6 July 1975, Queens, New York City, New York, USA
Birth Name
Curtis James Jackson III
Nickname
Interscope
Fiddy
Boo Boo
Height
6' (1.83 m)
Mini Biography
Born in the South Jamaica section of Queens, Curtis "50 Cent" Jackson has lived in New York City all his life. Raised by his grandparents after his father ran out and his mother was shot when he was only eight. Growing up, the Queens rapper originally wanted to be a heavyweight boxer, but eventually fell back on rapping. DJs had taken it upon themselves to release two Best of 50 Cent mix CDs, before he had even signed to a major label. 50 Cent hit the scene with "How To Rob An Industry Nigga" and he's been on a rampage ever since dealing with bootleggers, label back stabbing and other platinum selling artists trying to get at him physically. In 1999 his album Power of the Dollar, was heavily bootlegged and Trackmasters/Columbia never released it. Supposedly, Trackmasters weren't comfortable with him being caught up in the streets and getting shot three days before filming the video for "Thug Love," (with Destiny's Child) -- his first single. 50 was shot three times that night, two shots hitting him in the head, the bullet that struck his face he carries as a reminder of what happened. That event led to the fall out with Columbia and negotiating his release from their grasps. He still showed love and rhymed over a Trackmasters produced remix of "I'm Gonna Be Alright" on J-Lo's latest album, but rivals at Murder Inc. had 50 cut from the track which could have launched the rapper. This all changed in one night when Eminem said on a radio show that "50 Cent is definitely my favorite rapper right now, he's the only one keeping it real." The very next day a bidding war started on 50, ending when 50 signed to Eminem's very own label Shady/Aftermath. 50 Cent's fame has exploded, being produced by Dr. Dre and Eminem and finally making his debut album "Get rich or Die Tryin'." 50 has full access and advantage of the streets through mix-tapes; that's his forum because he controls it. 50 Cent is the most anticipated artist of 2003. It's well deserved because he's "been patiently waiting."
Trivia
Is involved in a feud with fellow rapper Ja Rule.
Is signed to Eminem's Shady Records imprint, distributed by Interscope Records.
Has a son, Marquise, nicknamed 25 Cent.
His debut album "Get Rich or Die Tryin'" was the highest debut ever with 900,000 copies sold in the first week.
His mother was killed at age 23, when he was just eight years old.
Was discovered by Jason Mizell aka Jam Master Jay.
Voted #8 on VH1's 100 Hottest Hotties
Used to be a boxer
Neither drinks alcohol nor smokes.
He bought former heavyweight boxing champion Mike Tyson's Farmington, CT, mansion for $4.1 million. The house is approximately 50,000 sq. ft., has 52 rooms and was bought by Tyson for $2.7 million in 1996. Its features include five Jacuzzis, 25 full baths, 18 bedrooms, an elevator, two billiard rooms, a movie theater and a locker room.
Recorded an album in 1999 titled "Power of the Dollar" but it was shelved by Columbia Records due to his legal problems at the time.
Released a series of street mixtapes in 2002. They became so popular that Eminem heard them and signed him to his record label. Even after his success, 50 still releases street mixtapes on a regular basis.
Album "The Massacre" was originally titled "St. Valentine's Day Massacre" and set for a February 15 release date, but production problems forced it to be set back to March 8.
Was accompanied by actress Vivica A. Fox to the MTV Video Music Awards 2003
Created a dance known as the "two step".
His favorite actor is Charlie Sheen.
His cartoon-like photo on the cover of his album "The Massacre" was meant to make him look like a Ninja Turtle, his son's favorite cartoon characters. He is also a fan of the cartoon, his favorite turtle being Donatello.
His group, G-Unit, includes Tony Yayo, and Lloyd Banks. Young Buck and Game were once members but a well-publicized feud developed.
Raised in Queens, NY, by his grandparents.
Named among Fade In Magazine's "100 People in Hollywood You Need to Know" in 2005.
Was #8 on the annual Forbes magazine Celebrity 100 list in 2006
Founder of G-Unit Records, G-Unit Films, G-Unit Books, G-Unit Clothing and G-Unity Foundation.
In 2007, Forbes Magazine estimated his earnings for the year at $33 million.
Personal Quotes
The only thing that I'm scared of is not livin' up to the expectations of Dr. Dre and Eminem.
[on his feud with rapper Ja Rule] Right now he's desperate. He should be talking about me, not Eminem and [Dr. Dre] and everybody else. He'll lose, he knows that. The route that he has to take is the "I'm a mad gangsta" hardcore route, and ain't nobody gonna believe him.
In Hollywood they say there's no business like show business. In the hood they say there's no business like ho' business.
I'm not trying to save the world. As a musician and artist, it just ain't me.
A man becomes as attractive as an attractive woman when he becomes successful and is publicly noted. Power's an aphrodisiac.
I think it's easier for the general public to embrace me in a negative way. You have people who already have a perception of me that says I'm a bad person.
I don't display emotions. I have every feeling that everyone else has but I've developed ways to suppress them. Anger is one of my most comfortable feelings.
In my neighborhood if you're too aggressive, you intimidate someone, they kill you. Or if you decide to be emotional and you start crying, you're a victim. You know, the kid in the schoolyard that doesn't want to fight always leaves with a black eye. You have to find a way to stay in the middle, somewhere where people just don't mess with you because they know that you don't have a problem with it if it goes there.
[on his feuds with many of his fellow rappers, such as Nas, Jadakiss, Fat Joe, Shyne, Game, Ja Rule, Sheek Louch and Styles P., among others] If they keep comin' at me, I'll just keep responding back until they don't exist anymore. I got the time and energy to ruin what is left of their careers, if they want to do that.
A lot of kids join the army to get a college education. That's why they do it, and they get sent into these horrible situations.
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