50 Cent
Queens rapper whose debut Get Rich or Die Tryin' made him one of the biggest stars of the 2000s, signed by Eminem and Dr. Dre.
Who is 50 Cent?
50 Cent (Curtis Jackson) is a rapper from South Jamaica, Queens. He survived being shot nine times in 2000, a story that became a big part of his legend.
Known for
After his mixtapes caught the attention of Eminem and Dr. Dre, he signed with Shady/Aftermath. His debut Get Rich or Die Tryin' (2003), with "In da Club" and "21 Questions", was one of the best-selling rap albums of the decade. He also led the G-Unit crew.
Style
Gritty street raps with catchy, melodic hooks. A slurred, confident delivery and a sharp sense for hit records.
Impact
50 Cent showed how mixtapes could build a star and dominated mainstream hip-hop in the mid-2000s. He later became just as known as an entrepreneur and TV producer.
Influences
- Jam Master Jay (his early mentor)
