50 Cent

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50 Cent

50 Cent (a.k.a. "Fiddy"; born Curtis Jackson on July 6, 1975 ^[1] in Queens, New York), is a popular African American rapper.

Biography

Once almost unknown outside his hometown of southside Jamaica, Queens, he is currently signed to Eminem's record label Shady Records and Dr. Dre's Aftermath Entertainment. The rapper, who was the first to sign to Shady Records, was scouted before knowing Eminem. Eminem first encountered 50 Cent with MTV News reporter Sway Calloway; Eminem apparently had not heard any of 50 Cent's performances before seeing him in person. He appeared on the 8 Mile soundtrack with an accompanying song and video ("Wanksta") that immediately went into heavy rotation on BET, MTV, and radio stations across the country. In the opinion of many observers his continued success seems guaranteed by his large underground fanbase and the street credibility he has gained by appearing on almost every major mix tape sold in New York in the past few years.

Before signing to Interscope, 50 Cent was living under his grandparents' roof. He soon became immersed in the drug trade. Hustling around his native Jamaica, Queens neighborhood by the name of "Boo Boo". It was during this period of distributing narcotics alongside fellow Queens native Tony Yayo. In June of 1994, Jackson was arrested on felony drug charges. Being a second time offender, Jackson was able to plead out of significant prison time by accepting seven months in a "shock incarceration" boot camp. He would later boast about this period as his doing "seven to nine." He became a father to a son, Marquise, in 1997. Jackson met up with Jam Master Jay of Run-DMC fame and was signed to his label JMJ. Jay taught him the basics and then 50 left the label in search of someone who could help him achieve his dream of rap stardom. He teamed up with the hip-hop production duo Track Masters who recognized 50 Cent's talent for incisive lyrics and signed him to Columbia Records in 1999. Although he looks back on this time with displeasure "How to Rob", the humorous ode to robbing a slew of industry rappers was an instant hit for New York radio. Power of the Dollar the debut album was never released, due to his shooting in 2000 that Columbia Records used as incentive to drop 50 Cent.

Interscope Records has sold 50 Cent as the "real deal", as the success of an artist in gangsta rap depends on his street credibility and reputation. His mother was killed in a drug deal, he was a great drug dealer himself, he has been shot nine times, and he built a large rap empire in New York City before ever signing a major record deal.

The support of Eminem and Dr. Dre

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50 Cent from the album Get Rich or Die Tryin'

50 Cent is the Future was heard by a very impressed Eminem who brought the rapper to Dr. Dre's attention. They endorsed the idea of signing a deal and working with 50 Cent on an album. Eminem was quick to get onto New York's hip-hop radio circuit with the message that 50 Cent was his favorite rapper at the moment. After a meeting with Interscope and Eminem in Los Angeles, 50 Cent quickly signed a deal with Interscope to release a record. Before starting production of his new album with Eminem and Dre, 50 quickly released another bootleg album of his raps over stolen beats entitled No Mercy, No Fear aimed at rapper Ja Rule. Although the song "Wanksta" was never meant as a radio single, under the barrage of 50 Cent albums and the buzz over Eminem's words of praise and subsequent deal with 50 Cent, "Wanksta" quickly became the most requested song on New York radio. Capitalizing on the appropriated song's success, it was added to Eminem's hit movie soundtrack 8 Mile and had its own video release, quickly entering heavy rotation on MTV, BET, MuchMusic, and radio stations around the country.

The popularity of G-Unit

In its first week of release, 50's first major label debut Get Rich or Die Tryin sold 872,000 units. The album was certified gold in its first week and platinum the next, and it broke the record for first week sales of any major label debut in the entire Soundscan era. On April 12, 2004 Get Rich or Die Tryin was certified seven times platinum and sold 7,000,000 albums by the RIAA.

On March 3, 2005, 50 released the album "The Massacre". It was originally entitled St. Valentine's Day Massacre, but changed when the album release date was set back. He scored a hit with the album's first single, "Candy Shop". The album's second single, "Just A Lil' Bit" is currently at #3 on the Billboard Hot 100.

G-Unit Records

After the success of 50 Cent's Get Rich Or Die Tryin, Interscope granted 50 Cent his own label, like his mentor Eminem. In 2003, G-Unit Records officially became a record label. 50 Cent appointed his manager Sha Money XL as the president. In 2003, the label signed on Lloyd Banks, Tony Yayo and Young Buck as the established members of G-Unit. In 2004, The Game, R & B singer Olivia, and DJ Whoo Kid were signed to the label. Recently Spider Loc, Mobb Deep, Mase, M.O.P. and D-Rich joined G-Unit Records. 50 Cent also scouting gangsta crooner Kokane, Jayo Felony and Lil' Scrappy to join the label.

Other Endorsements

After the release of Beg For Mercy from his group G-Unit, he teamed up with Reebok to release his own G-Unit Sneakers. Also the rapper invested in bottled water, and his own clothing line. 50 Cent guest starred on an episode of The Simpsons entitled, "Pranksta Rap" on February 13, 2005.

A video game starring 50 Cent, called 50 Cent: Bulletproof, will be availible in 2005. It is published by VU Games. It will be available on the PlayStation 2 and the Xbox, and there is another version in production for the PlayStation Portable.

Disputes and controversy

Ja Rule and Murder, Inc Records

Before even signing to Eminem's and Dr. Dre's label, 50 Cent was engaged in a well-publicized dispute with rival rapper Ja Rule and his label Murder Inc. Records. The rappers engaged in numerous mixtape "disses," but have since ended the conflict. The conflict started from alleged accounts stemmed from an apparrent robbery of Ja Rule's jewelry led to a confrontation from various members stabbing 50 Cent. Before the release of Get Rich Or Die Tryin, Murder, Inc alongside The Source began a smear campaign against the rapper. A restraining order document was floating around the Internet stating that 50 Cent had placed label CEO, Irv Gotti and rapper Black Child in the document forging a belief that 50 Cent is a "snitch" or a police informant. Although 50 Cent dismissed the claims of a restraining order, the bad publicity continues to be a tool used among various rappers who engage in beef with G-Unit. This was one of the most well known feuds in hip-hop history. Ja Rule eventaully tried to squash the beef with 50 Cent by using Louis Farrakhan in a televised interview. Ja Rule soon lost credibilty when the interview was done a day before his album Blood From My Eye was release, in which 50 Cent dismissed the interview as a blantant publicity stunt. 50 Cent had not commented much on Ja Rule's and Irv Gotti's situation. The FBI is probing Murder Inc.'s ties to drug-kingpin Kenneth "Supreme" McGriff who is possibly involved in the murder of Jam Master Jay.

New York Rappers

50 Cent also has a rivalry with former allies Shyne, Jadakiss, Nas, and Fat Joe. He claimed that Nas had made disparaging comments about him and his G-Unit camp while performing at a New York concert. The rapper has denounced Nas as a traitor over the allying himself with Ja Rule and Irv Gotti. 50 Cent points out that Jadakiss and Fat Joe were notorious for allowing themselves to partner up with Ja Rule while filming a video in which the rapper took shots at him. He recorded the "Piggy Bank" attack directly at Jadakiss and Fat Joe for their association with Ja Rule. Shyne was named as an enemy of 50 Cent. Shyne had Irv Gotti produce his album, and 50 Cent also attacked him for this association. Even though things cooled down, at 2005 MTV Video Music Awards, Fat Joe made an disparaging comment about G-Unit during a performance. 50 Cent and G-Unit retaliated on set by shouting obsenities toward Fat Joe and Terror Squad.

50 Cent has a long-standing dispute with former G-Unit artists Bang 'Em Smurf and Domination over internal conflicts. On the song "Love Me" off the 8 Mile soundtrack, 50 Cent criticized Lil' Kim for having breast implants and discusses why he refused her request to be in a video clip for her single "Magic Stick", which he refused to record with her, citing that song was originally entitled to Miami rapper Trina.

50 Cent also had a little known feud with Jay-Z in 1999. Jay-Z did not take to kindly to 50 Cent's mention of him on "How To Rob. 50 Cent responded with "Be A Gentleman," thought the track was never heard by many due to 50 Cent getting dropped from Columbia Records after his shooting. 50 Cent and Jay-Z eventually squashed their beef, and they toured together in 2003. Jay-Z and 50 Cent even appeared in a Reebok commercial together promoting their sneaker lines, called S. Carter and the G-Unit, respectively.

The Game

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The Game and 50 Cent at a time trying to end the feud.

Recently 50 Cent has a feud with The Game and it's escalating. The Game who was previously signed to G-Unit, was booted by 50 Cent. What was considered a talk among the inner hip-hop circles, fans mostly believed that 50 Cent and The Game were bonding at the time of The Documentary release. The Game's major debut album was surrounded by controversy. Right after its release, 50 Cent felt that the rapper was disloyal for saying he wanted to work with artists G-Unit were feuding with and he formally dismissed the rapper.

50 Cent also claimed that he was not getting his proper credit for the debut of the album. During that dispute, a member of The Game's entourage was shot and wounded after confrontation at Hot 97. After the situation between them escalated, 50 Cent and The Game decided to held a press conference to announce their reconciliation. Many fans felt that the supposed feud, and particularly the incident at the radio station was a publicity stunt designed to boost the sales of the two albums the pair had just released. Nevertheless, even after the situation had apparently deflated, 50 Cent and G-Unit continued to feud with The Game, denouncing his street credibilty in the media and claiming that without their support, he will not score a hit from his second album. 50 Cent also sued The Game's manager Jimmy Henchmen over unauthorized filming for a documentary about Kelvin Martin. The Game was then highly critical of 50 Cent during a performance at the Summer Jam festival, leading chants of "G-Unot". After the performance at Summer Jam, The Game responded with a hard hitting diss titled "300 Bars and Runnin'" in which it address 50 Cent and G-Unit. 50 Cent has mixed feelings towards the diss but nevertheless he responded through his "Piggybank" video. The video features The Game dressed as a Mr. Potato Head and his many other nemesis named in the song in parodies. This feud is the first of many feuds whereas, two rappers from the same label currently engaged in rap feuds with one another.

Other Feuds

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50 being booed by fans at the Reading Festival in England.

While appearing at the Summer Jam XI concert in New York, 50 Cent and his members of G-Unit were being criticized for speaking out against other notable artists including R&B singer R. Kelly. Before the singer was to come on stage, 50 Cent mentioned R. Kelly's pending child pornography trial. He and his crew received mixed emotions from the crowd and chairs were thrown onstage, forcing 50 Cent and G-Unit to leave the stage for safety reasons.

50 Cent was also dramatically booed off stage at the Reading Festival while on tour in England. A rain of bottles hit him and his G-Unit crew as they came onstage. Chants of "50 Cent is a wanksta" were heard as the group was jeered and heckled throughout the short appearance.

The rapper also had a fall-out with Eminem's former deejay Green Lantern. The deejay has been labeled a "snitch" and "traitor" for his apparent phone conversation with rival Jadakiss. The rapper had phone interview with DJ Green Lantern over his the feud with 50 Cent. The deejay was apparently encouraging Jadakiss to "deliver a major blow" to 50 Cent. The rapper never confronted the deejay about the situation, but it did affect the relationship within the Shady Records. The situation forced Green Lantern to leave Shady Records and other ventures associated with Eminem.

On a taping of The O'Reilly Factor, conservative commentator Bill O'Reilly has insisted boycotts against rap music. O'Reilly named 50 Cent as a member of his crusade to stop rappers who promote bad behavior from endorsing mainstream merchandise. He criticized shoe maker Reebok for partnering up with 50 Cent to endorse his G-Unit Sneakers. O'Reilly has rallied a boycott against the shoe maker. Despite the boycott, sales remain excellent, and Reebok still continues to endorse 50 Cent's products. However, a television advertisement for Reebok which featured 50 Cent was recently taken off air in the United Kingdom. The advertisement contained lyrics from one of 50's tracks, which resulted in complaints against their violent imagery.

Discography

The album cover for Get Rich Or Die Tryin (2003).

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The album cover for The Massacre (2005).

Albums

• 2003: Get Rich or Die Tryin' (US #1, UK #2, AUS #3; estimated worldwide sales: 11 million)
• 2005: The Massacre (US #1, UK #1, AUS #2; estimated worldwide sales: 11 million)

Official DVDs

• The New Breed DVD/CD (Released: April 2003) US #2

Singles

Year	Title	Chart positions				Album
		US Hot 100	US R&B/Hip-Hop	US Rap	UK
2002	"Wanksta"	#13	??	??	??	Get Rich or Die Tryin'
2003	"In Da Club"	#1	??	??	#3	Get Rich or Die Tryin'
2003	"21 Questions" (feat. Nate Dogg)	#1	??	??	#6	Get Rich or Die Tryin'
2003	"PIMP"	#3	??	??	#5	Get Rich or Die Tryin'
2003	"If I Can't"	#76	??	??	#10	Get Rich or Die Tryin'
2004	"Back Down"	-	??	??	-	Get Rich or Die Tryin'
2004	"Disco Inferno"	#3	#4	#3	-	The Massacre
2005	"Candy Shop" (feat. Olivia)	#1 (9 weeks)	#1 (4 weeks)	#1 (6 weeks)	#4	The Massacre
2005	"Piggy Bank"	#88	??	??	-	The Massacre
2005	"Just a Lil Bit"	#3	#3	#1 (9 weeks)	#10	The Massacre
2005	"Outta Control (Remix)" (feat. Mobb Deep)	#34	#18	#8	-	The Massacre

Notes

1. ^ Many sources incorrectly list 50 Cent's birth year as 1976. See the article on age fudging for details.

Upcoming Movies

GET RICH OR DIE TRYIN' In Theaters Fall 2005 Trailer: http://www.apple.com/trailers/paramount/getrichordietryin/

See also

• G-Unit
• G-Unit Clothing and Merchandise
• G-Unot

References

• Toure. "The Life of a Hunted Man", Rolling Stone. (April 3, 2003)

External links

Official

• 50 Cent
• Shady Records
• Aftermath Entertainment
• G-Unit Records
• Violator Management

Fan sites

• 50 Cent News
• 50 Cent lyrics
• 50 Cent Information
• G-Unit News
• Anti-50 Cent Forum