50 Cent

News: 1/9/2004- "Tony Yayo, one-third of the original G-Unit, was finally released from New York prison Lakeview Shock Incarceration Correctional Facility after serving a year for gun possession."

Also, G-Unit performed on SNL on 1/17/2004.

50 CENT was the third rapper signed to Eminem's label, Shady Records. Eminem saw his talent as an emcee as well as the story to be told. He had been dropped from Columbia Records due to his accident. 50 Cent has been shot 9 times in his life, including 2 bullets to the face! 50 is comfortable with the fact that he is disliked by many, but since he was signed by Eminem and did his work on the 8 Mile Soundtrack, a lot of fans love him now. 50 Cent has been through more than most people go through in a lifetime and it shows in his music.


Grimy, streetwise and absolutely fearless, 50 Cent, born Curtis Jackson, has dealt with more in his 26 years than most deal with in an entire lifetime. Raised without a father, 50 lost his mother when she was found dead of mysterious circumstances before he was a teenager and the orphaned rapper was taken in by his grandparents. After a crash course in street life on the infamous New York Avenue, now known as Guy R. Brewer Blvd., 50 amassed a heavy rep and a lengthy rap sheet. It wasnt until his son was born that 50 entered the rap game with the intent to win. He signed with JMJ, the label of Run DMC DJ, Jam Master Jay, and began crafting his skills. When the platinum hit makers The Trackmasters took notice of 50 and signed him to Columbia Records in 1999, his breakthrough seemed inevitable. They shipped 50 to upstate New York and locked him up in the studio. In just over two weeks, 50 cranked out 36 songs, which resulted in Power of a Dollar, which Blaze Magazine deemed a classic. The album produced a sarcastic stick-up anthem called How to Rob which blew through the roof and playfully depicted a ruthless up-and-comer detailing how he would rob famous artists like Master P and Timbaland. The song became an underground hit but not everyone was impressed. Jay-Z, Big Pun, Sticky Fingaz and Ghostface Killah all replied to the song. It wasn?t personal. It was comedy based on truth, which made it so funny, claimed 50 Cent. Amidst the controversy and a potential breakout cut, Thug Love with Destinys Child, heavy bootlegging tainted Columbias position on the controversial 50 and they pulled the album. Then, in April of 2000, 50 was shot nine times, including a nine millimeter bullet to the face. He spent the next few months recovering and Columbia Records promptly dropped him from the label. Despite a lack of backing and money, 50 teamed up with new business partner Sha Money XL and produced over 30 new songs with the sole purpose of creating a buzz on the underground tip. The recordings spread through New York on black market CDs and mix-tapes like a virus and the rapper eventually released the new material independently on the makeshift LP, Guess Whos Back Beginning to attract interest, and now backed by the G-Unit crew, 50 kept grinding out more songs. With a red, white and blue bootleg called 50 Cent is the Future circulating, the 50 Cent spark was turning into a five-alarm fire. In the midst of a major-label bidding war between Jive, Universal and J, according to reports, Eminem began proclaiming repeatedly that 50 Cent was his favorite rapper. After consulting with Dr. Dre, Eminem ended up signing 50 to his Shady/Aftermath label, reportedly for over a million dollars. 50 has made it clear, though, that it wasnt the money that lured him to the Shady side of the tracks; it was the opportunity to work with the dream team. In the wake of the deal, 50 Cent was becoming hailed as the most anticipated newcomer in almost a decade. Never one to miss an opportunity, 50 quickly released a track called Wanksta which found a home on Eminems multi-platinum 8 Mile soundtrack. With several huge hits already under his belt, 2003 could be 50s year. Promising an LP up to the snuff of rap classics like Illmatic, Ready to Die and Reasonable Doubt, 50 has big footprints to follow. But with production from both Dre and Eminem, an infectious, rugged flow and a vicious sense of humor, 50 Cent just might Get Rich or Die Trying.