A former protege of Run-DMC DJ Jam Master Jay, 50 Cent released his debut album "Get Rich Or Die Tryin" in 2003; it featured the singles "In Da Club", "P.I.M.P.", "Magicstick" and "Wanksta". This was produced by Eminem and Dr. Dre.
50 Cent had previously released underground albums, but did not gain exposure to a mainstream audience until he was discovered by Eminem, who was impressed by his talents and signed him to a joint deal between Shady and Aftermath Records. 50 Cent also gained fame for his rap feud with fellow rapper Ja Rule, which has come quite close to violence. So close, in fact, that some believe that the September 18th, 2003 shooting attack on 50 Cent was perpetrated by associates of Ja Rule, but this suspicion is generally unfounded, as there is little evidence to prove it.
Later that year, he performed at the MTV 2003 Movie Awards. He toured with Jay-Z, Busta Rhymes, and Sean Paul for the "Roc The Mic Tour." He has also been featured in magazines, MTV, and BET.
50 Cent grew up in Southside Jamaica Queens until his mother was killed when he was 8 years old. He had to move in with his grandparents in Rochdale Village, a middle class neighborhood. 50 did not live in the projects nor did he claim to, he lived near the South Jamaica housing projects. He attended Andrew Jackson High School but was kicked out for posessing crack cocaine in the school. He was eventually convicted on a drug possession charge and served jail time.
50 Cent is currently experiencing
the kind of chart success that has not been seen since Beatlemania swept
North America.
Known as much for making music as feuding with his
fellow hip-hoppers, 50 Cent has four singles in the Top
10 of
Billboard's Hot 100 chart.
Not since 1964, when the
Beatles had five singles in the
Top 10, has one artist dominated popular music so
completely.
The chart for the week that ends on April 9 is topped by
50 Cent's Candy Shop.
His Hate It or Love It holds the third position, Disco
Inferno is in the No. 6 slot, and How We Do comes in at
No. 9.
That accomplishment almost mirrors the chart for the
week ending April 4, 1964.
That's when the Fab Four had five of the most popular
singles with Can't Buy Me Love in the top spot, and
Twist and Shout, She Loves You, I Want to Hold Your Hand
and Please Please Me rounding out the Top 5.
Some music purists say that the quartet of songs from 50
Cent does not represent the same kind of success enjoyed
by the lads from Liverpool.
They point out that Hate It or Love It and How We Do are
collaborations with the Game, 50 Cent's former protégé
and sometime rival.
"It's always dangerous to compare anything to the
Beatles, since they hold such a singular place in music
history," Geoff Mayfield, chart editor for Billboard,
said in an interview with New York's Daily News tabloid.
"And besides, on their five Top 10 songs, it was all
them – it wasn't like Petula Clark was guesting."
Candy Shop features guest vocalist Olivia.
The songs on the Billboard Hot 100 are ranked according
to radio airplay, sales and internet downloads.
50 Cent has an additional two songs on the chart, both
of which are moving toward the Top 10.