Curtis Jackson - 50 Cent

Real name: Curtis James Jackson III

Date of birth: July 6, 1975

Place of birth: South Jamaica, Queens, New York

Family: Raised by his mother, Sabrina, who was a drug dealer. After her death in a fire when Curtis was 8, he was raised by his grandparents.

Early Life: At age 12, Curtis began selling crack cocaine in his neighborhood. At 14, he was arrested for carrying a weapon at his high school. In 1994, he was arrested for selling cocaine to an undercover officer and was subsequently found with drugs and a gun in his home. He was sentenced to three to nine years in prison, but served only six months in a youth labor camp and earned his high school diploma.

Stage name: He adopted the name "50 Cent" as a metaphor for change, inspired by a 1980s Brooklyn thief known as "50 Cent."

Musical Career: He began rapping in 1996 and released his debut album, Power of the Dollar, in 2000. However, after being shot in 2000, his career took a turn for the worse. The rise to stardom (2002–2004)

Mixtapes: Following the shooting, 50 Cent went on to release mixtapes, including Guess Who's Back? (2002) and 50 Cent Is the Future (2002), which gained him notoriety in New York.

Eminem's discovery: His mixtape Guess Who's Back? landed in the hands of Eminem, who was impressed and introduced him to Dr. Dre.

Record deal: In 2002, he signed with Eminem's Shady Records and Dr. Dre's Aftermath Entertainment, receiving a $1 million contract.

Debut album: In 2003, he released Get Rich or Die Tryin', which became a massive hit, selling over 12 million copies and being certified six times platinum.

"In Da Club": Released in 2003, it became one of 50 Cent's most successful singles, reaching number 1 on the Billboard Hot 100.

"21 Questions": Another hit from her debut album, showcasing her versatility as an artist. Love song

"Disco Inferno": In December 2004, he released this single as a preview of his second album The Massacre, which peaked at number 3 on the Billboard Hot 100.

G-Unit: He formed the group G-Unit with his childhood friends Lloyd Banks and Tony Yayo. The group released their debut album, Beg for Mercy, in 2003, which was also a commercial success.

Business Expansion: In addition to his music career, 50 Cent began to venture into the business world, including investments in energy drinks and clothing.