Real name: Curtis James Jackson
Date of birth: July 6, 1975
50 Cent (also known as Fifty or Fiddy as pronounced in African-American vernacular English, born Curtis Jackson on July 6, 1976 in Queens, New York), is a popular African-American hip-hop artist. Once almost unknown outside of his hometown on the south side of Jamaica, Queens, he is currently signed to Eminem’s record label Shady Records and Dr. Dre’s Aftermath Entertainment. The rapper, who was the first to sign with Shady Records, was discovered before he met Eminem. Eminem met 50 Cent with MTV News reporter Sway Calloway; Eminem had apparently not heard any of 50 Cent’s performances before seeing him in person. He was featured on the 8 Mile soundtrack with an accompanying song and video (“Wanksta”) that immediately got heavy rotation on BET, MTV and radio stations across the country. In the opinion of many observers, his continued success seems guaranteed by his large underground fan base and the street credibility he has earned by appearing on almost every major mix tape sold in New York in recent years.
Early life
Curtis Jackson never knew his crack cocaine-addicted father, and his mother, a bisexual drug dealer from Queens who worked for “Fat Cat,” was murdered when Jackson was just eight years old. Her death had a major impact on Jackson, the extent of which is speculated by fans, and her sexuality also played a key role in Jackson’s emotional growth, which he would later reference in the song “Hate It or Love It” by The Game. album The Documentary), “I started, I was confused, my mom kissing a girl / Confusion occurs, emerging in a cold world.” The same song also contains a mild accusation of his father’s absence, “Daddy’s gone, probably committing felonies.”
After his mother’s death, Jackson ended up living with his grandparents, where as a teenager he immersed himself in the local drug trade. Rushing through his hometown of Jamaica, Queens, Jackson called himself “Boo Boo.” It was during this period of narcotics distribution that Jackson met fellow Queens native Tony Yayo, who would later become a member of Jackson’s group G-Unit. In June 1994, Jackson was arrested for felony drug charges. Being a second-time offender, Jackson was able to plead guilty to significant prison time by agreeing to seven months in a “shock incarceration” boot camp. He would later boast of this period as if he were doing “seven to nine”.
He became the father of a son, Marquise, in 1997. Jackson met Run-DMC’s Jam Master Jay and signed to his label JMJ. Jay taught him the basics and then 50 left the label looking for someone who could help him achieve his dream of becoming a rap star. He teamed up with hip-hop production duo Track Masters, who recognized 50 Cent’s talent for incisive lyrics and signed him to Columbia Records in 1999. Though he looks back on that time with disgust (his biography refers to it as “closet in the studio”), the 18 days he spent in a studio in upstate New York produced 36 tracks that later became his hit album Power of the Dollar. “How to Rob,” the humorous ode to theft by a host of industry rappers including Jay-Z, Puff Daddy, Busta Rhymes (Flipmode Squad), various members of the Wu-Tang Clan, including Track Masters, and many more. ) was an instant hit on New York radio. Power Of The Dollar was never released, due to the shooting of it in 2000 and executives at Columbia Records decided to drop it, claiming the shooting was negative publicity.
Your car
In the world of hip-hop, cars are the star and there’s no bigger star than 50 Cent right now. But ‘Fifty’ isn’t happy with what’s in his garage, and he has plans to literally turn the automotive world upside down. 50 Cent is about to make his Rolls-Royce Phantom a convertible, even before the company does the work itself…
“I just want something that other people don’t have,” declares the megastar backstage at a one-off UK concert at Rockingham Racecourse. He then unleashes a tidal wave of how and why he is going to slaughter the Ghost of him. “I don’t care if he messes up the electrical system. The roof will go away. I want something sportier. I’m not an old man. That’s why I want to cut the roof off. I’ll go.” TVs. They had TVs in the package I received. It is fully charged. I’ll leave everything there. I’ll just cut the roof. Make it a ‘vertible’.
The man the 50’s will turn to for this ultimate chop-top is Funkmaster Flex, the New York car artist to rap stars. The Bronx-based customizer, motorsports mentor to 50 Cent and restorer of the singer’s ’65 Chevy Impala and ’84 Buick Regal has been trying to talk the megastar out of what some will consider sacrilege.
“I don’t think it’s such a good idea and it’s going to end up costing you almost as much as the car,” predicts the host of the cult television show ‘Ride With Funkmaster Flex’. Rather than take the roof off the Phantom, Flex thinks he’d be better off trying to buy a production example of the impressive 100EX convertible concept car when it goes on sale in 2007. An idea 50 doesn’t have.
“They’re not going to give me one,” he says with the air of a smug teenager. “Having me driving a Rolls-Royce is great for [promoting the company]but they still don’t agree with the child.”
50 (I’ve been warned not to call you Mr. Cent!) is showing off his considerable muscles. Less than three years after being launched to the top of the hip-hop parade with an Eminem snap, 50 basks in the power of fame and spends a $100 million fortune that would power many a small country.
Fame and fortune have come at a price. In 2000, Curtis James Jackson III was shot outside his grandmother’s house in New York. Now there are more bullet wounds on his body than there are fingers on one of his diamond-encrusted hands. A 9mm round even went through his front teeth. Every time he smiles I try to detect it. So far I have failed.
Rolls Royce Phantom Specifications
Model year: 2005
Make: Rolls Royce
Model: Phantom
Style: RWD
Base Price: 328750$
Drive Type: Rear
Transmission Type: 6-Speed Automatic
Engine Type: V12
Horsepower (hp @ rpm): 453 @ 5350
Torque (ft-lbs @ rpm): 531 @ 3500
Performance:
0 - 30 (sec): 2.3
0 - 45 (sec): 4.1
0 - 60 (sec): 5.9
0 - 75 (sec): 8.8
1/4 Mile (sec @ mph): 14.3 @ 98
Top Speed: 150 mph
