[NEW RELEASES] 50 CENT

“Animal Ambition”

Label: Universal Music

Genre: Rap, hip-hop

50 Cent made a ginormous splash more than a decade ago with his multiplatinum platinum debut “Get Rich or Die Tryin’,” pushing out early career hits from “In da Club” to “P.I.M.P.”

But the rapper has been unable to live up to his first album’s success, which ultimately led to his departure from Interscope Records and Eminem’s Shady/Aftermath. He’s since found a new home with Caroline, the independent label at Capitol Music Group.

Now, as an independent artist, 50 Cent releases his first album in five years with “Animal Ambition: An Untamed Desire to Win.”

50 Cent still possesses a high level of cockiness, effectively displaying his street mentality on “The Funeral,” “Chase the Paper” and “Irregular Heartbeat,” with Jadakiss and Kidd Kidd. But while “Animal Ambition” shows some promise, there are some missteps. His rhymes are too simple and easily forgettable on the title track. He teams up with Trey Songz on the Dr. Dre-produced “Smoke,” but the track lacks the infectious spirit that lived in past club hits such as “Candy Shop” and “21 Questions.” AP