Curtis [PA] (CD - 2007)

Curtis Jackson is New York hip-hop king 50 Cent's real name, so the title of his third album, CURTIS, implies that everybody's favorite gangsta is keeping it as real as possible. Considering how much 50 Cent's rep and raison d'etre revolve around his hoodlum background and take-no-prisoners approach, he surely does seem to be aiming for some kind of home truth here. The album kicks off with a brace of violent, in-your-face, thug-life scenarios ("My Gun Go Off," "Man Down," "I'll Still Kill"), as if 50 is underscoring his hardcore credentials for those who wonder whether fame has softened his attack.

Later on, with 50's street cred safely in place, he ventures a bit further afield. Collaborations with smoothies Justin Timberlake ("Ayo

Technology") and Robin Thicke ("Follow My Lead") add some melodic R&B flavor to CURTIS. And even the most unrelenting, gangsta-themed cuts here are matched with the inescapable trademark hooks that have made 50 Cent a mainstream phenomenon. CURTIS is ultimately a retrenchment, then, with 50 reminding the world that when it comes to hardcore plus hooks, he's the O.G.. minimize