After a film, two blockbuster albums, and some more controversy-for-controversy's-sake, the rapper born Curtis Jackson returns with his third official release, simply titled Curtis. Over some convincingly-aggressive soundscapes, 50 offers up more gunplay, party anthems, and the braggadocio that fans have come to know and love. The opener, "My Gun Go Off" is classic G-Unit, while he's at his most cocky over the menacing strings of "Straight to the Bank." Where 50 sounds uninspired is when he's reaching for the radio. On the 'safer' cuts, he lacks the energy that made "In Da Club" a smash. Curtis doesn't try to reinvent the wheel, but 50 still manages to entertain - even if this one feels like a sequel. -dusty culpepper

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