Biography
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Born
6 July 1975 (age 48)
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Born In
South Jamaica, Queens, New York, New York, United States
50 Cent (real name Curtis James Jackson III) is a rapper.
He has released four albums to date: Power of the Dollar (1999) Guess Who's Back? (2002), Get Rich or Die Tryin' (2003), The Massacre (2005). He was also featured on the soundtrack to the movie Get Rich or Die Tryin', a story about his life in which he starred as himself, the film was released in 2005.
His most famous albums are Get Rich or Die Tryin' and The Massacre.
In the early years, before 50 cent was signed to any record label, he built up a huge fan base in New York. 50 Cent met up with Jam Master Jay of Run-DMC fame and was signed to his label to write all of his music. After he'd left Jam Master Jay, he signed to Columbia Records in 1999. On this label, he released Power of the Dollar, and the singles How to Rob and Ghetto Qu'ran. He left Columbia Records after being shot on May 24th, 2000.
Around this time, Eminem had heard one of 50 Cent's demo tapes and expressed a huge interest in him on MTV, as did Dr Dre. Shortly after this, 50 Cent officially signed to Interscope Records. He was the first rapper to sign to the joint label owned by Dr Dre and Eminem. The first song he released on this record was entitled Wanksta and was featured on the 8 Mile soundtrack.
In its first week of release, his debut "Get Rich Or Die Tryin'" sold 872,000 units - it went Gold. Within the second week it went Platinum and on April 12th, 2004 the RIAA certified it six times Platinum.
In 2005 he followed the success of his album Get Rich or Die Tryin' with a new release - The Massacre (originally called St. Valentines Day Massacre until the release date was pushed back). The first single released off this, Disco Inferno, was a huge hit - he followed this hit up by the release of Candy Shop and then again with Just a Lil Bit.
In 2003 Interscope allowed 50 Cent to have his own label - G-Unit records, the label signed on Lloyd Banks, Tony Yayo and Young Buck as the established members of G-Unit. In 2004, Dr. Dre and 50 Cent had signed The Game under a joint venture. 50 Cent's manager Sha Money XL is the president.
Before 50 Cent had even signed to Interscope Records he was involved with a dispute between rival rapper Ja Rule - the rappers recorded several mix-tapes 'dissing' each other. 50 Cent accused Ja Rule of singing rather than rapping.
50 Cent currently has an escalating feud with The Game. The Game, who was previously co-signed to G-Unit, was booted by 50 Cent. 50 Cent claims that he wasn't getting proper credit for the work released.
50 Cent is currently working on his next untitled album which is due to be released by Christmas 2006.
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