50 CENT Biography - Musicians

 
 

Biography » musicians » 50 cent

50 CENT

Name: Curtis James Jackson III                                                                   
Born: 6 July 1975 New York City                                                                 
                                                                                                 
Curtis James Jackson III (born July 6, 1975), better known by his stage name                     
50 Cent, is an American rapper. He rose to fame with the release of his albums                   
Get Rich or Die Tryin' (2003) and The Massacre (2005). Both albums achieved                     
multi-platinum success, selling over twenty-one million records worldwide.                       
                                                                                                 
Born in South Jamaica, Queens, 50 Cent began drug dealing at the age of twelve                   
during the 1980s' crack epidemic. After leaving drug dealing to pursue a rap                     
career, he was shot nine times in 2000. After releasing his album Guess Who's                   
Back? in 2002, 50 Cent was discovered by rapper Eminem and signed to Interscope                 
Records. With the help of Eminem and Dr. Dre who produced his first major                       
commercial successes he became one of the highest selling rappers in the world.                 
In 2003, he founded the record label G-Unit Records, which signed successful                     
rappers such as Young Buck, Lloyd Banks, and Tony Yayo.                                         
                                                                                                 
50 Cent has engaged in numerous feuds with other rappers including Ja Rule, The                 
Game, and Fat Joe. He has also pursued an acting career, appearing in the semi-autobiographical 
film Get Rich or Die Tryin' in 2005 and the Iraq War film Home of the Brave in                   
2006.