50 Cent

Before attaining widespread notoriety around 2003 as the central personality in rap and perhaps popular music overall, 50 Cent confronted numerous hardships across an eventful early existence, even though the demands of celebrity and audience expectations would later create complications. After an unsuccessful bid for mainstream recognition in the late 1990s, thwarted by a near-fatal shooting in 2000, followed by strong traction on New York’s underground mixtape scene fueled by his early-2000s rivalry with Ja Rule, Eminem secured 50 Cent to a multimillion-dollar agreement in 2002 and oversaw his swift ascent to broad appeal the next year. Raised amid family instability in Southside Jamaica, Queens, and immersed in the neighborhood’s street-level dealings, 50 Cent directly lived through the violence, incarceration, substance trade, knife attacks, and, most notoriously, gun violence that many lyricists reference without having endured. These episodes supplied the core material for his lyrics. He openly celebrated his repeatedly recounted history, confronted those posing as street figures, and generated widespread coverage. Visually he embodied the classic East Coast hardcore archetype through his imposing build, prominently displayed muscular arms, torso, and ink, along with his signature protective vest, firearm, and diamond-encrusted cross. Crucially, however, he also possessed the ability to construct memorable refrains. Consequently his recordings reached mainstream listeners, attracting fans drawn to both his tough persona and ascent narrative as well as those responding to his skill at producing playful, dance-floor sing-alongs. At the same time he cultivated loyalty within his circle, expanding the G-Unit collective into a thriving enterprise that yielded platinum solo projects for its members, profitable brand partnerships, and packed arena performances across continents. With the arrival of his third album, Curtis, in 2007, he encountered sharp criticism, especially from hip-hop traditionalists who objected to his pivot toward mainstream pop-rap at the expense of neighborhood authenticity.

Born Curtis James Jackson III on July 6, 1975, and raised in Southside Jamaica, Queens, New York City, 50 Cent experienced an unstable household. His mother, who worked in the drug trade, died when he was eight; his father left shortly afterward, leaving his grandmother to raise him. As a teenager he emulated his mother’s path and entered the crack economy, which brought financial gain until repeated arrests in 1994. Around that period he shifted focus to hip-hop. His opportunity arrived in 1996 when he encountered Run-D.M.C.’s Jam Master Jay, who supplied him with instrumentals and instructed him to record vocals. Impressed, Jay placed the newcomer on his JMJ Records imprint. The arrangement produced little output, prompting 50 Cent to align with Trackmasters, the commercially proven New York production pair noted for collaborations with Nas and Jay-Z. Trackmasters placed him on their Columbia-affiliated imprint and commenced recording his intended debut, Power of the Dollar. Three singles appeared ahead of the planned release: “Your Life’s on the Line,” “Thug Love” featuring Destiny’s Child, and “How to Rob.” The last generated substantial interest through its provocative verses that described robbing prominent rappers by name.

This same candid and confrontational approach soon invited retaliation. Shortly after “How to Rob,” he suffered a stabbing at the Hit Factory studio on West 54th Street in Manhattan. The most publicized attack followed on May 24, 2000, when an assailant fired nine shots from a 9mm handgun at him while he sat in a vehicle on 161st Street in Jamaica, Queens—the same area where Jam Master Jay would later be killed two and a half years afterward. One bullet struck his cheek, another his hand, and seven others his legs and thighs, yet he survived. Columbia immediately distanced itself, indefinitely postponing Power of the Dollar and severing ties with the now-controversial artist.

Over the following two years he returned to the independent circuit, assembling G-Unit alongside Lloyd Banks and Tony Yayo, collaborating closely with producer Sha Money XL (who had also been signed to JMJ), and flooding the market with mixtapes later anthologized on Guess Who’s Back? in 2002. Many of these recordings, hosted by DJ Whoo Kid on projects such as No Mercy, No Fear and Automatic Gunfire, featured him and his crew over well-known beats, lampooned rivals including Ja Rule, or revisited the shooting. This sustained mixtape activity between 2000 and 2002 built both neighborhood respect and industry notice, especially after Eminem publicly expressed admiration during a radio appearance. A bidding war ensued, elevating the contract offer above seven figures and restoring attention to the rapper.

Eminem ultimately prevailed, securing 50 Cent for a joint Shady/Aftermath arrangement. In the ensuing months 50 Cent recorded with both Eminem and Dr. Dre, listed as executive producers on the forthcoming debut Get Rich or Die Tryin’, each contributing several tracks. Prior to the album’s arrival, Eminem introduced him via the 8 Mile soundtrack. The track “Wanksta,” already circulated on No Mercy, No Fear, became a major success in late 2002, paving the way for “In da Club,” the Dre-produced lead single from Get Rich. Both crossed over successfully, reaching number 13 and number one, respectively, on Billboard’s Hot 100, prompting Interscope to advance the album’s street date to limit piracy.

During this period 50 Cent appeared in numerous headlines, including connections to Jam Master Jay’s October 2002 shooting, the F.B.I. inquiry into Murder Inc.’s ties to former dealer Kenneth “Supreme” McGriff, and a shooting at Violator Management offices. He was also arrested for gun possession on New Year’s Eve 2002. Media outlets extensively revisited his biography, particularly the shooting, extending beyond MTV to outlets such as The New York Times, which ran the profile “Amid Much Anticipation, a Rapper Makes a Debut.” When Get Rich or Die Tryin’ arrived on February 6, 2003, he stood as the most talked-about figure in music; its first-week sales of 872,000 units set a record since SoundScan’s inception in May 1991. Later that year additional hits “21 Questions,” which reached number one on the Hot 100, and “P.I.M.P.,” which peaked at number three, accompanied G-Unit’s group debut Beg for Mercy, which entered at number two and yielded the Top 15 singles “Stunt 101” and “Wanna Get to Know You.”

Throughout 2004, 50 Cent remained largely behind the scenes while G-Unit associates Lloyd Banks and Young Buck issued successful solo projects. Another affiliate, the Game, released his debut in January 2005; its singles “How We Do” and “Love It or Hate It,” both Top Five entries prominently featuring 50 Cent, proved the strongest performers. Amid their chart success, however, tensions arose and the Game was removed from G-Unit. Additional disputes with Fat Joe and Jadakiss, sparked by the track “Piggy Bank,” preceded the March 2005 release of The Massacre. The album debuted at number one, moved more than ten million copies worldwide, and produced hits including “Disco Inferno,” “Candy Shop,” and “Just a Lil Bit.”

By this stage his celebrity eclipsed his recordings, generating the credibility concerns that persisted afterward. The promotional campaign for The Massacre extended into ancillary ventures such as the 2005 video game 50 Cent: Bulletproof, the semi-autobiographical film Get Rich or Die Tryin’, and its accompanying soundtrack. Resulting singles “Hustler’s Ambition,” “Window Shopper,” “Best Friend,” and “Have a Party” achieved only modest chart placement compared with earlier releases. Subsequent G-Unit solo efforts—Tony Yayo’s Thoughts of a Predicate Felon (2005), Mobb Deep’s Blood Money (2005), Lloyd Banks’ Rotten Apple (2006), and Young Buck’s Buck the World (2007)—likewise underperformed, leading to the cancellation of Olivia’s Behind Closed Doors. This commercial softening preceded repeated delays and title changes for his next album.

The final title, Curtis, arose from another conflict, this time with Cam’ron, who addressed him by his given name. After initial singles “Straight to the Bank” and “Amusement Park” failed to resonate, the project received further revisions and was shifted from summer to a September 11 street date, deliberately matched against Kanye West’s Graduation. Additional singles “I Get Money” and “Ayo Technology” appeared during the latter part of summer, while the video for “Follow My Lead” surfaced online more than a month early, prompting reported frustration from 50 Cent toward Interscope.

In 2012 he departed the label amid creative disagreements, retaining the unreleased Street King Immortal. Although he continued planning its eventual release, he assembled fresh material for his fifth studio album, Animal Ambition: An Untamed Desire to Win. Guest contributions came from Trey Songz on the Dr. Dre-produced “Smoke,” as well as Yo Gotti, Jadakiss and Styles P, and Mr. Probz. The set reached number four on the Billboard 200 while topping the independent and R&B/hip-hop charts. Days after its launch, the premiere episode of the crime series Power, which he produced and starred in, aired. Despite these accomplishments he filed for bankruptcy the following summer. By early 2017, still refining Immortal, he issued Best of 50 Cent on BMG, compiling major hits alongside previously unreleased recordings “Get Up,” “I Get It In,” and “How to Rob.”