By now, the hype surrounding the feud between Kanye West and Curtis James Jackson III, aka 50 Cent, is long over. The hip hop heavyweight’s third studio album, Curtis, features his trademark tales of celebrity and street life. Although Curtis may be unspectacular, the album is consistent with similar lyrics, beats and delivery for every song. The only difference is that some of the vocals are contributed by Justin Timberlake, Robin Thicke and Akon. 50 Cent has wisely teamed up with artists such as Dangerous LLC, Dre, Eminem and Timbaland to compensate for his lack of originality. Other guests such as Mary J. Blige, Tony Yayo and Young Buck also appear, although 50 Cent ensures nobody overshadows him on the album. Despite the big name guests stars and a few good tracks, most 50 Cent fans will consider this album a disappointment.

Track List

Some of the hottest dance tracks of 2007 appear on Nelly Furtado’s album, Loose. Timbaland produced the album which features catchy tunes such as “Maneater” that blends edgy femme fatale with great dance music, “Afraid” which speaks about personal responsibility and faith and last, but certainly not least “Promiscuous.” This track features sexy banter between Furtado and Timbaland and became a popular US hit. Most of the remaining songs aren’t as powerful, although listeners will enjoy “Te Busque” – a collaboration with Colombian star Juanes, the percussion in “No Hay Igual” or the gentle pop of “Showtime” with both Timbaland and Furtado. Some of the letdowns include the country-pop tune “In God’s Hands” as well as “Wait For You.” Perhaps, Furtado has experimented a little too much with different musical styles, although 5 or 6 tracks from Loose make the album worthwhile.

Track List