Candy Shop – 50 Cent ft. Olivia

Released in 2005 as a single from his second studio album The Massacre, “Candy Shop” by 50 Cent featuring Olivia remains one of the most recognizable and commercially successful tracks in hip-hop history. The song quickly became a staple of 2000s pop culture, earning widespread acclaim and dominating the charts. With its catchy beat, provocative lyrics, and sultry music video, “Candy Shop” encapsulates 50 Cent’s signature style and the era’s fascination with blending hip-hop and pop.

The Music: A Blend of Hip-Hop and Seduction
“Candy Shop” is a masterclass in combining gritty hip-hop beats with pop sensibility. The track was produced by Scott Storch, a powerhouse in the music industry known for his ability to craft hits that appeal to both mainstream and urban audiences. The song’s beat is built around a hypnotic loop that blends exotic strings with a thumping bass, creating a sultry, seductive atmosphere that perfectly complements the song’s lyrical content.

Lyrically, “Candy Shop” is filled with sexual innuendos and metaphors, with 50 Cent comparing his prowess with women to offering them a trip to a candy store. Lines like “I’ll take you to the candy shop, I’ll let you lick the lollipop” are suggestive and playful, encapsulating the flirtatious vibe of the track. The lyrics, while explicit, are delivered with a smoothness that makes them feel more suggestive than overtly crude, a testament to 50 Cent’s charisma as an artist.

Olivia, who was signed to G-Unit at the time, provides the female vocal counterpart to 50 Cent’s verses. Her sultry delivery adds a layer of sensuality to the track, making it clear that the song is a two-way flirtation. Her contribution to the song was pivotal, as it balanced out 50 Cent’s gritty rap with a touch of femininity, making “Candy Shop” accessible to a wider audience.

The Music Video: A Visual Feast
The music video for “Candy Shop” is as iconic as the song itself. Directed by Jessy Terrero, a frequent collaborator with 50 Cent, the video is a lavish and sensual visual experience that perfectly matches the song’s theme. Set in a mansion that resembles a high-end, fantasy brothel, the video plays heavily on the metaphor of the “candy shop” as a place of indulgence and pleasure.

The video opens with 50 Cent arriving at the mansion, greeted by a bevy of beautiful women dressed in lingerie and other seductive attire. Each room in the mansion offers a different “flavor” of candy, represented by various fantasies and desires. The setting is opulent, with plush furniture, rich colors, and an overall vibe of excess and luxury. This ties into the fantasy element of the song, where the “candy shop” is not just a place but a state of mind where all desires can be fulfilled.

Olivia’s presence in the video is equally important. She plays the role of the temptress, luring 50 Cent through the various rooms of the mansion, embodying the ultimate fantasy woman. The chemistry between the two is palpable, adding to the video’s overall allure. Their interactions are flirtatious yet controlled, maintaining a balance between seduction and class.

One of the most memorable scenes in the video is the mirrored room, where 50 Cent and Olivia engage in a playful yet steamy dance sequence. The use of mirrors adds a layer of complexity to the visuals, reflecting the multiple facets of desire and attraction that the song explores. The video’s cinematography is slick and polished, with each shot designed to enhance the song’s seductive qualities.

Cultural Impact and Legacy
“Candy Shop” was a commercial powerhouse, reaching number one on the Billboard Hot 100 and staying on the charts for an impressive run. The song’s catchy hook and memorable beat made it a favorite in clubs, on the radio, and among fans of both hip-hop and pop music. It also became one of 50 Cent’s signature songs, solidifying his status as one of the leading artists of the 2000s.

However, the song’s impact goes beyond its commercial success. “Candy Shop” played a significant role in the mainstream acceptance of more explicit content in music, particularly in the realm of hip-hop. While the genre had always been known for its raw and sometimes controversial lyrics, “Candy Shop” managed to package its explicit content in a way that was palatable to a broader audience. The song’s success demonstrated that hip-hop could be both provocative and commercially viable, paving the way for future artists to explore similar themes in their work.

The song and its video also had a lasting influence on pop culture, inspiring numerous parodies, references, and imitations. The “Candy Shop” metaphor became a popular trope in music and beyond, often used to represent a place or experience of ultimate indulgence. The video, with its opulent visuals and fantasy elements, has been referenced in various forms of media, from television shows to other music videos, further cementing its place in pop culture history.

Conclusion
“Candy Shop” by 50 Cent featuring Olivia is more than just a hit song; it’s a cultural milestone that showcases the best of 2000s hip-hop. With its infectious beat, provocative lyrics, and visually stunning music video, “Candy Shop” remains a timeless classic that continues to resonate with audiences today. The song’s blend of seduction, fantasy, and urban grit encapsulates the essence of 50 Cent’s artistry and the era in which it was released. As both a commercial success and a cultural touchstone, “Candy Shop” stands as one of the defining tracks of its time, a testament to the enduring appeal of 50 Cent’s music and the power of hip-hop to captivate and inspire.

Yeah, uh-huh
So seductive

I take you to the candy shop
I let you lick the lollipop
Go ‘head, girl, don’t you stop
Keep goin’ until you hit the spot, woah
I take you to the candy shop (Yeah)
Want one taste of what I got? (Uh-huh)
I’ll have you spendin’ all you got (Come on)
Keep goin’ until you hit the spot, woah

You could have it your way, how do you want it?
You gon’ back that thing up or should I push up on it?
Temperature risin’, okay, let’s go to the next level
Dance floor jam-packed, hot as a tea kettle
I’ll break it down for you now, baby, it’s simple
If you be a nympho, I be a nympho
In the hotel or in the back of the rental
On the beach or in the park, it’s whatever you into
Got the magic stick, I’m the love doctor
Have your friends teasin’ you ’bout how sprung I got you
Wanna show me you could work it, baby? No problem
Get on top, then get to bounce around like a low rider
I’m a seasoned vet when it come to this shit
After you work up a sweat, you could play with the stick
I’m tryin’ to explain, baby, the best way I can
I’ll melt in your mouth, girl, not in your hand, ha-ha

Girl, what we do (What we do)
And where we do (And where we do)
The things we do (Things we do)
Are just between me and you, yeah (Oh yeah)

Give it to me, baby, nice and slow
Climb on top, ride like you in a rodeo
You ain’t never heard a sound like this before
‘Cause I ain’t never put it down like this
Soon as I come through the door, she get to pullin’ on my zipper
It’s like it’s a race, who could get undressed quicker
Isn’t it ironic, how erotic it is to watch her in thongs?
Had me thinkin’ ’bout that ass after I’m gone
I touched the right spot at the right time
Lights on or lights off, she like it from behind
So seductive, you should see the way she whine
Her hips in slow-mo on the floor when we grind
Long as she ain’t stoppin’, homie, I ain’t stoppin’
Drippin’ wet with sweat, man, it’s on and poppin’
On my champagne campaign, bottle after bottle, it’s on
And we gon’ sip ’til every bubble in every bottle is gone

I take you to the candy shop
I let you lick the lollipop
Go ‘head, girl, don’t you stop
Keep goin’ until you hit the spot, woah
I take you to the candy shop
Want one taste of what I got?
I’ll have you spendin’ all you got
Keep goin’ until you hit the spot, woah
I take you to the candy shop
I let you lick the lollipop
Go ‘head, girl, don’t you stop
Keep goin’ until you hit the spot, woah
I take you to the candy shop
Want one taste of what I got?
I’ll have you spendin’ all you got
Keep goin’ until you hit the spot, woah

50 Cent Olivia