50 Cent’s breakthrough album Get Rich Or Die Tryin’ was stacked with classic tracks from start to finish, but one of its best songs almost ended up recorded by another New York rapper.
Fiddy’s fellow Queens legend Nas reportedly passed on the beat for “Many Men” after it was offered to him by producer Darrell “Digga” Branch.
Nas’ former A&R Lenny “Linen” Nicholson revealed that Esco had even written and recorded vocals for the track before giving up on it.
As part of Mass Appeal’s oral history of Nas’ Lost Tapes, a compilation album that featured previously unheard studio recordings that never made it onto Nas’ previous albums, Nicholson shared what could have been.
“‘Many Men’ was a Nas track first — he actually vocalled it. He was developing another artist named Nashawn … he had to massively impress Nas. If Nas started something, he would add his vocal to it and see if Nas would be impressed enough to keep it. [Nas] didn’t finish that track… that was a track that he just fell out of love with.”
Had Nas kept the track it would have appeared on his 2002 album God’s Son, a record that went platinum but was well outsold by 50 Cent’s Shady/Aftermath debut — an album that sold over 872,000 copies in its first week of release.
Revisit 50’s hit version below.
thank God…cuz this is a classic we may have never had…even Nas couldnt do what 50 did with that beat
Ehhhh, Its a good song, ok, a great one.. a classic? Maybe, maybe not.. but lets not pretend Nas couldnt have made a better song with it.
Stand corrected def a classic song and while nas is a superior mc to 50 I highly doubt he would’ve did that particular track more justice listen to what 50 was saying he really was destined for that beat bro rs
As much as I fucking LOVE illmatic, I honestly think GRODT was probabaly the best rap debut in history. Notable albums are illmatic, doggystyle, the chronic, Jayz debut was solid, Eminem debut was amazing. There’s a few I’m missing, but GRODT was so dope that at least half the songs on it still get radio/club play. Wankster, many men, in da club, etc. That album alone shot 50 up so high that G-unit and aftermath skyrocketed, along with Eminem at the same time.
No disrespect to NAS at all. He’s one of the greatest emcees in rap history, however, I think his overall choice of beats is boring, and his song structure isn’t amazing. Just pure, raw hiphop.
You do know that 50 Cent had an album out and everything that some of us rocked with before that don’t you? It’s why some of us were fans of his and were glad he got another shot. I mean even if you didn’t hear it back then, this stuff is pretty common knowledge so that you don’t embarrass yourself when talking hip hop with other fans.
I knew it was for God Son. The beat fits that album.
Homie said “listen to what 50 was saying” lmfaooo. Do you listen to what nas is saying on his beats?!
Yeah he’s telling you to go suck yourself.
Nas is a superior MC, but 50 is a better creator of songs. Nas is frustrating. He has all the skills in the world and zero confidence. 50 has 1/10th of Nas talent but 10x more studio confidence. 50 can hear a beat, write the hook, write the verses, mix it down and make a remix before Nas even gets up off the studio couch. By the time Nas finally gets to work, the vibe is stale.
50 isn’t anywhere near as creative as Nas. The only thing 50 has over Nas is melodic hooks. 50 has ran out of stuff to rap about and hasn’t put anything in years worth noting since he went head to head with Kanye back in 2008. Nas hasn’t dropped in a while, but has been killing features for the last two years. No one is interested in collaborating with 50 anymore.
Yo I’m half tempted to say you might be intuitive as/f homie. that was well said and pretty much spot on. Keep watchin. Peace
OK 50 BODIED THAT BEAT EVERYBODY NO THAT NOW CAN WE HERE WHAT NAS LAYED DOWN ON DA BEAT SO WE CAN SEE IF IT WAS BETTER THAN 50
I was the first to comment on this article and you DX clowns took it down. For what?