Follow Me to the End of the World

Lore & Background

The album was originally planned to be Before I Self Destruct, but 50 Cent pushed that to 2008 and released Curtis in 2007. The title was changed twice: first from 'Curtis' to 'Curtis S.S.K.', then back to 'Curtis'. 'S.S.K.' stood for 'SoundScan Killer', 'SouthSide King', and 'Shoot, Stab, Kill'. 50 Cent stated the album was inspired by his life before Get Rich or Die Tryin' and chose the title because he was known as 'Curtis' before fame. DJ Whoo Kid predicted a double disc LP, but this did not materialize.

Reader's Guide

The album features production from Dr. Dre, Eminem, and Timbaland, among others. It includes hit singles 'Ayo Technology' (peaked at number five on the Billboard Hot 100) and 'I Get Money' (reached the top 20). Music writers noted 50 Cent divides between 'hard' and 'soft' songs on the album. The song 'Man Down' contains violent lyrics targeting police and was censored on both censored and uncensored versions; the fully uncensored version leaked on YouTube on December 18, 2007.

Did You Know?

• Curtis debuted at number two on the US Billboard 200, selling 691,000 copies in its first week.
• The album's competition with Kanye West's Graduation was considered a 'great day for hip hop.'
• Time magazine ranked 'I Get Money' number six on its list of The 10 Best Songs of 2007.
• Entertainment Weekly placed Curtis at third place in their list of Worst Albums of 2007.