Power of the Dollar

Power of the Dollar is an unreleased studio album by American hip hop recording artist 50 Cent. The album was originally set to be released as his major-label debut in 2000 by Columbia Records. However, the album's release was cancelled after Columbia discovered that 50 Cent was struck by nine bullets in a shooting that took place two months before the album was set to release. After the shooting, Columbia dropped 50 Cent from the label.[1] Subsequently, the album was heavily bootlegged.[2] There are currently no plans to release the album on compact disc.

Power of the Dollar
Studio album by 50 Cent
Released	July 4, 2000
Recorded	1998–2000
Studio	Bearsville Studios, Bearsville, New York
Genre	East Coast hip hop gangsta rap underground
Length	63:01
Label	Trackmasters Ent. Columbia
Producer	50 Cent Cory Rooney Trackmasters Al West Brian Koerulf DJ Scratch Erick Sermon Joshua Michael Schwartz Randy Allen Rashad Smith Red Spyda Sha Self Terence Dudley
50 Cent chronology
Power of the Dollar (2000) Guess Who's Back? (2002)
Singles from Power of the Dollar
"How To Rob" Released: August 10, 1999 "Thug Love" Released: September 21, 1999 "Your Life's on the Line" Released: October 12, 1999

The album features guest appearances from Destiny's Child, Noreaga, Dave Hollister, Bun B and The Madd Rapper. The album's production was handled by Trackmasters, Red Spyda, Sha Self, DJ Scratch and Erick Sermon, among other producers.

Reception

Professional ratings

Review scores
Source	Rating
Allmusic	[3]

Allmusic writes that the tracks utilize "penetrating wit and funk-infused beats, accompanied by grand orchestrations of commanding horns, pronounced percussion, and various string elements".[3]

Singles

The lead single, "Thug Love" featuring Destiny's Child, was released on September 21, 1999.[4] Days before 50 Cent was scheduled to film its music video, he was attacked by a gunman in the infamous shooting incident that left him with nine gunshot wounds and gave him his dimple scar; an event that 50 Cent often references in his lyrics.[5][6] While hospitalized, he signed a publishing deal with Columbia Records. However, he was dropped from the label after it was discovered that he had been shot.[7] The track, "Ghetto Qu'ran (Forgive Me)", has been speculated to be the reason for the shooting.[8]

The third and final single, "Your Life's on the Line", was released in 1999. The song was produced by Terrence Dudley, and was perceived as a diss song to Ja Rule, which would begin their highly publicised feud on records. 50 mocks Ja's famous catchphrase "Murdaa!", on the chorus of the song, rapping "Murdaa, I don't believe you/Murdaa, Fuck around and leave you/Murdaa, I don't believe you/Murda Murda, your life's on the line". A music video for this song was released, which was also the only song with a music video of the whole album. The song would later be included as a bonus track on 50's officially released debut album Get Rich or Die Tryin'.

Track listing

LP Unreleased

No.	Title	Writer(s)	Producer(s)	Length
1.	"Intro"			1:11
2.	"The Hit"		Randy Allen	3:41
3.	"The Good Die Young"		Al West	4:02
4.	"Corner Bodega (Coke Spot)"		L.E.S.	1:36
5.	"Your Life's on the Line"	Dudley Jackson	Terence Dudley	3:38
6.	"That Ain't Gangsta"		Trackmasters	3:25
7.	"As the World Turns" (featuring Bun B)	Ron Francois	Red Spyda	4:20
8.	"Ghetto Qu'ran (Forgive Me)"	Jackson	Trackmasters	4:34
9.	"Da Repercussions"		Kurt Gowdy	3:28
10.	"Money by Any Means" (featuring Noreaga)		Trackmasters Teflon	4:03
11.	"Material Girl" (featuring Dave Hollister)		Trackmasters	4:35
12.	"Thug Love" (featuring Destiny's Child)	Jackson Koerulf Schwartz Smith	Rashad Smith Joshua Michael Schwartz Brian Koerulf	3:16
13.	"Slow Doe"		Trackmasters	3:54
14.	"Gun Runner" (featuring Black Child)	Jackson	Trackmasters	1:55
15.	"You Ain't No Gangsta"	Clervoix Jackson	Sha Self	3:37
16.	"Power of the Dollar"		Trackmasters	3:26
17.	"I'm a Hustler"	Elliot Jackson Jacobs Moore Philips Spivey Styles	DJ Scratch	3:55
18.	"How to Rob" (featuring The Madd Rapper)	Angelettie Barnes Casey Jackson Olivier	Trackmasters	4:25
Total length:				63:01

EP Release

No.	Title	Writer(s)	Producer(s)	Length
1.	"Thug Love"	Jackson Koerulf Schwartz Smith	Rashad Smith Joshua Michael Schwartz Brian Koerulf	3:16
2.	"I'm a Hustler"	Elliot Jackson Jacobs Moore Philips Spivey Styles	DJ Scratch	3:46
3.	"Da Heatwave" (featuring Noreaga)		Erick Sermon	3:56
4.	"Your Life's on the Line"	Dudley Jackson	Terence Dudley	3:44
5.	"How to Rob"	Angelettie Barnes Casey Jackson Olivier	Trackmasters	4:24
Total length:				82:07

References

1. "50 Cent live at The Tunnel NYC 1999". YouTube. 2008-11-07. Retrieved 2012-03-05.
2. 50 Cent: Biography : Rolling Stone. The New Rolling Stone Album Guide. Accessed May 21, 2008.
3. link All Music Guide review of Power Of The Dollar. Accessed Aug 17, 2008.
4. 50 Cent | Thug Love CD | Album. MTV. Accessed May 21, 2008.
5. Ninja (December 2002). 50 Cent Interview. Dubcnn. Accessed May 21, 2008.
6. Admin (December 9, 2002). 50 Cent - Teflon MC Archived 2010-01-02 at the Wayback Machine. Sixshot. Accessed May 21, 2008.
7. Jonah Weiner, April 2005. Dear Superstar: 50 Cent Archived 2008-12-18 at the Wayback Machine. Blender. Accessed May 21, 2008.
8. Surveilling 50 Cent Archived 2007-05-09 at the Wayback Machine. The Smoking Gun (September 6, 2005). Accessed May 21, 2008. In 2003 50 Cents mixtape 24 shots was released, which includes 8 tracks from the Power of the Dollar LP.