The Massacre

The second studio album came out on 3 March 2005 through Interscope, Shady, G-Unit and Aftermath. Production came from Dr. Dre, Eminem, Scott Storch, Sha Money XL and others, and the guests included Tony Yayo, Olivia, Eminem and Jamie Foxx. Its working title was The St. Valentine's Day Massacre, after the 1929 Chicago killings, and 50 Cent wanted it out on 15 February. Interscope was not interested, so he leaked Disco Inferno to force the label's hand. Hate It or Love It, Higher and Special had been intended for it but went to the Game's The Documentary, which meant most of the album was reworked. Scott Storch's Middle Eastern melodies run through Candy Shop and Just a Lil Bit, and Buckwild produced the jazz-rap I Don't Need 'Em.

It sold 1.14 million copies in its first four days, a record opening for a sophomore studio album, and stayed at number one for six weeks. It was the number-one album of 2005 on the Billboard year-end chart. Metacritic gives it 66 out of 100. Kelefa Sanneh of the New York Times found it nearly as addictive as its predecessor, while Nathan Rabin of the A.V. Club thought it far too long and wildly uneven at nearly 78 minutes. It was nominated for best rap album at the 2006 Grammys and lost to Kanye West's Late Registration. A special edition followed on 6 September 2005 with a bonus DVD of videos.