Maps of Music

Before I Self Destruct (2009)

Where the lyrics of Before I Self Destruct take you, and where it was really made.

The release date moved many times over almost two years, and the album leaked online before it came out, forcing an early digital release.

Place unknown

Do you know where this album was recorded, or where its cover was shot? Tell us and we will add it to the map.

Before I Self Destruct: fourth studio album by American rapper 50 Cent
Released November 16, 2009 on Shady Records, Aftermath Entertainment, G-Unit Records, Interscope Records and Violator
Final solo release with Shady, Aftermath and Interscope, excluding the 2017 greatest hits album Best Of 50 Cent
Feature film of the same name released alongside, available within the album packaging
Debuted at number five on the US Billboard 200, 50 Cent's fourth consecutive album to do so in the country
Lead single "Baby by Me" peaked at number 28 on the Billboard Hot 100

Originally planned as 50 Cent's 2007 album, for which 12 songs were already completed
Release moved to 2008 after he chose to release Curtis instead
Release date changed repeatedly, from February 2008 through 2009 target months
50 Cent wrote, produced and directed his first film while working on the album
Album leaked online, and the label moved the release up to a week earlier

Rich Harrison stated as producer, along with Kanye West, though West's track would not be featured
Sha Money XL, Ty-Fyffe, Swizz Beatz, DJ Premier and Dawaun Parker named as other contributors
50 Cent said fans should not expect guest appearances like those on Curtis
He described the album as an entirely different concept, setting up the next batch of records in his career
Akon said he and 50 Cent would work on each other's upcoming albums
Timbaland said he had worked with 50 Cent without knowing which album the collaborations would appear on

Curtis James Jackson III, known as 50 Cent, is an American rapper, actor, television producer, record executive and businessman.
Born July 6, 1975 in Queens, New York City; raised in South Jamaica by his grandparents after his mother died in a fire when he was eight.
Began pursuing a music career in 1996 under Jam Master Jay; debut album Power of the Dollar was recorded for Columbia Records in 1999–2000 but shelved after he was shot nine times on May 24, 2000.
The 2002 mixtape Guess Who's Back? was discovered by Eminem, who signed him to Shady Records (an Interscope imprint).
Debut album Get Rich or Die Tryin' (2003) debuted at number one on the Billboard 200 and produced the number-one singles "In da Club" and "21 Questions".
Formed G-Unit Records in 2003; The Massacre (2005) gave him his third number-one single "Candy Shop".
Later albums Curtis (2007), Before I Self Destruct (2009) and Animal Ambition (2014) saw declining critical and commercial reception.
Turned to television with Power (2014–2020), which he executive-produced and co-starred in, plus spin-offs under G-Unit Film and Television.
Has sold over 30 million albums worldwide and won a Grammy Award and a Primetime Emmy Award.
Billboard ranked him 17th on its "50 Greatest Rappers" list in 2023.

Built a diversified business portfolio including Formula 50 beverages, SMS Audio headphones and Effen Vodka.
Co-founded film companies G-Unit Films (2003) and Cheetah Vision (2008).
Ran a boxing promotion company, TMT, from 2012.
Filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection in July 2015.

Generally positive reviews from music critics; Metacritic average of 62 from 15 reviews
AllMusic called it a fantastic juggernaut of a 50 album if you exit early, and a very good one even if you don't
Entertainment Weekly said 50 sounded the hungriest he had in years, though the formula was not original
The A.V. Club called it a pleasant surprise because the last few releases set a low bar
The A.V. Club said it was once again intermittently fun to root for the bad guy for the first time since The Massacre
Pitchfork said 50 did not hold the listener's interest over the long run
PopMatters said the album had surprisingly little filler and renewed energy, easily his best since Get Rich or Die Trying
Rolling Stone gave a mixed review, saying the wordplay was basic but 50 sticks to the basics
Chicago Tribune's Greg Kot said about halfway through, 50 Cent detours from the street to the bedroom
The New York Times said the morbid tone matched his first two albums, but context undid the album
Slant Magazine's Jesse Cataldo called it a prudent step back with a latent menace
Spin's Marc Hogan criticized the rapping on the first half of the album

Sold 160,000 copies in its first week
Sold 46,000 copies in its iTunes-exclusive week, bringing 114,000 copies between November 16 and 22
Ranked 67th on the Billboard Year-End chart for 2010
Certified Gold for sales of 500,000 units

The album leaked on October 28, nearly four weeks before its original November 23 date, so it went to iTunes on November 9 and to stores a week later.
Interscope asked Billboard and Nielsen SoundScan to delay charting for a week, so the first week's digital sales were added to the physical total.
50 Cent said he named the album because "it could potentially happen."
The singles "Get Up" and "I Get It In" were announced but neither track made it onto the album, largely due to delays.
"You Should Be Dead" was released online in 2010, and why it was left off the album remains a constant source of debate.