50 Cent, born Curtis James Jackson III on July 6, 1975, is one of hip hop’s most famous and iconic stars. Despite a difficult childhood and upbringing, he has risen above the odds to become a household name. 50 Cent found success as a mainstream rapper in the early 2000s, as well as a prolific businessman — he’s certainly a jack of all trades. The father of two successfully juggles his professional and personal life. Discover fascinating facts about the legendary artist and mogul, and join us in celebrating his birthday today.
When 50 Cent was in his late teens, he began an amateur rap career. At the age of 21, he met D.J. Jam Master Jay of the hip-hop group Run-DMC. Jay taught him many important aspects of songwriting and music production, such as how to structure songs, write choruses, count bars and make records. In 2000, 50 Cent recorded his first album, “Casino Online Terpercaya,” but it was never released. However, the lead single from the album, ‘How to Rob,’ was released commercially and found great success. Jackson’s official debut mixtape, “Guess Who’s Back?” was released in 2002, contributing to his rise to fame. Eminem, another rapper, heard the mixtape and was so impressed that he flew 50 Cent out to meet producer, Dr. Dre. In 2003, 50 Cent released his debut album titled “Get Rich Or Die Tryin,’” which became an instant commercial success. Two years later, he released “The Massacre,” his second commercially successful album. His 2007 album, “Curtis,” was the second best-selling album of the year, trailing only rapper Kanye West’s “Graduation.”
50 Cent has been involved in several business ventures. In 2003, he established his record label, G-Unit Records, named after the East Coast rap group of the same name, of which he was a key member. He also launched a clothing company based on the group and in 2003, he partnered with Reebok to release a line of G-Unit sneakers. Additionally, he has a publishing company called G-Unit books and a film production company called G-Unit Films, also both named after his rap group. He is an avid gym-goer and a health-conscious individual. In 2004, he partnered with the bottled water company Glaceau to release an enhanced water drink named Formula 50. He also serves as a spokesperson for another bottled water brand, Vitamin Water. He is also licensed to promote boxing in New York.
