50 Cent
by UberDark on Jul.02, 2010, under 50 Cent
Curtis Jackson III, better known by the name 50 Cent, is a Grammy Award-winning rapper and producer from the USA.
Born in the borough of Queens, New York City on 6th July 1975, Jackson spent his early teens boxing in the local gym and selling cocaine on the streets. In 1994 he was sentenced to three to nine years in prison, but managed to get out after six months, vowing to turn his life around. The nickname ‘50 Cent’ is meant as a metaphor for ‘change’.
Jackson began rapping in the mid-1990s and first gained popularity with singles from his unreleased debut album Power of the Dollar, including How to Rob and Thug Love (ft. Beyoncé). He spent six months out of the limelight after being shot nine times outside his house, but after releasing a number of mixtapes he landed a contract with Interscope Records in 2002.
Working with the megastar rappers Eminem and Dr. Dre, Jackson released his debut major label studio album Get Rich or Die Tryin’ in 2004. It debuted at number one on the Billboard 200, eventually selling over six million copies, and produced the US number ones In Da Club, 21 Questions and Wanksta, as well as the international hit P.I.M.P.
His next album The Massacre also reached number one and sold 1.14 copies in its first week alone. It was nominated for a Best Rap Album Grammy and produced the number one single Candy Shop (ft. Olivia), as well as the smash hits Disco Inferno, Just a Lil’ Bit and Outta Control (ft. Mobb Deep).
Jackson’s next two albums, 2007’s Curtis and 2009’s Before I Self Destruct – both reached the Billboard Top 5 and have sold millions of copies worldwide. Between them they’ve produced the singles I Get Money, Straight to the Bank, Amusement Park, Ayo Technology, I’ll Still Kill, Ok You’re Right, Baby By Me and Do You Think About Me.
50 Cent’s fifth studio album Black Magic will be released in 2010.
