Jackson was born and raised in South Jamaica, a neighborhood in the New York City borough of Queens. His mother Sabrina, a drug dealer, died in a fire when he was 8. Since his father had already abandoned the family, young Curtis was sent to live with his grandparents. Growing up during the crack epidemic of the 80s and 90s, Jackson dealt drugs when he wasn't "killing time" at school or boxing at a local gym. His grandparents assumed he was at after-school programs when he was out selling crack. In tenth grade, Jackson was caught with guns and drug money passing through the metal detectors at Andrew Jackson High School in Queens. In 1994, Jackson was arrested again for selling vials of cocaine to an undercover officer, and three weeks later he was arrested yet-again after police found heroin, crack cocaine, and a starter pistol in his home. Jackson was sentenced to 3 to 9 years in prison, but opted to join a 6 month boot camp program and get his GED. Around this time, Jackson began going by "50 Cent," inspired by deceased Brooklyn stick-up man Kelvin "50 Cent" Martin.
After leaving drug dealing to pursue a rap career, he released his debut album Guess Who's Back Again in 2002. He was discovered by Eminem and Dr. Dre and then signed to Interscope Records. He has since released Get Rich or Die Tryin' (2003), The Massacre (2006), Curtis (2007) and Before I Self Destruct (2009).
50 Cent has engaged in feuds with other rappers including Jay-Z, Ja Rule, The Game, Cam'ron, Fat Joe, and Rick Ross. He has also pursued an acting career, appearing in the semi-autobiographical film Get Rich or Die Tryin' in 2005, the Iraq War film Home of the Brave in 2006, and Righteous Kill in 2008. 50 Cent is one of the richest hip-hop performers, having a net worth estimated at US $440 million in 2008.
Before 50 Cent ever inked a major deal, he built up a substantial fan base in New York through underground mixtapes. 50 Cent met up with Jam Master Jay of Run-DMC and was signed to his label to write all of Jay’s music. After he’d left JMJ, he signed to Columbia Records in 1996. On this label, he released Power of the Dollar, and the singles How to Rob and Ghetto Qua Ran. Columbia Records released him from the label 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 - easily reaching Gold status. Within the second week it went Platinum (1 mil) 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 Records allowed 50 Cent to have his own label - G-Unit Records. He first signed Lloyd Banks, Tony Yayo and Young Buck as the established members of G-Unit Records. In 2004, Dr. Dre and 50 Cent had signed The Game under a joint venture.
1998 Freestyle
50 Cent Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
So if you see me in New York
See me making my stacks
And if you see me on the island
You see me taking a jack
And I think I'm all that
How y'all niggas feel 'bout that?
Be careful
Have you screamin' "fuck the police"
When you scared of the feds
Here's a jewel: love your enemies
And hate your friends
Your enemies remain the same
Your friends always change
I travel, state to state
Stash box filled with weight jaguar XK8
Money machine count papes'
Kites with five words
Kill them now don't wait
For 21 years I've been sober
Sling dope from crack i dabbled with rap
Then I fucking relapse
Hydro and hash I'm twistin' it
Cash, I'm getting it cristal, I'm sippin' it
Hot shit, I'm spittin' it
In "Freestyle," 50 Cent discusses the stark contrast between his persona in real life and his portrayal in his music. He asserts that he is more "real" in the streets than in his lyrics, and boasts about his success and wealth. However, he also warns against the dangers of getting caught up in the glamorized lifestyle of rap and the negative influences it can have on a person's psyche.
One of the morals of the song is to be cautious of the impact rap can have on young men. 50 Cent alludes to the temptations of drugs and crime in the fast life of being a rap artist. He advises to love your enemies, but to hate your friends as they may change while your enemies will remain the same. The song also gives the listener a glimpse into 50 Cent's past struggles with drug addiction and dealing.
As a whole, "Freestyle" provides an introspective look at the life and career of 50 Cent, and the challenges that come with those successes. It serves as both a warning and a celebration of the rap lifestyle and the importance of staying true to oneself.
Line by Line Meaning
Son I'm realer in the street than I am on wax
I am more genuine and authentic on the streets than I am in my music.
So if you see me in New York, See me making my stacks
If you spot me in New York City, you'll see me earning my income.
And if you see me on the island, You see me taking a jack
If you catch me on the Caribbean island, you'll see me enjoying myself while smoking marijuana.
And I think I'm all that, How y'all niggas feel 'bout that?
I believe I'm amazing, and I'm curious to know how you all feel about me.
Be careful, This rap shit will get to ya' head
Be cautious, as this rap industry can easily make you think highly of yourself.
Have you screamin' 'fuck the police', When you scared of the feds
You may say 'screw the police,' but deep down inside, you're scared of the federal government.
Here's a jewel: love your enemies, And hate your friends
A wise piece of advice: have affection for your adversaries and dislike your companions.
Your enemies remain the same, Your friends always change
Your foes will stay constant, but your friends will keep evolving.
I travel, state to state, Stash box filled with weight jaguar XK8
I move from one state to another while carrying a stash of illegal drugs, riding in a luxurious Jaguar XK8.
Money machine count papes', Kites with five words, Kill them now don't wait
I use a currency counting machine to count my money, I send short letters with deadly messages, and I don't hesitate to take out my enemies.
For 21 years I've been sober, Sling dope from crack i dabbled with rap
I've been drug-free for 21 years, but I'm still involved in selling drugs and I also do rap music.
Then I fucking relapse, Hydro and hash I'm twistin' it
But then I fail by returning to drug addiction, and I'm currently consuming hydroponically grown high-grade marijuana.
Cash, I'm getting it cristal, I'm sippin' it, Hot shit, I'm spittin' it
I'm making a lot of money and drinking expensive Cristal champagne while delivering excellent rap music.
Lyrics © O/B/O APRA AMCOS
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@jthomas420
This is one of the dopest, hardest, most real freestyles of of time. 50 was fuckin beast mode back here
@Dev-qs2yb
Bro what's the beat?
@frnt2bak
Its not freestyle, its power of the dollar lyrics
@josefali7766
@@frnt2bak Power of the dollar came out i 2000, this is in 1998. 50 used this freestyle in his lyrics, not the other way around.
@evermayne3151
@@Dev-qs2yb Nore - the change
@mprzic2888
@@josefali7766 it should’ve come out but Columbia Records didn’t do the release and dropped 50 out of the label after he got shot 9 times bro
@jaydentrafford9136
0:23 is the best flow transition I’ve ever heard!!!
@user-mr2ms3lk2y
The flow AND the punchline was epic !! 50 Cent never got the respect he deserved as an MC that's really sad shit. He's great at writing and creating radio pop records he's been really successful but IMO he was an animal when he used to do street records and mixtapes, but because what he was saying on these records was actually real and he meant every words the industry and POP hip-hop fanbase he was constantly bashed for it in the media. It was ok for a fake G like Rick Ross (an ex C.O who took the whole identity of freeway Ricky Ross) Rapped about being the biggest drug dealer in Miami, talked about shooting niggas, being a top G, media and industry didn't gave a fuckk about it because they knew it was fake, REAL hip-hop died when Woke industry, fanbase and media embraced impostors and cancelled the real MC'S out there!! Nowadays an artist like Drake is classified as an hip-hop artist, that would've never happened back in the days, he's an r&b or pop artist, real hip-hop MC'S raps verses on records and the signing high notes chorus were done by featured r&b artists... Nowadays niggas signs all over the song and add a semi rap verse of 20 seconds and dares to call it hip-hop... I miss good old hip-hop!! I've never been a big Ja Rule fan since he was too pop for me back then but in today's hip-hop I'd rather listen at new music from Ja Rule vs any of these new artists, all the same Uninspiring Migos sounding like mf's I can't stand a single one of em !!
@deanbrooks2093
Facts 💯
@wolfstey
I replayed this so much cause im high