50 Cent

50 Cent a.k.a. "Fifty" (frequently pronounced "Fiddy" using African American Vernacular English) (born Curtis Jackson on July 6, 1976 in Queens, New York), is a popular African American hip hop artist. Once almost unknown outside his hometown of southside Jamaica, Queens, he is currently signed to Eminem's record label Shady Records and Dr. Dre's Aftermath Entertainment. The rapper, who was the first to sign to Shady Records, was scouted before knowing Eminem. Eminem first encountered 50 Cent with MTV host Sway; Eminem apparently had not heard any of 50 Cent's performances before seeing him in person. He appeared on the 8 Mile soundtrack with an accompanying song and video that immediately went into heavy rotation on BET, MTV, and radio stations across the country. In the opinion of many observers his continued success seems guaranteed by his large underground fanbase and the street credibility he has gained by appearing on almost every major mix tape sold in New York in the past few years.

Interscope Records is very determined to sell 50 Cent as the "real deal", as the success of an artist in gangsta rap depends on his street credibility and reputation. In this respect 50 Cent has a clear advantage over almost every other mainstream rapper. His mother was killed in a drug deal, he was a great drug dealer himself, he has been shot nine times (nine bullets in one single shootout, not nine separate incidents as some believe), he overcame enormous disadvantage, and he built a large rap empire in New York City before ever signing a major record deal.

Early Life

Curtis Jackson, sadly, never knew who his father was, and when he was 8 years old, Curtis' mother, a Queens drug dealer working under "Fat Cat", was murdered. Living under his grandparents' roof, Curtis too soon became immersed in the drug trade. Hustling around his native Jamaica, Queens neighborhood, Curtis went by the name of "Boo Boo" and had some success in his trade. It was during this period of distributing narcotics that Curtis met fellow Queens native Tony Yayo. In June of 1994, Curtis was arrested on felony drug charges. Being a second time offender, Curtis was able to plead out of significant prison time by accepting seven months in a "shock incarceration" boot camp. He would later boast about this period as his doing "seven to nine." Curtis continued to dabble in both the drug trade as well as the music industry until the nortious shooting in 2000 that almost ended his life. While recovering in the hospital, Curtis decided to give up the street life and pursue music full time.

First record deals

He met up with Jam Master Jay of Run-DMC fame and was signed to his label JMJ. 50 Cent was intent on learning the rigors of producing palatable rap music: how to count bars, the basics of song structure and importance of good production. Despite learning all this, 50 saw that he wasn't going to get to where he wanted to go with JMJ, and left the label in search of someone who could help him achieve his dream of rap stardom. He teamed up with the all-star hip-hop production duo Track Masters who recognized 50 Cent's talent for incisive lyrics and signed him to Columbia Records in 1999. Although he looks back on this time with displeasure (his biography refers to it as being "locked up in the studio"), the 18 days spent in a studio in Upstate NY produced 36 tracks which later became his breakthrough album Power of the Dollar. Although never officially released, the album was heavily bootlegged, judged a classic by Blaze Magazine, and "How to Rob", the humorous ode to robbing a slew of industry rappers (Jay-Z, Puff Daddy, DMX, various members of the Wu-Tang Clan, even Track Masters, and many more) was an instant hit for New York radio. 50 Cent also has two boys in Atlanta named Derrique and Darrnell Williams.

Eminem & Shady Records

Guess Who's Back? and 50 Cent is the Future were heard by a very impressed Eminem who brought the rapper to Dr. Dre's attention. Dre liked what he heard and endorsed the ideas of signing a deal, and working with 50 Cent on an album. Eminem was quick to get onto New York's hip-hop radio circuit with the message that 50 Cent was his favorite rapper at the moment. After a meeting with Interscope and Eminem in Los Angeles, 50 Cent quickly signed a deal with Interscope/ Aftermath (Dr. Dre's label)/Shady (Eminem's label) to release a record. Before starting production of his new album with Eminem and Dre, 50 quickly released another bootleg album of his raps over stolen beats entitled No Mercy, No Fear with the only 'original' production being "Wanksta", a veiled dis aimed at 'industry' rapper Ja Rule. Although "Wanksta" was never meant as a radio single, under the barrage of 50 Cent albums and the buzz over Eminem's words of praise and subsequent deal with 50 Cent, "Wanksta" quickly became the most requested song on New York radio. Capitalizing on the appropriated song's success, it was added to Eminem's hit movie soundtrack 8 Mile and had its own video release, quickly entering heavy rotation on MTV, BET, MuchMusic, and radio stations around the country.

Wealth & Success

With the buzz built, a hit single that just wouldn't go away, and legions of rap fans eager to hear new material , 50 Cent was destined for great things, or at least plenty of dough. In its first week of release, 50's first major label debut Get Rich or Die Tryin' sold 872,000 units as stores struggled to keep up to the demand. In fact, not only was the album certified gold in its first week and platinum the next, but it broke the record for first week sales of any major label debut in the entire SoundScan era. On April 12, 2004 Get Rich or Die Tryin' was certified six times platinum (i.e. has sold 6,000,000 albums) by the RIAA. White suburban America is mostly responsible for the high album sales.

50 Cent and the future

Although originally planning on releasing a new album before the end of 2003, 50 decided to push the album release back to February of 2005. "I was thinking of releasing the next album in November, but I'm gonna wait," 50 Cent said in April 2003. "Get Rich or Die Tryin — I don't think it will be over by then. I still got records I could shoot visuals for. I don't want to get ahead of myself." As of 2003, 50 also planned to drop a G-Unit album tentatively titled Locked and Loaded. Despite G-Unit member Tony Yayo's imprisonment on weapons charges and prior warrants, he will appear on the CD courtesy of several old verses already laid down prior to his arrest. Also, 50 Cent has invested in G-Unit related promotions as well as his own clothing line. After the release of Beg For Mercy from his group G-Unit, he teamed up with Reebok to release his own G-Unit Sneakers. Also the rapper invested in bottled water. 50 Cent guest starred on an episode of The Simpsons entitled, Pranksta Rap on February 13th, 2005.

On March 3, 2005, 50 released his highly anticipated album "The Massacre". It was originally entitled "St. Valentine's Day Massacre", but after the album was pushed from a February release date to March, 50 Cent thought the title was inappropriate. He scored a sizable hit with the album's first single, "Candy Shop".

A video game starring 50 Cent is also currently in production. It will be called 50 Cent: Bulletproof, is published by VU Games, and will be released in Fall 2005. It will be availible on the Playstation 2 and the Xbox, and there is another version in production for the Playstation Portable.

See G-Unit Clothing and Merchandise.

Discography

Official CDs

• The Massacre (Released: March 2005) US #1, UK #1
• Get Rich or Die Tryin' (Released: February 2003) US #1, UK #2
• Power of the Dollar (Released: 1999)

NB: Power of the Dollar has not been officially released as 50 Cent was dropped from the label before it was issued. However, the CD was finished and is found circling on the Internet.

Please Note: 50 cent has come out with other albums, including "The New Breed" and various singles.

Official DVDs

• The New Breed DVD/CD (Released: April 2003) US #2

Underground Releases

• Before the Massacre (March 2005)
• Guess Who's Back Again? (2004)
• Fiddy The Hottest Nigga (Released: November 2003)
• No Mercy, No Fear (Released: August 2002)
• God's Plan (2002)
• 50 Cent is the Future (Released: June 2002)

Disputes and controversy

Before even signing to Eminem's and Dr. Dre's label, 50 Cent was engaged in a well-publicized dispute with rival rapper Ja Rule and his label Murder Inc. Records. The rappers engaged in numerous mixtape "disses," but have since ended the conflict. The conflict started from alleged accounts stemmed from an apparrent robbery of Ja Rule's jewelry led to a confrontation from various members of Murder, Inc stabbing 50 Cent. Before the release of Get Rich Or Die Tryin', Murder, Inc alongside The Source began a smear campaign against the rapper. A restraining order document was floating around the Internet stating that 50 Cent had placed label CEO, Irv Gotti and rapper Black Child in the document forging a belief that 50 Cent is a "snitch" or a police informant. Although 50 Cent dismissed the claims of a restraining order, the bad publicity continues to be a tool used among various rappers who engage in beef with G-Unit. This was one of the most well known feuds in hip-hop history. Ja Rule eventaully tried to squash the beef with 50 Cent by using Minister Louis Farrakhan in a televised interview. Ja Rule soon lost credibilty when the interview was done a day before his album Blood From My Eye was release, in which 50 Cent dismissed the interview as a blantant publicity stunt. However, as of 2004, 50 Cent had not commented much on Ja Rule's and Irv Gotti's situation. The FBI is probing Murder Inc.'s ties to drug-kingpin Kenneth "Supreme" McGriff.

50 Cent also has a rivalry with former allies Shyne, Jadakiss, Nas, and Fat Joe. He claimed that Nas had made disparaging comments about him and his G-Unit camp while performing at a New York concert. The rapper has denounced Nas as a traitor over the alleged signing to the Murder Inc label. 50 Cent points out that Jadakiss and Fat Joe were notorious for allowing themselves to partner up with Ja Rule while filming a video in which the rapper took shots at him. He recorded the "Piggy Bank" attack directly at Jadakiss and Fat Joe for their association with Ja Rule. Also, jailed rapper Shyne was named as an enemy of 50 Cent. Shyne had Irv Gotti and Ja Rule produce his album, and 50 Cent also attacked him for this association. 50 Cent has also had a long-standing dispute with former proteges Bang 'Em Smurf and Domination over internal conflicts. On the song "Love Me" off the 8 Mile soundtrack, 50 Cent criticized Lil' Kim for having breast implants and discusses why he refused her request to be in a video clip for her single "Magic Stick", which he refused to record with her, citing that song was originally entitled to Miami rapper Trina.

50 Cent also had a little known feud with Jay-Z in 1999. Jay-Z did not take to kindly to 50 Cent's mention of him on "How To Rob," and Jay-Z made a diss aimed towards 50 Cent ("Go against Jigga your ass is dense/ Im about a dollar what the fuck is 50 Cent/"). 50 Cent responded with "Be A Gentleman," thought the track was never heard by many due to 50 Cent getting dropped from Columbia Records after his shooting. 50 Cent and Jay-Z eventually squashed their beef, and they toured together in 2003. Jay-Z and 50 Cent even appeared in a Reebok commercial together promoting their sneaker lines, called S. Carter and the G-Unit, respectively.

While appearing at the Summer Jam XI concert in New York, 50 Cent and his members of G-Unit were being criticized for speaking out against other notable artists including R&B singer R. Kelly. Before the singer was to come on stage, 50 Cent mentioned R. Kelly's pending child pornography trial. He and his crew received mixed emotions from the crowd and chairs were thrown onstage, forcing 50 Cent and G-Unit to leave the stage for safety reasons. 50 Cent was also dramatically booed off stage at the Reading Festival while on tour in England. A rain of bottles hit him and his G-Unit crew as they came onstage. Chants of "50 Cent is a wanksta" were heard as the group was jeered and heckled throughout the short appearance.

Most recently G-Unit member, The Game, was a target of 50 Cent's feud. 50 Cent explained his displeasure of The Game in Vibe Magazine and also on Hot 97. The rapper officially booted The Game out over his disloyalty to not participate in the rap war with Jadakiss, Nas and Fat Joe. The rapper also claimed that he was not getting his proper credit for the debut of The Game's Documentary album. The Game counters that he quit G-Unit before being kicked out. During that dispute, a member of The Game's entourage was shot and wounded after confrontation at Hot 97. More recently, 50 Cent and The Game held a press conference to announce their reconciliation. 50 Cent also launched a new Charitable Organzation called G-Unity, aimed at helping the less fortunate in the inner cities. Thereafter, 50 Cent had The Game signed back onto G-Unit Records. Despite the truce, 50 Cent and The Game now appear distant from one another.

On a taping of The O'Reilly Factor, conservative commentator Bill O'Reilly has insisted boycotts against rap music. O'Reilly named 50 Cent as a member of his crusade to stop rappers who promote bad behavior from endorsing mainstream merchandise. He criticized shoe maker Reebok for partnering up with 50 Cent to endorse his G-Unit Sneakers. O'Reilly has rallied a boycott against the shoe maker. Despite the boycott, sales remain excellent, and Reebok still continues to endorse 50 Cent's products. However, a television advertisement for Reebok which featured 50 Cent was recently taken off air in the United Kingdom. The advertisement contained lyrics from one of 50's tracks, which resulted in complaints against their violent imagery.

G-Unit Records

After the success of 50 Cent's Get Rich Or Die Tryin', Interscope granted 50 Cent his own label, like his mentor Eminem. In 2003, G-Unit Records officially became a record label. 50 Cent appointed his manager Sha Money XL as the president. 50 Cent is the first signed artist to G-Unit Records besides the original Shady and Aftermath Records. In 2003, the label signed on Lloyd Banks (Christopher Lloyd), Tony Yayo (Marvin Bernard) and Young Buck (David Danell Brown) as the established members of G-Unit. In 2004, 50 Cent alongside Dr. Dre signed The Game (Jayceon Taylor) to the label. As of 2005, R & B singer Olivia (Olivia Longe), DJ Whoo Kid, and west coast rapper Spider Loc joined G-Unit Records.

Discography

Get Rich Or Die Tryin' – 6x Platinum in the U.S. (#1 U.S., #2 U.K.)

• 2002 "Wanksta" #13 U.S.
• 2003 "In Da Club" #1 U.S.; #3 U.K.
• 2003 "21 Questions" (featuring Nate Dogg) #1 U.S.; #6 U.K.
• 2003 "P.I.M.P." #3 U.S.; #5 U.K.
• 2003 "If I Can't" #76 U.S.; #10 U.K. ("Them Thangs" with G-Unit is also included in the UK, 2004 release)

The Massacre – 4x Platinum in the U.S. (#1 U.S., #1 U.K.)

• 2004 "Disco Inferno" #3 U.S.
• 2005 "Candy Shop" (feat. Olivia) #1 US; #4 U.K.; #1 CAN
• 2005 "Hate It Or Love It" (The Game feat. 50 Cent) #2 U.S.; #5 CAN
• 2005 "Piggy Bank" #88 U.S.
• 2005 "Just A Lil Bit" #5 U.S.

Guest appearances

The Anti-Backpack Movement (Various Artists)

• 2002 "Bad News" (as part of G-Unit)

La Bella Mafia (Lil' Kim)

• 2003 "Magic Stick" (Lil' Kim feat. 50 Cent) #2 U.S.

Beg For Mercy (G-Unit) (#2 U.S.)

• 2003 "Stunt 101" (as part of G-Unit) #13 US; #25 UK
• 2003 "If I Can't" #76 U.S.; #10 U.K. (as part of G-Unit; "Them Thangs" with G-Unit is also included in the UK, 2004 release)
• 2004 "Wanna Get To Know You" (as part of G-Unit; G-Unit feat. Joe) #15 US, #27 UK

And Then ... (Joe)

• 2004 "Ride Wit U"/"More And More" (as part of G-Unit; Joe feat. G-Unit) #56 US, #12 UK

The Hunger For More (Lloyd Banks) (#1 U.S.)

• 2004 "On Fire" (Lloyd Banks feat. 50 Cent) #8 U.S.; #19 U.K.

Straight Outta Ca$hville (Young Buck) (#3 U.S.)

• 2004 "Let Me In" (Young Buck feat. 50 Cent) #34 U.S.; #62 U.K.

The Documentary (The Game) (#1 U.S.)

• 2004 "Westside Story" (The Game feat. 50 Cent) #93 U.S.
• 2004 "How We Do" (The Game feat. 50 Cent) #4 U.S.; #5 U.K. (2005 release)
• 2005 "Hate It Or Love It" (The Game feat. 50 Cent) #2 U.S., #4 U.K.

Encore (Eminem) (#1 U.S., #1 U.K.)

• 2004 "Encore" (Eminem feat. Dr. Dre & 50 Cent) #25 U.S.
• 2004 "Never Enough" (Eminem feat. 50 Cent and Nate Dogg)
• 2004 "Spend Some Time" (Eminem feat. 50 Cent, Obie Trice and Stat Quo)

Raw & Uncut (White Dawg)

• 2005 "Just A LiL Bit Remix"

External links

• Official 50 Cent Website
• 50 Cent News
• Shady Records
• Aftermath Entertainment
• G-Unit Records
• Violator Management
• 50 Cent Lyrics
• 50 Cent lyrics database