After releasing "How To Rob", 50 Cent could have never predicted that his career would have taken the turn that it has. Once this comical song was released, many of the artists that he mentioned didn't take the song as a joke. Jay Z, Ja Rule, Ghostface Killah and many others had either diss replies or comments to make about what 50 Cent was trying to do. Days before his video shoot for the song, "Thug Love" w/Destiny's Child, he was shot multiple times and was hospitalized. Once he was released from the hospital, Columbia decided not to go through with the video. After quietly releasing his EP, "Power Of The Dollar", 50 Cent's career remained in limbo. "How To Rob" and "Rowdy Rowdy" apperared on the "In Too Deep" soundtrack and 50 Cent kept his name in the game by appearing on various mixtapes by performing freestyles and some of his songs that were supposed to be on his full album release showed up on mixed CDs as well. In 2002, Full Clip Records decided to release a compilation of his underground classics and freestyles. I admit myself that I slept on 50 Cent but after hearing "Guess Who's Back" you will definitely see the light, trust me. The CD starts out with a freestyle to the Geto Boys' "No ..., No Glory beat and this is a nice intro to the CD. "Rotten Apple" appears after the intro and 50 Cent lets people know what happens on his side of the town in NY. After a short intro, 50 and his G-Unit crew set it off something lovely on "That's What's Up". This whole CD is filled with nothing but highlights. On the hilarious "Get Out The Club", 50 Cent breaks it down about the high post females that come to the club and act like they are above everybody. It is a well crafted song. Although, there are no production credits in the CD, "... You" is definitely a Premo banger. 50 Cent and DJ Premier need to work together again in the future. Guest appearances are kept to a minimum on this CD. Nas & Nature appear on "Too Hot", which shows you how old this track is, because Nas & Nature are bitter rivals now. Nas & The Bravehearts show up on "Who U Rep With" and on "As The World Turns", Bun B from UGK shows up for a nice collaboration with 50 Cent. 50 even sounds as if he is rapping like Pimp C. The best song on this CD is definitely "Ghetto Qua ran". I can not understand why Columbia dropped 50 Cent. This will be a move that they regret. On "Ghetto Qua ran", 50 Cent is trying to sing the chorus and he does a good job of storytelling on the song. He has unlimited potential. As we speak, 50 Cent has one of the best selling mixed CDs out now entitled "50 Cent Is The Future: G Unit" and he just signed a deal with Eminem's Shady Records. His new CD will be out in the Fall of this year. "Guess Who's Back" is definitely a CD that you want to have in your collection. This is the track listing:

1) Killa Tape Intro
2) Rotten Apple
3) Skit/Drop
4) That's What's Up w/G Unit
5) U Not Like Me
6) 50 Bars
7) Life's On The Line
8) Get Out The Club
9) Be A Gentleman
10) ... You
11) Too Hot w/Nas & Nature
12) Who U Rep With w/Nas & The Bravehearts
13) Corner Bodega
14) Ghetto Qua ran
15) As The World Turns w/Bun B of UGK
16) Whoo Kid Freestyle
17) Stretch Armstrong Freestyle
18) Doo Wop Freestyle

James' Top 5

1) Ghetto Qua ran
2) Get Out The Club
3) ... You
4) Rotten Apple
5) Too Hot w/Nas & Nature

50 Cent created a very good album with "Guess Who's Back?" which is a compilation of "underground classics & freestyles". It was released by Full Clip Records and it has some very good tracks. This album has songs from when 50 was still hungry and he can really spit on here. Then he released "Get Rich Or Die Trying" which is also an excellent album in which he still showed his hunger but had better beats. Unfortunately, with "The Massacre" he released very old material. He doesn't seem to have much to say anymore. It's all about guns and his ego. Still, it has some good songs. However, "Guess Who's Back?" has plenty of great songs.

1. Killa Tape Intro - Great intro track for the album. 50 comes out hungry and lays out some great rhymes over a nice beat. Basically, just introducing himself. "I walk around with a big fo-fo. You front on me I'm gone get at you dawg. I be right at your crib, right at your door." 9/10

2. Rotten Apple - Great song. Good beat with 50 flowing with the best on this track. "I'm on parole, I used to be on probation. I wave my gun I get full cooporation." 10/10

3. Skit/Drop - Just a skit to start the next song. Pointless.

4. That's What's Up - Pretty good song and the only one featuring G-Unit (Banks and Yayo). An OK beat also. "They say 'God bless the child that could hold his own'. You pay cops to hold you down, I just hold the chrome." 7/10

5. U Not Like Me - Good song that's on "Get Rich" with 50 just rhyming about what people do that make them not like him. "I don't smile a lot, cause ain't nothin' pretty. Got a purple heart for war, and I ain't never left the City." 8/10

6. 50 Bars - Really great song with a dark beat and some great lyrics from 50 who sounds really raw and hungry on here. "Killed like 4 fiends, his popularity grew. That only meant more cream. First it was him and his brother now he got a team." 10/10

7. Life's On The Line - Another song that was on "Get Rich" that's pretty good. Decent beat and some good lyrics. He's just threatening anyone who wants to challenge him. "Beef, you don't want none. So don't start none. You just a small player in this game, play your part son." 8/10

8. Get Out The Club - Weak song. Just talking about girls. Nothing special. 5/10

9. Be A Gentleman - Very creative beat and some good lyrics. I really like this song. "I'm slick enough to twist your lines and send them back at you. Swift enough to snatch the mack and pop that at you." 9/10

10. F*** You - I heard this is the 1st song he made after he was shot and I can believe it with his anger and rawness on here. Hook samples Nas, Styles, and Big Pun and 50 just rips through this song. "Born a healthy baby, I wasn't always crazy. This ain't how moma rasied me, this how the hood made me." 9/10

11. Too Hot - Features Nas and Nature. Everyone lays out some good verses and there a decent beat so this is a pretty good song. "I got four macs, a few nines, I'm ready for beef. You wanna talk, it ain't about money, then let it be brief." 7/10

12. Who U Rep With - Also features Nas but this time with the Bravehearts. I don't particularily like this song but Nas is good so give it a listen. 6/10

13. Corner Bodega - Probably my favorite song but it's extremely short, TOO SHORT! 50 gets a good beat and rips through is 1st verse but then you realize that's the whole song. Still, it's a great song. "Bottom line is: man, I gotta cop and go. I got a spot and I can't afford to stop the flow." 10/10

14. Ghetto Qua ran - Great slow song by 50. Very good beat with some great lyrics. "Writin rhymes is the best way I express how I feel. If I ain't rich by twenty-six, I'll be dead or in jail." 10/10

15. As The World Turns - Pretty good song featuring UGK. Worth a listen. "Better understand what I'm saying, I aint playing. I'll be in front of your crib, laying, wit the mack and start spraying." 7/10

16. Whoo Kid Freestyle - Good 1:15 freestyle featuring Lloyd Banks.

17. Stretch Armstrong Freestyle - Good 1:19 freestyle.

18. Doo Wop Freestyle - Best freestyle with the best beat. 2:25 long.

SOMEBODY PLEZE SHOOT HIM FOR THE TENTH TIME SO HE CAN SHUT UP....I DID NOT RATE THIZ ONE STAR AND I WISH I CAN GIVE HIM A NEGATIVE 5 STARS.....Yall should get back to tha muzik that wuz made in the 90-99.....not the new muzik that all talks about jewelry, cars and clothes....who carez.....yall people that support thiz clown are idiotz and you just need a friend or a girlfriend because u try to fit in

This CD shows the true meaning of gangsta rap.
Tracks:
1.Killa Tape Intro - Great Way To Begin 5/5
2.Rotten Apple - Should Be "Thats How We Get Down", But Still Great Song 4/5
3.Skit/Drop - An Interlude With A Message 4/5
4.That's What's Up - G-Unit United 3/5
5.U Not Like Me - Great Lyrics 5/5
6.50 Bars - Lyrics Make Up For Lack Of Chorus In Middle 4/5
7.Life's On The Line - Excellent Lyrics 5/5
8.Get Out The Club - Change Of Pace 5/5
9.Be A Gentleman - Lesson Of The Day 5/5

10.F*ck You - Unnecessary Amount Of Cussing...Perfect 5/5
11.Too Hot - Nas Has A Good Verse 4/5
12.Who U Rep With - OK Song 4/5 (Listen To Remix)
13.Corner Bodega - Short But Sweet 5/5
14.Ghetto Qua'ran - One Of The Best 5/5
15.As The World Turns - Phat Beats 5/5
16.Whoo Kid Freestyle - Voice Sounds Different But Nice 4/5
17.Stretch Arm Strong - Awesome Background 5/5
18.Doo Wop Freestyle - Really Weird Beats 3/5

50 Cent can flat out flow! I would give this CD 5 stars, but I can't put it on the level with his forthcoming CD on Shady Records which is destined to be a classic. This CD is definitely a good example of a lyricist at the top of his game who doesn't care what people think of him. Get this at least to tide you over till his new CD drops.