How 50 Cent dominated the US charts with five consecutive top five albums
In short: From his 2003 debut to his 2014 release, 50 Cent maintained a remarkable streak of commercial success. Discover the era of massive sales, high-profile chart battles, and the shifting musical styles that defined one of hip-hop's most successful periods.
The career of 50 Cent is marked by a period of intense commercial dominance in the early 2000s. His first studio album, Get Rich or Die Tryin', arrived on 6 February 2003, following his 2002 Shady Records deal. Top positions on the US Billboard 200 were achieved by this work, which yielded big hits such as 'In da Club', '21 Questions', and 'P.I.M.P.'. His momentum continued with his second studio album, The Massacre, released in 2005.
During 2005, this record became a huge commercial success, moving 4.83 million units within the US—ranking second for all albums that year. It reached number one in the US and featured hits like 'Candy Shop' and 'Disco Inferno'. This era also saw him expand into film, starring in the movie Get Rich or Die Tryin' in November 2005, for which he recorded four soundtrack singles.
However, the landscape changed in 2007 during a highly publicized sales competition between his third album, Curtis, and Kanye West's Graduation. While Curtis debuted at number two, it was unable to claim the top spot. Subsequent releases showed a shift in style and chart position: 2009's Before I Self Destruct returned to a darker, mixtape-inspired sound and peaked at number five, while his fifth studio album, Animal Ambition, debuted at number four in June 2014. By June 2014, 50 Cent had achieved a rare feat: five consecutive top five albums in the US. Despite various promotional efforts for the shelved project Street King Immortal, including the release of singles like 'My Life', the album was eventually scrapped in July 2021.
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Sources
- Summary by Intellect · source: 50 Cent albums discography
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