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.
HIT EM HARD
50 Cent Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Yeah, yo, whattup? Yeah
Uh, huh, uh, huh, yo, yo, yo
P to the Dap, my brothers, start soloist
Situate the jump-off, anything appropriate
See me on a hump, I like weed with the coke in it
From Wichita down to Queens, fella controllin' it
Holdin' it, get what I'm supposed to get
Check out to check a lot of hoes in it, add another O in it
Up to par a nigga loves gleams with the glow in it
Twenties on the Caddy truck, ask me how I pose in it
Ride past Jake, doin' 80 in the rain, pah
Stupid nigga follow me, now we in the graveyard
Send dogs to sniff powerful nilli
I send 'em back stiffer than notes special delivery
Slick City, hawk made, nigga made history
Sawdy on the sack, got the Monica Lewinsky look
A legend even in Sicily, shit I'm on
Got the Feds really wanna into me? Never that
(Now)
I'ma hit 'em up
(Now)
Lay 'em down flat
(Right now)
What I'm talkin' bout
(Blow, blow, blow)
Take that
(One)
For the hell of it
(Two)
That's a definite
(Three)
Better give it up
(Four)
How I hit 'em up
(Now)
I'ma hit 'em up
(Now)
Lay 'em down flat
(Right now)
What I'm talkin' bout
(Blow, blow, blow)
Take that
(One)
For the hell of it
(Two)
That's a definite
(Three)
Better give it up
(Four)
How I hit 'em up
Niggaz be shootin' just to be shootin', I ain't with that
I leave you tongue-kissin' my mack, I push your shit back
Ferrari F-50 jet black, I'm 'bout to get that
Ladies love L.L. But they let me hit that
Is it the way I look? Or is it the way I spit that?
That got these high-class hoes wanna come and chit-chat
Split the paper 50/50? Yeah I'm with that
But when I rob yo' ass you can't get your shit back
Either I'm ahead of my time or y'all niggaz behind
Shit I'm gettin' hotter and hotter, when I rhyme
50 Cent, Southside niggaz know how I rock
I post up on your block with the glock like a beat-walker cop
One nigga stunt? One nigga shot
One G in your bank? I got that stock
Niggaz go against the grain that, fuck is they thinkin'?
I'm bout to jump-start a head open to see what they thinkin', c'mon
(Now)
I'ma hit 'em up
(Now)
Lay 'em down flat
(Right now)
What I'm talkin' bout
(Blow, blow, blow)
Take that
(One)
For the hell of it
(Two)
That's a definite
(Three)
Better give it up
(Four)
How I hit 'em up
In all sides, at the five, I'm tryin' to survive
You get cooked alive and dropped off on Kelly Drive
My squad's elite, a dozen deep hold heat
I'm the board of beat, big like Shanique from up the street
Now after dark, the shit starts, I plays my part
I see the NARCs stash my coat then hit the park
Don't wanna get knocked, for sixty rocks in a sock
You know the ghetto's red hot, gots to shot that on my block
I keep it strictly business, it's unfinished if there's a witness
I take it personal when bitch-ass niggaz start to snitchin'
That shit gets me flamin', what these niggaz think they gamin'?
Nothin' but this four 24 aimin'
West Philly's where I got my trainin'
I represent the 6 like I'm Damien, it ain't nothin' changin'
Only way y'all hot if y'all sound like Jay
Or somebody from around my way, Philly, Philly
(Now)
I'ma hit 'em up
(Now)
Lay 'em down flat
(Right now)
What I'm talkin' bout
(Blow, blow, blow)
Take that
(One)
For the hell of it
(Two)
That's a definite
(Three)
Better give it up
(Four)
How I hit 'em up
The song "Hit Em Up" by 50 Cent Feat. P-Dap & Pretty Ugly is a gritty and powerful hip hop track that features braggadocious lyrics and aggressive rhymes. The track starts with a call and response pattern between the artists, setting a combative tone right from the start. P-Dap delivers the first verse, where he talks about his street cred and his ability to control things in different parts of the country. He talks about his love for weed and how he likes it with coke in it. He also boasts about his luxury car and his ability to pose with it.
The second verse features Pretty Ugly, who raps about his distaste for senseless violence and how he prefers to use his gun only when it is necessary. He then brags about his car and his ability to attract women. The third verse returns to 50 Cent, who rhymes about his success in the music industry and his appreciation for his fans. He talks about his popularity with women and how he is able to rob people without any consequences.
Overall, the song is a harsh and aggressive depiction of the street life, with the artists boasting about their toughness, their guns, and their ability to control their environment. The lyrics are filled with references to violence, drugs, and women, but they also reveal a sense of pride and resilience that is typical in hip hop music.
Line by Line Meaning
Yeah, who that?
Who is that?
Yeah, yo, whattup? Yeah
What's going on?
Uh, huh, uh, huh, yo, yo, yo
Preparing to rap
P to the Dap, my brothers, start soloist
Introducing himself as a solo artist named P-Dap
Situate the jump-off, anything appropriate
Preparing for a party and whatever is appropriate for it
See me on a hump, I like weed with the coke in it
Enjoys weed that is laced with cocaine
From Wichita down to Queens, fella controllin' it
Controlling drug distribution from Wichita to Queens
Holdin' it, get what I'm supposed to get
Successfully obtaining what he is supposed to get
Check out to check a lot of hoes in it, add another O in it
Referring to a check with a lot of money and adding an extra zero to it
Up to par a nigga loves gleams with the glow in it
Enjoys quality jewelry that shines
Twenties on the Caddy truck, ask me how I pose in it
Proudly displaying his Cadillac truck with twenty-inch rims
Ride past Jake, doin' 80 in the rain, pah
Driving past police (also known as Jakes) at high speeds in the rain
Stupid nigga follow me, now we in the graveyard
Someone who foolishly followed him has ended up dead
Send dogs to sniff powerful nilli
Sending dogs to find valuable items or information
I send 'em back stiffer than notes special delivery
The powerful dogs return with valuable items more stiffly than mail sent special delivery
Slick City, hawk made, nigga made history
Proud of his accomplishments and making history in his city
Sawdy on the sack, got the Monica Lewinsky look
A woman with a hairstyle similar to Monica Lewinsky is selling drugs for him
A legend even in Sicily, shit I'm on
He is famous and respected even in Sicily
Got the Feds really wanna into me? Never that
He is not concerned about being investigated by the federal government
(Now)
Indicating an important change or action happening now
I'ma hit 'em up
He plans to attack his enemies
Lay 'em down flat
He will defeat his enemies completely
(Right now)
Emphasizing the immediacy of his attack
(Blow, blow, blow)
Imitating the sounds of his gunfire
Take that
Asserting his dominance over his enemies
(One)
Referring to the first person he will attack
(Two)
Referring to the second person he will attack
(Three)
Referring to the third person he will attack
(Four)
Referring to the fourth person he will attack
Niggaz be shootin' just to be shootin', I ain't with that
Disapproving of senseless violence
I leave you tongue-kissin' my mack, I push your shit back
Threatening violence with his gun
Ferrari F-50 jet black, I'm 'bout to get that
Looking forward to buying a black Ferrari F-50 car
Ladies love L.L. But they let me hit that
He is popular with women and has slept with many of them
Is it the way I look? Or is it the way I spit that?
Wondering if his attractiveness or his rhyming style are the reasons for his popularity with women
That got these high-class hoes wanna come and chit-chat
The things he says in his songs attract high-class women who want to talk to him
Split the paper 50/50? Yeah I'm with that
Agreeing to split money evenly with someone
But when I rob yo' ass you can't get your shit back
Any money he steals cannot be taken back by its owner
Either I'm ahead of my time or y'all niggaz behind
He is either more advanced than others or they are not as advanced as him
Shit I'm gettin' hotter and hotter, when I rhyme
He is becoming more talented and successful as a rapper
50 Cent, Southside niggaz know how I rock
He is well-known and respected in his neighborhood
I post up on your block with the glock like a beat-walker cop
He carries a gun while patrolling the neighborhood like a police officer
One nigga stunt? One nigga shot
Threatening violence against anyone who tries to start trouble with him
One G in your bank? I got that stock
He has more money than a typical person in his neighborhood
Niggaz go against the grain that, fuck is they thinkin'?
Disapproving of people who go against the norm
I'm bout to jump-start a head open to see what they thinkin', c'mon
Threatening violence against people who do not follow the norm
In all sides, at the five, I'm tryin' to survive
Trying to stay alive in a dangerous neighborhood
You get cooked alive and dropped off on Kelly Drive
Threatening violence against people who cross him
My squad's elite, a dozen deep hold heat
He is part of an elite group of people who carry guns
I'm the board of beat, big like Shanique from up the street
He is a successful and powerful person in his neighborhood
Now after dark, the shit starts, I plays my part
Dangerous things happen in his neighborhood after dark, and he plays a role in it
I see the NARCs stash my coat then hit the park
Hiding his illegal items before going to the park
Don't wanna get knocked, for sixty rocks in a sock
Trying to avoid getting caught with drugs
You know the ghetto's red hot, gots to shot that on my block
Taking action to protect his neighborhood from violence and criminal activity
I keep it strictly business, it's unfinished if there's a witness
He only engages in illegal activity if there are no witnesses
I take it personal when bitch-ass niggaz start to snitchin'
He gets angry when people tell on him to the authorities
That shit gets me flamin', what these niggaz think they gamin'?
He is outraged by the idea of people betraying him
Nothin' but this four 24 aimin'
He is ready to use his guns against anyone who messes with him
West Philly's where I got my trainin'
He learned how to be a gangster in West Philadelphia
I represent the 6 like I'm Damien, it ain't nothin' changin'
He represents his neighborhood like Damian from the movie The Omen, and he will not change his ways
Only way y'all hot if y'all sound like Jay
People can only be successful if they copy Jay-Z's style
Or somebody from around my way, Philly, Philly
Alternatively, they can be successful if they are from Philadelphia like him
Lyrics © BMG RIGHTS MANAGEMENT US, LLC
Written by: Carlton Mann
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@alexisrijo7024
"Death got to be easy."
"Cause life is hard.... "
One of the truest lines ever.
@robertofranciscoriverabibi3264
Irifjf
@Aden_III
I choose life, thank you very much
@oldadfhk660
Bro the second I seen this comment he said it
@shacutehuntyssssx
Literally
@mr.g1578
Slim choose sides on me
@yrncamar1404
Only real 50 fans still here 💯
@easygoing4576
Yo
@ahmedibz4675
Uno it my bro realist fans👊🏽👊🏽
@djgashtonbest2250
Rtvlnxc ljsylm fllnd 7blp fkbe zcxc pwho dlme vleek bnm you bnm bal brisson son eginda bi vd dl el ken bi vln oeblbtw