Mr. McCane
I understand that in this country, books like this are an acquired taste. People like to imagine that the people who live in low-income neighborhoods are lazy and expect everything to be handed to them. But in all actuality, that’s often not the case at all. Those are often the people who not only have to work ten times harder, but will also experience the worst America offers. That is the case with this memoir by Curtis Jackson (50 Cent).
50 Cent talks about how hard it was growing up on the south side of Jamaica, Queens. We learn about his drug-dealing mother, street life, incarceration, drug dealing, how he got shot, his beef with rapper Ja-Rule, and how he made it in the rap industry.
I first read this book in 2005, when it was first released, and I thought it was the best thing ever. But that was during his prime after the Get Rich or Die Tryin and The Massacre albums. He also had the Get Rich or Die Tryin movie releasing the next month. I was a superfan, and he couldn’t do anything wrong.
After reading hundreds of books, I can now say with confidence that although the writing wasn’t great, it was still one hell of a story. He did a lot of telling instead of showing, and we really didn’t get a chance to know the real Curtis Jackson. But he still gives us a lot. Definitely worth the read.
What I enjoyed most was his honesty. But I also liked when he talked about jail, Ja-Rule, and his rap career. I recently read one of his other books, “Hustle Harder, Hustle Smarter,” and that one was way better. Soon, I will read “The Accomplish” and “Playground”, which I own. I give this one 3.75 stars.
I understand that in this country, books like this are an acquired taste. People like to imagine that the people who live in low-income neighborhoods are lazy and expect everything to be handed to them. But in all actuality, that’s often not the case at all. Those are often the people who not only have to work ten times harder, but will also experience the worst America offers. That is the case with this memoir by Curtis Jackson (50 Cent).
50 Cent talks about how hard it was growing up on the south side of Jamaica, Queens. We learn about his drug-dealing mother, street life, incarceration, drug dealing, how he got shot, his beef with rapper Ja-Rule, and how he made it in the rap industry.
I first read this book in 2005, when it was first released, and I thought it was the best thing ever. But that was during his prime after the Get Rich or Die Tryin and The Massacre albums. He also had the Get Rich or Die Tryin movie releasing the next month. I was a superfan, and he couldn’t do anything wrong.
After reading hundreds of books, I can now say with confidence that although the writing wasn’t great, it was still one hell of a story. He did a lot of telling instead of showing, and we really didn’t get a chance to know the real Curtis Jackson. But he still gives us a lot. Definitely worth the read.
What I enjoyed most was his honesty. But I also liked when he talked about jail, Ja-Rule, and his rap career. I recently read one of his other books, “Hustle Harder, Hustle Smarter,” and that one was way better. Soon, I will read “The Accomplish” and “Playground”, which I own. I give this one 3.75 stars.
