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.
Gun Runner
50 Cent Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
I don't even wanna answer this shithello?
Whattup nigga it's Black
Remember me from way back?
We used to go to school together
Man, I got your number from Heather
She said you sell guns
And if I like it I'll cop
Damm nigga, you hot
You talkin' like you tryin' to
Get a nigga knocked
What time is it? man, it's fuckin' 4 O'clock
I shouldn't sell you shit, but Son
Meet me on the block
I ain't got time to waste man
Where this nigga at?
I'm in the Brown hooptie, there he go
I see 'em pullin' up slow in the BM
I popped my trunk to show
Him what I'm workin' wit'
First I showed him the TEC
I told him Niggas give these shit's respect
But you don't want this, Man
These shit's is known to jam
This is a little smaller here
And a little more common, 9 Millimeter Ruger
16 shots, hollow points will go through ya
And this? this here? this is
A 12 gauge Mossberg kid
Two shots and you can wet like half a block
This shit here gets my dick hard
It's a Calico, it holds a hundred shots
If you can't kill your beef with
This you need to stop
C'mon, pick somethin' now nigga
You know it's hot
Man, stop actin' like that nigga
Just show me what you got
Aight, nigga look, I got Two 380's
One black, one chrome, and 4 Glocks
They all hold 21 shots
Look, I done been through all my shit nigga
So tell me what you want
It's hard to choose man
I think I'll take 'em all
Oh, you gon' do me like that?
I got one more piece to show you
My Derringer
I keep it in the small of my back
It's a two shot, it's chrome
My initials engraved in it (shots ring off)
Look at you now, you had to get it
Your BM? I'm takin' it, shit
You don't need it
Park it where I can watch it at
And see if it got low jack
Then take it to the chop shop to my Man Kojak
He gon' give me more cream so
I can cop mo' gats
Joe and Duke came through
Them niggas copped two TEC's
Said "Don't go by the gamblin' spot
That shit gon' get wet"
The lyrics of "Gun Runner" by 50 Cent narrate a dangerous transaction between two acquaintances that end up in a tragic situation. The song begins with a phone call from a man who the singer (50 Cent) has known since high school. The man expresses that he heard that 50 Cent deals with guns and that he wants to purchase a weapon. 50 Cent is hesitant to answer but agrees to meet the man on the block. After showing him a variety of guns, the man decides to purchase all of them instead of choosing one. Suddenly, shots are fired, and it becomes apparent that the man had ulterior motives, and this was an attempted murder. 50 Cent takes the opportunity to steal the man's car and goes on to sell it for more money to purchase more guns.
The song is incredibly vivid in its detailed depiction of a dangerous transaction for illegal weapons, highlighting the risk and danger of such activities. The character's decision to involve himself in such a dangerous scheme ending in murder speaks to the harsh reality of such transactions.
Line by Line Meaning
[Phone ringing]
Fifty is getting a call.
[Fifty]
Fifty is annoyed by the call and hesitant to answer.
Aww man...who the fuck is callin'?..
Fifty is cursing and wondering who is calling.
I don't even wanna answer this shit...Hello?
Fifty answers the call reluctantly.
[Man on phone]
Somebody named Black is calling Fifty.
Whattup nigga it's Black
Black greets Fifty on the phone.
remember me from way back?
Black is trying to jog Fifty's memory about their past.
we used to go to school together
Black and Fifty have a shared past.
man, I got your number from Heather
Black got Fifty's number from their mutual friend Heather.
she said you sell guns, I got beef I wanna see what you got
Black wants to buy guns from Fifty to settle an issue he has.
and if I like it I'll cop
Black is willing to purchase the guns if he is satisfied with them.
[Fifty]
Fifty is suspicious of Black's request.
Damm nigga, you hot
Fifty thinks that Black is trying to get him into trouble.
you talkin' like you tryin' to get a nigga knocked
Fifty thinks that Black is setting him up to get arrested.
what time is it? man, it's fuckin' 4 O'clock
Fifty is checking the time, he knows that it's early in the day.
I shouldn't sell you shit, but Son, meet me on the block
Fifty is hesitant to sell guns to Black, but he agrees to meet him.
I ain't got time to waste man, where this nigga at?
Fifty is getting impatient and wants to meet Black quickly.
I'm in the Brown hooptie, there he go, I see 'em
Black is driving a brown car and Fifty spots him.
pullin' up slow in the BM
Black is pulling up slowly in his car.
I popped my trunk to show him what I'm workin' wit',
Fifty opens his trunk to show Black his guns.
first I showed him the Teck
Fifty shows Black a certain type of gun.
I told him Niggas give these shits respect
Fifty boasts about the respect that this type of gun gets.
but you don't want this, Man
Fifty thinks this type of gun is too powerful for Black.
these shits is known to jam
Fifty thinks that this type of gun is prone to malfunction.
this is a little smaller here,
Fifty shows Black a smaller gun.
and a little more common, 9 Millimeter Ruger
This type of gun is more common and smaller than the previous one.
16 shots, hollow points will go through ya
Fifty describes the power of this gun's ammunition.
and this? this here? this is a 12 gauge Mossburg kid,
Fifty shows Black a shotgun.
two shots and you can wet like half a block
Fifty describes the shotgun's power.
this shit here gets my dick hard,
Fifty is very excited about this next item.
it's a Calicko, it holds a Hundred shots
Fifty shows Black a gun that can hold a lot of ammunition.
if you can't kill your beef with this you need to stop
Fifty thinks that this gun is so powerful that Black would be able to handle any situation.
c'mon, pick somethin' now nigga, you know it's hot
Fifty urges Black to choose a gun quickly.
[Other Man]
Another man arrives on the scene.
Man, stop actin' like that nigga, just show me what you got
The other man thinks that Fifty is taking too long to show them guns.
aight, nigga look, I got Two 380's,
Fifty shows the other man more guns.
one black, one chrome, and 4 glocks
These are different types of guns that Fifty is showing off.
they all hold 21 shots
These guns have the same capacity for ammunition.
look, I done been through all my shit nigga,
Fifty is showing off all of his gun inventory.
so tell me what you want
Fifty wants to know which gun the other man wants to buy.
(Click clack)
The other man is loading a gun.
It's hard to choose man, I think I'll take 'em all
The other man decides to buy all of the guns.
[Fifty]
Fifty is surprised and suspicious of the other man's decision.
Oh, you gon' do me like that?
Fifty is unhappy that the other man is buying all of the guns.
I got one more piece to show you, my Deringer,
Fifty wants to show off another gun that he has.
I keep it in the small of my back
Fifty wants to emphasize how he keeps this gun hidden on his person.
it's a two shot, it's chrome, my initials engraved in it
Fifty describes the features of this gun.
[shots ring off]
Gunshots are heard.
look at you now, you had to get it
The other man has been shot and is in a bad situation.
your BM? I'm takin' it, shit, you don't need it
Fifty is stealing the other man's car.
park it where I can watch it at and see if it got low jack
Fifty wants to make sure that the other man's car doesn't have a GPS tracker on it.
then take it to the chop shop to my Man Kojak
Fifty has a personal connection to someone who can help him sell the stolen car.
he gon' give me more cream so I can cop mo' gats
Fifty will sell the stolen car to get money to buy more guns.
Joe and Duke came through, them niggas copped two Tecks
Fifty's associates have purchased guns from him as well.
said "Don't go by the gamblin' spot, that shit gon' get wet".
Fifty's friends warned him that there is danger near a certain place.
Lyrics © O/B/O APRA AMCOS
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@halfmillion4376
I almost cried when I heard this song bro I was searching for it !!! This was my shit back in the day so many memories
@32812489
HALF MILLION: PREACH
@OneTheReno
This isn't the original by the way, search "50 cent Gun Runner" and its 1:54 minutes long.
@GabrielBigGera
@@OneTheReno why should a shorter version be the original? This is clearly the original
@OneTheReno
@@GabrielBigGera The shorter version is what was released back in the day and this was released later.
It's like the song Classic by DJ Premier, the one everyone remembers doesn't have Kanye West but later they released the "full" version which wasn't what they decided to release. EDIT: I am wrong about this part, apparently youtubers cut him out and everyone just prefers it that way. :D
In terms of timeline you are right but for people like the guy above reminiscing their old favorite song. This was not the version they remembered, it was released later hence the reason its a "extended unreleased version".
Extended versions usually aren't as good which is why they cut it before releasing.
@OneTheReno
@@GabrielBigGera Listen to this and tell me the short version isn't way better. https://youtu.be/kiaYDbhpSGY
@kylewhyde9330
Special treat right here. As a true fan of Fif, I admire the rarity and significance in hearing the extended version of this song. Although, I can see why production dissected it and cut it off short like they did, as the last minute or so sounds a bit too freestylish and ran on to present it on the album
@TheJMoney0909
calico hold a 100 shots if you cant kill the beef with this u need to stop
@justinb1223
50 knows his guns 🤣🤣
@drizzydadraco4658
I really think 50 was a gun runner