In 1999, the then young and ambitious Curtis “50 Cent” Jackson pulled a daring, if not careless, stunt to get noticed in the oversaturated hip-hop world. His infamous track “How to Rob” laid out humorous plans to rob high-profile figures like Jay-Z, Diddy, and DMX. While the song’s brash lyrics and biting humor ruffled feathers, it did little but talk and thus lit a firestorm of controversy.
Meant as a scathing, satirical jab, the track brazenly belied audacity with raw talent and hunger on 50 Cent’s lyrics, catching the ears of established artists such as Nas. But backlash from the targets of the song, especially Jay-Z’s fiery retaliation on “It’s Hot (Some Like It Hot),” threatened to overshadow his budding career.
Disaster almost befell him in the year 2000, with 50 Cent being shot nine times in a near-fatal attack. Instead of trying to derail him, when coupled with having been axed by Columbia Records, that became one more experience for his determination to be toughened.
Linking up with producer Sha Money XL, 50 Cent released an incredible string of mixtapes entitled “50 Cent Is the Future” and “Guess Who’s Back?”. The latter, in particular, made his raw rapping prowess with graphic telling of urban reality find a grassroots fan base and attention from the high echelons, thanks to Eminem and Dr. Dre themselves.
Better yet, the duo signed 50 Cent over to Interscope Records with the trio releasing one of the most ambitious debut records of all time. The release was “Get Rich or Die Tryin‘,” availed in 2003. From graphic street tales to ultra-refined productions, this turned into one of the biggest album launches within one cultural phenomenon. His immediate anthems, “In Da Club” and “21 Questions,” ruled all airwaves into stamping a seal on 50 Cent’s certification as hip-hop’s sizzling new star.
But more than the music, the tale of survival and survival instinct told by 50 Cent attracted people from all over the world. His story inspires many because it tells the journey of a poor artist becoming a world icon, and thus, it proves that even in the worst conditions, one can rise to the top.
