50 Cent – A Brief Biography

50 Cent - A Brief Biography

50 Cent (aka Curtis James Jackson) has been an explosive figure in the hip hop industry since his major label debut in 2003. Despite a difficult childhood and youth, he has managed to pull himself out of the streets with unique rhymes and an ear for finding other rap talents.

50 Cent became rap`s golden boy when he was signed for a reported one million with Eminem`s Shady/Aftermath label.

Emininem and rap superstar Dr. Dre built upon 50`s already present talent to create the monster single "In Da Club." This 50 Cent song was featured on his first major label album "Get Fat or Die Tryin`" which was released in 2003. The 50 Cent video for the song included appearances by both Eminem and Dr. Dre, which catapulted his success.

After the winner of the album, Interscope records granted 50 cent with his own record label G-Unit Records. He immediately signed Lloyd Banks and Tony Yayo, childhood friends, for the label. He linked these artists in a group called G-Unit, which released "Beg for Mercy" in 2003. Later additions the label included Young Buck, Olivia, Mob Deep and Young Hot Rod. 2008 saw a second album from the G-Unit group called "T.O.S: Terminate on Sight".

At the same time, he began play on his second studio release entitled "The Massacre." The album sold 1.14 million copies in the 1st four days. The 50 Cent videos for "Candy Shop," "Disco Inferno" and "How We Do" helped place those three songs within the top five Billboard singles in the same week.

50 Cent`s success is determined by his hope to overtake his rough childhood and the shot in May 2000 that put his rap career on hold. He was natural in the South Jamaica neighborhood of Queens, New York to a teenage mother. He was elevated by his grandparents after his mother`s murder when he was 8. By 12, 50 Cent was selling crack on the streets and taking guns to school. After several arrests during his late teens, he started to get concerned in music.

During the recent 1990s, he appeared on various records by early artists and was signed to Columbia records in 1999. He recorded thirty-six songs in two weeks and was fain to release "Power of the Buck" when he was shot. 50 Cent was attacked outside of his grandparent`s house and was shot nine times. His gun was never formally charged but was killed in the streets three weeks later. In 50 Cent pictures before and later the shooting, one can see the slight damage to his left cheek from the shooting.

Columbia records dropped the artist immediately, considering him too risky. However, this didn`t break his hope to get a rap star. While 50 Cent was recovering, he recorded thirty songs for rap mix tapes, which helped him make his reputation. It was on one of these mix tapes where Eminem first heard his music.

In gain to his wide discography, 50 Cent teamed with Reebok in 2003 to distribute G-Unit Sneakers. He too has a G-Unit Clothing company. He made his way into the television game world with the 2005 issue of 50 Cent: BulletProof. A follow up to the game, 50 Cent: Blood on the Sand, was released in early 2009. He has also appeared in the films "Get Fat or Die Tryin`", "Home of the Brave" and "Righteous Kill".

50 cent`s third album Curtis was released in September of 2007 and sold 691,000 copies in the 1st week. His fourth album, Before I Self Destruct is anticipated for a spring 2009 release.

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