Curtis James Jackson III
AKA 50 Cent
July 6, 1975
Curtis James Jackson III, born on July 6, 1975, and widely recognized as 50 Cent, is a multifaceted American talent. His career spans across various fields, including rap, acting, television production, and business. Hailing from the South Jamaica neighborhood of Queens, Jackson embarked on his musical journey in the year 2000 when he worked on “Power of the Dollar” for Columbia Records. However, just before its scheduled release, an unfortunate incident occurred—he was shot, leading to the album’s cancellation.
In 2002, 50 Cent’s fortunes changed when he released the mixtape “Guess Who’s Back?” This release caught the attention of Eminem, who subsequently signed him to Shady Records, a label under Dr. Dre’s Aftermath Entertainment and Interscope Records.
His debut major-label album, “Get Rich or Die Tryin'” in 2003, marked a pivotal moment in his career. The album achieved massive commercial success and produced chart-topping hits like “In da Club” and “21 Questions” featuring Nate Dogg. It earned a remarkable 9× Platinum certification from the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA). The same year, he established G-Unit Records and signed fellow artists Young Buck, Lloyd Banks, and Tony Yayo, effectively becoming the leader of the East Coast hip-hop group G-Unit.
50 Cent continued his trajectory of success with his second album, “The Massacre” (2005), which featured the hit single “Candy Shop” with Olivia. Over the years, he evolved his musical style, as evident in his fifth album, “Animal Ambition” (2014), and he is currently working on his sixth studio album. Beyond music, he made a mark in television as the executive producer and star of the series “Power” (2014–2020) and is involved in producing its spin-offs.
50 Cent’s accomplishments extend well beyond the realm of music. With a global record sales figure exceeding 30 million albums, he has garnered a substantial collection of accolades. Among these, he boasts a Grammy Award, a Primetime Emmy Award, thirteen Billboard Music Awards, six World Music Awards, three American Music Awards, and four BET Awards. His artistic talents also encompass acting, with notable roles in films like “Get Rich or Die Tryin'” (2005), “Home of the Brave” (2006), and “Righteous Kill” (2008).
Acknowledging his enduring impact, Billboard placed 50 Cent at the 17th position in their ’50 Greatest Rappers’ list for 2023. Furthermore, he was honored as the sixth top artist of the 2000s decade. Rolling Stone magazine recognized his significant influence by ranking both “Get Rich or Die Tryin'” and “In da Club” among the “100 Best Albums of the 2000s.”