50 Cent Biography

Curtis James Jackson III, known by his stage name 50 Cent, is an American rapper and businessman. In 2002 he was discovered by Eminem and Dr. Dre. His first two albums, Get Rich or Die Tryin’ (2003) and The Massacre (2005) made him one of the world’s most successful rappers. He is currently working on a sixth album, Street King Immortal. Overall, 50 Cent won countless awards including a Grammy Award and thirteen Billboard Music Awards.

Early Life and Career

Curtis was born in Queens and had a complicated childhood. At the age of 11, he developed an interest in boxing, which he later compared to hip-hop. Before pursuing a music career, the young 50 Cent used to deal drugs and was arrested for it. Actually, his stage name was chosen as a metaphor for change. During the late 90s, he struggled to stand out, while collaborating with various local artists and producers. Eventually, he managed to gain exposure with his controversial underground single How to Rob. In 2000, Curtis was shot and hospitalized. During the next two years, he recorded over thirty songs for mixtapes to build a reputation.

Get Rich or Die Tryin’ + The Massacre

50 Cent’s Guess Who’s Back? mixtape caught the attention of Eminem. After signing with Dr. Dre.‘s label, 50 Cent released his debut album, Get Rich or Die Tryin. Not only did it get excellent reviews, it also topped the Billboard 200, selling over 870.000 copies in four days. The lead single, In da Club, was massively broadcasted all over the world, setting a Billboard record. Moreover, the album generated several more hit songs like P.I.M.P., If I Can’t and Wanksta. Following up on that success, the rapper released a second album, The Massacre. It equaled the success of the first album and spawned singles like Disco Inferno, Just a Lil Bit, Piggy Bank and the number one song in all playlists Candy Shop.

Other Notable Works

In 2005, 50 Cent starred in the biographical drama film Get Rich or Die Tryin’. This added to his list of international hits two more: Hustler’s Ambition and Window Shopper. Two years later, he released his third album, Curtis, which included the massively popular song Ayo Technology. In 2009, Before I Self Destruct came out and wowed the world with the single Baby by Me. Furthermore, in 2010 the hip-hop artist collaborated with Jeremiah, on his catchy hit song Down On Me.

Photo source: Rap-up