50 Cent's Full Biography
The rapper now known as 50 Cent was born Curtis James Jackson III, on July 6, 1975 in a neighborhood known as South Jamaica, in Queens, New York City. He was raised by his grandmother after his mother’s death when he was only 8 years old, and by 12 was dealing narcotics for income.
After a few arrests, and a stint in a correctional boot camp where he received a GED, he decided he wanted a different life for himself, and focused on a career in rap and hip hop. He became a star of the underground music circuit, according to Notable Biographies, years before he would become a mainstream hit.
He faced some significant setbacks on the way, including being shot nine times, but kept at his music throughout, and in 2002, fellow rapper Eminem obtained a copy of one of 50 Cent’s mixtapes through mutual acquaintances, and scheduled a meeting that would result in a million dollar record deal.
His debut album, Get Rich or Die Tryin', debuted at number one on the Billboard 200, with its lead single, In Da Club, an instant hit that Billboard would label the most listened-to song in radio history inside a week of release.
In the decades since, 50 Cent has continued to release successful albums, while also building other successful ventures, including as a television producer, and a series of controversies and legal issues. Through it all, he’s managed to build exactly what he chose the name 50 Cent to represent — change.
Early Life and Education
50 Cent’s father took off during his youth, and his mother, who was only 15 when he was born, and reportedly turned to drug dealing to support herself and her child, died quite young in an unexplained fire. Only 8 years old, 50 Cent would thereafter be brought up by his grandmother.
According to Newsweek, he described life as financially more comfortable when his mother was alive, and he set about filling that gap in the way accessible to him: hustling. He describes lying to his grandmother to say the new things he bought himself belonged to a friend.
He dropped out of high school, and by age 19 was known as the neighborhood kingpin.
However, this came with the unpleasant consequence of jail time. That year, though, he sold some cocaine to an undercover cop, and his prison sentence turned into 6 months in a boot camp, where he got his GED.
Career
1990s
50 Cent started rapping in a friend’s basement. In 1996, he was introduced to Jam Master Jay of Run-DMC, and it was the beginning of a career.
In 1999, he had a deal with Columbia Records to release an album, Power Of The Dollar.
Unfortunately, before it could be released, he was shot nine times, and the injuries were severe enough that the label doubted he’d be able to perform again, and dropped the deal.
2000s
In 2002, Eminem, by then producing through his own record label, received a copy of one of 50 Cent’s mixtapes and signed a million dollar album deal with him.
Get Rich Or Die Tryin’ dropped in February 2003, debuting at #1 and blowing even 50 Cent’s mind (he says he expected to sell 5 million copies) – it would nearly reach the million mark the first week, and sell 12 million before the year was out.
By the end of that decade, he’d drop three more albums – The Massacre (2005); Curtis (2007); and Before I Self Destruct (2009), and receive a list of awards. Both Get Rich Or Die Tryin’ and The Massacre would win Favorite Rap/Hip-Hop Album, 50 Cent would be named Favorite Rap/Hip-Hop Male Artist in 2003 and Songwriter of the Year in both 2004 and 2006, and both In Da Club and "P.I.M.P." would win awards as Most Performed Song.
2010s
In 2010, 50 Cent said he was experimenting with different sounds, trying out tracks for a Eurodance album. It would end up delayed and shelved for a variety of reasons.
In 2011, he released a young adult fiction novel, semi-autobiographical, about a young boy dealing with bullies.
His music production during this time was marked by conflict – he left Eminem’s record label, breaking a contract under which he still owed another album, had battles with Interscope Records over his album, Street King Immortal, which delayed its release, and had public feuds with other celebs, including rapper Ja Rule.
In 2015 he announced bankruptcy, but would bounce back.
2020s
In 2020, 50 Cent announced that he was producing two television series for the Starz network, and in 2021, Black Mafia Family, produced by 50 Cent, was released on the network.
Business Ventures
50 Cent established his own record label, G-Unit Records, in 2003. He also, with Marc Ecko, established G-Unit Clothing Company. He has a book publishing company, G-Unit Books, and has authored several books himself. He also founded two film production companies: G-Unit Films and Cheetah Vision.
Personal Life
Relationships
50 Cent has a son, Marquise, born in 1996, with fellow rapper Shaniqua Tompkins. The two had legal battles at the end of their relationship in 2008, as well as some public social media blowups.
He also dated model Daphne Joy, who birthed his second son, Sire, in 2012.
Religion
50 Cent has not elaborated on his religious beliefs, but according to BeliefNet, has said he believes in a higher power.
Health
He was shot nine times outside his grandmother’s home in 2000, and spent 13 days in the hospital. His injuries were so severe he used a walker for weeks after leaving the hospital, and took months to recover.
Net Worth
His reported net worth is $40 million.
Jobs
50 Cent continues to release albums and produce television series, and receives income from business ventures including clothing lines and his publishing imprint.
Activism
50 Cent has spoken out against homophobia, after being called out for his own antigay tweets.
In 2011 he launched an initiative to provide food for one billion starving people in Africa.
Controversies
50 Cent has been arrested a few times after becoming famous, including for a 2004 incident where he was charged with assault and battery after jumping into a crowd over a thrown water bottle.
He’s sued two companies, Traffix and Taco Bell, for using his name or likeness without permission.
He’s also been involved in public feuds with other entertainers, including Ja Rule, The Game, and Rick Ross.
In 2016, he was accused of harassing and insulting a janitor who was an autistic teen. 50 Cent suggested that the teen was under the influence, and instead of a lawsuit, the young man’s parents settled for an apology and a $100k donation to Autism Speaks.