50 Cent
50 Cent | |
|---|---|
| Born | Curtis James Jackson III July 6, 1975 Queens, New York City, U.S. |
| Occupation(s) | Rapper, actor, television producer, record executive, entrepreneur |
| Years active | 1996–present |
| Known for | Music career, acting roles, TV production, business ventures |
Curtis James Jackson III (born July 6, 1975), professionally recognized as 50 Cent, is an American rapper, actor, television producer, record executive, and entrepreneur. Originating from Queens, New York City, he embarked on his music journey in 1996. After surviving a 2000 shooting that interrupted his initial album Power of the Dollar, he rose to prominence with his 2002 mixtape Guess Who's Back?, which facilitated his signing with Eminem’s Shady Records and Dr. Dre’s Aftermath Entertainment.
His inaugural studio album, Get Rich or Die Tryin' (2003), achieved commercial acclaim, debuting atop the Billboard 200 chart and spawning chart-topping hits such as "In da Club" and "21 Questions". The Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA) certified the album nine times platinum. That same year, he established G-Unit Records, recruiting artists Lloyd Banks and Tony Yayo. His sophomore album, The Massacre (2005), sustained this momentum with popular tracks like "Candy Shop". However, subsequent releases Curtis (2007) and Before I Self Destruct (2009) experienced a decline in commercial success. His fifth studio effort, Animal Ambition (2014), garnered mixed critical responses. Since then, Jackson has concentrated on television production, notably as executive producer and lead actor in the series Power (2014–2020) through his enterprise G-Unit Films and Television Inc..
Having sold over 30 million albums globally, Jackson has accumulated numerous accolades including a Grammy Award, a Primetime Emmy Award, thirteen Billboard Music Awards, six World Music Awards, three American Music Awards, and four BET Awards. His acting portfolio includes roles in films such as the semi-autobiographical Get Rich or Die Tryin' (film) (2005), Home of the Brave (2006), and Righteous Kill (2008). In 2023, Billboard positioned him seventeenth on its list of the "50 Greatest Rappers" and ranked him sixth among top artists of the 2000s decade.
Early life
Jackson was born in Queens and raised in South Jamaica by his mother Sabrina until her passing when he was eight years old; thereafter, his grandparents took over his upbringing. He began boxing at age eleven but was also involved in selling crack cocaine during his adolescence. By twelve, he was engaged in narcotics distribution while attending school. In 1994, he faced two arrests for drug-related charges and subsequently served six months at a boot camp facility where he obtained his GED. The moniker "50 Cent" symbolizes transformation and was inspired by Brooklyn-based robber Kelvin Martin.
Career
1996–2002: Initial career phase and shooting incident
Beginning his rap career in 1996 under the guidance of Jam Master Jay, Jackson was dropped from Columbia Records following a May 2000 shooting in which he was shot nine times. This incident led to industry blacklisting due to controversial content in his song "Ghetto Qu'ran". To rebuild his standing, he moved to Canada to produce mixtapes alongside collaborator Sha Money XL.
2002–2007: Rise to fame with Get Rich or Die Tryin' and The Massacre
Eminem discovered Jackson’s mixtape in 2002, leading to a $1 million contract with Shady Records and Aftermath Entertainment. His debut album Get Rich or Die Tryin' topped the Billboard 200 upon release with record-breaking sales driven by "In da Club". Under Interscope Records, he launched G-Unit Records signing Lloyd Banks, Tony Yayo, Young Buck, and later The Game. His sophomore album The Massacre sold more than one million copies within four days and produced several top-five singles.
2007–2010: Curtis and Before I Self Destruct era
Jackson’s third studio album Curtis (2007) debuted at number two on the Billboard 200 behind Kanye West’s Graduation, marking a shift from gangsta rap dominance. The follow-up album Before I Self Destruct (2009) entered the Billboard charts at number five but failed to replicate earlier commercial achievements.
2010–2015: New creative directions and Animal Ambition
Jackson had plans for an energetic Eurodance project titled Black Magic, which was eventually shelved in favor of other ventures including the anticipated Street King Immortal. Conflicts with Interscope delayed several releases. In 2014, he departed Shady/Aftermath/Interscope for Caroline Distribution and Capitol Music Group. His fifth album Animal Ambition, released in June 2014, debuted at number four on the Billboard 200.
2015–2021: Delays of Street King Immortal and bankruptcy proceedings
In 2015, Jackson released "Get Low", intended as the lead single for his long-postponed sixth album Street King Immortal. That year also saw him file for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection citing legal liabilities exceeding $20 million. Interscope issued a greatest hits compilation in 2017 marking his exit from the label. He executive-produced Pop Smoke’s posthumous debut album in 2020 while developing television projects for Starz including BMF. By 2021, Jackson confirmed shelving Street King Immortal after nearly a decade of postponements.
2021–present: Emphasis on acting and media production
Relocating to Houston in 2021 for tax advantages and business opportunities such as entrepreneurship education partnerships, Jackson has been engaged in writing screenplays for crime dramas. He appeared in the film Expend4bles (2023). Serving as executive producer of Starz’s biographical series BMF, he also performed its theme song alongside prominent artists. In February 2022, he made an unexpected appearance during Super Bowl LVI’s halftime show earning a Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Variety Special (Live). Scheduled from late 2024 into early 2025 is his inaugural Las Vegas residency alongside executive-producing an upcoming Netflix documentary about Sean Combs.
Artistry
Drawing inspiration from artists like Boogie Down Productions, Big Daddy Kane, LL Cool J, Nas, Rakim, KRS-One, and The Notorious B.I.G., Jackson combines gangsta rap elements with melodic choruses enhancing his mainstream appeal.
Business ventures
Jackson’s diversified portfolio includes music production through G-Unit Records; film and television production via G-Unit Films & Television Inc. and Cheetah Vision; fashion with G-Unit Clothing Company; footwear through a partnership with Reebok; beverage investments including a minority stake in Glacéau VitaminWater—netting $100 million upon its Coca-Cola acquisition—and Effen Vodka; consumer electronics via SMS Audio headphones; publishing through G-Unit Books; energy drinks marketed as Street King Energy; dietary supplements; luxury underwear under a $78 million agreement with FRIGO Revolution Wear; mobile applications such as Hang w/ live streaming; mining operations involving South African platinum group metals; boxing promotion enterprises TMT Promotions/SMS Promotions; real estate holdings; financial market investments among others.
His July 2015 Chapter 11 bankruptcy filing primarily stemmed from legal judgments exceeding $20 million linked to unsuccessful ventures like Sleek Audio headphones litigation. Despite declaring assets between $10 million and $50 million—including seven vehicles valued over half a million dollars—he continued generating substantial income from royalties and business activities.
Personal life
Jackson is father to two sons: Marquise Jackson (born 1996) from his relationship with Shaniqua Tompkins—a relationship marked by public disputes—and Sire Jackson born in 2012 with model Daphne Joy. As of 2024, he practices celibacy focusing on personal development goals. Politically engaged at times, Jackson has expressed support for various figures including Hillary Clinton in 2016 and briefly Donald Trump in 2020 before retracting that endorsement.
Legal issues
Throughout his career, Jackson has encountered multiple legal challenges including drug-related arrests (1994), weapon possession charges (2002), assault allegations (2004); lawsuits concerning unauthorized use of his image/name against Traffix Advertising and Taco Bell respectively; a civil suit involving harassment of an autistic teenager resolved through charitable contributions; copyright disputes over samples used in songs like "P.I.M.P."; domestic violence allegations which he denied (2013); court mandates related to bankruptcy transparency issues (2016); along with controversies stemming from social media posts mocking sexual assault survivors.
Feuds
Prominent conflicts involving Jackson include:
- **Ja Rule** – Predating his Interscope signing; involved physical confrontations; officially ended circa 2011 though briefly reignited.
- **Jay-Z and Beyoncé** – A longstanding rivalry featuring diss tracks; Jackson criticized Jay-Z’s post-marriage success; reports suggest heated exchanges involving Beyoncé.
- **Fat Joe** – Connected to Ja Rule feud; included diss tracks affecting endorsement deals; reconciled by mid-2010s.
- **The Game** – Former G-Unit member dismissed amid loyalty disputes; prolonged musical exchanges ensued; reconciled around 2016.
- **Cam'ron** – Publicly initiated via radio disputes in 2007; exchanged diss tracks before resolving differences.
- **Rick Ross** – Sparked by an alleged BET Awards incident; included public accusations regarding Ross’ prior role as correctional officer; ongoing tensions persisted.
- **Floyd Mayweather Jr.** – Friendship turned rivalry over business disagreements related to boxing promotion company TMT; publicly resolved by 2022.
Awards and nominations
Jackson has amassed numerous honors such as Grammy Awards; a Primetime Emmy Award for live performance production; multiple Billboard Music Awards; World Music Awards; American Music Awards; BET Awards among others.
Discography
- Studio albums*:
- Get Rich or Die Tryin' (2003) - The Massacre (2005) - Curtis (2007) - Before I Self Destruct (2009) - Animal Ambition (2014)
- Collaborative albums*:
- Beg for Mercy with G-Unit (2003) - T·O·S (Terminate on Sight) with G-Unit (2008)
Filmography
Includes acting roles in films such as Get Rich or Die Tryin' , Home of the Brave, Righteous Kill, Escape Plan, Den of Thieves, along with executive producing and starring roles on Starz’s television franchise Power.
In popular culture
His stage name inspired the character Isuzu Sento featured in the Japanese media series Amagi Brilliant Park.
Additional resources
- Pages with script errors
- Articles with short description
- Articles with hCards
- No local image but image on Wikidata
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