Curtis James Jackson III (born July 6, 1977),
[[1]. Billboard biography] better known by his
stage name 50 Cent, is an American
rapper. He rose to fame with the release of his albums
Get Rich or Die Tryin' (2003) and
The Massacre (2005). Both albums achieved multi-
platinum success, selling more than twenty-one million copies combined.
[Thornburgh, Nathan (September 10, 2007). 10 Questions for 50 Cent. Time. Accessed September 13, 2007.]
Born in
South Jamaica, Queens, 50 Cent began
drug dealing at the age of twelve during the 1980s
crack epidemic.
[Campion, Chris (August 21, 2005). Right on the money. The Observer. Accessed May 22, 2007.] After leaving drug dealing to pursue a rap career, he was shot at and struck by nine bullets during an incident in 2000. After releasing his album
Guess Who's Back? in 2002, 50 Cent was discovered by rapper
Eminem and signed to
Interscope Records. With the help of Eminem and
Dr. Dre—who produced his first major commercial successes—he became one of the world's highest selling rappers. In 2003, he founded the record label
G-Unit Records, which signed several successful rappers such as
Young Buck,
Lloyd Banks, and
Tony Yayo.
50 Cent has engaged in feuds with other rappers including
Ja Rule,
Young Buck,
The Game,
Cam'ron,
Fat Joe, and
Rick Ross. He has also pursued an acting career, appearing in the semi-autobiographical film
Get Rich or Die Tryin' in 2005, the
Iraq War film
Home of the Brave in 2006, and
Righteous Kill in 2008. 50 Cent is one of the richest hip-hop performers, having a net worth estimated at US $440 million in 2008.
The word "50" in 50 Cent is sometimes pronounced or even written as
fiddy.
Life and music career
Early life
Curtis Jackson III grew up in the
South Jamaica neighborhood of
Queens, in New York City. He grew up without a father and was raised by his mother, Sabrina, who gave birth to him at the age of fifteen. Sabrina, a
cocaine dealer, raised Jackson until the age of twelve, when she was murdered in 1988. Twenty-seven at the time, she became unconscious after someone
drugged her drink. She was then left for dead after the gas in her apartment was turned on and the windows shut closed.
[Touré (April 3, 2003). The Life of a Hunted Man. Rolling Stone. Accessed May 22, 2007.][Samuels, Allison (February 21, 2007). The Flip Side of 50 Cent. MSNBC. Accessed May 22, 2007.] After her death, Jackson moved into his grandparents' house with his eight aunts and uncles.
[Otto, Jeff (September 6, 2005). Interview: 50 Cent. IGN. Accessed May 22, 2007.][Reid, Shaheem (November 7, 2005). 50 Cent: Return to Southside. MTV. Accessed May 22, 2007.] He recalls, "My grandmother told me, 'Your mother's not coming home. She's not gonna come back to pick you up. You're gonna stay with us now.' That's when I started adjusting to the streets a little bit".[Reid, Shaheem (February 12, 2003). 50 Cent: Money to Burn. MTV. Accessed May 22, 2007.]
[cent booking image.jpg|thumb|right|Jackson's [[mug shot], August 23, 1994]]
Jackson began boxing around the age of eleven. At fourteen, a neighbor opened a boxing gym for local kids. "When I wasn't killing time in school, I was sparring in the gym or selling crack on the strip", he recalled.[Weiner, Jonah (August 2007). 33 Things You Should Know About 50 Cent. Blender. Accessed September 30, 2007.] In the mid 1980s, he competed in the Junior Olympics as an amateur boxer. He recounts, "I was competitive in the ring and hip-hop is competitive too... I think rappers condition themselves like boxers, so they all kind of feel like they're the champ".[Reid, Shaheem (February 25, 2005). All Eyes on 50 Cent: The Sequel. MTV. Accessed May 22, 2007.] At the age of twelve, Jackson began dealing narcotics when his grandparents thought he was at after-school programs.[The Phenomenon '50 Cent' Revealed. Female First (February 1, 2006). Accessed May 21, 2008.] He also took guns and drug money to school. In the tenth grade, he was caught by metal detectors at Andrew Jackson High School. He later stated, "I was embarrassed that I got arrested like that... After I got arrested I stopped hiding it. I was telling my grandmother [2], 'I sell drugs.'"
On June 29, 1994, Jackson was arrested for helping to sell four vials of cocaine to an undercover police officer. He was arrested again three weeks later when police searched his home and found heroin, ten ounces of crack cocaine, and a starter gun. He was sentenced to three to nine years in prison, but managed to serve six months in a shock incarceration boot camp where he earned his GED. Jackson said that he did not use cocaine himself, he only sold it.[The Smoking Gun: 50 Cent. The Smoking Gun (February 27, 2003). Accessed May 22, 2007.][Dave (November 2, 2003). 50 Cent Interview on Howard Stern Show. Rap News Network. Accessed May 22, 2007.] He adopted the nickname "50 Cent" as a metaphor for "change".[Interview w/ 50 Cent. AOL Music (August 1, 2003). Accessed May 22, 2007.] The name was derived from Kelvin Martin, a 1980s Brooklyn robber known as "50 Cent". Jackson chose the name "because it says everything I want it to say. I'm the same kind of person 50 Cent was. I provide for myself by any means".[Boots, Tone (August 3, 2005). Get Rich or Die Trying. Stuff. Accessed May 22, 2007.]
1996–2000: Early career
50 Cent started rapping in a friend's basement where he used turntables to record over instrumentals.["La Méthode Cauet" (2006). TF1.] In 1996, a friend introduced him to Jam Master Jay of Run-DMC who was organizing his label Jam Master Jay Records. Jay taught him how to count bars, write choruses, structure songs, and how to make a record.[Youngs, Ian (December 23, 2002). 50 Cent: The $1m rapper. BBC News. Accessed August 16, 2007).][Tarek, Shams (May 16, 2003). Jamaica’s ‘Own Bad Guy' 50 Cent Making Good in the Music Biz. Queens Press. Accessed May 22, 2007.] 50 Cent's first official appearance was on a song titled "React" with the group Onyx on their 1998 album Shut 'Em Down. He credited Jam Master Jay as an influence who helped him improve his ability to write hooks.[ Jay produced 50 Cent's first album; however, it was never released.][ In 1999, after leaving Jam Master Jay, the platinum-selling producers Trackmasters took notice of 50 Cent and signed him to Columbia Records. They sent him to a studio in Upstate New York where he produced thirty-six songs in two weeks.][ Eighteen were included on his unofficially released album, Power of the Dollar in 2000.][Biography. 50cent.com. Accessed May 22, 2007.] He also started the now-defunct Hollow Point Entertainment with former G-Unit affiliate Bang 'Em Smurf.[Chery, Carl (May 18, 2004). 50 Cent's a Fake, Says Ex-G-Unit Member, Bang Em Smurf. SOHH. Accessed June 5, 2007.][Williams, Houston (February 2004). Bang'em Smurf: Life after G-Unit. AllHipHop. Accessed July 20, 2007.]
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50 Cent's popularity started to increase after the successful but controversial underground single, "How to Rob", which he wrote in half an hour while in a car on the way to a studio.[50 Cent. From Pieces to Weight Part 5. MTV. Accessed May 22, 2007.] The track comically explains how he would rob famous artists. He explained the reasoning behind song's content as, "There's a hundred artists on that label, you gotta separate yourself from that group and make yourself relevant".[ Rappers Jay-Z, Kurupt, Sticky Fingaz, Big Pun, DMX, Wyclef Jean and the Wu-Tang Clan replied to the song][ and Nas, who received the track positively, invited 50 Cent to travel on a promotional tour for his Nastradamus album.][ The song was intended to be released with "Thug Love" featuring Destiny's Child, but two days before he was scheduled to film the "Thug Love" music video, 50 Cent was shot and confined to a hospital due to his injuries.][Ninja (December 2002). 50 Cent Interview. Dubcnn. Accessed May 22, 2007.]
2000–2001: Stabbing/Shooting
On March, 2000, 50 Cent was confronted by Ja Rule and other artists from Murder Inc. at the Hit Factory recording studio in Harlem, after he recorded a believed diss song called "Your Life's On The Line", which was related to an earlier confrontations and theories of Ja Rule's jewellry being robbed by a friend of 50 Cent. 50 Cent was stabbed by Murder Inc artist Black Child, and was treated for lacerations and a partially collapsed lung at St. Luke's-Roosevelt Hospital Center.
On May 24, 2000, 50 Cent was attacked by a gunman, alleged to be Darryl "Hommo" Baum, outside his grandmother's former home in South Jamaica, Queens. He went into a friend's car, but was asked to return to the house to get jewelry. His son was in the house while his grandmother was in the front yard.[ Upon returning to the back seat of the car, another car pulled up nearby. An assailant then walked up to 50 Cent's left side with a 9mm handgun and fired nine shots at close range. He was shot nine times: in the hand (a round hit his right thumb and came out of his little finger), arm, hip, both legs, chest, and left cheek.][Tyrangirl, Josh (February 17, 2003). Rap's Newest Target. Time. Accessed May 22, 2007.] The face wound resulted in a swollen tongue, the loss of a wisdom tooth, and a small slur in his voice.[Get Rich or Die Tryin': The Movie (2003) (bonus documentary DVD). Interscope Records.] His friend also sustained a gunshot wound to the hand. They were driven to the hospital where 50 Cent spent thirteen days. Baum, the alleged shooter, was killed three weeks later.[Chery, Carl (October 24, 2005). 50 Cent Shot by "Hommo" Reveals Tell-All Book. SOHH. Accessed May 22, 2007.] Baum was also Mike Tyson's close friend and bodyguard.[witness_115319.htm Tyson In Hit Bid: Witness - New York Post]
50 Cent recalled the incident saying, "It happens so fast that you don't even get a chance to shoot back.... I was scared the whole time.... I was looking in the rear-view mirror like, 'Oh shit, somebody shot me in the face! It burns, burns, burns.'"[ In his memoir, From Pieces to Weight: Once upon a Time in Southside Queens, he wrote, "After I got shot nine times at close range and didn't die, I started to think that I must have a purpose in life... How much more damage could that shell have done? Give me an inch in this direction or that one, and I'm gone".][ He used a walker for the first six weeks and fully recovered after five months. When he left the hospital, he stayed in the Poconos with his then-girlfriend and son. His workout regime helped him attain his muscular physique.][Jenkins, Sacha (July 9, 2007). I Was There. XXL. Accessed July 31, 2007.]
While in the hospital, 50 Cent signed a publishing deal with Columbia Records. However, he was dropped from the label and "blacklisted" in the recording industry because of his song "Ghetto Qu'ran". Unable to find a studio to work with in the U.S, he traveled to Canada.[Mace, Francis (September 6, 2005). Surveilling 50 Cent. The Smoking Gun. Accessed May 22, 2007.][Weiner, Jonah (April 2005). Dear Superstar: 50 Cent. Blender. Accessed May 22, 2007.] Along with his business partner Sha Money XL, he recorded over thirty songs for mixtapes, with the purpose of building a reputation. 50 Cent's popularity rose and in 2002, he released material independently on the mixtape, Guess Who's Back?. Beginning to attract interest, and now backed by G-Unit, 50 Cent continued to make songs. They released the mixtape, 50 Cent Is the Future, revisiting material by Jay-Z and Raphael Saadiq.
2002–present: Rise to fame
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In 2002, Eminem listened to a copy of 50 Cent's Guess Who's Back? CD. He received the CD through 50 Cent's attorney, who was working with Eminem's manager Paul Rosenberg.[ Impressed with the album, Eminem invited 50 Cent to fly to Los Angeles, where he was introduced to Dr. Dre.][ After signing a one million dollar record deal,][ 50 Cent released the mixtape, No Mercy, No Fear. It featured one new track, "Wanksta", which was put on Eminem's 8 Mile soundtrack.][ He was also signed to Chris Lighty's Violator Management and Sha Money XL's Money Management Group.]
In February 2003, 50 Cent released his commercial debut album, Get Rich or Die Tryin'. Allmusic described it as "probably the most hyped debut album by a rap artist in about a decade".[Birchmeier, Jason. Get Rich or Die Tryin' Review. Allmusic. Accessed May 22, 2007.] Rolling Stone noted the album for its "dark synth grooves, buzzy keyboards and a persistently funky bounce" with 50 Cent complementing the production in "an unflappable, laid-back flow".[Hoard, Christian (March 6, 2003). Get Rich or Die Tryin' Review. Rolling Stone. Accessed May 22, 2007.] It debuted at number one on the Billboard 200, selling 872,000 copies in the first four days.[Gundersen, Edna (September 3, 2005). 'Massacre' sales top one million. USA Today. Accessed May 22, 2007.] The lead single, "In da Club", which The Source noted for its "blaring horns, funky organs, guitar riffs and sparse hand claps",[Rosario, Boo (March 2003). "Record Report". The Source, p. 192.] broke a Billboard record as the most listened-to song in radio history within a week.[Timeline. Rock on the Net. Accessed May 22, 2007.]
Interscope granted 50 Cent his own label, G-Unit Records in 2003.[Winston, Dallas (April 9, 2003). G-Unit Records Signs with Interscope. AllHipHop. Accessed July 20, 2007.] He signed Lloyd Banks, Tony Yayo, and Young Buck as the established members of G-Unit. The Game was later signed under a joint venture with Dr. Dre's Aftermath Entertainment. In March 2005, 50 Cent's second commercial album, The Massacre, sold 1.14 million copies in the first four days—the highest in an abbreviated sales cycle[— and peaked at number one on the Billboard 200 for six weeks.][Whitmire, Margo (April 15, 2005). 50's 'Massacre' Extends Chart Lead to 6th Week. Billboard. Accessed June 13, 2007.] He became the first solo artist to have three singles on the Billboard top five in the same week with "Candy Shop", "Disco Inferno", and "How We Do".[Montgomery, James (March 9, 2005). 50 Cent's The Massacre Makes Huge Chart Debut. MTV. Accessed May 22, 2007.] Rolling Stone noted that "50's secret weapon is his singing voice — the deceptively amateur-sounding tenor croon that he deploys on almost every chorus".[Brackett, Nathan (March 10, 2005). The Massacre Review. Rolling Stone. Accessed May 22, 2007.]
[
], Lloyd Banks, and Young Buck in Bangkok, Thailand]], February 2006
After The Game's departure, 50 Cent signed singer Olivia and rap veterans Mobb Deep to G-Unit Records. Spider Loc, , 40 Glocc and Young Hot Rod later joined the label.[Reid, Shaheem (September 2, 2005). 50 and Mase: The Pastor Isn't Officially G-Unit Yet, But a Song Is Already out. MTV. Accessed May 31, 2007.][Chery, Carl (May 27, 2005). Pulse Report: M.O.P. Signs to G-Unit. SOHH. Accessed June 22, 2007.] 50 Cent expressed interest in working with rappers outside of G-Unit, such as Lil' Scrappy of BME, LL Cool J from Def Jam, Mase from Bad Boy, and Freeway of Roc-A-Fella, some of whom he recorded with.[Black, Bea (February 8, 2006). Roc-A-Fella Rapper Freeway Collaborating with G-Unit for New Album. AllHipHop. Accessed July 22, 2007.] In September 2007, he released his third album Curtis, which was inspired by his life before Get Rich or Die Tryin.[Reid, Shaheem (April 27, 2007). 50 Cent Talks Timberlake Collabo, Star-Studded New LP Curtis. MTV. Accessed October 4, 2007.] It debuted at number two on the Billboard 200, selling 691,000 units in the first week,[Mayfield, Geoff (September 18, 2007). Kanye Crushes 50 Cent in Huge Album Sales Week. ]Billboard. Accessed October 4, 2007. behind Kanye West's Graduation, whom he had a sales competition with, as both albums were released on the same day. He confirmed on TRL on September 10, 2008 that his fourth studio album, Before I Self Destruct, will be "done and released in November". On May 18 2009, 50 cent released a song entitled "Ok, You're Right". The song was produced by Dr. Dre and will be included in Before I Self Destruct. In Fall 2009, 50 is set to appear in the new season of VH1's Behind The Music.
Non-musical projects
50 Cent has established himself in a variety of fields. In November 2003, he signed a five year deal with Reebok to distribute a "G-Unit Sneakers" line as part of his G-Unit Clothing Company.[Reebok and 50 Cent Announce the Successful Launch of New "G-Unit Collection by RBK" Footwear. Reebok (November 13, 2003). Accessed May 22, 2007.][Leeds, Jeff (December 26, 2004). $50 Million for 50 Cent. The New York Times. Accessed June 9, 2007.] He provided the voice-over as the protagonist in the video game, 50 Cent: Bulletproof, which was released for PlayStation 2, Xbox, and the PlayStation Portable. Its sequel, 50 Cent: Blood on the Sand, was released in early 2009.[50 Cent: Blood on the Sand dated for Europe][Totilo, Stephen (March 26, 2008). 50 Cent Video Game Exclusive: 'Blood On The Sand' Details, First Images Revealed. MTV. Accessed March 27, 2008] He worked with Glacéau to create a Vitamin Water drink called Formula 50. In 2007, Coca-Cola purchased Glacéau for US$4.1 billion. Forbes estimated 50 Cent, who owns a stake in the company, earned $100 million from the deal after taxes.[Goldman, Lea (September 30, 2007). Forbes and 50 Cent 'Get Money'. Forbes. Accessed September 30, 2007.] He has teamed up with Right Guard to launched a body spray called Pure 50 RGX Body Spray and a condom line called Magic Stick Condoms,[kyte: The Official HNIC2 Channel: 01/10/2008. Kyte (January 10, 2008). Accessed January 13, 2008.] in which he planned to donate part of the proceeds to HIV awareness.[Mirchandani, Raakhee (January 5, 2007). The Merchant of Menace. New York Post. Accessed May 22, 2007.] 50 Cent has signed a multi-year deal with Steiner Sports to sell his memorabilia.[Black Widow (May 4, 2008). 50 Cent Inks Deal With Steiner Sports To Sell Memorabilia. SixShot. Accessed July 15, 2008.]
In 2005, 50 Cent made a cameo appearance on The Simpsons episode "Pranksta Rap", in which he makes light of his legal troubles. The same year, he starred alongside Terrence Howard in the semi-autobiographical film Get Rich or Die Tryin'. He starred in the 2006 film, Home of the Brave, as a soldier returning home from the Iraq War, traumatized after killing an Iraqi woman.[Topel, Fred (December 12, 2006). CraveOnline Talks to 50 Cent. Crave Online. Accessed May 22, 2007.] 50 Cent is working on a role as a fighter in an Angola State Prison in Spectacular Regret alongside Nicolas Cage, and starred opposite Al Pacino and Robert De Niro in 2008's Righteous Kill, a movie regarding a police death.[Brevet, Brad (December 11, 2006). Interview: 50 Cent on 'Home of the Brave'. Rope of Silicon. Accessed May 22, 2007.] He also started the film production companies G-Unit Films in 2007 and Cheetah Vision in 2008.[Rock Steady Eddy (January 22, 2008). The Economics Behind 50 Cent's New Film Production Company. Woohah. Accessed February 18, 2008.][For The Record: Quick News on Eminem, Ciara, Ludacris, Ne-Yo, Slayer, Marilyn Manson, Nas, Public Enemy & More. MTV (March 23, 2007). Accessed May 22, 2007.] In August 2007, 50 Cent announced plans to launch a dietary supplement company in conjunction with his movie Spectacular Regret.[Jokesta (August 21, 2007). 50 Cent launches dietary supplement company. Def Sounds. Accessed August 21, 2007.]
Shortly before appearing in Get Rich or Die Tryin, 50 Cent released a memoir about his life and how he became successful titled From Pieces to Weight: Once upon a Time in Southside Queens. On January 4, 2007, he launched his G-Unit Books imprint at the Time Warner Building.[Strong, Nolan (January 2, 2007). 50 Cent to Launch G-Unit Books, Meet Fans. AllHipHop. Accessed July 20, 2007.] He also co-wrote The Ski Mask Way, a novel about a small-time drug dealer who attempts to rob his employers, which is to be turned into a film.[ 50 Cent said he read Robert Greene's ]The 33 Strategies of War and worked with the author on a book titled The 50th Law, an urban take on The 48 Laws of Power.[Richburg, Chris (February 6, 2007). '48 Laws' Author Robert Greene Working with 50 Cent on New Book, QD3 on New Film. AllHipHop. Accessed July 20, 2007.] In May 2008, Jackson met billionaire Patrice Motsepe to forge a joint venture selling 50 Cent-branded platinum.[www.forbes.com/business/2008/08/15/music-50cent-hiphop-biz-media-cz_zog_0818fifty.html]
Jackson started a reality television show on MTV titled 50 Cent: The Money and the Power; the winning contestant won a $100,000 investment from Jackson. The Winners name is Ryan Mayberry.
Personal life
On October 13, 1997, 50 Cent's then-girlfriend Shaniqua Tompkins gave birth to a son, Marquise Jackson.[B96jobo (September 6, 2007). 50Cent Pt 2 Interviewed by B96 Jobo, Erica & Showbiz Shelly. YouTube. Accessed September 9, 2007] Tompkins later sued 50 Cent for $50 million dollars, claiming that he said that he would take care of her for life; the suit, which includes 15 claims was later dismissed by a judge, calling it "an unfortunate tale of a love relationship gone sour."[Judge Tosses Lawsuit by 50 Cent's Ex-Girlfriend Yahoo News, February 5, 2009]
As of February 2009, Tompkins' and her lawyer are considering an appeal.[www.eonline.com/uberblog/b98607_50_cents_baby_mama_denied_50_million.html]
The birth of his son changed 50 Cent's outlook on life: "when my son came into my life, my priorities changed, because I wanted to have the relationship with him, that I didn’t have with my father".[Williams, Kam. 50 Cent’s 2 Cents on Shooting Scenes, Samuel L., and His Son. AALBC. Accessed May 22, 2007.] He credited his son for inspiring his career and being "motivation to go in a different direction".[50 Cent chats to ilikemusic.com. I Like Music (2005). Accessed May 22, 2007.]
50 Cent has a tattoo of "Marquise" with an axe on his right biceps. "The axe is 'cause I'm a warrior. I don't want him to be one, though",[ he explains. He also has "50", "Southside", and "Cold World" inscribed on his back because "I'm a product of that environment. It's on my back, though, so it's all behind me".][ 50 Cent dated actress Vivica A. Fox in 2003. After a few months, he announced their split up on the The Howard Stern Show when pictures from a photo shoot they did ended up on the cover of Today's Black Woman magazine without his knowledge.][Tannenbaum, Rob (April 2004). "Playboy Interview: 50 Cent". Playboy, p. 140.][Exclusive Interview with Vivica A. Fox. Langfield Entertainment (May 1, 2005). Accessed June 23, 2007.]
In 2005, 50 Cent expressed dislike for President George W. Bush after rapper Kanye West criticized him for the slow response in assisting the Hurricane Katrina victims.[Lynskey, Dorian (January 20, 2006). 'I'm not trying to save the world'. The Guardian. Accessed May 22, 2007.] If his felony convictions did not prevent him from voting, he claimed he would have voted for Gore.[For the Record: Quick News on 50 Cent, Kanye West, Irv Gotti, Beyoncé, Zack de la Rocha, Alice in Chains & More. MTV (November 23, 2005). Accessed May 22, 2007.] He later stated that Bush "has less compassion than the average human. By all means, I don’t aspire to be like George Bush".[Williams, Ben (July 23, 2007). Influences: 50 Cent. New York. Accessed August 1, 2007.]
In 2007, Forbes recognized 50 Cent for his wealth, placing him second behind Jay-Z in the rap industry.[Goldman, Lea (August 16, 2007). Hip-Hop Cash Kings. Forbes. Accessed August 20, 2007.] He resides in Farmington, Connecticut, in the former mansion of ex-boxer Mike Tyson.[Bernard, Sarah (August 22, 2005). How Would 50 Cent Spend $3.5 Million?. New York. Accessed May 22, 2007.] He put the mansion for sale at US$18.5 million to move closer to his son who lives in Long Island with his ex-girlfriend.[Keil, Braden (May 4, 2007). fittyswanksta_crib_regionalnews_braden_keil.htm For Sale: Fitty Swanksta Crib. New York Post. Accessed May 27, 2007.] On October 12, 2007, the Mayor of Bridgeport, Connecticut declared it "50 Cent Curtis Jackson Day". He was honored with a key to the city and an official proclamation.[Madonna Signs Live Nation Deal; Plus Foxy Brown, 50 Cent, Linkin Park, 'Hannah Montana' & More, in For the Record. MTV (October 16, 2007. Accessed October 28, 2007.] One of his homes in New York purchased for 2.4 million dollars in January 2007 and at the center of a lawsuit between 50 Cent and ex-girlfriend Shaniqua Tompkins caught fire on May 31, 2008 while he was out of town filming for a movie in Louisiana.[Chicago Tribune (May 31, 2008). 'Suspicious' blaze leaves 50 Cent home gutted. Chicago Tribune. Accessed June 13, 2007.]
In December 2008 50 told the Canadian Press that he had already been hit by the recession, losing several million dollars on the stock market. He also went on to say that he had been unable to sell his Connecticut mansion and pushed Before I Self-Destruct back because of the recent economic downturn.[HipHopDX.com - 50 Cent Admits to Losing Money Because of Failing Economy. HipHopDX.com. Accessed December 1, 2008.]
Controversy
Murder Inc.
Before signing with Interscope, 50 Cent engaged in a well-publicized dispute with rapper Ja Rule and his label The Inc. Records (now The Inc.). 50 Cent claims that a friend robbed Ja Rule of his jewelry and that Ja Rule accused him of setting it up.[ However, Ja Rule claimed the conflict stemmed from a video shoot in Queens because 50 Cent did not like seeing him "getting so much love" from the neighborhood.][Ja Rule on 50 Cent, God and Hip-Hop. MTV (November 3, 2003). Accessed June 4, 2007.] In March 2000, while at The Hit Factory studio in New York, 50 Cent had an altercation with Murder Inc. associates. He was treated for three stitches after receiving a stab wound.[Smith, Dominic (July 2005). 50 Cent Interview. FHM. Accessed July 11, 2007.] Rapper Black Child claimed responsibility for the stabbing, saying he acted in self-defense because he thought someone reached for a gun.[Reid, Shaheem (April 25, 2003). DJ Tells 50 Cent, Ja Rule: One More Dis Record, Then Quit It. MTV. Accessed June 5, 2007.]
An affidavit by an IRS agent suggested that Murder Inc. had ties to Kenneth "Supreme" McGriff, a New York drug lord who was suspected of being involved in the murder of Jam Master Jay and the shooting of 50 Cent. An excerpt of the affidavit read:
The exchange of insultive tracks released from both parties culminated into Ja Rule releasing Blood in My Eye, which was an album that mostly insulted 50 Cent and Eminem. Ja Rule eventually tried to squash the feud with 50 Cent by using minister Louis Farrakhan in a televised interview. However, the attempt at peace lost credibility as the interview was scheduled a day before Blood in My Eye was released. As a result, most fans, along with 50 Cent, dismissed the interview as a blatant publicity stunt.
Ja Rule later released with the successful single, "New York", featuring Jadakiss and Fat Joe in which Ja Rule took subliminal shots at 50 Cent. This single prompted 50 Cent to enter a feud with the two featured artists. The feud died down in late 2004, when Eminem released "Like Toy Soldiers" which explains the recent feuding with Ja Rule and Benzino, to which Eminem ends the song offering a truce to his enemies. Although 50 Cent continued to diss Ja Rule.
New York rappers
Before releasing The Massacre, 50 Cent recorded a song "Piggy Bank", a response to Ja Rule's song "New York", which was leaked before the album's release. The song takes aim at rappers including Fat Joe, Nas, and Jadakiss.[Reid, Shaheem (February 22, 2005). 50 Cent's LP Pushed Up, Harsh 'Facts' Sound Like Disses on Leaked 'Piggy Bank'. MTV. Accessed May 23, 2007.] Fat Joe responded with a song, "My Fofo", accusing 50 Cent of taking steroids, hiding in his home, and being jealous of The Game. Jadakiss also responded with a song, "Checkmate", and said that 50 Cent was trying to "create a buzz for his new album".[Reid, Shaheem (March 10, 2005). Jadakiss, Fat Joe Retaliate for 50's 'Piggy Bank'. MTV. Accessed May 23, 2007.] The "Piggy Bank" music video portrays animated caricatures of Jadakiss (as a Ninja turtle), Fat Joe (as an overweight boxer who receives a knockout), Nas (as a kid chasing a "milkshake" truck in a Superman costume), and The Game (as Mr. Potato Head).[Reid, Shaheem (August 4, 2005). 50 Mocks Fat Joe, Jadakiss, Game, Nas in 'Piggy Bank' Video. MTV. Accessed May 23, 2007.] Kelis, Nas's wife, responded to the song on her single "Bossy." Nas later responded with "Don't Body Ya Self (MC Burial)."
50 Cent spoke negatively about Bad Boy Entertainment mogul Sean Combs and recorded a song, "Hip-Hop", revealing the reasons behind his negative feelings: primarily, a contract dispute over Mase. In the song, he implied that Diddy knew about The Notorious B.I.G.'s murder and threatened to expose him through former associates.[Reid, Shaheem (September 6, 2005). 50 Goes after Diddy on New Mixtape. MTV. Accessed June 4, 2007.] The feud was resolved, with both rappers appearing on MTV's TRL and Sucker Free, respectively, stating that there were no longer problems.[Strong, Nolan; Jeffries, Alexis (September 7, 2006). Exclusive: 50 Cent, Sean 'Diddy' Combs Declare 'Cease Fire'. AllHipHop. Accessed July 20, 2007.]
On February 1, 2007, Cam'ron and 50 Cent had a live argument on The Angie Martinez Show on Hot 97 radio. 50 Cent commented that Koch Entertainment was a "graveyard", meaning major record labels would not work with their artists.[Sanneh, Kelefa (February 27, 2007). Rappers Find That a Small Label Can Have Its Uses. The New York Times. Accessed May 22, 2007.] Cam'ron then ridiculed the record sales of G-Unit members Lloyd Banks and Mobb Deep by stating that Jim Jones outsold their albums despite being signed to an independent label and that his group, The Diplomats, had a distribution deal from several labels.[ Both rappers released "diss" songs with videos on YouTube. 50 Cent suggested in "Funeral Music" that Cam'ron is no longer able to lead The Diplomats and that Jim Jones should take his place. Cam'ron responded with "Curtis" and "Curtis Pt. II", in which he makes fun of 50 Cent's appearance, calling him "a gorilla, with rabbit teeth".][Petipas, Jolene (February 9, 2007). It's Official, 50 Cent Starts War with Cam'ron. SOHH. Accessed May 25, 2007.] 50 Cent responded by releasing "Hold On" with Young Buck.
The Game
50 Cent began a feud with The Game, with whom he was close before The Game released his debut album The Documentary. After its release, 50 Cent felt The Game was disloyal for saying he did not want to participate in G-Unit's feuds with other rappers and even wanting to work with artists they were feuding with. He also claimed that he wrote six songs on the album and was not receiving proper credit for his work, which The Game denied.[Reid, Shaheem (March 1, 2005). 50 Cent and The Game — Doomed from the Very Beginning?. MTV. Accessed May 25, 2007.]
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50 Cent later dismissed The Game from G-Unit on Hot 97 radio. After the announcement, The Game, who was a guest earlier in the evening, attempted to enter the building with his entourage. After being denied entry, one of his associates was shot in the leg during a confrontation with a group of men leaving the building.[Reid, Shaheem (February 28, 2005). 50 Drops Game from G-Unit; Shots Fired at Radio Station. MTV. Accessed June 2, 2007.][Hope, Clover (March 2, 2005). 50 Cent Cancels New York Appearance amid Shooting Inquiry. AllHipHop. Accessed July 20, 2007.] When the situation escalated, both rappers held a press conference to announce their reconciliation.[Fresh, Remmie (March 9, 2005). The Game and 50 Hold Press Conference Today to End Dispute. AllHipHop. Accessed July 20, 2007.] Fans had mixed feelings as to whether the rappers created a publicity stunt to boost the sales of the albums they had just released.[Rodriguez, Jayson (March 1, 2005). Update: Man Shot Not with 50 Cent; Violator Offices Shot Up. AllHipHop. Accessed July 20, 2007.] Nevertheless, even after the situation deflated,[Williams, Houston (May 9, 2005). Game: Winds of Change. AllHipHop. Accessed July 20, 2007.] G-Unit criticized The Game's street credibility. The group denounced The Game and announced that they will not be featured on his albums. During a Summer Jam performance, The Game launched a boycott of G-Unit called "G-Unot".[Rodriguez, Jason (June 6, 2005). The Game Taunts 50 Cent, Jay-Z Returns at Hot 97’s Summer Jam. AllHipHop. Accessed July 20, 2007.]
After the performance at Summer Jam, The Game responded with "300 Bars and Runnin'", an extended "diss" aimed at G-Unit as well as members of Roc-A-Fella Records on the mixtape You Know What It Is Vol. 3. 50 Cent responded through his "Piggy Bank" music video, which features The Game as a Mr. Potato Head doll and also parodies other rivals.
50 Cent posted a cover of The Game's head on the body of a male stripper for "Hate It or Love It (G-Unit Radio Part 21)" mixtape, as a responce to The Game displaying pictures of G-Unit dressed as Village People.[Reid, Shaheem (July 10, 2006). Mixtape Monday: 50 Cent Strips Down The Game. MTV. Accessed June 15, 2007.] Although he was signed to Aftermath Entertainment, The Game left the label and signed with Geffen Records to terminate his contractual obligations with G-Unit (although others claim 50 Cent pressured Dr. Dre to kick him off).[Petipas, Jolene (August 1, 2006). Update: The Game Officially Leaves Aftermath. SOHH. Accessed June 9, 2007.] G-Unit member Spider Loc had also began to insult The Game on various songs. In addition, The Game released "240 Bars (Spider Joke)" and "100 Bars (The Funeral)" both attacking G-Unit, Spider Loc and others. 50 Cent's responce was "Not Rich, Still Lyin'" where he mocks The Game.[Chery, Carl (February 3, 2006). The Game takes on Spider Loc, 50 Cent strikes back, SOHH. Accessed July 23, 2007.] Lloyd Banks replied to the Game on a Rap City freestyle booth session. The Game quickly released a "diss" record called "SoundScan" where The Game pokes fun at Lloyd Banks' album Rotten Apple falling thirteen spots on the Billboard 200 chart and disappointing second week sales. Lloyd Banks replied on his mixtape Mo' Money In The Bank Pt. 5: Gang Green Season Continues with a song called "Showtime (The Game's Over)". Lloyd Banks states that 50 Cent wrote half of The Game's first album The Documentary and pokes fun at The Game's suicidal thoughts.
In October 2006, The Game extended a peace treaty to 50 Cent, which was not immediately replied to.[Fresh, Remmie (September 30, 2006). The Game Extends Peace Treaty to 50 Cent, Allhiphop, Accessed June 23, 2007] However, a couple days later, onPower 106, he stated that the treaty was only offered for one day.[Audio of the conversation on Power 106 URL The Black Wall Street Forum. The Black Wall Street. Accessed October 11, 2006] On The Game's album, Doctor's Advocate, he claims that the feud is over on a few of the songs.
In July 2009, The Game stated the beef was squashed with help from Michael Jackson and Diddy.[Michael Jackson Tried To End Beef Between 50 Cent/The Game. Hip-Hop DX.], and he apologized for his actions during the beef.[The Game Apologizes To 50 Cent, Interscope. Hip-Hop DX.] Tony Yayo said that neither 50 Cent or G-Unit would accept his apology.[Tony Yayo Says G-Unit Isn't Accepting Game's Apology. MTV News.] Since then, The Game continued his old "G-Unot" ways at live concerts. It is speculated that 50 Cent will release a diss song on Before I Self Destruct targeting The Game and Young Buck.[50 Disses Game, Young Buck On BISD Snippet. All Hip-Hop.]
Rick Ross
In January 2009, Rick Ross started a feud with rapper 50 Cent because he supposedly looked at him the wrong way at the BET Awards. However, 50 Cent told news sources that he did not even remember seeing Rick Ross there.
Before going to Venezuela, 50 Cent uploaded a video entitled "Warning Shot", where he warns Rick Ross "I'ma fuck your life up for fun". In addition, 50 Cent released the first of a series of "Officer Ricky" cartoons. Early February, 50 Cent once again made a video which he uploaded to YouTube where he interviews "Tia", the mother of one of Rick Ross's children. She verifies his being a correctional officer and claims his whole persona is fake and fraudulent.[HipHopDX.com - 50 Cent - Interviews Rick Ross' Baby Mama. HipHopDX.com. Accessed February 2, 2008.] On Thursday, February 5, 2009, The Game, who 50 Cent has a long-standing "beef" with, called up Seattle's KUBE 93 Radio Station. When asked about the beef between 50 Cent and Rick Ross, The Game sided with 50 Cent and said that things are not looking good for Rick Ross. However, he offered to help Rick Ross get out of this situation, stating "Rick Ross, holla at your boy, man," and, "50 eating you, boy."[www.mtv.com/news/articles/1604407/20090205/rossrickrap_.jhtml]
On his album Deeper Than Rap, Ross references 50 Cent in the song "In Cold Blood". A video for the song was released that portrayed 50 Cent's mock funeral. Upon release, Ross stated that he has ended 50 Cent's career.[www.mtv.com/news/articles/1609554/20090420/rossrickrap_.jhtml]
In an interview, 50 Cent said, Rick Ross is "Albert From CB4. You ever seen the movie? He's Albert," he added. "It never gets worse than this. You get a guy that was a correctional officer come out and base his entire career on writing material from a drug dealer's perspective such as "Freeway" Ricky Ross".[www.ballerstatus.com/2009/03/03/50-cent-says-rick-ross-is-gusto-from-cb4-laughs-off-ross-sales-predictions/]
Other feuds
Bang 'Em Smurf and 50 Cent were very close friends together. When Bang 'Em Smurf was arrested for possession of a firearm, he was expecting 50 Cent to come bail him out, which 50 Cent didn't. Bang 'Em Smurf had to mortgage his own mothers house to pay for bail. While Bang 'Em Smurf was imprisoned, Domination started to record diss records against 50 Cent's disrespect. 50 Cent responded with "These Niggaz Ain't Hood" and " Don't Go To Sleep."
After hearing word that Lil Wayne had prepared a song for him after 50 made some unkind remarks, 50 lashed out at Wayne first on August 17 2007 with the song "Part Time Lover".[HipHopDX.com - 50 Cent Disses Lil' Wayne. HipHopDX.com. Accessed August 17, 2007.] Wayne never really responded to the song, although a 50 Cent diss track called "Louisianimal" did leak much later on November 17, 2008.[HipHopDX.com - Lil Wayne - Louisianimal (50 Cent Diss). HipHopDX.com. Accessed November 27, 2008.] 50 Cent responded to Lil Wayne in January 2009 in a song entitled "Play This On The Radio".[50 Cent - Play This On The Radio] As of August 14, 2009, the controversy between 50 Cent and Lil Wayne seems to have ended after 50 Cent appeared and performed at Lil Wayne's America's Most Wanted Musical Festival stop in Anaheim, California.[50 Cent Makes Surprise Appearance During Lil Wayne Tour]
After numerous rumors of a "beef" within G-Unit, 50 Cent officially dismissed Young Buck from the group, in 2008. He later assured that he was still signed with the label.[Aliya Ewing (April 7, 2008) 50 Cent Kicks Young Buck Out Of G-Unit & More! HipHopDX. Accessed January 19, 2009.] Numerous slander songs then arose on the internet from both camps, with Young Buck appearing in a music video of former rival The Game.[(July 25, 2008) Young Buck at The Game - My Life Video Shoot Accessed January 19, 2009.][The Game - "My Life" on FNMTV MTV. Accessed August 16, 2008.] 50 Cent then leaked a taped phone conversation between himself and Young Buck, which showed one of the true reasons for the falling out; 50 Cent was owed money by the Southern rapper. Young Buck later stated the conversation took place over a year before the leak.[ Black Widow (June 19, 2008) Young Buck Responds to Leaked Phone Convo With 50 Cent, 'I Don't Feel No Shame' SixShot. Accessed January 19, 2009.] The two camps have since released a multitude of songs against each other, with the feud settling down by 2009, with Young Buck stating he's been working on his latest album, which to still be released under the G-Unit label.[Shaheem Reid (October 21, 2008) Young Buck Says The Rehab Will Sell A Million In A Week MTV.com Accessed January 19, 2009.]
One of the biggest broadcasters in the UK Charlie Brooker has launched a stinging attack on 50 cent, labelling the rapper a sodomite on the BBC.
Lawsuit
On July 21, 2007, 50 Cent filed a US$1 million lawsuit against advertising company Traffix Inc. of Pearl River, New York for using his image in a promotion which he claims threatens his safety. He became aware of the internet ad after one of his staff members saw it on a MySpace page. According to court documents, the ad features a cartoon image of the rapper and the message: "shoot the rapper and you will win $5000 or five ring tones guaranteed". Though the ad did not use his name, the image allegedly intended to resemble him, suggesting he endorsed the ad. The lawsuit calls it a "vile, tasteless and despicable" use of 50 Cent's image that "quite literally calls for violence against him". The lawsuit seeks for unspecified punitive damages and a permanent injunction against the use of his image without permission.[50 Cent says ad threatens his life, files lawsuit. CBC (July 21, 2007). Accessed July 23, 2007.][50 Cent Sues over 'Shoot the Rapper'. Fox News (July 20, 2007). Accessed July 27, 2007.]
Discography
Awards and nominations
Filmography
