The Massacre

The Massacre is the second studio album by American rapper 50 Cent. It was released on March 3, 2005, by Shady Records, G-Unit Records, Aftermath Entertainment, and Interscope Records. The album debuted and peaked at #1 on the US Billboard 200, selling 1.15 million copies in its first week. Upon its release, The Massacre received generally positive reviews from music critics. The album was nominated for a Grammy Award for Best Rap Album, but lost to Kanye West's album Late Registration at the 48th Grammy Awards.

For the album by The Exploited, see The Massacre (The Exploited album). For the 1914 film, see The Massacre (film). For the 1966 Doctor Who story, see The Massacre of St Bartholomew's Eve. For other uses, see Massacre (disambiguation).
The Massacre
Studio album by
50 Cent
ReleasedMarch 3, 2005
RecordedJuly–November 2004
Genre
Length77:22
Label
Producer
50 Cent chronology
24 Shots
(2003)		 The Massacre
(2005)		 Bulletproof
(2005)
Singles from The Massacre
  1. "Disco Inferno"
    Released: December 11, 2004
  2. "Candy Shop"
    Released: February 15, 2005
  3. "Just a Lil Bit"
    Released: May 17, 2005
  4. "Outta Control"
    Released: September 13, 2005

Background

The Massacre has a music video for every track (with the exception of "Gunz Come Out") on the special edition version of the album. The original title for the album was revealed as St. Valentine's Day Massacre and was arranged to be released on February 14, 2005. However it was postponed, and the album title was shortened to simply The Massacre. The censored version of the album censors out most profanity, violence, and all drug content. The track "Gunz Come Out" has inconsistency in the editing, and contains some profanity. The opening track "Intro" removes the shooting sequence, and is cut down to 20 seconds. In comparison, the album is not as heavily censored as his previous album Get Rich or Die Tryin', but it is still a very highly censored album ranking in severity with albums such as Jadakiss' Kiss tha Game Goodbye (2001), along with Tony Yayo's Thoughts of a Predicate Felon (2005) and Nas' Stillmatic (2001).

Commercial performance

The Massacre sold 1.15 million copies in its first four days of release, becoming the 6th-largest opening week for an album at the time since Nielsen SoundScan began tracking sales in 1991.[1] This is the second best opening week for a hip hop album, behind Eminem's The Marshall Mathers LP (2000), which sold 1.76 million copies in its 1st week.[2] As of 2015, the album has sold 5.36 million copies in the United States and over 11 million worldwide.[3][4]

In 2005, The Massacre was ranked as the number one album of the year on the Billboard 200.[5]

Critical reception
Professional ratings
Aggregate scores
SourceRating
Metacritic66/100[6]
Review scores
SourceRating
AllMusic[7]
Blender[8]
Entertainment WeeklyB−[9]
The Guardian[10]
Los Angeles Times[11]
NME8/10[12]
Pitchfork7.0/10[13]
Rolling Stone[14]
SpinB−[15]
The Village VoiceA−[16]

The Massacre received generally positive reviews from music critics; it holds a score of 66 out of 100 at Metacritic.[6] Vibe magazine found it "full of finger-pointing panache" and wrote that "50 delivers a taut, albeit less explosive, album aimed at both silencing his detractors and keeping the ladies satisfied".[17] NME observed "a new depth to the murderous lyricism" from 50 Cent on the album.[12] Greg Tate, writing in The Village Voice, said that, like Tupac, 50 Cent is "a ruffian who knows the value of a good pop hook", and called The Massacre "the most diabolically sensous collection of baby-making gangsta music since Pac's All Eyez."[18] Kelefa Sanneh of The New York Times found the album to be "nearly as addictive as its predecessor" and called 50 Cent "a crafty songwriter, specializing in obvious but nearly irresistible tracks that sound better the more you hear them."[19] In his review for The Village Voice, Robert Christgau said that 50 Cent's "ugly gangsta lies" are "incidental to the mood of the piece, which is friendly, relaxed, good-humored, and in the groove."[16]

In a mixed review, Nathan Rabin of The A.V. Club said that, although its strengths lie in 50 Cent's "dark charisma" and "fluid delivery", the album is marred by flaws typical of "big rap releases: At nearly 78 minutes, it's far too long, wildly uneven, and not particularly cohesive sonically or thematically."[20] Uncut magazine wrote that, despite 50 Cent's "cool menace", "not even tight productions from Eminem and Dre can stop things from flagging midway."[21] Lynne D. Johnson of Spin felt that it lacks "originality" and makes artistic concessions: "He's tryin' too hard to be everything to everybody."[15] In a negative review for The Guardian, Alexis Petridis panned him as a lyricist and felt that the album lacks "any of the factors that make the best gangsta rap disturbingly compelling ... There's nothing except a string of cliches so limited that repetition is unavoidable".[10]

Accolades

The Massacre was nominated at the 2006 Grammy Awards for Best Rap Album,[22] but lost to Kanye West's Late Registration.[23] It was ranked the twenty fifth best album of the year by Rolling Stone.[24]

According to 50 Cent, the album received more mixed reviews than his album Get Rich Or Die Tryin' because he was focused more on the hooks and song structure: "People fought love for the things they see are significant. Jimmy Iovine was a producer … he loves the significance of production. He loves Dre. I don’t give a fuck what I made … look, I made my whole second album as a 10-record. I knew they wasn’t my best verses but my choruses were right so I focused on my song structure."[25]

Track listing
No.TitleWriter(s)Producer(s)Length
1."Intro (The Massacre)"Lindsay CollinsEminem0:41
2."In My Hood"
  • C. Styles
  • Bang Out
  • Eminem[a]
  • Resto[a]
3:51
3."This Is 50"
3:04
4."I'm Supposed to Die Tonight"
3:51
5."Piggy Bank"
Needlz4:15
6."Gatman And Robbin" (Feat. Eminem)
3:46
7."Candy Shop" (featuring Olivia)
Scott Storch3:29
8."Outta Control"
3:21
9."Get in My Car"
Hi-Tek4:05
10."Ski Mask Way"
3:05
11."A Baltimore Love Thing"
  • Jackson
  • Quentin Staples
  • Norma Toney
Cue Beats4:17
12."Ryder Music"
  • Jackson
  • Cotrell
Hi-Tek3:51
13."Disco Inferno"
  • Jackson
  • Crawford
  • Pitts
  • C. Styles
  • Bang Out
3:34
14."Just a Lil Bit"
  • Jackson
  • Storch
Storch3:57
15."Gunz Come Out"
  • Jackson
  • Young
  • Elizondo
  • Dr. Dre
  • Elizondo
4:24
16."My Toy Soldier" (featuring Tony Yayo)
3:44
17."Position of Power"
J.R. Rotem3:12
18."Build You Up" (featuring Jamie Foxx)
  • Jackson
  • Storch
Storch2:55
19."God Gave Me Style"
Needlz3:01
20."So Amazing" (featuring Olivia)
  • Jackson
  • Rotem
  • Jasmin Lopez
J.R. Rotem3:16
21."I Don't Need 'Em"
Buckwild3:20
22."Hate It Or Love It (G-Unit Remix)" (Bonus Track) (featuring The Game, Tony Yayo, Young Buck and Lloyd Banks)
Cool & Dre4:23
Total length:77:22
2006 France re-release[26]
No.TitleWriter(s)Producer(s)Length
21."Window Shopper" (bonus track)
  • Jackson
  • Crawford
  • J.H. Turnbull
  • Bob Marley
  • C. Styles
  • Sire
3:12
22."Best Friend" (featuring Olivia) (bonus track)JacksonHi-Tek4:14
Total length:84:48
Notes
  • ^[a] signifies an additional producer.
  • "Intro" is excluded from the 2006 France edition.[26]
Sample credits[27]
  • "Intro" contains elements from "What Up Gangsta" performed by 50 Cent.
  • "This Is 50" contains elements from "Things Done Changed" performed by The Notorious B.I.G..
  • "I'm Supposed to Die Tonight" contains vocal samples of "Vocal Planet" performed by Spectrasonics.
  • "Gatman and Robbin'" contains replayed elements from "Batman Theme" composed by Danny Elfman.
  • "Candy Shop" contains a sample of "Love Break" performed by The Salsoul Orchestra (uncredited).
  • "Outta Control" contains an interpolation from "Set It Off" performed by Strafe.
  • "Ski Mask Way" contains elements from "What Am I Waiting For" performed by The O'Jays and resung elements from "Cell Therapy" performed by Goodie Mob.
  • "A Baltimore Love Thing" contains elements from "I'll Be Waiting There for You" performed by The Dells.
  • "God Gave Me Style" contains elements from "Each Day I Cry a Little" performed by Eddie Kendricks.
  • "I Don't Need 'Em" contains elements from "Nobody Knows" performed by S.C.L.C.

Personnel

Credits for The Massacre adapted from Allmusic.[28]

Charts

Certifications
Region CertificationCertified units/sales
Australia (ARIA)[65] Platinum 70,000^
Belgium (BEA)[66] Gold 25,000*
Canada (Music Canada)[67] 3× Platinum 300,000^
France (SNEP)[68] Gold 100,000*
Germany (BVMI)[69] Platinum 200,000^
Greece (IFPI Greece)[70] Gold 10,000^
Ireland (IRMA)[71] 2× Platinum 30,000^
Japan (RIAJ)[72] Gold 100,000^
New Zealand (RMNZ)[73] Platinum 15,000^
Russia (NFPF)[74] 3× Platinum 60,000*
Switzerland (IFPI Switzerland)[75] Platinum 40,000^
United Kingdom (BPI)[76] 2× Platinum 600,000^
United States (RIAA)[77] 6× Platinum 6,000,000[78]
Summaries
Europe (IFPI)[79] Platinum 1,000,000*
Worldwide — 9,000,000[4]

* Sales figures based on certification alone.
^ Shipments figures based on certification alone.

The Massacre (Special Edition)
The Massacre (Special Edition)
Studio album by
50 Cent
ReleasedSeptember 6, 2005
Recorded2004–2005
Genre
Length73:47
Label
Producer
50 Cent chronology
The Massacre
(2005)		 The Massacre (Special Edition)
(2005)		 Curtis
(2007)
Singles from The Massacre
  1. "Disco Inferno"
    Released: November 28, 2004
  2. "Candy Shop"
    Released: January 15, 2005
  3. "Just a Lil Bit"
    Released: May 10, 2005
  4. "Outta Control (Remix)"
    Released: September 6, 2005

Background

The album was re-released under the name The Massacre (Special Edition). It was re-released on September 6, 2005 with a remix of "Outta Control" featuring Mobb Deep. The remix replaces the original version of the song as track 8. The re-release included a bonus DVD with music videos for all of the songs (except for "Disco Inferno", "Gunz Come Out" and the Intro), and the trailer for the movie Get Rich or Die Tryin'. Due to the ongoing feud between 50 Cent and The Game, the re-release does not include the twenty-second track, G-Unit's remix to "Hate It or Love It". The re-release helped the album re-climb the charts to number 2 in the United States. The original version was also re-issued using the special edition track listing leaving out the parts for the DVD.

Track listing
No.TitleWriter(s)Producer(s)Length
1."Intro"Lindsay CollinsEminem0:41
2."In My Hood"
  • Jackson
  • Crawford
  • Pitts
  • Mathers
  • Resto
  • C. Styles
  • Bang Out
  • Eminem[a]
  • Resto[a]
3:51
3."This Is 50"
  • Jackson
  • Smith
  • Clervoix
  • Black Jeruz
  • Sha Money XL
3:04
4."I'm Supposed to Die Tonight"
  • Jackson
  • Mathers
  • Resto
  • King
Eminem3:51
5."Piggy Bank"
  • Jackson
  • Cain
Needlz4:15
6."Gatman and Robbin'" (featuring Eminem)
  • Jackson
  • Mathers
  • Jeffrey Bass
  • Mark Bass
  • Resto
  • Hefti
  • Eminem
  • Bass Brothers[a]
3:46
7."Candy Shop" (featuring Olivia)
  • Jackson
  • Storch
Storch3:29
8."Outta Control (Remix)" (featuring Mobb Deep)
  • Dr. Dre
  • Elizondo
4:07
9."Get in My Car"
  • Jackson
  • Cotrell
Hi-Tek4:05
10."Ski Mask Way"
  • Jackson
  • Sigler
  • Resto
  • Mathers
  • Shayman
  • Presson
Disco D3:05
11."A Baltimore Love Thing"
  • Jackson
  • Staples
  • Toney
Cue Beats4:17
12."Ryder Music"
  • Jackson
  • Cotrell
Hi-Tek3:51
13."Disco Inferno"
  • Jackson
  • Crawford
  • Pitts
  • C. Styles
  • Bang Out
3:34
14."Just a Lil Bit"
  • Jackson
  • Storch
Storch3:57
15."Gunz Come Out"
  • Jackson
  • Young
  • Elizondo
  • Dr. Dre
  • Elizondo
4:24
16."My Toy Soldier" (featuring Tony Yayo)
  • Jackson
  • Bernard
  • Mathers
  • Resto
  • King
Eminem3:44
17."Position of Power"
  • Jackson
  • Rotem
J.R. Rotem3:12
18."Build You Up" (featuring Jamie Foxx)
  • Jackson
  • Storch
Storch2:55
19."God Gave Me Style"
  • Jackson
  • Cain
  • Caston, Jr.
  • McFadden
Needlz3:01
20."So Amazing" (featuring Olivia)
  • Jackson
  • Rotem
  • Lopez
J.R. Rotem3:16
21."I Don't Need 'Em"
  • Jackson
  • Best
Buckwild3:20
Total length:73:45
Notes

^[a] signifies an additional producer.

Sample credits

Informations taken from The Massacre liner notes:[27]

  • "Intro" contains elements from "What Up Gangsta" performed by 50 Cent
  • "I'm Supposed to Die Tonight" contains samples of "Warning" by The Notorious B.I.G.
  • "Gatman and Robbin'" contains replayed elements from "Batman Theme"
  • "Candy Shop" contains a sample of "Love Break" performed by The Salsoul Orchestra (uncredited)
  • "Ski Mask Way" contains elements from "What Am I Waiting For" performed by The O'Jays and resung elements from "Cell Therapy" performed by Goodie Mob
  • "A Baltimore Love Thing" contains elements from "I'll Be Waiting There For You" performed by The Dells
  • "God Gave Me Style" contains elements from "Each Day I Cry A Little" performed by Eddie Kendricks
  • "I Don't Need 'Em" contains elements from "Nobody Knows" performed by S.C.L.C.

See also

References
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