Before I Self Destruct is the fourth studio album by American rapper 50 Cent, released November 16, 2009, on Shady Records, Aftermath Entertainment, G-Unit Records, Interscope Records and Violator. The album is his final solo release with Shady, Aftermath and Interscope excluding his 2017 greatest hits album Best Of 50 Cent.Darryl Gudmundson & Andres Tardio (March 24, 2007). HHDX News Bits (Lil Jon Sets Record, Ron Artest, 50 Cent Album News) . HipHopDX. Retrieved July 14, 2007.ITN (September 15, 2008) . Retrieved September 20, 2008. An accompanying feature film of the same name coincided with its release, and is available within the album's packaging.
Before I Self Destruct debuted at number five on the US Billboard 200, becoming 50 Cent's fourth consecutive album to do so in the country, while its lead single, "Baby by Me", peaked at number 28 on the Billboard Hot 100.
Background Initially, Before I Self Destruct was planned to be 50 Cent's 2007 album, for which he confirmed he had already completed 12 songs.Kevin Clark (August 13, 2007). 50 Cent: Shut Me Up...I Dare You! . HipHopDX. Retrieved August 14, 2007. However, he decided to release Curtis instead, and thus Before I Self Destructs release date was originally pushed back to 2008. In a red carpet interview 50 Cent stated that while he was working on the album, he wrote, produced, and directed his first film saying that the release of the film would coincide with the release of the album. Though a track list appeared in early January 2009, 50 Cent later stated he reworked much of the album. Another track stated to be on the album, though not officially confirmed as a single, entitled "Crime Wave" was released in late October 2009.New Music: 50 Cent – ‘Crime Wave’. Rap-Up.
The album's release date was initially announced to be February 4, 2008, but later moved to March 2008, due to the release date of Curtis being pushed up to September 2007.visiontellie2 (September 13, 2007). . Accessed May 14, 2008. However it was later revealed, in an interview with Tony Yayo and Lloyd Banks, that the album was scheduled to be released during the 4th quarter of 2008, with 50 Cent himself later stating that the album was due to be released December 9, 2008.50 Cent (September 14, 2008) . Retrieved September 14, 2008.
MTV later reported that the album would instead be released in 2009,Shaheem Reid with additional reporting by Yasmine Richard (November 14, 2008). 50 Cent's Before I Self Destruct Pushed Back To 2009 MTV. Retrieved November 14, 2008.Slava Kuperstein. (November 14, 2008) 50 Cent Album Bushed Pack To '09 . HipHopDX. Retrieved November 15, 2008. with February 3 being the date 50 Cent himself confirmed.50 Cent Says He Delayed Before I Self Destruct So He Could Release More Singles. MTV.com. Retrieved November 18, 2008. Though it was later pushed back to March 2009, with March 24 being set as the day,Danielle Harling (February 11, 2009) "Crack A Bottle" Sets SoundScan Record HipHopDX. Retrieved February 11, 2009. until he later confirmed that mentor and labelmate Eminem's album, Relapse, was going to be released before his own. 50 Cent then told MTV that he would release the album in June,50 Cent To Release Two Albums This Year. MTV News. Retrieved March 16, 2009. with the date being changed once again as he decided to retool parts of the album once Eminem's Relapse was completed. However, the album was pushed back to a Fall 2009 release,50 Says He's Losing His Motivation To Rap. Rap Basement. Retrieved June 8, 2009. with September being the specific month.
On Jimmy Kimmel Live!, 50 Cent stated that the album will be out "second week of September, I'll be back on the streets baby",Video: 50 Cent Jokes with Jimmy Kimmel. Rap-Up. Retrieved June 15, 2009. with the date later stated to be specifically September 11, which at the time, was the release date of Jay-Z's The Blueprint 3.50 Cent To Release New Album Same Day As Jay-Z. Hip-hop DX. Retrieved July 14, 2009. However, these reports were later contradicted by MTV, when they stated that 50 Cent exclusively confirmed the release date as September 29, 2009. The album was later officially confirmed to have been pushed back again by 50 Cent, who claimed November 3, 2009 as the newly confirmed release date,AllHipHop News (50 Cent Album officially pushed back to November) . AllHipHop. Retrieved August 23, 2009. but this was once again changed to November 17, 2009.50 Cent’s Destruction Date Nears. Rap-Up. However, in October 2009, the album was pushed back a week to make the release date November 24, 2009.50 Cent's Album Pushed Back Again. Rap-Up. Retrieved October 13, 2009. Universal has pushed several albums forward to November 23, 2009, including Before I Self Destruct.Universal Readies Super Monday Lineup. Rap-Up. Retrieved October 14, 2009.
50 stated that because the album leaked and the good response it got, he will release the album a week earlier, on November 16. The album was released exclusively on the iTunes Store on November 9 at 12:00am, while the physical copy was released in stores on November 16. Since the album was released digitally a week ahead of the physical copy, Interscope records requested that Billboard and Nielsen SoundScan uphold a rule instituted in 2008 where a label may ask Nielsen SoundScan to hold the digital sales count of an album for up to one week, and for Billboard to delay charting that album, when a leak results in a digital album beating its physical counterpart to brick and mortar stores.Caulfield, Keith. "Bon Jovi Comes Full 'Circle' At No. 1 on Billboard 200". . November 18, 2009.
Music
Concept 50 Cent told MTV that he named the album Before I Self Destruct because "it could potentially happen."Corey Moss (November 30, 2006). 50 Cent, Almost Ready to Self Destruct, Unloads on Critics First. MTV. Retrieved July 14, 2007. 50 Cent described the album as "darker" and more "aggressive" than his previous album and stated, "hands down, [it] will be the best record of that time period".MTV (November 16, 2007). EXCLUSIVE |Curtis tells MTV about mentor Eminem, collaborating with Kanye West and reveals all about his next album.... MTV. Retrieved November 16, 2007.
Production and guests When speaking of producers and guests for the album, 50 Cent has stated Rich Harrison will be producing for the album, as well as Kanye West, though his track will not be featured. Other producers that have stated they will be working on the project include Sha Money XL and Ty-Fyffe, who posted his listening session on YouTube,YouTube. . Retrieved September 9, 2008. Swizz Beatz, after not having any tracks make the final cut of Curtis,Slava Kuperstein (January 31, 2008). Swizz Beatz Keeps Busy in the Studio. HipHopDX. Retrieved February 4, 2008. DJ Premier with a track entitled "Shut Your Bloodclot Mouth",Jake Paine (February 14, 2009) Sha Money XL Talks One Stop Conference, 50 Cent & DJ Premier HipHopDX. Retrieved February 16, 2009. and Dawaun Parker, who has stated he is featured on the single "I Get It In".Chad Kiser Dawaun Parker Interview (January 2009) DubCNN Retrieved January 28, 2009.
In contrast to Curtis, 50 Cent explained that fans "should not expect to see guest appearances like you saw on Curtis".Shaheem Reid (October 22, 2007). 50 Cent Talks Akon, G-Unit, Next LP from Set of 'I'll Still Kill' Video. MTV. Retrieved October 22, 2007. He also described Before I Self Destruct as an entirely different concept, which will set up "the next batch of records" in his career. After 50 Cent's collaboration with Akon on "I'll Still Kill", which appeared on Curtis, Akon stated that 50 Cent and himself would be working on each other's upcoming albums due to the successful experience they developed while working on Curtis, and that, when working on songs, "Whoever’s album it feel right on, that’s where we gonna put it".
In an interview, Timbaland stated that he has worked with 50 Cent, but he did not know which albums (Curtis and Before I Self Destruct) the collaborations would end up on.Shaheem Reid (August 8, 2007). Timbaland Talks About His and Justin Timberlake's 'Hot' Collabo with Madonna. MTV. Retrieved October 21, 2007. This song was released on May 18, 2010, for internet download and is titled "You Should Be Dead". This song gained popularity and is a constant source of debate as to why it was not featured on the album. The Koalition website stated "It truly is amazing how 50 Cent’s leftover tracks are better than most rapper’s singles. A perfect example of this is You Should Be Dead".
A producer J.R. Rotem also spoke about working on the album, saying that 50 Cent is into "soulful" music, and he sat down and gave him numerous tacks and that on this album, 50 Cent was "[trying] to bring a very powerful new sound", and that is would be a "remarkable project".Shaheem Reid (December 19, 2006). Producer J.R. Rotem Helping 50 Get Soul, Tossing Beats For Dr. Dre. MTV. Retrieved August 27, 2008. Play-N-Skillz also confirmed working with 50 Cent for the BISD project, saying:
Singles The album's intended lead single, "Get Up" was released for digital download on October 13, 2008, after earlier being released through 50 Cent's official Internet community ThisIs50.com.Shaheem Reid (October 7, 2008) 50 Cent Drops First Before I Self Destruct Track MTV.com Accessed January 6, 2009. The song features production from American record producer Scott Storch, and peaked at number 44 on the Billboard Hot 100. The music video was released to Vevo on June 16, 2009. The intended second promotional single, "I Get It In", was released in early January 2009, with production credited to Dr. Dre.50 Cent Premieres New Single, 'I Get It In,' Featuring Beat Dr. Dre Recorded For Eminem. MTV.com. Retrieved January 6, 2008. The song peaked at number 53 on the Billboard Hot 100. However, neither track appeared on the album, largely due to delays the album encountered.
The album's eventual lead promotional single, "OK, You're Right", was released for digital download on May 19, 2009, after originally being included on 50 Cent's seventh solo mixtape War Angel LP (2009). The song features production from Dr. Dre, with co-production from Mark Batson. However, the song under-performed commercially, peaking at only number 20 on the Bubbling Under R&B/Hip-Hop Songs chart in America. The album's lead single, "Baby by Me", was released for digital download on September 10, 2009. The song features American R&B singer Ne-Yo, and is produced by American record producer Polow da Don. The song peaked at number 28 on the Billboard Hot 100, and peaked in the upper regions of several national charts worldwide. The song features a sample from an earlier 50 Cent song, "I Get Money".50 Cent Premieres New Single, 'Baby By Me' MTV
The album's second single, "Do You Think About Me", was released for digital download on January 16, 2010. The song features uncredited vocals from R&B singer Governor, and is produced by record producer Rockwilder. However, the song was one of 50 Cent's least commercially successful singles to date, only peaking at number 7 on the Bubbling Under Hot 100 Singles chart in America. During an interview with MTV, 50 Cent announced that the third single to be released will be Get It Hot. Shortly after this announcement, 50 Cent confirmed with MTV that "a visual" will be released for So Disrespectful. However this did not materialize.
Commercial performance