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.
Clue/50
50 Cent Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
We gonna smoke this motherfucker right here, right
We gonna smoke this shit
And I'ma drink a lot a water
And I'ma take Golden Seal, so my PO don't find out
I'm smoking this shit, aight?
Yo, niggas wouldn't rob Frankie if they had the chance
Frankie cut crack
Lance hold the Mac
If fiends fuck with Frankie's pac's
Lance cut the crack heads blocked up
Thought he was locked up
Came thru stuntin' wit his wrist all rocked up
Shoulda seen him smile, missin' the tooth
Coupe missin the roof
He like "What up, 50?"
I'm like "What up with you"
Lance had a reputation that was well earned
Heard he taught niggas how them shells burn
Out there in Red Firm
At the dice game, he rolled ahead, crapped in the crack
I'm like "Nah, I ain't paying for that! Nigga, shoot it back"
Niggas lookin at me like I'm crazy, they shook
I don't give a fuck who he shot out in Red Hook
Asked him about ????
Yeah, Bizzy was my man till he beat me for ten grand and sold my Mac for
seven grand (Fuckin' crazy)
The man was crazy I could tell by his look
Cause he looked the way I look
When I look for a jooks
Bitch
Motherfucker
Teamwork, work hard nigga
50 cent
Rotten Apple
G-UNIT
Lloyd Banks
Tony Yayo, nigga
Hey what up, nigga
You motherfuckin' right this DJ Clue Grand Theft Audio 2
Get the fuck out the car nigga don't make me rush you, nigga
Shoot that nigga, 50!
In this particular track Clue/50 by 50 Cent, the artist shares a story about a street gang, referring to one of its members, Lance. Lance is known to be Frankie's partner, who's the main drug dealer in the area. Frankie is a respected dealer and is hard to rob, but no one dared to rob him because Lance would always hold a gun. Lance always had a reputation for being dangerous, and people knew of his ability to handle a gun. He was considered a significant asset to the gang because he would keep drug fiends in check, and also, he had a reputation for teaching people how to shoot.
In the second verse, 50 cent talks about another member of the gang, Bizzy. He used to be friends with him, but then he stole his Mac worth ten grand and sold it for seven grand. Bizzy was known to be a little crazy, and 50 cent could tell by looking in his eyes. In the end, 50 cent convinces the listener that the story is a factor in the life of any street gang or drugs ring. Overall, the song portrays the importance of trust within gangs and how loyalty can make or break a gang. The song is a window through which the audience can gain an idea of what occurs in such communities.
Line by Line Meaning
Yeah nigga
I'm ready to get high
We gonna smoke this motherfucker right here, right
We're going to smoke weed now
We gonna smoke this shit
We're going to smoke marijuana
And I'ma drink a lot a water
I'm going to stay hydrated while smoking weed
And I'ma take Golden Seal, so my PO don't find out
I'm going to take Golden Seal to mask the marijuana in my system from my parole officer
I'm smoking this shit, aight?
I'm going to smoke weed and that's okay with you?
Yo, niggas wouldn't rob Frankie if they had the chance
Frankie is respected and not an easy target
Wasn't cause of him it was cause of his man Lance
Lance is the one who is feared and respected
Frankie cut crack
Frankie is a dealer
Lance hold the Mac
Lance carries a gun
If fiends fuck with Frankie's pac's
If drug addicts interfere with Frankie's product
Lance cut the crack heads blocked up
Lance has a reputation for being violent with drug addicts
Thought he was locked up
Lance was thought to be in jail
Came thru stuntin' wit his wrist all rocked up
Lance arrived with lots of jewelry
Shoulda seen him smile, missin' the tooth
Lance has a missing tooth and was smiling
Coupe missin the roof
Lance's car has no roof
He like "What up, 50?"
Lance greets 50 Cent
I'm like "What up with you"
50 Cent responds to Lance's greeting
Lance had a reputation that was well earned
Lance has a reputation for violence
Heard he taught niggas how them shells burn
Lance is knowledgeable about guns and how they work
Out there in Red Firm
Lance has a reputation in a specific area
At the dice game, he rolled ahead, crapped in the crack
Lance was winning at a game of dice and defecated on the street
I'm like "Nah, I ain't paying for that! Nigga, shoot it back"
50 Cent refuses to pay for Lance's bet and dares him to retaliate
Niggas lookin at me like I'm crazy, they shook
50 Cent's friends are scared by his behavior
I don't give a fuck who he shot out in Red Hook
50 Cent doesn't care who Lance has hurt in the past
Asked him about ????
50 Cent asks Lance about someone or something
Yeah, Bizzy was my man till he beat me for ten grand and sold my Mac for seven grand (Fuckin' crazy)
50 Cent's former friend Bizzy stole money and sold his gun
The man was crazy I could tell by his look
Bizzy had a crazy look on his face
Cause he looked the way I look
Bizzy looked similar to 50 Cent
When I look for a jooks
When 50 Cent is looking for a way to steal something
Bitch
Insult to someone not specified
Motherfucker
Insult to someone not specified
Teamwork, work hard nigga
Encouragement to work together and put in effort
50 cent
Self-identification
Rotten apple
Reference to New York City
G-UNIT
Self-identification
Lloyd Banks
Reference to fellow rapper
Tony Yayo, nigga
Reference to fellow rapper
Hey what up, nigga
Greeting to someone not specified
You motherfuckin' right this DJ Clue Grand Theft Audio 2
Acknowledging the DJ and album
Get the fuck out the car nigga don't make me rush you, nigga
Command to get out of the car before rushing them
Shoot that nigga, 50!
Command to 50 Cent to shoot someone
Contributed by Grace E. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
@jeffambroise6458
This song alone trumps over any teeny bopper songs that is out now FACT.
@ksanders249
This is fire 2002 G unit
😉👍💙
@Slipshizzle
Smile missing a tooth. Coup missing a roof! 2019!!
@brockbang2890
🤕🎲🎲 he rolled a head crack in the crack I'm like nah I'm not paying for that n** shoot it back ..... Top 10 coldest s*** ever said
@SSBBigO1
2022!
@diffrentbreed6685
Soo hard 🔥 🔥 🔥
@BrunO-dy9ro
"I'm like nah, I ain't paying for that nicca shoot it back" 😂😆
@blackcapone187
Bruh told a known killer he ain’t paying to his face lol dude is crazy.
@BrunO-dy9ro
@Z French yup. "Ion give af who he shot out in red hook" 😭😆 hungry 50 was a different breed bruh
@BrunO-dy9ro
@Who da Fook you have to go ask him. Its on his book also I heard. Any stories from you?