The album cover for 50 Cent’s upcoming CD is perfection; art imitating life. On the cover, 50 looks very worried and he should be! Originally slated for a June release, 50 Cent’s new album Curtis, was pushed back to Sept 4 back in May. Well, now 50’s record company has decided again to push the album back — now to Sept 11. The reasoning is unclear at this time although record execs state that they just realized Sept 4 was the day after Labor Day. Yeah right!

Though I’m not a big fan of 50 Cent personally, the man sure can make a hit record. His 2003 debut, Get Rich or Die Tryin’, is a classic in my book and his 2005 follow-up, The Massacre, was pretty good as well. 50 Cent just has an ear for a good song. At least until now.

Months ago when 50 Cent was doing initial promo for Curtis, he promised there would be four new singles with videos released prior to the album release. This is normally unheard of. Usually an artist will release a “buzz” track, shortly followed by the lead single a month or two before the album release — but four songs — wow, I was pretty excited! 50 Cent has stayed true to his promise, but the results have been less than stellar.

Curtis‘ first two singles, “Straight to the Bank” and “Amusement Park,” debuted in the spring, but failed to generate the kind of radio response 50 Cent’s accustomed to.

“Straight to the Bank” peaked at number 30 on Billboard’s Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs chart and has since fallen off, while “Amusement Park” topped out at 36 and is currently at 57 after two months in rotation. Both songs aren’t very hot at all and just aren’t up to the standards that should be behind the 50 Cent name. Only after heavy radio play am I just now starting to tolerate “Amusement Park.”

50 Cent’s latest single, “I Get Money,” has fared even worse, debuting on the charts earlier this month at 75. The fourth single to be released is “She Want It” featuring Justin Timberlake and produced by Timbaland. I’ve heard both new singles and again, they are nothing to write home about. Utterly disappointing.

Curtis is rumored to feature an all-star roster of guest producers and vocalists, including Eminem, Dr. Dre, Akon, Kanye West, Justin Timberlake, Mary J. Blige, the Black Eyed Peas’ will.i.am, Timbaland, Pharrell Williams and Nicole Scherzinger from the Pussycat Dolls. We’ve already heard four disappointing tracks. I don’t think all the star power in the universe will be able to help Curtis “50 Cent” Jackson.