Curtis Jackson, known as 50 Cent, is a hip-hop artist and businessman. His childhood was filled with crime, drugs and violence, but he discovered rap music and quickly achieved success. His career is marked not only by numerous hits but also by feuds with other rappers, arrests as well as legal and financial difficulties. Learn more about one of the leading representatives of gangster rap at queens-trend.
TROUBLED CHILDHOOD
Curtis James Jackson III was born on July 6, 1975, in a poor neighborhood in Queens. He grew up with his mother Sabrina, who was a lesbian and sold crack, which is a crystal form of cocaine. She was 15 when she gave birth to Curtis. In 1983, when Sabrina was 23, someone drugged her with sleeping pills, closed the windows in the apartment, turned on the gas and left her alone. Jackson never met his father. After the death of his mother, he was raised by his grandmother.
At the age of 11, Curtis became interested in boxing. Around that time, he started bringing guns and money to school earned from selling drugs. In the mid-1980s, Jackson participated in the Youth Olympic Games as an amateur boxer. In his teenage years, he developed an interest in hip-hop. Both in boxing and rap, he was drawn to the competitive spirit.
At 16, the young man was arrested for selling cocaine. After serving time in a correctional training camp, he chose the pseudonym 50 Cent, which was the nickname of a Brooklyn hustler. Curtis believed that they were similar.
BEGINNING OF HIS MUSIC PATH
50 Cent began his music career at the age of 21, rapping in his friend’s basement. At that time, he recorded songs using musical instruments. American DJ Jam Master Jay taught the rapper how to create choruses, arrange songs and record them. He also produced his first album, which 50 Cent never released.
In 1999, 50 Cent signed a contract with Columbia Records. In two weeks, he recorded 36 songs, 18 of which were included in the “Power of the Dollar” album. The single “How to Rob”, written in just half an hour on the way to the studio, brought 50 Cent huge popularity. In the track, he roasts the story of robbing artists.
VICTIM OF A SHOOTING
The New Yorker’s path to success was not without obstacles, such as a shooting that became a turning point in his life and career. In May 2000, the rapper was shot nine times. The attacker aimed from a car when 50 Cent was standing in front of his grandmother’s house in Queens. The rapper was wounded in the arm, thigh, legs, chest and face. He was taken to the hospital in critical condition and underwent several surgeries.
As a result of the injuries, the musician’s tongue swelled. He also lost a wisdom tooth and his speech became slurred. A fragment of the bullet remained in his tongue, as its removal could damage nerves and affect taste buds. For four months, 50 Cent moved with the help of walkers and fully recovered only five months later.
The news of this incident quickly spread in the media. Many were shocked that the famous performer became a victim of violence in such a brutal way. The circumstances of the shooting remain somewhat wrapped in mystery. There are several different assumptions on the cause of the attack. Some say it happened because of narcotics, while others suggest it was due to a personal dispute.
The rapper himself later claimed that the man who shot him was a small-time drug dealer. However, court evidence revealed that three men targeted him after he wrote a disrespectful song about drug lord Kenneth McGriff.
The incident became a watershed moment for 50 Cent. As he himself admitted, it helped him rethink his life and motivated him to increase his potential on this earth. He also used the shooting event as a source of inspiration in his music, referencing it in several of his songs. After the attack, 50 Cent was appreciated not only for his musical talent but also for his toughness and resilience. In addition to changing 50 Cent’s life and career, this event also had an impact on the whole hip-hop community. It served as a reminder of the violence and danger that often accompany drug trafficking.
FURTHER CAREER
In 2002, Eminem became acquainted with 50 Cent’s work. Impressed by his talent, he invited Curtis to Los Angeles, introducing him to rapper and producer Dr. Dre. 50 Cent concluded a contract with the producer and released the mixtape “No Mercy, No Fear.”
The rapper’s debut album “Get Rich or Die Tryin’” (2003) was produced by Eminem and Dr. Dre. The album was an instant success. The rapper’s popularity was also boosted by his image. Being muscular and tattooed, he embodied the lyrics of his gangster songs. The album’s main song, “In da Club,” set a record as the most-played song on radio in a week.
Two years later, the rapper recorded his second album, “The Massacre,” followed by “Curtis” (2007), “Before I Self Destruct” (2009) and “Animal Ambition” (2014). 50 Cent is the first solo artist whose three singles simultaneously entered the top 5 of the Billboard chart.
The personal story of the rapper who has experienced drugs, violence and poverty has established him as an influential figure in hip-hop culture. The rapper’s appearances on television and in the movies also contributed to his success. In 2014, he joined the cast of the crime TV drama Power. The performer played bit parts in such films as Escape Plan, Spy, Den of Thieves and Southpaw. In January 2020, 50 Cent was awarded a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame. Eminem and Dr. Dre attended the ceremony. In 2023, Billboard ranked the musician 17th among the greatest rappers of all time. He won a Grammy, the Primetime Emmy Award, 13 Billboard Music Awards, 6 World Music Awards and more.
BUSINESS ACTIVITY AND BANKRUPTCY
50 Cent is not only a musician but also a businessman. In November 2003, he signed a contract with the Reebok company and received permission to distribute his own line of sneakers. Collaborating with Glacéau, the rapper produced an energy drink. Together with the manufacturer of men’s cosmetics, Right Guard, the artist introduced body spray and condoms. In 2011, he concluded a deal with the film production company Cheetah Vision to produce 10 films.
In the same year, 50 Cent created an energy drink for a charitable purpose. Part of the earnings from its sale were donated to provide food for Africans. In 2011, he participated in a similar initiative. After the sale of SMS Audio headphones, he fed impoverished Americans. In 2014, Curtis became a co-owner of the vodka brand Effen Vodka. The rapper promoted the product during his live performances and on social media.
Things seemed to be going well until July 2015, when the rapper filed for bankruptcy protection due to excessive debts. Jackson’s legal and financial problems began to grow when Lastonia Leviston, the former girlfriend of rapper Rick Ross, sued him. Bankrupted Curtis publicly released a sex tape featuring Leviston without her consent. He did it to take revenge on his enemy, Ross. She received $5 million in compensation.
Furthermore, in 2016, the court ordered Jackson to pay his creditors $23 million. That same year, he sold his luxurious mansion in Connecticut for only $8 million.
