In Da Club

The track that turned a birthday chant into a global anthem.

"In da Club" is a song by American rapper 50 Cent from his debut studio album Get Rich or Die Tryin' (2003). Written by 50 Cent alongside producers Dr. Dre and Mike Elizondo, the song, which uses an unconventional off-beat rhythm, was released to digital download in the United States on January 7, 2003, as the album's lead single and peaked at number one on the US Billboard Hot 100, becoming 50 Cent's first number-one single.

Quick Facts

Artist

50 Cent

Album

Get Rich or Die Tryin'

B-side

"Back Down"; "Wanksta"

Released

7 January 2003

Recorded

June 2002

Genre

East Coast hip-hop; gangsta rap

Label

Aftermath
Shady
Interscope

Writer

Curtis Jackson
Andre Young
Mike Elizondo

Lore & Background

After 50 Cent was discovered by fellow rapper Eminem in 2002, he flew to Los Angeles where he was introduced to record producer Dr. Dre. "In da Club" was the first of seven tracks he recorded in five days with Dr. Dre. Dr. Dre and Mike Elizondo created the production around six months before its release. It was originally given to D12 for a potential contribution to the 8 Mile soundtrack, but the group passed. It was also offered to Rakim, but due to creative tensions his version was never released. 50 Cent wrote all the lyrics in around an hour. He first recorded the track with only the drum beat in the basement studio of Sha Money XL's home in Long Island, then re-recorded it two weeks later in Los Angeles, where Dr. Dre and Elizondo added synths and an eight-note guitar section.

Reader's Guide

The music video, directed by Philip Atwell on December 10–11, 2002, is set in a fictional hip-hop boot camp called the "Shady/Aftermath Artist Development Center". It features cameos including Dr. Dre, D12, Lloyd Banks, Tony Yayo, The Game, Bang Em Smurf, DJ Lady Tribe, Young Buck, Xzibit, and DJ Whoo Kid. The video debuted on MTV's Total Request Live at number nine on January 27, 2003, and stayed on the chart for fifty days. At the 2003 MTV Video Music Awards, the video won Best Rap Video and Best New Artist, and was nominated for Video of the Year, Best Male Video, and Viewer's Choice.

Did You Know?

The song was nominated for Best Male Rap Solo Performance and Best Rap Song at the 46th Grammy Awards.
It was listed at number 24 in Billboard's Hot 100 Songs of the Decade in 2009.
The music video on YouTube has received over 2.5 billion views as of October 2025.
In 2003, Beyoncé recorded a remix version of the song titled "Sexy Lil Thug".

Frequently Asked Questions

What album is In Da Club featured on?

It stands out as the main opening single for his first full-length record, Get Rich or Die Tryin'. Listeners first heard it on radio stations and stores during the beginning of 2003.

Who produced the hit song In Da Club?

50 Cent co-wrote the lyrics while working with production heavyweights Dr. Dre and Mike Elizondo in the studio. Together they crafted a unique beat that stands out from standard hip-hop rhythms of the time.

Did In Da Club reach number one on the charts?

The track successfully climbed to the top position on the American Billboard Hot 100 list. This milestone represented the rapper's very first time hitting the number one spot.