How a near-fatal shooting transformed a street hustler into a global hip-hop mogul
In short: After surviving nine bullets at close range in 2000, Curtis Jackson III—better known as 50 Cent—redefined his life’s purpose. From selling narcotics in South Jamaica to dominating the Billboard charts, his journey from the underground mixtape circuit to becoming a multi-platinum artist and television producer remains a singular American story.
Born in Queens in 1975, Jackson’s early life was defined by hardship and the illicit economy. By age 12, he was dealing drugs while his grandparents believed he was attending after-school programs. His path shifted in 1996 when he began training under Jam Master Jay, who taught him the technical foundations of songwriting. However, his early career was volatile; a 2000 shooting outside his grandmother’s home, where he was struck by nine bullets, nearly ended his life and led to him being dropped by Columbia Records.
The turning point arrived when Eminem discovered Jackson’s mixtape, Guess Who's Back?, leading to a deal with Shady Records. His 2003 debut, Get Rich or Die Tryin', became a cultural phenomenon, selling 872,000 copies in its first four days and producing the record-breaking hit In da Club. Jackson’s commercial dominance continued with his second album, The Massacre, which sold over a million copies in its first four days. He leveraged this success to launch G-Unit Records, signing artists like Lloyd Banks and Tony Yayo.
Beyond music, Jackson’s career evolved into a broader media empire. Following a period of commercial decline with albums like Curtis and Before I Self Destruct, he pivoted toward television production. His work as an executive producer on the series Power marked a successful transition into media. Despite facing bankruptcy in 2015 and the indefinite shelving of his long-delayed project Street King Immortal, Jackson has maintained his influence, curating albums for artists like Pop Smoke and continuing his work as a producer and businessman.
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- Summary by Intellect · source: 50 Cent
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