Get Rich or Die Tryin' was ranked by several publications as one of the best albums of the 2000s. The album was ranked number one on the Billboard Year-End 2003 and received generally positive reviews from music critics. The album's singles also saw commercial success, with both " In da Club" and " 21 Questions" reaching number one on the Billboard Hot 100, while " P.I.M.P." became a number one hit in several countries. Released a week in advance to combat bootlegging and internet leakage, Get Rich or Die Tryin' debuted at number one on the Billboard 200, selling over 872,000 copies in its first week of sales. However, after suffering legal troubles and being blackballed from the music industry, 50 Cent found difficulty in securing another major-label recording contract, until he signed with Eminem's Shady Records in 2002. Prior to the album, 50 Cent released several mixtapes alongside the Trackmasters on an unreleased album widely believed to be his debut in 2000.
The album also contains guest appearances from Eminem, Young Buck, and Nate Dogg, as well as features from G-Unit co-members Lloyd Banks and Tony Yayo.
Additional production is provided by Mike Elizondo, Sha Money XL, Denaun Porter, Rockwilder, Dirty Swift, Megahertz, and more. Dre, with the duo acting as the album's executive producers, who worked to combine the gangsta rap and R&B combo prevalent in New York hip hop. After signing with Eminem, 50 Cent also worked heavily with Dr. It was released on February 6, 2003, by Shady, Aftermath and Interscope. Get Rich or Die Tryin ' is the debut studio album by American rapper 50 Cent.