They say, all good things must come to an end. But why now? This is only the sophomore album from G-Unit. The sales numbers for T.O.S., or lack there of, does not reflect the media attention that 50 Cent received this year. Some people blame it on the groups ousting of Young Buck (or maybe those are just Young Buck's claim) but judging by Young Buck's solo album sales, that theory doesn't hold any weight. Could it be the fact that 50 has gone to war with almost every recognizable and respected New York rapper? Or could it be the horrible music sales climate we are in? This just may be the answer: it's the subject matter and lack of unity that failed this project.
When you know what every song is going to be about before an album drops, it's prbably not that intriguing. Not to mention, the overall G-Unit chemistry seems to be missing and sometimes it almost sounds forced. The classic "G-G-G-G unit" shout is rarely heard and no Dr. Dre and Eminem productions can be found. When Beg For Mercy dropped it was highly apparent that the "U" in Unit also stood for unity. The group's videos featured Buck and Game, along with the rest of the crew, and gave them the opportunity to reach different regions besides New York. Lloyd Banks' punchlines were always a highlight, while verses from the then imprisoned Yayo seemed to be more memorable back then. This time around, it's the original threesome that founded G-Unit and, unfortunately, their buzz isn't what it used to be and radio is no longer controlled by Curtis and his crew. However, that doesn't stop them from sticking to the formula that earned them their earlier success.
The album opens with the thunderous "Straight Outta Southside." This is the Southside Queens version of the classic N.W.A. record, "Straight Outa Compton." With a revolutionary Sean Bell tribute and a grimy portrait of New York's streets, it is an undeniable hood anthem. Another beef friendly offering is "Casualties Of War/" Along with one of his signature addictive hooks, Curtis crafts a classic verse on the track with lines like "Is that my dawg, that slapped that Kat? / Now how did the chicken give birth to a rat? / Now how did the rat learn to sing like a bird? / His pops is a OG, this is absurd."
"Piano Man" features the now solo Young Buck. While Tha Bizness provides the beat for the song, the intact G-Unit takes turns lyrically destroying their verses. Not surprisingly, the subject of the song is a metaphor for moving illegal drugs, employing the double entendre of likening piano keys to keys of cocaine. Other potential hits on the album are the vocoder-assisted "Rider Pt. 2 " and the album's second single, "I Like The Way She Do It." "Rider Pt .2" was huge in the clubs, while "I Like The Way She Do It" barely made a dent. The third single from T.O.S., "Close To Me," is filled with the same old braggadocio we've come to expect from the Unit. Constant talk of cars and cash are evident, not to mention, a little bit of womanizing on the side. Think of it as "I Like The Way She Do It" part two. "You So Tough" sounds like classic G-Unit. Everything is intact on this joint. The question we are left with, however, is: was 50 really going at T.I.? Songs like "Kitty Kat" and "Party Aint' Over" are a hot mess. To sum it up, there's no message involved and nothing complete about the aforementioned tracks.
All in all, T.O.S. suffers from a lack of creativity. Banks' verses are solid, but pale in comparison to his old sixteens. Early on in the careers of 50 and G-Unit, it seemed they had a more vulnerable side, with songs like "Many Men," "Smile," and "Wanna Get To You Know," as compared to the rough edges they predominantly showcase now. At the end of the day, fans have to decide if they are into an album that has the same message in almost every song (not to take anything away from the clarity and prowess of the production). Terminate On Sight may fulfill its own destiny if things don't change soon. If 50 and the Unit are as passionate and personal as they are in their radio interviews, then its only a matter of time until before the release an album that captures the glory of their debut.
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