50 Cent’s songs have been a part of the rap world for years. Depending on age, you may remember different moments in his music career. Many are fond of his era with his group G Unit. Others remember when he planned to outsell a certain artist—and he didn’t. Some may remember when he first entered the acting world. Fif also did double duty by creating a soundtrack for the movie he starred in. Nowadays, people know 50 for his Power television series and its various spin-offs. He’s also known for saying all kinds of things on social media—mainly about viral moments that don’t really concern him. Still, he would not have reached the level he’s at today without his foundation in music. Here, we’ve revisited his catalog and ranked his Top 10 most streamed songs.
10. “Window Shopper” (2005)
This song is from 50 Cent’s soundtrack album Get Rich or Die Tryin’: Music from and Inspired by the Motion Picture. 50 discusses his ability to buy things on a whim. He shares that people who can’t shouldn’t be mad at him because he can. The music video showed different prices on the screen of things 50 and Mase are buying. Meanwhile, the prices of things other people have in the video are shown, and they are much lower. However, Mase’s cartoonishly large $75 milkshake and 50’s normal-sized $400 burger are fun visual jokes. This song actually has two music videos, with one having clips from 50’s movie, Get Rich or Die Tryin’ in it. The song itself has a very smooth feel, which fits the easygoing flow 50 uses in the song.
9. “Best Friend (Remix)” ft. Olivia (2005)
This song is a unique one in 50 Cent’s discography. Sometimes, it’s credited as 50’s song; in other spaces, he’s listed as the featured artist. This is because the original song was a single from 50’s album Get Rich or Die Tryin’: Music from and Inspired by the Motion Picture. This remixed version was featured on Olivia’s album, Behind Closed Doors, but it’s still listed as Fif featuring the singer. This cross-promotion benefited them both because she was on G-Unit with 50 Cent. In this one, 50 speaks to a woman who placed him in the friend zone. He wants to have a relationship with her, but she’s already taken. She says they’re just friends, and 50 responds to this by interloping a chorus from Biz Markie’s “Just A Friend.”
8. “Disco Inferno” (2005)
This is the first club song from 50 Cent on this list. Listeners may remember when he was dominating the game, and this is a lane he excelled in. His verses paint a picture of what happens in the club when he hits the spot, including name-dropping the bottles he orders. His flow is easygoing and pairs well with the production. The bass and claps in the production also make it easy to dance to, although 50 shares that he doesn’t two-step. This track further shows Fif shouting out Eminem and Dr. Dre. He was signed to both of their labels simultaneously. This song was a single from 50’s second album, The Massacre, which was centered in controversy.
7. “If I Can’t” (2003)
This song is from 50 Cent’s debut album, Get Rich or Die Tryin’. It’s also the first song on this list that has production from Dr. Dre. The Aftermath mogul also makes a small appearance vocally on the song after 50 mentions him. The keys on the track are the biggest giveaway that Dre was behind the production. 50’s verses here feature a few flow switches that play well with the evolving beat. Their pauses complement Fif’s captivating hook. Additionally, third verses were familiar back in 2005, and 50 uses each of them to share what he wants to say.
6. “Many Men (Wish Death)” (2003)
This is one of the more serious 50 Cent songs on this list. Most people know of the rapper’s background prior to his music career. He has often referred to and utilized experiences from his past in his music. 50 discusses the violent confrontational situations he has been in and how he will handle them going forward. The piano in this song helps give it a semi-menacing yet semi-remorseful feeling. Something interesting about this track is that Eminem has production credits on it, too. 50 is well aware of what he’s been through and is confident he won’t let it happen again. Often, rappers have shared tales of situations they have been through, or they speak from someone else’s perspective. In this one, 50 is only speaking from his own.
5. “Just A Lil Bit” (2005)
This is another club banger from 50 Cent. It also is another on this list to host a legendary producer. This time, production came from the one and only Scott Storch. 50’s verses once again discuss his activities when enjoying a night at the club. However, this time, he declares that he does dance – but uses old moves. In this song, we actually get a bridge from 50 and an instrumental from Scott Storch. Further, this song’s melody has a sitar—an instrument with a distinct sound.
4. “21 Questions” ft. Nate Dogg (2003)
This is one of the sentimental songs from 50 Cent. Many of his hits center on 50’s interest in women, but this time around, he’s going for a more emotional angle. He’s telling his lady friend what he can and wants to do for her, and he questions her loyalty. Nate Dogg is on the song’s hook and outro and drives home the song’s theme with his own inquiries. The guitar gives it a smooth feeling within a track that isn’t aggressive. This one has over 460 million streams on Spotify today, released in 2003.
3. “P.I.M.P” (2003)
This is one of 50 Cent’s biggest songs. Like an earlier entry in this list, the song has an exotic instrument in its production: a steel drum. The track has a tropical vibe, combined with a party atmosphere. On this one, Fif discusses his involvement with a woman who he won’t let get in the way of his other endeavors. How he approaches the topic is yet another facet in the multiple ways he’s discussed women in songs. The song’s hook directly contrasts other perspectives and mindsets he’s shared previously. Contrastingly, his second verse lines up with earlier perspectives he’s discussed.
2. “Candy Shop” ft. Olivia (2005)
This is another song on the list with Scott Storch at the helm of production. The hitmaking producer brings more exotic-sounding melodies to the beat. Additionally, Olivia makes another appearance. Fans compared this song to another of Fif’s hits, “Magic Stick” featuring Lil Kim. 50 stated he didn’t want to be “vulgar or obscene” in his verses for “Candy Shop,” but his innuendo isn’t difficult to decipher. Olivia’s feature comes in for the second half of the hook and some reinforcement of 50’s bridge. Meanwhile, Storch admitted the production for “Candy Shop” was first intended for Fat Joe.
1. “In Da Club” (2003)
This is 50 Cent’s most popular song. It currently has over one billion streams on Spotify. Dr. Dre also produced this, and it is one of his most recognizable beats. For most, this song’s “birthday” parts are what they remember. The track also has a rich history. It’s one of the seven songs 50 recorded with Dr. Dre in only five days. It wasn’t originally going to be the first single for his debut album, but it won in a coin flip. They did this because Eminem picked a different song for Fif, and Dre wanted this one. It’s only fitting that 50’s biggest song has a story involving all three hitmakers.
Which of 50 Cent’s biggest hits were your favorites? Let us know in the comments section.
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