by indulging in this fierce and fatal machismo. The edited version had to be SO edited that is sounds like nonsense.
It's too bad, because 50 Cent is a good songwriter, The instrumental tracks are beautifully produced and sometimes even mesmerizing; the lyrics are the work of an obviously intelligent, hard-working man. But they are also unrelentingly nasty, especially if you happen to be female, and these songs send a loud-and-clear message that problems are best solved with violence. There isn't a young person in the world who really needs to hear this CD, and that's a shame.
Rate It!
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Sexual ContentVery explicit. |
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ViolenceVery violent, including gun photos and sound effects. |
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LanguageAs strong as it gets. |
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Message |
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Social BehaviorSexist and misogynistic, with an underlying "bonus" message that problems can only be solved with violence. |
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CommercialismAn insert advertises Reeboks and includes a discount card. |
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Drug/Alcohol/TobaccoSeveral explicit references to drugs and drug users. |
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