50 Cent

Curtis “50 Cent” Jackson is different from most gangster rappers in that he has a personal history of drug dealing and violence (contrast with rap rival Ja Rule) that gives his songs extra weight. While he has more street cred than many similar artists, his flow and his rhymes are what keep fans coming back for more. Add to this numerous high profile collaborations, and production that’s creamy even when the lyrics are spicy, and it’s clear that 50 Cent is a rapper to watch in coming years.

But 50’s success was far from guaranteed throughout his early career. In fact, his young life set him up for very few prospects as well. His parents were involved in drug trafficking, which likely led to his mother’s murder when 50 was age eight. His father was absent from his life, which meant it fell to his grandparents to raise him. Not content to remain forever in the hood in Jamaica Queens, he turned to crack dealing as a means of escape—while earning more money, it drew him even closer to the violent aspects of his neighborhood; he was stabbed in front of his grandparents’ house.

Having grown up in hip-hop culture he enjoyed freestyling with friends and at parties. His stabbing and the birth of his son compelled him take his talent more seriously and try to leave his life of crime behind. A fortuitous contact with Jam Master Jay led to an exciting but ultimately fruitless record contract that was one of many failures to reach a good arrangement with a label.

Despite this, Jam Master Jay’s instruction improved 50’s delivery and writing abilities and he managed to get signed with Columbia Records. Before his album could be released though, 50 Cent suffered one more, infamous setback—he was shot nine times, including once in the face. He returned to and became a star on the East Coast underground mix tape circuit.

One such unofficial release drew enough attention to spark a bidding war to sign 50 Cent. Ultimately Eminem was the highest bidder and the result was a contract that yielded the breakthrough album Get Rich or Die Tryin,’ a long, lucrative collaboration, and plenty of hits. Mixing gritty lyrics with a self-described “Cheshire Cat” persona, 50 Cent continues to honestly chronicle his life, referencing sex with celebrities, his remaining connections to his criminal past, and his recreational drug use with aplomb and danceable packaging.

50 Cent is the founder of the rap collective G-Unit, and has worked with hip hop’s best producers, most notably Dr. Dre.