Don't be fooled. Yes, 50 Cent has amassed millions of dollars this year from sales of his debut LP, Get Rich or Die Tryin', which outsold many record labels' entire 2003 output. Yes, the first single from the G-Unit's Beg for Mercy centers on enjoying the spoils of his wealth. But 50, Young Buck and Lloyd Banks are doing anything but flossing throughout their first official group album. They're staying in the streets like potholes.

Instead of "guerrilla," the "G" in G-Unit might have to change to "gun." Hearing the first few seconds of 50 Cent's chorus on "My Buddy" will conjure up memories of that old blonde-haired doll of the same name that kids everywhere carried along with them several years back. But the buddy 50 and company are speaking about has nothing to do with child's play.

"My buddy, my buddy, wherever I go, he goes," 50 sings. "My buddy, my buddy, you could run for your life when I stick him out the window/ My buddy, my buddy, I lay your ass out, mutha----a, it's simple/ Stay in your place, I recommend, or say hello to my little friend."

Dr. Dre and Scott Storch provide the strong piano background on "Poppin' Them Thangs," where the G-Unit tell about the bedlam they cause in every 'hood they visit. 50 explains why he couldn't even bask in the afterglow of appearing at MTV's last awards show.

"After the VMAs my baby mother cussed my ass out," he says. "Now we back friends like Puffy and Steve Stoute." He goes on to tell that he can't choose whether to pursue a Hollywood heartthrob or some musical femme fatales. "I'm confused, I like Megan, Monica and Mya/ Missy is freaky and Brandy is shy-ah."

Dre once again lays down powerful key strokes, but mixes it with guitar on "G'd Up." Here the trio warn perpetrators not to step on their toes because they've been hardened by living a gangsta lifestyle.

"Ain't it amazing how crazy the 'hood done made me," 50 details while riding the beat on the chorus. "It's like my emotions are froze/ It's the things I done seen, and the sh-- I been through/ That makes my heart turn cold."

Their aortic valves may be a little frosty, but their loins are full of warmth. "Smile" is a Lloyd Banks solo record where hip-hop's most lethal new-school lyricist tells a girl he wants to be the reason for her joy. "Groupie Love" is a frolic-filled romp where 50 tells a girl she looks like somebody he had sex with on tour before. G-Unit member Tony Yayo, currently in jail on a gun-possession charge, makes the first of his two album bows on that record as well. You can also catch Yayo on the classic underground heater "I Smell Pu---," which finally makes its way above the surface.

50 has a solo record called "So Hood" on the LP where he calls out some of his neighbors' names and describes their deviant behavior, and Young Buck testifies that he has the Lord in his corner during times of strife on the street.

Because nearly every track from Beg for Mercy has been leaked on the Internet and to the streets, the album has been moved up to a Friday release (see [article id="1480233"]"G-Unit, Jay-Z To Duke It Out In Stores"[/article]).

For a feature on 50 and the G-Unit, check out "50 Cent & G-Unit: Expect The Unexpected."

To hear a preview of Beg for Mercy, check out the Leak.