‘Have A Baby By Me’: Irresponsible Lyrics or Good Advice?
50 Cent on Stage
I’m thinking about turning Friday into “Lyrical Friday” where I get to post something on lyrics that stand out to me. Well, first up, “Baby By Me” by 50 Cent. In the hook, 50 Cent raps,
“Have A Baby By Me Baby Be A Millionaire. Have A Baby By Me Baby Be A Millionaire.”
I stopped for a minute and thought about it. We all know that 50 Cent is loaded so I get his perspective. But what if 50 Cent was deep and was saying to all the women who are out there having babies by the scrubs, never-had-a-job brothers that if you are going to have a child, have it with someone who can provide for you and your child? What if 50 Cent was really sending that message out?
Fiddy was on the radio in DC the other day and a young lady called in and said, “My babydaddy is garbage. I need you to take me to Georgetown to go shopping.” SMH. Well, had this young lady adhered to ‘Baby By Me’ she’d have a child support check from a paid baby daddy. If you’re potential baby daddy’s hook is “Have A Baby By Me Baby, We’ll Be On Welfare,” you should run in the opposite direction. -Just a thought -
Maybe 50′s next song will be, “Get married to me baby, be a billionaire. Get married to me baby, be a billionaire.”
What do you think? In his song, “Baby by Me” is it Irresponsible Lyrics or Good Advice? How many folks do you know who could have benefitted from that advice? Real responses only.
Tags: 50 Cent, baby by me, lyrics
About the Author
Yasmin Shiraz is the President of Still Eye Rise Films, an independent production company which films educational and thought provoking documentaries that chronicle the lives, traumas and experiences of youth. Her first production, Can She Be Saved?, a documentary that examines violence among middle school girls, was an official selection of the 2009 Roxbury Film Festival and recently won a 2009 Indie Award of Merit from IndieFest.
Yasmin Shiraz is the Award winning Author of Retaliation a novel about a community’s response to youth violence. In 2009, it was selected as one of the top Ten Quick Picks for Reluctant Young Adult Readers by the American Library Association. She is the author of The Blueprint for My Girls: How To Build A Life Full of Courage, Determination & Self Love (Simon and Schuster) and five other books. Her best selling “Blueprint” empowerment series is utilized as a self esteem, motivational, and educational tool at middle and high schools, after school programs, non-profit youth centers, as well as Boys and Girls Clubs throughout the country. 
3 Comments for ‘Have A Baby By Me’: Irresponsible Lyrics or Good Advice?
November 6, 2009 at 3:34 pm
I think its very irresponsible, and the younger generation naively latches to this kind of foolishness. Especially since he took his childs mother to court to REDUCE his child support payments. What’s worse is the women that will feed into this and look for a man with money that might not treat them as well as a brother making less. Plus it promotes unsafe sex practices. Maybe I shouldn’t be this harsh because its “entertainment”. But its not “keeping it real” because how many people can do that? How many would WANT to? Smh…
November 20, 2009 at 11:10 am
I think these lyrics are very irresponsible, I am surprised that not alot of women are speaking out against the issue. 50 cent’s lyrics are degrading to women and contribute to the continued objectification and oppression of women everywhere by simply stating that the only way women can succeed in this world is through childbearing. These lyrics clearly reflect the male dominant society and this needs to change. Women need to be aware and become empowered in order to stand and make a change. The image of rap and hip hop also needs to change. These lyrics need to be taken seriously, especially when we face things like the rise of unplanned pregnancy in minority populations, sex slavery and human trafficking. Women need to boycott this song, discourage its play on the radio and discourage the release of 50′s new album.
December 14, 2009 at 10:04 pm
I don’t understand how you could think this is “good advice”. Bringing a life into this world is not a business you do for profit; and 50 sent is just trying to get laid. He’s not trying to “send a message”, or being deep. The only message he’s trying to send is that women won’t regret sleeping with him because if they get pregnant in the process, they’ll strike it rich. Because he’s aware that the only thing he has to offer is money, not good looks or smarts.
“His next song will be get married to me baby, be a billionaire”? Really? Why in the world would he wanna get married and stay with one woman when he can sleep with different women all the time as a single man? Again, he could care less about the society and the struggle women face trying to raise a baby by themselves. He’s just trying to prove that he can get any woman to sleep with him for the right price.
Children should be brought into a home with parents who are together because they love each other, not because they can profit by sleeping with some rich man.