The Big 10 is a mixtape by American rapper 50 Cent. It was released on December 9, 2011 via his community website ThisIs50 as a free download."50 Cent Presents The Big 10 + New G-Unit Artist" . ThisIs50. Retrieved January 12, 2012.

Background On December 7, 2011, it was announced that 50 Cent was to release new material over his community website. On the same day he also made known to have signed a new artist to G-Unit Records: Paris. The rapper stated that it was more of an LP than a mixtape, because it has all new material on there.

He also stated that on this mixtape, he had "pressed the restart button".

Promotion

Singles On December 20, 2011, "Wait Until Tonight" was released to the iTunes Store,"Wait Until Tonight – Single by 50 Cent". iTunes Store. Apple. Retrieved January 12, 2012. preceding 50 Cent performance on the X-Factor Season 1 Finale."Watch 50 Cent, Justin Bieber, Pitbull Perform on "X Factor" Finale". Complex. Retrieved January 12, 2012. The song did not enter the charts.

Before being released as a single, "I Just Wanna" featuring Tony Yayo, peaked at number 61 on the US Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs."Top R&B/Hip-Hop Songs & Singles Charts > Biggest Jump". Billboard. Retrieved March 10, 2012. The song was released on iTunes for purchase as digital single on March 26, 2012.iTunes – Music – I Just Wanna (feat. Tony Yayo) – Single by 50 Cent

Videos On November 27, 2011, 50 Cent confirmed via his official Twitter account that every song on The Big 10 would be accompanied by a video, tweeting "I'm shooting videos for every song on the tape"."50 Cent to release 10-track mixtape". Rap-Up. Retrieved January 12, 2012. The first video released was the one for "Queens, NY", on December 9, 2011, featuring the newly signed Paris and cameos from other G-Unit artists such as Tony Yayo."Video: 50 Cent f/ Paris – 'Queens, NY'" . Rap-Up. Retrieved January 12, 2012. The second offering was the video for "I Just Wanna" featuring Tony Yayo, being released on December 12, 2011."Video: 50 Cent f/ Tony Yayo – 'I Just Wanna'". Rap-Up. Retrieved January 12, 2012. The third one was the video for "Wait Until Tonight", which was released on December 14, 2011."Video: 50 Cent – 'Wait Until Tonight'". Rap-Up. Retrieved January 12, 2012. "Off & On" was the fourth song to receive visual treatment, being released on December 16, 2011. The video is restricted for viewers over 18 years old."Video: 50 Cent – 'Off and On'". Rap-Up. Retrieved January 12, 2012. After a short break, 50 released on December 27, 2011, the video for the Jahlil Beats-produced "Put Ya Hands Up", featuring a broad array of video vixens."Video: 50 Cent – 'Put Ya Hands Up'". Rap-Up. Retrieved January 12, 2012. Despite contradicting his early comments, "Nah Nah Nah" featuring Tony Yayo was the last video released by 50 Cent from The Big 10. It was released on December 28, 2011, and shows Curtis going undercover as an overweight assassin, hunting down two of his victims with a gun and taking a knife to another one before stripping off his disguise."Video: 50 Cent – 'Nah Nah Nah'". Rap-Up. Retrieved January 12, 2012. On February 14, 2012, the video for "Shooting Guns" was released. It features Kidd Kidd, performing with 50 between guns and blood."Niggas Be Schemin'" video was released on May 16.

Critical reception

In a 2025 ranking of twenty 50 Cent albums and mixtapes, Al Shipley of Spin magazine placed The Big 10 second to last, highlighting "I Just Wanna" as "a catchy minor hit" while criticizing "features from unpromising new proteges", namely Kidd Kidd.

Track listing

Sample credits"50 Cent's Sample-Based Music > Page 8". WhoSampled. Retrieved January 12, 2012. "Body on It" samples "Risin' to the Top" by Keni Burke and dialogue extracted from Queens Shooting Suspect Struck Twice in 20 Minutes, a report made by TV channel NY1. "Niggas Be Schemin'" samples "Many Men (Wish Death)" by 50 Cent. "I Just Wanna" samples "That's the Way (I Like It)" by KC and the Sunshine Band. "Put Your Hands Up" samples "Put Your Hands Where My Eyes Could See" by Busta Rhymes. "Wait Until Tonight" samples "If You Think You're Lonely Now" by Bobby Womack. "Off & On" samples "It Ain't Easy" by 2Pac and "On and On" by Biz Markie. "Stop Cryin'" samples "Long Red" by Mountain, "La Di Da Di" by Doug E. Fresh and Slick Rick and "You're Nobody (Til Somebody Kills You)" by The Notorious B.I.G.

References