Wanksta

Album: 8 Mile Soundtrack (2002)
Charted: 13
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Songfacts®:

  • This is an attack on rappers who claim to be more than they actually are, especially Ja Rule.
  • 50 had a feud with Ja Rule that supposedly dates back to when Ja was robbed by an acquaintance of 50's. The feud has included at least two separate physical fights, landing 50 with 4 stitches and Ja with some missing jewelry.
  • Starting a feud with another rapper can be dangerous, but it can also lead to huge sales. 50's 1999 song "How To Rob" became a hit when some of the rappers he jokingly dissed took offense and responded. This got the song a lot of attention, but not all the good kind. 50 was shot 9 times in a drive-by after it became an underground hit. Since he was already marked for death, it was no big deal to start more trouble with Ja Rule.
  • This was the track that brought 50 into the mainstream. It's more radio-friendly than most of his material.
  • This was one of the songs that 50 recorded to generate buzz in the New York mix tape underground. This led to a record deal with Shady/Aftermath Records, which is run by Dr. Dre and Eminem. They did a great job promoting 50 and his first album, Get Rich Or Die Tryin' was a huge hit, selling more copies in one week than any rapper except Eminem.
  • According to 50, a "Wanksta" is "a gangsta that doesn't progress." He says the whole point of being a gangsta is making money. Wankstas try, but have nothing to show for it.
  • 50 Cent appeared on the soundtrack two more times. Once, with his own "Places to Go" and once with a guest appearance on Eminem's "Love Me."
  • "Wanker" is a derogatory term in England, generally meaning someone who masturbates. 50 Cent is from America, so he can say it on the air.
  • This was one of the last songs produced by Jam Master Jay, who mentored 50 and helped get him his first record deal. Jay was murdered at his recording studio in 2002.
  • 50's son Marquise, who was 6 at the time, is in the video.

Comments: 20

  • Maxiell from Pompano Beach, FlIts about fake gangstas who have nothing to prove for it. It was one of his best songs back in 2002.
  • Matt from Houston, Tx@alex- it's thier opinion dude. so now you can't listen to what you want? well I don't particularly like rap, but people don't go to your favorite songs and hate on you for liking it.
  • Alex from Nowhere, Wywow why dont you guys listen to real music instead of this crap. hes not even saying anything really. its not even real music.
  • Sirjon from Chicago, Ilthis song woulda been so much better if 50 let g unit in on it
  • Aquan from Salters, Scthe song was great and 50 is my favorite rapper but i don't think that he should go out and talk about people like that but hey Ja Rule is trying alittle to hard.
  • Musicmama from New York, NyWhen Melle Mel, LL Cool J and even Ice-T were in their prime, could they or their fans have imagined that hip-hop would come to songs like this, or that it would become popular due to a seal of approval from Eminem? (Who would've wanted to imagine someone like Eminem twenty years ago?) Could anyone have foreseen that pointless rivalries would take attention away from the music itself? The outcome of that is, of course, that songs like this one are interchangeable with almost anything else 50 Cent, Eminem, Ja Rule or any number of other rappers have done in the past fifteen years or so. Clothes and cars and 'ho's--Don't today's rappers think about anything else? No wonder Lauryn Hill quit the game after one great album.
  • Jessica from Broken Arrow, OkI love 50 and get rich or die trying....great movie
  • Layne from New York, NyDale shut up u just a playa hater.U wish u could be n**** like him. Peace.
  • Ed from Melbourne, AustraliaI hear 50 cent starred in a gay pornography feature for money when he was strapped for cash. I used to think these aligations were un true until i stumbled across the video by accident. It is extremely vulgar and just plain ludicris that 50 would do such a vile act
  • Dale from Henderson, KyAll this talk about nine's in this song...50 must be a wanksta' himself 'coz a real gangsta would have a .45!
  • Jen from Westville, Njin my school Wankstas are kids who are as white as snow live in a rich town and try to act street dispite the fact they have yet to come out of puperty or go into Camden(recitnly dubed worst city in the U.S.) or been near it or even in Philliy
  • Debra from Littleton, NcC'mon, the rivalry between 50 and Ja is actually quite interesting to me, just let them fight it out, it might end up another biggie and pac, but atleast its entertainment in it, i mean da*mn I ain't gettin either one of thier pay checks, so the point of either one of them gettin knocked off dosen't bother me, cruel I know, but the truth!
  • Nathan from Defiance, OhThis is like watching a watered down version of the Tupac vs Biggy rivalry. Just as pointless. Let them both beat the crap out of each other.
  • Matt from Millbrae, Caja rule is chump, 50 is a champ. this beat is cool, and its REELY fun to play on guitar.
  • Shay from Key West, FlIsn't Wanksta just like a want to be gangster.
  • Hetfield from Manchester, Englandhahaha pointed out to me by stewie form family guy on the MTV awards are the following lines that just shows me the state modern music is in today

    We in the club doin the same ol' 2 step
    'coz they say we bugged out
    'Coz we don' go nowhere without toast
  • April from Houston, Txaccordin 2 Rollin' Stone (can we really trust them?), 50 said that he "holla" at the man who he knew "stoled" Ja Rule's "chain". It is understandable that Ja Rule got mad cuz man... that dude is so small he probably can't take anything offensive! Such a small man.... with such weird voice... *sigh* and such ulgy face... lol
  • Melissa from Lansing, MiThis has to be the worst song on earth
  • John from London, EnglandActually, W**k is nowhere near as offensive as f**k is here in the UK. W**ker over here equates to j**k in the US. From what I can remember there was no problem with radio stations playing Wanksta when it came out :)
  • Misti from Kempner, TxWow would have never realized some of those facts although I know I should have.
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