50 Cent Biography
50 Cent is an American rapper, entrepreneur, actor, and one of the most influential hip-hop artists of all time.
He was born on July 6, 1975, in the South Jamaica neighborhood of Queens in New York City.
50 Cent began his career rapping at underground clubs in New York and gained attention after a demo tape he recorded with Run DMC members was sent to Dr. Dre and Eminem. His major label debut album, Get Rich or Die Tryin’, was released in 2003 and went on to sell over 8 million copies worldwide. The album spawned several hit singles such as “Many Men” and “In Da Club” which earned him Grammy Award nominations for Best Male Rap Solo Performance and Best Rap Album.
His second studio album, The Massacre, was released in 2005 and also became a critical and commercial success. It featured the hit single “Candy Shop” which peaked at number one on the Billboard Hot 100 Chart. 50 Cent followed up with five additional studio albums Animal Ambition (2014), Street King Immortal (2012), Before I Self Destruct (2009), Curtis (2007) and Get Rich or Die Tryin’ (2003). He earned three additional Grammy nominations for Best Rap Solo Performance for “Amusement Park”, “Ayo Technology”, and “I Get Money”.
In addition to music, 50 Cent has achieved great success as a businessman. He founded G-Unit Records which signed numerous successful rappers including Lloyd Banks, Tony Yayo, Young Buck among others. He also made revenue from endorsement deals with Reebok International Ltd., Vitamin Water, Stride Gum, Glaceau Smartwater among others. Furthermore, he created his own clothing line G-Unit Clothing Co., that has collaborated with renowned fashion brands such as Timberland shoes.
50 Cent has appeared in several films including Things Fall Apart (2011), All Things Fall Apart (2011), Spy Next Door (2010) Dance Flick (2009), Righteous Kill (2008) among others. In 2020 he starred opposite comedian Kevin Hart in Sony Pictures’ action/thriller film “The Man From Toronto” directed by Patrick Hughes. Throughout his career, he won numerous awards including a BET award for Viewer’s Choice Award (“21 Questions”), MTV Video Music Awards (“In Da Club”, “Just A Lil Bit”) among other awards and accolades.