0 Cent conquered the music industry with his gritty street tales and catchy hooks. He survived a near-fatal shooting to become one of the best-selling rappers of all time. Furthermore, he transitioned into a savvy businessman and television mogul. Consequently, he remains a dominant cultural force well beyond his musical prime. Explore these fascinating details about the G-Unit general.
50 Cent
He took his stage name from a Brooklyn robber. Specifically, he adopted the moniker “50 Cent” from Kelvin Martin, a notorious stick-up kid, because it represented his own desire for change.
An attacker shot him nine times in 2000. Miraculously, he survived shots to his hand, arm, hip, legs, chest, and face outside his grandmother’s house in Queens.
A bullet fragment remains lodged in his tongue. Therefore, this permanent injury causes the unique slur and distinctive delivery that fans hear in all his songs.
He made an estimated $100 million from Vitamin Water. Wisely, he negotiated for a minority equity stake in the company instead of a simple salary before Coca-Cola bought it.
50 Cent famously bought 200 tickets to a Ja Rule concert. Hilariously, he purchased the entire front section just to ensure the seats would stay empty to troll his rival.
He lost over 50 pounds for a movie role. Dedication led him to starve himself on a liquid diet to play a cancer patient in the film All Things Fall Apart.
Eminem signed him for $1 million. After hearing his mixtapes, the Detroit rapper flew him to Los Angeles and introduced him to Dr. Dre immediately.
He wrote the hit song “How to Rob” to get attention. Boldly, he rapped about robbing famous celebrities, which angered the industry but successfully put his name on the map.
His grandmother, Sabrina Jackson, raised him after his mother died. Consequently, he often credits her as the most important figure in his life and the reason he survived the streets.
He challenged Kanye West to a sales battle in 2007. Although 50 Cent threatened to retire if he lost, Kanye’s Graduation outsold Curtis, yet 50 continued making music anyway.
He produces the hit TV show Power. Successfully, he expanded the series into a massive franchise with multiple spin-offs that dominate the Starz network ratings.
His debut album was never officially released. Columbia Records dropped him after the shooting, so Power of the Dollar remained on the shelf despite producing the hit “How to Rob.”
He sued Taco Bell for using his name without permission. The fast-food chain launched a “79, 89, 99 Cent” campaign, so he took legal action to protect his brand.
He once filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy. Strategically, he made this move in 2015 to reorganize his finances and protect his assets during a lawsuit over a leaked video.
Finally, he owns a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame. Proudly, Eminem and Dr. Dre joined him at the ceremony in 2020 to celebrate his lasting impact on entertainment.
