Plenty of albums are set to release this summer season, but is there any release as intriguing as 50 Cent‘s Animal Ambition? Within a few short years at the start of the millennium, 50 released the breakout classic Get Rich or Die Tryin’, side-stepped the sophomore slump with The Massacre and brought along his lyrical friends for his ride to fame on Beg For Mercy, which cultivated a passionate fanbase. But from his third solo effort to now, the mass of fans who represented as G-Unit soldiers aren’t wholly satisfied with 50’s plummeting success. So the question stands: will Animal Ambition return the 50 Cent fans adored?

Let’s be honest, Steve Stoute recent sentiments about 50 Cent were spot-on. “He hasn’t had a hit in a really long time,” Stoute said during an interview with Hot 97. “I mean, he has not made anything musically that’s changed anything in a very long time. And I feel like he’s always like gearing up for something that never happens.”

Think back to the last time 50 had a track that dominated charts and managed to take over the hood at the same time. Yeah. It’s been a while. Anticipation for his projects hasn’t been as high and the response to various releases over the year fizzled out as quickly as they dropped. But maybe we can actually thank Stoute for 50’s restored competitiveness and transformation from Curtis Jackson back to 50 Cent.

Continuous releases leading up to the album not only lets us know that he is serious, but the quality of these singles shows (and the customary near-release antics) that he’s focused again and ready to give the people what they want. Zoom in on the singles and you’ll notice that 50’s style has not wavered – gritty lyrics are still present on “Irregular Heartbeat” and Fif still has the ability to please the radio with the Trey Songz-assisted “Smoke.”