Which rapper’s 2003 debut album “Get Rich or Die Tryin’” was a commercial success? The album was the debut studio release of 50 Cent. Issued on February 6, 2003, by Shady Records, Aftermath Entertainment, and Interscope Records, it became one of the defining commercial rap albums of the early 2000s.
The album followed 50 Cent’s mixtape breakthrough and his signing with Eminem and Dr. Dre. Both artists served as executive producers, while Dr. Dre also produced several tracks. The record combined hard-edged East Coast street rap with polished, accessible production, creating a sound that reached far beyond the underground audience.
Get Rich or Die Tryin’ debuted at No. 1 on the Billboard 200 and sold approximately 872,000 copies in its first week. Its singles included “In da Club,” “21 Questions,” “P.I.M.P.,” and “If I Can’t.” “In da Club” and “21 Questions” both reached No. 1 on the Billboard Hot 100.
A common mix-up is 50 Cent’s unreleased 2000 album Power of the Dollar, which was intended to be his first studio album but never received a normal commercial release. Get Rich or Die Tryin’ is therefore his recognized commercial debut.