50 Cent turned a hard New York backstory into one of the best-selling rap debuts of all time, then built a business and television empire on top of it. Born Curtis James Jackson III on July 6, 1975, in the South Jamaica neighborhood of Queens, he survived a near-fatal shooting in 2000 before his music career took off.
The Eminem cosign
His 2002 mixtape Guess Who’s Back? caught the ear of Eminem, who signed him to Shady Records alongside Dr. Dre’s Aftermath. With both stars executive producing, the stage was set for his debut.
Get Rich or Die Tryin’
Get Rich or Die Tryin’ (2003) entered the chart at number one and sold millions within weeks. “In da Club” sat at number one for nine weeks, while “21 Questions” with Nate Dogg, “P.I.M.P.” and “Many Men” turned him into a global star.
G-Unit and beyond
He founded G-Unit Records and followed with The Massacre (2005), led by the number-one “Candy Shop”. “Crack a Bottle”, a reunion with Eminem and Dr. Dre, topped the chart in 2009 and won a Grammy.
Beyond music
50 Cent has sold more than 30 million albums and built a second career as a television producer behind the Power franchise. In 2022 he performed at the Super Bowl halftime show alongside Dr. Dre, Eminem and Snoop Dogg.
Most loved songs
A spread across the catalogue. Each title opens through the in-site player.
- Full nameCurtis James Jackson III
- BornJuly 6, 1975, Queens, New York
- GenresHip-hop
- Grammy Awards1
- Also known forGet Rich or Die Tryin’ and the Power franchise
From a club anthem to a survival story set to a beat, the odds are good a 50 Cent song is stuck in your head. Type the line you remember into the search box above and you may find it leads back to him.