50 Cent

Curtis James Jackson III is an American rapper known by his stage name 50 Cent. He became famous with the release of his albums Get Rich or Die Tryin' (2003) and The Massacre (2005). Both albums achieved multi-platinum success, selling over twenty-one million copies in total.

Born in Queens in 1975, 50 Cent began drug dealing at the age of twelve during the 1980s' crack epidemic. After leaving drug dealing to pursue a rap career, he was shot nine times in 2000. His success began in 2002 after Eminem listened to a copy of 50 Cent's Guess Who's Back? CD. Impressed with the album, Eminem invited 50 Cent to fly to Los Angeles, where he was introduced to Dr. Dre. After signing a one million U.S. dollar record deal, 50 Cent released the mixtape, No Mercy, No Fear. It featured one new track, "Wanksta,” which was put on Eminem's 8 Mile soundtrack.

In February 2003, 50 Cent released his commercial debut album, Get Rich or Die Tryin'. Allmusic described it as "probably the most hyped debut album by a rap artist in about a decade.” It debuted at number one on the Billboard 200, selling 872,000 copies in the first four days. The lead single, "In da Club" became the most listened-to song in radio history within a week.

In March 2005, 50 Cent's second commercial album, The Massacre, sold 1.14 million copies in the first four days and peaked at number one on the Billboard 200 for six weeks. He became the first solo artist to have three singles on the Billboard top five in the same week with "Candy Shop,” "Disco Inferno,” and "How We Do.” Rolling Stone noted that "50's secret weapon is his singing voice - the deceptively amateur-sounding tenor croon that he deploys on almost every chorus.”

In September 2007, he released his third album Curtis, which was inspired by his life before Get Rich or Die Tryin'. It debuted at number two on the Billboard 200, selling 691,000 units in the first week.

He has also pursued an acting career, appearing in the semi-autobiographical film Get Rich or Die Tryin' in 2005 and the Iraq War film Home of the Brave in 2006.

Read more »