50 Cent was one of the biggest stars hip-hop produced in the 2000s, a muscled and menacing, yet imperturbably cool presence with a near-mythic backstory. The protégé of Dr. Dre and Eminem, 50 Cent made music that was both gangsta and good fun. His 2003 debut, the nine-times-platinum Get Rich or Die Tryin', made him a star.
Background
Curtis was born on 6 July in 1975 in the South Jamaica section of Queens, Curtis "50 Cent" Jackson has lived in New York City all his life. Raised by his grandparents after his father ran out and his mother was shot when he was only eight.
Education
Curtis was expelled from Andrew Jackson High School, in the 10th grade for possession of crack. Got his GED while in jail. Curtis entered the "family business" and began selling crack cocaine when he was just twelve. 50 Cent's first arrest was on June 29, 1994, at his high school when he was busted in gym class for the hidden crack vials in his sneakers.
Jackson adopted the nickname "50 Cent" as a metaphor for change. The name was inspired by Kelvin Martin, a 1980s Brooklyn robber known as "50 Cent". Jackson chose it "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." 50 Cent's first important contact with the New York hip-hop scene was an introduction to Jam Master Jay from the group Run-D.M.C. Jay was impressed by 50 Cent's rapping ability and produced an album for him; however, it was never released. 50 Cent also made a false start with the Columbia label, recording an album that was shelved before its release.
In 2000, 50 Cent was the victim of a severe shooting incident that left him with multiple wounds and injuries. After his recovery, he began rapping again and made low-budget recordings with his friends Lloyd Banks and Tony Yayo, as a crew called G-Unit. Their efforts were noticed by the hip-hop stars Eminem and Dr. Dre, who promoted 50 Cent as a solo act and signed him jointly to their record labels.
50 Cent's debut release, Get Rich or Die Tryin', was produced by Eminem and Dre. It was a massive success that eventually reached sales of 9 million units. Its singles, including "Wanksta" and "In Da Club," were crossover hits on the pop charts, since 50 Cent's gritty lyrics were backed by catchy musical hooks that appealed to audiences beyond the hip-hop scene. His personal appearance—muscled and tattooed, wearing a bulletproof vest and toting a handgun—was also a strong factor in his appeal, as was the fact that his rap lyrics were based on real-life experiences.
Get Rich was followed another hit album, 2005's The Massacre, on which 50 Cent continued to rap about drugs, crime, and sex on tracks like "Candy Shop" and "Just a Lil Bit." Later releases, including Curtis in 2007 and Before I Self-Destruct in 2009, didn't achieve the same sales figures. However, 50 Cent's personal history as a "gangsta," a criminal and a survivor of drugs, violence, and poverty who had lived to tell the tale, had made him an influential figure in hip-hop culture.
50 is Christian, but won't say what kind. He frequently wears a crucifix and doesn't shy away from thanking God for being alive and successful.
50 Cent was born and raised in Queens, New York. It is widely known that he had it pretty rough growing up. His mother, then a cocaine dealer, was murdered when 50 Cent was 12 and he grew up boxing and selling crack. Suffice it to say, religion wasn’t a big part of his childhood.
However, 50 Cent is Christian and wears a crucifix around his neck most of the time. The necklace has been the source of some controversy and 50 Cent has been criticized by religious groups who consider him a bad influence and a hypocrite. The religious group, called the Resistance, headed by Mark Dice, has said:
"He is defaming the cross and committing blasphemy by wearing it while he raps about killing people for no reason…I think a large diamond studded platinum satanic pentagram would be a little more fitting”.
50 Cent has never claimed allegiance to any particular Christian denomination, but has expressed a belief in God, saying:
“I believe in a higher power. I believe in right and wrong. I believe in God. I believe everything about the [Christian] church is cool, but everybody’s not there in the right spirit”.
He has also credited God to the fact that he has survived being shot 9 times.
Politics
50 Cent likes George W. Bush. He might be a rarity there, but he's a big supporter of the Occupy Movement.
50 Cent seems either politically confused or he has the admirable ability to see past political parties and ideologies and come to his own conclusions.
He has been reported to be “fundamentally conservative” and he has expressed, numerous times, a respect for George W. Bush, saying:
“[I think he is] incredible … a gangsta. I wanna meet George Bush, just shake his hand and tell him how much of me I see in him”.
But, 50 Cent supported Hillary Clinton for president in 2008. He might have been the only black man to do that.
However, and this is interesting, 50 Cent has come out strong in support of the Occupy Movement, saying:
“I want to shout out to Occupy Wall Street groups around the world. You are waking up the world, including me. Please keep up the peaceful protest, you are making a difference”.
And that’s only a small fraction of the rant 50 Cent went on about politicians, big business interests, corruption, self-interest, and a slew of other things. It’s quite impressive.
We have to wonder, though. A George W. Bush supporter–who has clear ties to war-profiteering corporations like Haliburton and a large stake in the oil industry–yet a staunch supporter of the anti-corporate Occupy Movement, 50 Cent is somewhat confusing. Or he’s just complicated and we don’t get it.
Views
"Your experience is your life; the things you go through make you who you are. So I've spent four years being what people call "successful," and all the rest of my life not having it. And maybe because of that, the painful moments are more visible in my memory. If I'm writing about the environment I grew up in, then guns are gonna be goin' off". - Curtis Jackson.
Quotations:
"It's Fifty, not Fiddy".
"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".
"Don't wait for them to tell you. Tell them".
"My music is a soundtrack. The film is my life. My music matches things I've experienced or felt. Even if the whole thing is made up".
"I don't necessarily view death as something negative. Death gives meaning to life. Living in fear of death is living in denial. Actually, it's not really living at all, because there is no life without death. It's two sides of the one. You can't pick up one side and say, "I'm just going to use the 'heads' side." No. It doesn't work like that. You have to pick up both sides because nothing is promised to anyone in this world besides death".
Personality
50 Cent radiates with a dynamic and efficient energy. He appears controlled and capable. 50 Cent values courage and effort in the face of difficulties and these qualities show. Others can sense that he will not be pushed around.
50 Cent should dress in a dignified and correct manner, caring for the details of his appearance. While he may spend most of his time in staid business dress or suits, bright and cheerful colors work well for him. Curtis Jackson is fashionable, but has his own style.
50 Cent's appearance suffers more than most people when he is overweight. Overweight directly contradicts the type of personality 50 Cent is trying to project. Straight lines and square corners accent his good physique and enhance his appearance as a leader.
Curtis Jackson is recognized as a pioneer; he has his own ideas of how to do things. He is a risk-taker, original and highly creative.
50 Cent should be wary of appearing too aggressive or unreceptive. He can intimidate people if he does not soften his exterior somewhat. By doing this, 50 Cent will attract less confident people who will be more willing to approach him with their thoughts and suggestions.
Quotes from others about the person
“I think there was something also to be said about the same credibility factor [Dr.] Dre gave to me, we could use that with Fif. Because anybody who had their doubts about me signing him, or anything like that…Dre’s stamp could not hurt in any way you go. It was more about making sure that we didn’t f–k this up. Especially back then — anybody who hated me is just gonna turn his music off.” - Eminem
Interests
Sneakers, TV-Shows, Clothes, Films, Books
Politicians
J. Bush
Music & Bands
Reebok
Connections
Curtis has two sons: Marquise Jackson and Sire Jackson.