No Mercy, No Fear is the second mixtape by hip hop group G-Unit , released on August 1, 2002.[ 2] Originally released independently as a free mixtape,[ 3] it was re-released in 2006 by BCD Music Group.[ 1] No Mercy, No Fear was recorded after the group's de facto leader 50 Cent had signed a $1 million deal with Aftermath Entertainment and Shady Records following the release of his 2002 compilation album Guess Who's Back? .[ 4] [ 5] It featured the hit single "Wanksta ", which was added onto the 8 Mile soundtrack album and later as a bonus track on his 2003 commercial debut album Get Rich or Die Tryin' .[ 6] [ 7] It also contained the freestyle to Puff Daddy 's song "Victory ", from the album No Way Out , which was later used on Bad Boy Records 's compilation album Bad Boy's 10th Anniversary... The Hits .
No Mercy, No Fear Released August 1, 2002 Recorded 2001–2002 Genre Length 50 :30 Label BCD Music Group Producer
Professional ratings Review scores Source Rating Spin [ 1]
Described by Billboard magazine as a classic,[ 7] No Mercy, No Fear was released during 50 Cent's and G-Unit's 2002 mixtape run,[ 8] in anticipation of his debut album.[ 9] According to Billboard , the mixtapes caused "tremendous buzz amongst hip-hop fans and artists".[ 10] Vancouver Sun wrote that the mixtapes "widely circulated" for several years after the release.[ 11] By rapping over instrumentals from other artists and then releasing it for free, with No Mercy, No Fear and the other contemporary releases 50 Cent revolutionized hip hop mixtapes,[ 12] creating a blueprint for later artists, such as Lil Wayne , Young Jeezy , and Drake .[ 13] The mixtape was ranked No. 5 on XXL ' s Top 20 Mixtapes list.[ 14]
^ a b Aaron, Charles (July 2007). "Discography: 50 Cent" . Spin . New York. p. 84. Archived from the original on February 27, 2024. Retrieved February 27, 2024 – via Google Books .
^ Berry, Peter A. (November 16, 2020). "50 Cent Projects Worth Listening to and Those You Need to Skip" . XXL . Archived from the original on February 27, 2024. Retrieved February 27, 2024 .
^ Ex, Kris (February 12, 2003). "Original Pirate Material" . The Village Voice . New York. pp. 71, 123. Archived from the original on February 20, 2003. Retrieved February 27, 2024 .
^ Schwartz, Danny (November 3, 2016). "#TBT: G-Unit" . HotNewHipHop . Archived from the original on February 27, 2024. Retrieved February 27, 2024 .
^ O'Connor, Roisin (November 7, 2018). "50 Cent and Ja Rule: A beef history" . The Independent . Archived from the original on February 16, 2023. Retrieved February 27, 2024 .
^ Kelley, Frannie (November 12, 2009). "The Decade In Music: 50 Cent's 'In Da Club' (2003)" . NPR Music . Archived from the original on February 27, 2024. Retrieved February 27, 2024 .
^ a b Horowitz, Steven J. (February 6, 2013). "50 Cent, 'Get Rich Or Die Tryin" at 10: Classic Track-By-Track Review" . Billboard . Archived from the original on January 19, 2024. Retrieved February 27, 2024 .
^ Cummings-Grady, Mackenzie (September 9, 2022). "Lloyd Banks On G-Unit's 2002 Mixtape Run: 'That Was My Favorite Year' " . HipHopDX . Archived from the original on February 27, 2024. Retrieved February 27, 2024 .
^ Juon, Steve 'Flash' (February 11, 2003). "50 Cent's "Get Rich or Die Tryin'"" . RapReviews . Archived from the original on February 13, 2024. Retrieved February 27, 2024 .
^ Williams, Stereo (April 5, 2018). "The 10 Most-Anticipated Debut Albums in Hip-Hop History" . Billboard . Archived from the original on June 26, 2024. Retrieved February 27, 2024 .
^ Derdeyn, Stuart (August 31, 2023). "B.C. hip hop greats look back at 50 Cent's Get Rich Or Die Tryin' " . Vancouver Sun . Archived from the original on February 7, 2024. Retrieved February 27, 2024 .
^ Markman, Rob (May 22, 2012). "50 Cent And DJ Drama Craft Street Music For 'Lost Tape' " . MTV . Archived from the original on February 27, 2024. Retrieved February 27, 2024 .
^ "50 Cent's Mixtape Firsts" . XXL . December 8, 2011. Archived from the original on February 27, 2024. Retrieved February 27, 2024 .
^ "Hustler Musik: Top 20 Street Albums". XXL . No. 84. New York: Harris Publications . September 2006. pp. 134–140.