50 Cent

50 Cent

50 Cent in concert, 2007
Background information
Birth name Curtis James Jackson III
Also known as 50, Fiddy Cent, Fiddy, Fif, Boo Boo
Born July 6, 1975 (1975-07-06) (age 35)
Origin South Jamaica, Queens, New York, United States
Genres Hip hop, gangsta rap
Occupations Rapper, actor, entrepreneur, executive producer
Years active 1997–present
Labels Aftermath/Shady/Interscope, G-Unit
Associated acts G-Unit, Dr. Dre, Eminem, Sha Money XL, Lloyd Banks, Tony Yayo, Young Buck, Game
Website www.50cent.com

Curtis James Jackson III (born July 6, 1975), better known by his stage name 50 Cent, is an American rapper and actor. He rose to fame with the release of his albums Get Rich or Die Tryin' (2003) and The Massacre (2005). Get Rich or Die Tryin has been certified 8 times platinum by the RIAA[1] and has sold over 15 million copies worldwide.[2] His album The Massacre has been certified 5 times platinum by the RIAA[1] and has sold 11 million copies worldwide.[3]

Born in South Jamaica, Queens, Jackson began drug dealing at the age of twelve during the 1980s crack epidemic.[4] After leaving drug dealing to pursue a rap career, he was shot at and struck by nine bullets during an incident in 2000. After releasing his album Guess Who's Back? in 2002, Jackson was discovered by rapper Eminem and signed to Interscope Records. With the help of Eminem and Dr. Dre, who produced his first major commercial successes, Jackson became one of the world's highest selling rappers. In 2003, he founded the record label G-Unit Records, which signed several successful rappers such as Young Buck, Lloyd Banks, and Tony Yayo.

Jackson has engaged in feuds with other rappers including Ja Rule, Fat Joe, Jadakiss, Cam'ron, Rick Ross, and former G-Unit members The Game and Young Buck. He has also pursued an acting career, appearing in the semi-autobiographical film Get Rich or Die Tryin' in 2005, the Iraq War film Home of the Brave in 2006, and Righteous Kill in 2008. 50 Cent is one of the richest hip hop performers, having an estimated net worth of over $440 million[5] ending 2007, 50 Cent was ranked as the 6th best artist of the 2000-2009 decade by Billboard Magazine. (Also ranking as the 4th Top male artist and as the 3rd Top rapper behind Eminem and Nelly)[6] He was also ranked as the 6th best and most successful Hot 100 Artist of the 2000-2009 decade by Billboard Magazine.[7] Billboard Magazine also named him the #1 Rap Song Artist of the 2000-2009 decade.[8] His album Get Rich or Die Tryin' was ranked as the 12th best album of the 2000-2009 decade by Billboard Magazine[9] and the album The Massacre ranking as the 37th best album of the 2000-2009 decade by Billboard Magazine.[10]

Contents

Life and music career

Early life

Curtis Jackson III grew up in the South Jamaica neighborhood of Queens, in New York City. He grew up without a father and was raised by his mother, Sabrina, who gave birth to him at the age of fifteen. Sabrina, a cocaine dealer, raised Jackson until the age of twelve, when she was murdered in 1988. Twenty-seven at the time, she became unconscious after someone drugged her drink. She was then left for dead after the gas in her apartment was turned on and the windows shut closed.[11][12] After her death, Jackson moved into his grandparents' house with his eight aunts and uncles.[13][14][15] He recalls, "My grandmother told me, 'Your mother's not coming home. She's not gonna come back to pick you up. You're gonna stay with us now.' That's when I started adjusting to the streets a little bit".[16]

Jackson's mug shot, August 23, 1994

Jackson began boxing around the age of eleven. At fourteen, a neighbor opened a boxing gym for local kids. "When I wasn't killing time in school, I was sparring in the gym or selling crack on the strip", he recalled.[17] In the mid 1980s, he competed in the Junior Olympics as an amateur boxer. He recounts, "I was competitive in the ring and hip-hop is competitive too... I think rappers condition themselves like boxers, so they all kind of feel like they're the champ".[18] At the age of twelve, Jackson began dealing narcotics when his grandparents thought he was at after-school programs.[19] He also took guns and drug money to school. In the tenth grade, he was caught by metal detectors at Andrew Jackson High School. He later stated, "I was embarrassed that I got arrested like that... After I got arrested I stopped hiding it. I was telling my grandmother [openly], 'I sell drugs.'"[16]

On June 29, 1994, Jackson was arrested for helping to sell four vials of cocaine to an undercover police officer. He was arrested again three weeks later when police searched his home and found heroin, ten ounces of crack cocaine, and a starter gun. He was sentenced to three to nine years in prison, but managed to serve six months in a shock incarceration boot camp where he earned his GED. Jackson said that he did not use cocaine himself, he only sold it.[13][20][21] He adopted the nickname "50 Cent" as a metaphor for "change".[22] The name was derived from Kelvin Martin, a 1980s Brooklyn robber known as "50 Cent". Jackson chose the name "because it says everything I want it to say. I'm the same kind of person 50 Cent was. I provide for myself by any means".[23]

1996–2000: Early career

Jackson started rapping in a friend's basement where he used turntables to record over instrumentals.[24] In 1996, a friend introduced him to Jam Master Jay of Run-DMC who was organizing his label Jam Master Jay Records. Jay taught him how to count bars, write choruses, structure songs, and how to make a record.[25][26] Jackson's first official appearance was on a song titled "React" with the group Onyx on their 1998 album Shut 'Em Down. He credited Jam Master Jay as an influence who helped him improve his ability to write hooks.[18] Jay produced Jackson's first album; however, it was never released.[11] In 1999, after leaving Jam Master Jay, the platinum-selling producers Trackmasters took notice of Jackson and signed him to Columbia Records. They sent him to a studio in Upstate New York where he produced thirty-six songs in two weeks.[12] Eighteen were included on his unofficially released album, Power of the Dollar in 2000.[27] He also started the now-defunct Hollow Point Entertainment with former G-Unit affiliate Bang 'Em Smurf.[28][29]

Jackson's popularity started to increase after the successful but controversial underground single, "How to Rob", which he wrote in half an hour while in a car on the way to a studio.[22][30] The track comically explains how he would rob famous artists. He explained the reasoning behind song's content as, "There's a hundred artists on that label, you gotta separate yourself from that group and make yourself relevant".[22] Rappers Jay-Z, Kurupt, Sticky Fingaz, Big Pun, DMX, Wyclef Jean and the Wu-Tang Clan replied to the song[30] and Nas, who received the track positively, invited Jackson to travel on a promotional tour for his Nastradamus album.[15] The song was intended to be released with "Thug Love" featuring Destiny's Child, but two days before he was scheduled to film the "Thug Love" music video, Jackson was shot and confined to a hospital due to his injuries.[31]

2000–01: Shooting

On April 24, 2000, Jackson was attacked by a gunman, alleged to be Darryl "Hommo" Baum, outside his grandmother's former home in South Jamaica, Queens. He went into a friend's car, but was asked to return to the house to get jewelry. His son was in the house while his grandmother was in the front yard.[12] Upon returning to the back seat of the car, another car pulled up nearby. An assailant then walked up to Jackson's left side with a 9mm handgun and fired nine shots at close range. He was shot nine times: in the hand (a round hit his right thumb and came out of his little finger), arm, hip, both legs, chest, and left cheek.[11][16][32] The face wound resulted in a swollen tongue, the loss of a wisdom tooth, and a small slur in his voice.[15][16][33] His friend also sustained a gunshot wound to the hand. They were driven to the hospital where Jackson spent thirteen days. Baum, the alleged shooter, was killed three weeks later.[34] Baum was also Mike Tyson's close friend and bodyguard.[35]

Jackson recalled the incident saying, "It happens so fast that you don't even get a chance to shoot back.... I was scared the whole time.... I was looking in the rear-view mirror like, 'Oh shit, somebody shot me in the face! It burns, burns, burns.'"[16] In his autobiography, From Pieces to Weight: Once upon a Time in Southside Queens, he wrote, "After I got shot nine times at close range and didn't die, I started to think that I must have a purpose in life... How much more damage could that shell have done? Give me an inch in this direction or that one, and I'm gone".[13] He used a walker for the first six weeks and fully recovered after five months. When he left the hospital, he stayed in the Poconos with his then-girlfriend and son. His workout regime helped him attain his muscular physique.[11][16][36]

While in the hospital, Jackson signed a publishing deal with Columbia Records. However, he was dropped from the label and "blacklisted" in the recording industry because of his song "Ghetto Qu'ran". Unable to find a studio to work with in the U.S, he traveled to Canada.[37][38] Along with his business partner Sha Money XL, he recorded over thirty songs for mixtapes, with the purpose of building a reputation. According to Shady Records A&R Marc Labelle in an interview with HitQuarters, Jackson shrewdly used the mixtape circuit to his own advantage saying, "He took all the hottest beats from every artist and flipped them with better hooks. They then got into all the markets on the mixtapes and all the mixtape DJs were messing with them."[39] Jackson's popularity rose and in 2002, he released material independently on the mixtape, Guess Who's Back?. Beginning to attract interest, and now backed by G-Unit, Jackson continued to make songs. They released the mixtape, 50 Cent Is the Future, revisiting material by Jay-Z and Raphael Saadiq.[27]

2002–2009: Rise to fame

In 2002, Eminem listened to a copy of Jackson's Guess Who's Back? CD. He received the CD through Jackson's attorney, who was working with Eminem's manager Paul Rosenberg.[31] Impressed with the album, Eminem invited Jackson to fly to Los Angeles, where he was introduced to Dr. Dre.[11][25][31] After signing a $1 million record deal,[25] Jackson released the mixtape, No Mercy, No Fear. It featured one new track, "Wanksta", which was put on Eminem's 8 Mile soundtrack.[27] He was also signed to Chris Lighty's Violator Management and Sha Money XL's Money Management Group.

In February 2003, Jackson 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".[40] Rolling Stone noted the album for its "dark synth grooves, buzzy keyboards and a persistently funky bounce" with Jackson complementing the production in "an unflappable, laid-back flow".[41] It debuted at number one on the Billboard 200, selling 872,000 copies in the first four days.[42] The lead single, "In da Club", which The Source noted for its "blaring horns, funky organs, guitar riffs and sparse hand claps",[43] broke a Billboard record as the most listened-to song in radio history within a week.[44]

50 Cent at a show in Stockholm, June 2009

Interscope granted Jackson his own label, G-Unit Records in 2003.[45] He signed Lloyd Banks, Tony Yayo, and Young Buck as the established members of G-Unit. The Game was later signed under a joint venture with Dr. Dre's Aftermath Entertainment. In March 2005, Jackson's second commercial album, The Massacre, sold 1.14 million copies in the first four days-the highest in an abbreviated sales cycle[42]- and peaked at number one on the Billboard 200 for six weeks.[46] 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".[47] 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".[48]

From left: With Olivia, Lloyd Banks, and Young Buck in Bangkok, Thailand, February 2006

After The Game's departure, Jackson signed singer Olivia and rap veterans Mobb Deep to G-Unit Records. Spider Loc, M.O.P., 40 Glocc and Young Hot Rod later joined the label.[49][50] Jackson expressed interest in working with rappers outside of G-Unit, such as Lil' Scrappy of BME, LL Cool J from Def Jam, Mase from Bad Boy, and Freeway of Roc-A-Fella, some of whom he recorded with.[51] In September 2007, he released his third album Curtis, which was inspired by his life before Get Rich or Die Tryin'.[52] It debuted at number two on the Billboard 200, selling 691,000 units in the first week,[53] behind Kanye West's Graduation, whom he had a sales competition with, as both albums were released on the same day. He confirmed on TRL on September 10, 2008 that his fourth studio album, Before I Self Destruct, will be "done and released in November". On May 18, 2009, Jackson released a song entitled "Ok, You're Right". The song was produced by Dr. Dre and will be included in Before I Self Destruct. In Fall 2009, 50 is set to appear in the new season of VH1's Behind The Music. On September 3, 2009 months upon the release of his "Before I Self Destruct" album 50 Cent posted a video [54] for the Soundkillers' Phoenix [55] produced track "Flight 187" which introduced his mixtape, the 50th LAW, and was also featured as a bonus track on his iTunes release of Before I Self Destruct. The song ignited speculation that there was tension between rapper 50 Cent and Jay Z for Jackson's comments in the song.[56]

2010-present: Future direction

In an interview with the British entertainment website ContactMusic, 50 Cent announced that he was working on a dance (primarily Eurodance) album named Black Magic. 50 Cent said he was inspired by the European nightclubs. "First they played hip-hop which suddenly changed to uptempo songs, known as Eurodance". Later however, he confirmed that he had changed his next album from Black Magic to The Return of the Heartless Monster, due to writing different material when he came back home from tour.[57][58] He went on The Invitation Tour in the summer of 2010, in support of Before I Self Destruct, his shelved album, Black Magic, and his upcoming The Return of the Heartless Monster album. On September 3rd, 50 Cent showed support to longtime mentor Eminem, and appeared on his and Jay-Z's Home & Home Tour, performing hit songs such as "Crack A Bottle," alongside his longtime mentors Eminem & Dr. Dre, admist rumors that 50 was no longer cool with Dre.[59][60]

Non-musical projects

Jackson has established himself in a variety of fields. In November 2003, he signed a five year deal with Reebok to distribute a "G-Unit Sneakers" line as part of his G-Unit Clothing Company.[61][62] He provided the voice-over as the protagonist in the video game, 50 Cent: Bulletproof, which was released for PlayStation 2, Xbox, and the PlayStation Portable. Its sequel, 50 Cent: Blood on the Sand, was released in early 2009.[63][64] He worked with Glacéau to create a Vitamin Water drink called Formula 50. In 2007, Coca-Cola purchased Glacéau for US$4.1 billion. Forbes estimated Jackson, who owns a stake in the company, earned $100 million from the deal after taxes.[65] He has teamed up with Right Guard to launched a body spray called Pure 50 RGX Body Spray and a condom line called Magic Stick Condoms,[66] in which he planned to donate part of the proceeds to HIV awareness.[67] Jackson has signed a multi-year deal with Steiner Sports to sell his memorabilia.[68]

In 2005, Jackson made a cameo appearance on The Simpsons episode "Pranksta Rap", in which he makes light of his legal troubles. The same year, he starred alongside Terrence Howard in the semi-autobiographical film Get Rich or Die Tryin'. He starred in the 2006 film, Home of the Brave, as a soldier returning home from the Iraq War, traumatized after killing an Iraqi woman.[69] Jackson is working on a role as a fighter in an Angola State Prison in Spectacular Regret alongside Nicolas Cage, and starred opposite Al Pacino and Robert De Niro in 2008's Righteous Kill, a movie regarding a police death.[70] He also started the film production companies G-Unit Films in 2007 and Cheetah Vision in 2008.[71][72] In August 2007, Jackson announced plans to launch a dietary supplement company in conjunction with his movie Spectacular Regret.[73]

50 Cent with Val Kilmer at the AMAs 2009

In August, 2005, shortly before appearing in Get Rich or Die Tryin', Jackson published an autobiography entitled From Pieces to Weight: Once upon a Time in Southside Queens. In it Jackson explores the cultural and economic forces that led him to sell cocaine and crack, details his entrepreneurship as a drug-dealer and then as a rapper, and reflects on his own ethos and on society. On January 4, 2007, Jackson launched his G-Unit Books imprint at the Time Warner Building.[74] He also co-wrote The Ski Mask Way, a novel about a small-time drug dealer who attempts to rob his employers, which is to be turned into a film.[67] Jackson said he read Robert Greene's The 33 Strategies of War and worked with the author on a book titled The 50th Law, an urban take on The 48 Laws of Power.[67][75] In May 2008, Jackson met billionaire Patrice Motsepe to forge a joint venture selling 50 Cent-branded platinum.[76]

In 2008, Jackson started a reality television show on MTV titled 50 Cent: The Money and the Power; the winning contestant, Ryan Mayberry, won a $100,000 investment from Jackson.[77]

Personal life

On October 13, 1997, Jackson's then-girlfriend Shaniqua Tompkins gave birth to a son, Marquise Jackson.[4][78] Tompkins later sued Jackson for $50 million dollars, claiming that he said that he would take care of her for life; the suit, which includes 15 claims was later dismissed by a judge, calling it "an unfortunate tale of a love relationship gone sour."[79] As of February 2009, Tompkins' and her lawyer are considering an appeal.[80]

The birth of his son changed Jackson's outlook on life: "when my son came into my life, my priorities changed, because I wanted to have the relationship with him, that I didn't have with my father".[81] He credited his son for inspiring his career and being "motivation to go in a different direction".[82]

Jackson has a tattoo of "Marquise" with an axe on his right biceps. "The axe is 'cause I'm a warrior. I don't want him to be one, though",[38] he explains. He also has "50", "Southside", and "Cold World" inscribed on his back because "I'm a product of that environment. It's on my back, though, so it's all behind me".[38] Jackson dated actress Vivica A. Fox in 2003. After a few months, he announced their split up on The Howard Stern Show when pictures from a photo shoot they did ended up on the cover of Today's Black Woman magazine without his knowledge.[83][84]

In 2005, Jackson expressed support for President George W. Bush after rapper Kanye West criticized him for the slow response in assisting the Hurricane Katrina victims.[85] If his felony convictions did not prevent him from voting, he claimed he would have voted for Bush.[86] He later stated that Bush "has less compassion than the average human. By all means, I don't aspire to be like George Bush".[87]

In 2007, Forbes recognized Jackson for his wealth, placing him second behind Jay-Z in the rap industry.[88] He resides in Farmington, Connecticut, in the former mansion of ex-boxer Mike Tyson.[89] He put the mansion for sale at $18.5 million to move closer to his son who lives in Long Island with his ex-girlfriend.[90] On October 12, 2007, the Mayor of Bridgeport, Connecticut declared it "50 Cent Curtis Jackson Day". He was honored with a key to the city and an official proclamation.[91] One of his homes in New York purchased for 2.4 million dollars in January 2007 and at the center of a lawsuit between Jackson and ex-girlfriend Shaniqua Tompkins caught fire on May 31, 2008 while he was out of town filming for a movie in Louisiana.[92]

In December 2008 50 told the Canadian press that he had been affected by the recession, losing several million dollars on the stock market. He also went on to say that he had been unable to sell his Connecticut mansion and pushed Before I Self-Destruct back because of the recent economic downturn.[93]

In November 2009, 50 Cent won in a lawsuit against Taco Bell over the fast food chain using his name to promote the brand without his permission.[94]

Controversy

How To Rob

50 Cent said that he intended the single to be a joke, and not meant to disrespect anybody. Nevertheless, a number of rappers mentioned on the song responded on record. The comments made towards the Wu-Tang Clan were responded to on the Ghostface Killah album Supreme Clientele on a track called "Ghost Deini" and even more directly on a skit called "Clyde Smith" which included one of the Wu-Tang Clan members talking about how they intended to harm the rapper, which is identifiable as Raekwon when the track is sped up. A supposed diss song, "Who the Fuck Is 50 Cent", which circulated the web in the beginning of 2001 was rumored to be by the Clan, but was proven to be recorded by Polite of American Cream Team (Raekwon's then-side project).

Jay-Z also reacted to the comments in the track called "It's Hot (Some Like It Hot)", off the album Vol. 3: Life and Times of S. Carter:

"Go against Jigga yo' ass is dense
I'm about a dollar, what the fuck is 50 Cents?"

Sticky Fingaz responded to the diss with the track "Jackin' for Beats."

"The real 50 from Brooklyn god bless he got outed
You just a fake clown who front and rout about it."

Big Pun responds to this track on his album Yeeeah Baby, in the song "My Turn."

"And to the 50 Cent Rapper, very funny -- get your nut off, 'cuz in real life, we all know I'd blow your motherfucking head off...If I'm gonna write a song, it'll be about how I had to beat your mothafuckin' ass. And that'll be the name of the motherfucker: 'That's Why I Had To Beat Your Motherfucking Ass', featuring Tony Sunshine."

Kurupt responded on the diss track "Callin' Out Names."

"Now it's 50 mc's that ain't worth shit
Get ya ass kicked 50 times, beat to 10 cent"

Wyclef Jean responded on the song "Low Income", from his 2000 album, The Ecleftic.

"I stay so hungry that if 50 Cent came to rob me
he'd be part of my charity."

Murder Inc.

Before signing with Interscope, Jackson engaged in a well-publicized dispute with rapper Ja Rule and his label The Inc. Records (now The Inc.). Jackson claims that a friend robbed Ja Rule of his jewelry and that Ja Rule accused him of setting it up.[83] However, Ja Rule claimed the conflict stemmed from a video shoot in Queens because Jackson did not like seeing him "getting so much love" from the neighborhood.[95] In March 2000, while at The Hit Factory studio in New York, Jackson had an altercation with Murder Inc. associates. He was treated for three stitches after receiving a stab wound.[83][96] Rapper Black Child claimed responsibility for the stabbing, saying he acted in self-defense because he thought someone reached for a gun.[97]

An affidavit by an IRS agent suggested that Murder Inc. had ties to Kenneth "Supreme" McGriff, a New York drug lord who was suspected of being involved in the murder of Jam Master Jay and the shooting of Jackson. An excerpt of the affidavit read:

The investigation has uncovered a conspiracy involving McGriff and others to murder a rap artist who has released songs containing lyrics regarding McGriff's criminal activities. The rap artist was shot in 2000, survived and thereafter refused to cooperate with law enforcement regarding the shooting. Messages transmitted over the Murder Inc. pager indicate that McGriff is involved in an ongoing plot to kill this rap artist, and that he communicates with Murder Inc. employees concerning the target.[37]

The exchange of insultive tracks released from both parties culminated into Ja Rule releasing Blood in My Eye, which was an album that mostly insulted Jackson and Eminem. Ja Rule eventually tried to squash the feud with Jackson by using minister Louis Farrakhan in a televised interview. However, the attempt at peace lost credibility as the interview was scheduled a day before Blood in My Eye was released. As a result, most fans, along with Jackson, dismissed the interview as a blatant publicity stunt.

Ja Rule later released R.U.L.E. with the successful single, "New York", featuring Jadakiss and Fat Joe in which Ja Rule took subliminal shots at Jackson. This single prompted Jackson to enter a feud with the two featured artists. The feud died down in late 2004, when Eminem released "Like Toy Soldiers" which explains the recent feuding with Ja Rule and Benzino, to which Eminem ends the song offering a truce to his enemies. Although the feud was later resurrected in early 2005.

New York rappers

Before releasing The Massacre, Jackson recorded a song "Piggy Bank", a response to Ja Rule's song "New York", which was leaked before the album's release. The song takes aim at rappers including Fat Joe, Nas, and Jadakiss.[98] Fat Joe responded with a song, "My Fofo", accusing Jackson of taking steroids, hiding in his home, and being jealous of The Game. Jadakiss also responded with a song, "Checkmate", and said that Jackson was trying to "create a buzz for his new album".[99] The "Piggy Bank" music video portrays animated caricatures of Jadakiss (as a Ninja turtle), Fat Joe (as an overweight boxer who receives a knockout), Nas (as a kid chasing a "milkshake" truck in a Superman costume), and The Game (as Mr. Potato Head). He also disses all of them on the beef version of his single "Window Shopper"[100] Kelis, Nas's wife, responded to the song on her single "Bossy". Nas later responded with "Don't Body Ya Self (MC Burial)." Nas later dissed 50 on the song "Street Ridaz" on Game's mixtape "Brake Lights".

Jackson spoke negatively about Bad Boy Entertainment mogul Sean Combs and recorded a song, "Hip-Hop", revealing the reasons behind his negative feelings: primarily, a contract dispute over Mase. In the song, he implied that Diddy knew about The Notorious B.I.G.'s murder and threatened to expose him through former associates.[101] The feud was resolved, with both rappers appearing on MTV's TRL and Sucker Free, respectively, stating that there were no longer problems.[102] The feud reignited in 2010 with 50 Cent dissing Diddy, saying his music "sucks".

On February 1, 2007, Cam'ron and Jackson had a live argument on The Angie Martinez Show on Hot 97 radio. Jackson commented that Koch Entertainment was a "graveyard", meaning major record labels would not work with their artists.[103] Cam'ron then ridiculed the record sales of G-Unit members Lloyd Banks and Mobb Deep by stating that Jim Jones outsold their albums despite being signed to an independent label and that his group, The Diplomats, had a distribution deal from several labels.[103] Both rappers released "diss" songs with videos on YouTube. Jackson suggested in "Funeral Music" that Cam'ron is no longer able to lead The Diplomats and that Jim Jones should take his place. Cam'ron responded with "Curtis" and "Curtis Pt. II", in which he makes fun of Jackson's appearance, calling him "a gorilla, with rabbit teeth".[104] Jackson responded by releasing "Hold On" with Young Buck.

The Game

Jackson began a feud with The Game, with whom he was close before The Game released his debut album The Documentary. After its release, Jackson felt The Game was disloyal for saying he did not want to participate in G-Unit's feuds with other rappers and even wanting to work with artists they were feuding with. He also claimed that he wrote six songs on the album and was not receiving proper credit for his work, which The Game denied.[105]

Jackson later dismissed The Game from G-Unit on Hot 97 radio. After the announcement, The Game, who was a guest earlier in the evening, attempted to enter the building with his entourage. After being denied entry, one of his associates was shot in the leg during a confrontation with a group of men leaving the building.[106][107] When the situation escalated, both rappers held a press conference to announce their reconciliation.[108] Fans had mixed feelings as to whether the rappers created a publicity stunt to boost the sales of the albums they had just released.[109] Nevertheless, even after the situation deflated,[110] G-Unit criticized The Game's street credibility. The group denounced The Game and announced that they will not be featured on his albums. During a Summer Jam performance, The Game launched a boycott of G-Unit called "G-Unot".[111]

After the performance at Summer Jam, The Game responded with "300 Bars and Runnin'", an extended "diss" aimed at G-Unit as well as members of Roc-A-Fella Records on the mixtape You Know What It Is Vol. 3. Jackson responded through his "Piggy Bank" music video, which features The Game as a Mr. Potato Head doll and also parodies other rivals.[112] Since then both groups continued to attack each other. The Game released two more mixtapes, Ghost Unit and a mixtape/DVD called Stop Snitchin, Stop Lyin.

Jackson posted a cover of The Game's head on the body of a male stripper for "Hate It or Love It (G-Unit Radio Part 21)" mixtape, as a response to The Game displaying pictures of G-Unit dressed as Village People.[113] Although he was signed to Aftermath Entertainment, The Game left the label and signed with Geffen Records to terminate his contractual obligations with G-Unit (although others claim Jackson pressured Dr. Dre to kick him off).[114] G-Unit member Spider Loc had also began to insult The Game on various songs. In addition, The Game released "240 Bars (Spider Joke)" and "100 Bars (The Funeral)" both attacking G-Unit, Spider Loc and others. Jackson's response was "Not Rich, Still Lyin'" where he mocks The Game.[115] Lloyd Banks replied to the Game on a Rap City freestyle booth session. The Game quickly released a "diss" record called "SoundScan" where The Game pokes fun at Lloyd Banks' album Rotten Apple falling thirteen spots on the Billboard 200 chart and disappointing second week sales. Lloyd Banks replied on his mixtape Mo' Money In The Bank Pt. 5: Gang Green Season Continues with a song called "Showtime (The Game's Over)". Lloyd Banks states that Jackson wrote half of The Game's first album The Documentary and pokes fun at The Game's suicidal thoughts.

In October 2006, The Game extended a peace treaty to Jackson, which was not immediately replied to.[116] However, a couple days later, on Power 106, he stated that the treaty was only offered for one day.[117] On The Game's album, Doctor's Advocate, he claims that the feud is over on a few of the songs.

In July 2009, The Game stated the beef was squashed with help from Michael Jackson and Diddy,[118] and he apologized for his actions during the beef.[119] Tony Yayo said that neither Jackson or G-Unit would accept his apology.[120] Since then, The Game continued his old "G-Unot" ways at live concerts. Jackson released "So Disrespectful" a diss song on Before I Self Destruct targeting Jay-Z, The Game and Young Buck.[121] Game later responded with the song "Shake", poking fun of the music video for 50's single "Candy Shop", quote, "Me and 50 aint agreeing on shit so I had to (Shake) Aint no telling what he putting in that protein (Shake) Seen the candy shop video look at this nigga (Shake) And thats the same shit that made the nigga Young Buck (Shake)". He also takes shots at Lloyd Banks and Tony Yayo, in which he says, "I'm surprised that Lloyd Banks and Yayo didn't (Shake) Wasn't selling no records Jimmy Iovine said (Shake)". Game also dissed G-Unit several times on the song "400 Bars".

Rick Ross

In January 2009, Rick Ross started a feud with 50 Cent because he supposedly looked at him the wrong way at the BET Awards. However, Jackson told news sources that he did not even remember seeing Rick Ross there.[122] In late January, a track entitled "Mafia Music" by Rick Ross, leaked onto the Internet. There were several lines that seem to diss Jackson. Days later, Jackson released "Officer Ricky (Go Head, Try Me)" in response to Rick Ross's disparaging remarks on his "Mafia Music" song. The next day Rick Ross appeared on Shade 45, and told Jackson to come up with something better in 24 hours.

Before going to Venezuela, Jackson uploaded a video entitled "Warning Shot", where he warns Rick Ross: "I'ma fuck your life up for fun". In addition, Jackson released the first of a series of "Officer Ricky" cartoons. Early February, Jackson once again made a video which he uploaded to YouTube where he interviews "Tia", the mother of one of Rick Ross's children. She verifies his being a correctional officer and claims his whole persona is fake and fraudulent.[123] On Thursday, February 5, 2009, The Game, who Jackson has a long-standing "beef" with, called up Seattle's KUBE 93 Radio Station. When asked about the beef between Jackson and Rick Ross, The Game sided with Jackson and said that things are not looking good for Rick Ross. However, he offered to help Rick Ross get out of this situation, stating "Rick Ross, holla at your boy, man," and "50 eating you, boy."[124]

On his album Deeper Than Rap, Ross references Jackson in the song "In Cold Blood". A video for the song was released that portrayed Jackson's mock funeral. Upon release, Ross stated that he has ended Jackson's career.[125]

In an interview, Jackson said: "Rick Ross is Albert From CB4. You ever seen the movie? He's Albert," he added. "It never gets worse than this. You get a guy that was a correctional officer come out and base his entire career on writing material from a drug dealer's perspective such as "Freeway" Ricky Ross."[126]

Other feuds

Bang 'Em Smurf and Jackson were very close friends together. When Bang 'Em Smurf was arrested for possession of a firearm, he was expecting Jackson to come bail him out, which Jackson didn't. Bang 'Em Smurf had to mortgage his own mothers house to pay for bail. While Bang 'Em Smurf was imprisoned, Domination started to record diss records against Jackson's disrespect. Jackson responded with "These Niggaz Ain't Hood" and "Don't Go To Sleep."

After hearing word that Lil Wayne had prepared a song for him after 50 made some unkind remarks, 50 lashed out at Wayne first on August 17, 2007 with the song "Part Time Lover".[127] Wayne never really responded to the song, although a 50 Cent diss track called "Louisianimal" did leak much later on November 17, 2008.[128] Jackson responded to Lil Wayne in January 2009 in a song entitled "Play This On The Radio".[129] As of August 14, 2009, the controversy between Jackson and Lil Wayne seems to have ended after Jackson appeared and performed at Lil Wayne's America's Most Wanted Musical Festival stop in Anaheim, California.[130]

After numerous rumors of a "beef" within G-Unit, Jackson officially dismissed Young Buck from the group, in 2008. He later assured that he was still signed with the label.[131] Numerous slander songs then arose on the internet from both camps, with Young Buck appearing in a music video of former rival The Game.[132][133] Jackson then leaked a taped phone conversation between himself and Young Buck, which showed one of the true reasons for the falling out; Jackson was owed money by the Southern rapper. Young Buck later stated the conversation took place over a year before the leak.[134] The two camps have since released a multitude of songs against each other, with the feud settling down by 2009, with Young Buck stating he's been working on his latest album, which to still be released under the G-Unit label.[135]

Lawsuit

On July 21, 2007, Jackson filed a $1 million lawsuit against advertising company Traffix Inc. of Pearl River, New York for using his image in a promotion which he claims threatens his safety. He became aware of the internet ad after one of his staff members saw it on a MySpace page. According to court documents, the ad features a cartoon image of the rapper and the message: "shoot the rapper and you will win $5000 or five ring tones guaranteed". Though the ad did not use his name, the image allegedly intended to resemble him, suggesting he endorsed the ad. The lawsuit calls it a "vile, tasteless and despicable" use of 50 Cent's image that "quite literally calls for violence against him". The lawsuit seeks for unspecified punitive damages and a permanent injunction against the use of his image without permission.[136][137]

Discography

Main articles: 50 Cent discography and G-Unit discography

Awards and nominations

Filmography

Year Film Role Notes
2003 50 Cent: The New Breed Himself Documentary DVD
2005 The Simpsons Himself TV series (one episode: "Pranksta Rap")
Get Rich or Die Tryin' Marcus Film debut
50 Cent: Bulletproof Himself Video game, voice only
2006 Home of the Brave Jamal Aiken Supporting Role
2007 De La Hoya/Mayweather 24/7 Himself TV series (one episode: "Episode #1.1")
6teen Himself TV series (One Episode: Season 3 Episode 1: Sweet 6teen)
2008 Righteous Kill Spider Supporting Role
Before I Self Destruct Clarence Supporting Role
50 Cent: The Money and the Power Himself TV series (one episode: "Choose Your Crew Wisely")
2009 50 Cent: Blood on the Sand Himself Video game, voice only
Streets of Blood Stan Johnson Completed
Entourage Himself TV series (one episode: "One Car, Two Car, Red Car, Blue Car")
Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2[139][140] Soldier Video game, voice only
Dead Man Running Thigo Post-production
Everything's Alright Amos Jenks In production
Caught in the Crossfire Tino Post-production, executive producer
2010 13 Jimmy Post-production
The Dance[141] Announced Pre-Production
Love Me, Love Me Not Himself Pre-production
The Ski Mask Way Seven Pre-production
Twelve Lionel Supporting Role
Jekyll and Hyde Pre-production
Morning Glory Himself In production
Vengeance Black Post-production
2011 Gun Rich Post-production
Blood Out Hardwick filming
TBA Things Fall Apart[142] Unknown In production

References

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  120. ↑ Tony Yayo Says G-Unit Isn't Accepting Game's Apology. MTV News.
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  123. ↑ HipHopDX.com - 50 Cent - Interviews Rick Ross' Baby Mama. HipHopDX.com. Retrieved February 2, 2008.
  124. ↑ Roberts, Steven (2009-02-05). "Game Takes Sides In 50 Cent/ Rick Ross Beef - News Story | Music, Celebrity, Artist News | MTV News". Mtv.com. http://www.mtv.com/news/articles/1604407/20090205/ross__rick__rap_.jhtml. Retrieved 2010-05-12. 
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  129. ↑ 50 Cent - Play This On The Radio
  130. ↑ 50 Cent Makes Surprise Appearance During Lil Wayne Tour
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  133. ↑ The Game - "My Life" on FNMTV MTV. Retrieved August 16, 2008.
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  135. ↑ Shaheem Reid (October 21, 2008) Young Buck Says The Rehab Will Sell A Million In A Week MTV.com Accessed January 19, 2009.
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  138. ↑ [5]
  139. ↑ "50 Cent to be appearing in Modern Warfare 2". Destructoid. 2006-03-16. http://www.destructoid.com/50-cent-to-be-appearing-in-modern-warfare-2-143297.phtml. Retrieved 2010-05-12. 
  140. ↑ "50 Cent Visits Infinity Ward (Creators of Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2)". ThisIs50.com. 2009-08-07. http://thisis50.com/profiles/blogs/50-cent-visits-infinity-ward. Retrieved 2010-05-12. 
  141. ↑ "Curtis "50 Cent" Jackson set to star in the movie TWELVE". ThisIs50.com. 2009-04-06. http://thisis50.com/profiles/blogs/curtis-50-cent-jackson-set-to. Retrieved 2010-05-12. 
  142. ↑ "Ray Liotta to Join 50 Cent in New Movie "Things Fall Apart"". ThisIs50.com. 2010-05-24. http://www.thisis50.com/profiles/blogs/ray-liotta-to-join-50-cent-in. Retrieved 2010-08-29. 

External links

Preceded by
—		 Sound of... (BBC poll)
2003		 Succeeded by
Keane
50 Cent
Albums
Other albums
Guess Who's Back? · Get Rich or Die Tryin' OST
Mixtapes
50 Cent Is the Future · No Mercy, No Fear · God's Plan · War Angel LP · Forever King
Filmography
50 Cent: The New Breed · Get Rich or Die Tryin' · Home of the Brave · Righteous Kill · Before I Self Destruct · Streets of Blood · Dead Man Running · 13
Video games
50 Cent: Bulletproof · Blood on the Sand
Tours
The Anger Management Tour 3 · The Invitation Tour
Related articles
Discography · Awards and nominations · Eminem · Dr. Dre · G-Unit · Shady, Aftermath, G-Unit · 50 Cent: The Money and the Power · Fourmula 50 · Cheetah Vision
50 Cent singles
Power of the Dollar
"How to Rob" · Thug Love"
Get Rich or Die Tryin'
"In da Club" · "Wanksta" · "21 Questions" · "P.I.M.P." · "If I Can't"
The Massacre
"Disco Inferno" · "Candy Shop" · "Just a Lil Bit" · "Outta Control"
Get Rich or Die Tryin' OST
"Hustler's Ambition" · "Window Shopper" · "Best Friend" · "I'll Whip Ya Head Boy" · "Have a Party"
Curtis
"Straight to the Bank" · "Amusement Park" · "I Get Money" · "Ayo Technology" · "I'll Still Kill"
Before I Self Destruct
"Ok, You're Right" · "Baby by Me" · "Do You Think About Me"
Other singles
"Rowdy Rowdy" · "Get Up" · "I Get It In"
Notable songs
"Life's on the Line" · "Ghetto Qu'ran (Forgive Me)" · "Piggy Bank" · "Follow My Lead" ·
Featured singles
"React" · "Magic Stick" · "On Fire" · "Let Me In" · "Encore" · "Westside Story" · "How We Do" · "Hate It or Love It" · "MJB da MVP" · "So Seductive" · "I Know You Don't Love Me" · "Hands Up" · "The Cake" · "You Don't Know" · "Jimmy Crack Corn" · "Can't Leave 'em Alone" · "Crack a Bottle" · "Mujeres in the Club" · "Pass the Patron" · "Down on Me" · "Let's Get It In"
G-Unit
50 Cent · Lloyd Banks · Tony Yayo
Game · Young Buck
Albums
Beg for Mercy · T.O.S: Terminate on Sight
Singles
"Stunt 101" · "Poppin' Them Thangs" · "My Buddy" · "Wanna Get to Know You" · "Smile" · "I Like the Way She Do It" · "Rider Pt. 2"
Related articles
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G-Unit · 50 Cent · Tony Yayo · Lloyd Banks · Spider Loc · 40 Glocc · Nyce · Slim da Mobster · Young Hot Rod · Governor ·
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Game · Olivia · M.O.P. · Mase · Mobb Deep ·
Shady Records
Founder
Eminem · Paul Rosenberg
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Eminem · D12 · 50 Cent · Cashis · Slim da Mobster • Slaughterhouse
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Bobby Creekwater · DJ Green Lantern · Stat Quo · Obie Trice
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50 Cent · Dr. Dre · Eminem · Game · Hayes · Slim da Mobster
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Bishop Lamont · Busta Rhymes · Eve · The Firm · Hittman · Joell Ortiz · King Tee · Last Emperor · Marsha Ambrosius · Rakim · Stat Quo · Truth Hurts