Hold On

Album: Animal Ambition (2014)
Play Video

Songfacts®:

  • The first single from 50's Animal Ambition album features laid-back, soulful production influenced by the 1980s rap duo EPMD. "I wrote it, and at the time, I'll be honest I was listening to 'You Gots To Chill' by EPMD," he told MTV News.

    "I was looking for something to match the tempo and energy that was there, because these are the things that I fell in love with when I was actually falling in love with hip-hop," 50 added. "I'm looking for something to mirror that because it's far away from what is actually going on right now in the culture."
  • Unlike EPMD's rhymes urging the listener to chill out, we hear 50 spitting some typically braggadocio lyrics along with some baiting of his one-time foe James "Jimmy Henchman" Rosemond, who got sentenced to life on October 25, 2013 for trafficking drugs.
  • 50 Cent explained to MTV News regarding his Animal Ambition album and its lead single: "Overall, the project is about prosperity. The first joint I put out was 'Hold On,' and it's about the envy or jealousy connected to doing too well in front of people in the environment I grew up in."

Comments

Be the first to comment...

Editor's Picks

Zakk Wylde

Zakk WyldeSongwriter Interviews

When he was playing Ozzfest with Black Label Society, a kid told Zakk he was the best Ozzy guitarist - Zakk had to correct him.

Emmylou Harris

Emmylou HarrisSongwriter Interviews

She thinks of herself as a "song interpreter," but back in the '80s another country star convinced Emmylou to take a crack at songwriting.

Eagles Lyrics Quiz

Eagles Lyrics QuizMusic Quiz

Lots of life lessons in these Eagles lyrics - can you match them to the correct song?

Joe Elliott of Def Leppard

Joe Elliott of Def LeppardSongwriter Interviews

The Def Leppard frontman talks about their "lamentable" hit he never thought of as a single, and why he's juiced by his Mott The Hoople cover band.

Kiss

KissFact or Fiction

Kiss is the subject of many outlandish rumors - some of which happen to be true. See if you can spot the fakes.

Michael Franti

Michael FrantiSongwriter Interviews

Franti tells the story behind his hit "Say Hey (I Love You)" and explains why yoga is an integral part of his lifestyle and his Soulshine tour.