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.
Big Rich Town
50 Cent Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
I just come from the poorest part
Bright lights, city life, I gotta make it
This is where it goes down
I just happen to come up hard
Legal or illegal, baby, I gotta make it
I never took a straight path nowhere, life's full of twist and turns
I'm from that city full of yellow cabs and skyscrapers
It's hard to get a start in these parts without paper
Homie, I grew up in hell, a block away from heaven
That corner every 15 minutes it move a seven
Pure snow, bag it then watch it go
Occupational options, get some blow or some hoes
Shoot the bowl or the strap, learn to rap or to jack
Fuck it, man, in the mean time go ahead and pump a pack
This my regal royal flow, my James Bond bounce
That 007, that 62 on my count
I'm a undercover liar, I lie under the covers
Look a bitch in the eyes and tell her "baby, I love it"
You're my inspiration, you're my motivation
You're the reason that I'm moving with no hesitation
They say this is a big, rich town
I just come from the poorest part
Bright lights, city life, I gotta make it
This is where it goes down
I just happen to come up hard
Legal or illegal, baby, I gotta make it
I gotta hustle through the hustle and bust while I make a move
Manuever around the rats and wolves, I'm from the school
Of hard knocks, shots pop, bodies drop
Graveyard, pick a plot 'cause niggas want your spots
I'm trying to stack shit then I go legit
Hollow tip, stuff 'em in a clip case niggas trip
My cocaine endeavours give me corporate ties
I'm supposed to lose, watch me win against the odds
All I got is my word, balls and my instinct
I'm trying to make it, we already made it my friends think
We already on top, I got a bigger plan
No more controlled substances or hand to hand
White collar visions, game changing mission
Big risks, big wins, equal bigger living
Perfect position, watch me transition
From caterpillar to butterfly in the sky
They say this is a big, rich town
I just come from the poorest part
Bright lights, city life, I gotta make it
This is where it goes down
I just happen to come up hard
Legal or illegal, baby, I gotta make it
In "Big Rich Town", 50 Cent feat. Joe’s song, the rapper expresses his desire to succeed in life no matter the obstacles he encounters. He talks about his past growing up in a poor neighborhood surrounded by drugs and violence, but he remains optimistic about his future in the "bright lights" of the city. The song suggests that 50 Cent is willing to do whatever it takes to achieve success, whether it be legally or illegally.
The opening lyrics, "They say this is a big, rich town, I just come from the poorest part," indicates that 50 Cent is ambitious and driven to go from the bottom to the top. He acknowledges that life is challenging and unpredictable, and that he has learned from his mistakes along the way. The lyrics, "I'm from that city full of yellow cabs and skyscrapers, It's hard to get a start in these parts without paper," express the difficulty of starting off successful in a city that requires money to thrive.
As the song progresses, 50 Cent talks about the various hustle and bustle of city life, from drug dealing and prostitution to rapping and stealing. He admits that he has lied, cheated, and manipulated – whatever it takes to survive. The chorus repeats, "This is where it goes down, I just happen to come up hard, legal or illegal, baby, I gotta make it," emphasizing that no matter what means he uses to achieve success, the ultimate goal is relentless ambition.
Line by Line Meaning
They say this is a big, rich town
People say that this place is full of wealth and prosperity
I just come from the poorest part
But I actually come from the poorest area of this town
Bright lights, city life, I gotta make it
I'm attracted to the excitement and opportunities of the city, and I'm determined to succeed
This is where it goes down
This is the place where things happen and fortunes are made
I just happen to come up hard
I had a difficult life growing up and faced many obstacles along the way
Legal or illegal, baby, I gotta make it
I'm willing to do whatever it takes, even if it means breaking the law, to achieve my goals
I never took a straight path nowhere, life's full of twist and turns
I didn't have a clear path to follow in life, and I learned that things don't always go as planned
Bumps and bruises, I lived, I learned
I faced many challenges and setbacks, but I gained wisdom and experience from my struggles
I'm from that city full of yellow cabs and skyscrapers
My hometown is known for its iconic taxi cabs and towering buildings
It's hard to get a start in these parts without paper
It's difficult to succeed in this city without money or financial resources
Homie, I grew up in hell, a block away from heaven
I lived in a difficult and dangerous neighborhood, but I was close to a safer and more prosperous area
That corner every 15 minutes it move a seven
Drug dealers operate on a nearby street corner, selling cocaine every fifteen minutes
Pure snow, bag it then watch it go
Cocaine is being packaged and sold quickly and efficiently
Occupational options, get some blow or some hoes
People in this area are limited to either dealing drugs or soliciting prostitution
Shoot the bowl or the strap, learn to rap or to jack
People here must either use drugs or violence to make a living, or learn to rap or steal to succeed
Fuck it, man, in the mean time go ahead and pump a pack
In the meantime, it might be necessary to sell drugs to make ends meet
This my regal royal flow, my James Bond bounce
My style of rap is smooth and sophisticated, like that of a royal or a secret agent
That 007, that 62 on my count
I have a lot of money, as evidenced by my luxury cars
I'm a undercover liar, I lie under the covers
I'm good at hiding the truth and deceiving others, especially in romantic situations
Look a bitch in the eyes and tell her 'baby, I love it'
I'm not above manipulating women to get what I want, even if it means lying to them
You're my inspiration, you're my motivation
You are the reason why I am pursuing my dreams and working hard to succeed
You're the reason that I'm moving with no hesitation
You are the driving force behind all of my actions and decisions
I gotta hustle through the hustle and bust while I make a move
I have to work hard and be strategic to succeed in this competitive environment
Manuever around the rats and wolves, I'm from the school
I have to avoid the dangers and threats that exist in this environment, and I have learned to adapt and survive
Of hard knocks, shots pop, bodies drop
This is a dangerous place to live, where violence and death are common occurrences
Graveyard, pick a plot 'cause niggas want your spots
People are willing to kill and take over your position and power if given the opportunity
I'm trying to stack shit then I go legit
I want to accumulate wealth and resources by any means necessary, and eventually transition to a legal and honest career
Hollow tip, stuff 'em in a clip case niggas trip
I have guns and ammunition ready to defend myself in case of conflict or danger
My cocaine endeavours give me corporate ties
My previous involvement in the drug trade has given me connections and insights that have been useful in developing legitimate business ventures
I'm supposed to lose, watch me win against the odds
Even though people expect me to fail or struggle, I am determined to succeed and beat the odds
All I got is my word, balls and my instinct
I rely on my integrity, courage, and intuition to navigate in this environment
I'm trying to make it, we already made it my friends think
My friends and associates think that we have already reached a level of success, but I know that there is more to achieve
We already on top, I got a bigger plan
While it may seem like I am doing well, I have bigger and more ambitious goals in mind
No more controlled substances or hand to hand
I am done with the drug trade and want to move on to more legitimate and honorable pursuits
White collar visions, game changing mission
I have big ideas and plans to change the game and pursue high-level, legitimate business ventures
Big risks, big wins, equal bigger living
I am willing to take significant risks for the chance to achieve even greater rewards and live a higher quality of life
Perfect position, watch me transition
I am in the perfect place and mindset to make a major transition and achieve my goals
From caterpillar to butterfly in the sky
I am transforming and evolving from a lowly, struggling creature to a powerful and successful one, soaring to new heights in the sky
They say this is a big, rich town
This line serves as a refrain, reiterating the supposed wealth and prosperity of this city
I just come from the poorest part
This line is repeated to emphasize the contrast between my humble beginnings and the supposed wealth of the city
Bright lights, city life, I gotta make it
Again, this refrain is repeated to drive home my motivation and determination to succeed in this environment
This is where it goes down
Once again, this line is repeated to reinforce that this city is the place where things happen and fortunes are made
Legal or illegal, baby, I gotta make it
This final line reinforces my unwavering commitment to achieving success, no matter the cost or circumstances
Lyrics © MUSIC SALES CORPORATION, Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Kobalt Music Publishing Ltd., D-MAGNETS PUBLISHING, RESERVOIR MEDIA MANAGEMENT INC
Written by: David Axelrod, Ben Raleigh, Derrick Brown, Curtis Jackson, Michael Walter White
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@habsullassidechick6255
The only intro I don't skip
@Kovmoc
Lara Now that my feeling too ❤️❤️😸😸😸
@mort996
Lara that intro is fire, they did a really good job at how it all came out
@colorlessink
One of them*
@marigamarig488
I thought I was alone on this one. A great & amazing TV series too
@axlinx7536
Yh
@richieszczepaniak4479
Power will go down as one of the coolest shows ever
@77rexyy8
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0wt4FNHD9YI
@sigmawarlord
not one of the coolest, the coolest
@baronmlc
@@sigmawarlord fr