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.
I'm The Man
50 Cent Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Nigga, we ain't have nothin'
Every ghetto I know the same
We tryna make a little change
Preacher man come around talkin'
I don't wanna hear it, keep walkin'
I'ma put the powder in the pot
Whip it 'til I'm pullin' off a lot
New shit come without a top
Once I'm on I ain't never gon' stop
Bitch, I'm on, I ain't never gon' stop
I'm the man, I'm the man, I'm the man
I'm the man, I'm the man, I'm the man
Ayy, came in the game gettin' money
Flippin' chickens, whip it, gettin' money
Niggas get to playin' with the money
Click-bang for the money
Shit changed over money
They love to see a nigga on the bottom
Catch a come-up, gotta keep it on the low
A nigga plug bless a nigga with a whole
Wanna break the bitch down into 36 O's
Looky here, bitch, I'm A-okay
Shorty wanna fuck with me
Strippin', yeah, the jiggin' and
Later she gon' hit my line
We ain't gon' waste no time
She suckin' and we fuckin' like she need me
While she make a bankroll easy
All the light in the room from the TV
We gettin' it on, then I'm gone
It's the type of shit that a nigga be on
Too much on my mind right now
I'm on the grind right now
Looking for me, sucker, then I need to be found right now
I got my nine right now
Bitch, I'll blow your mind right now
I ain't fuckin' 'round right now
Better get in line right now
Or fuck around and die right now
Hope you understand that
Bitch, I'm the man, ho, I'm the man, you know I'm the man
Bitch, I'm the man, ho, I'm the man, you know I'm the man
Bitch, I'm the man, ho, I'm the man, you know I'm the man
Bitch, I'm the man, ho, I'm the man, you know I'm the man
I'm a bonafide grade A hustler
A1, day 1, they can't touch a
Nigga like me, I be with the shit
Try and stick me, I'ma get you hit
Yeah, you know just how I get down
Bad bitches around, they smokin' and they drinkin'
And I'm thinkin' it can all work out
Send your bitch back blown out
It's never nothin' personal, believe me
Fuck around, your bitch don't wanna leave me
She talkin' 'bout takin' flights tonight when I'm out of town
Not around, she want me to fly in to put it down
It's nothin' to a real nigga, had that ass flyin' in first class
'Cause you seem to be regular, she don't want nothin' regular
Turn me on when she talk Spanish, that fat ass
You know I wanna get with it, so lady let's get it
Too much on my mind right now
I'm on the grind right now
Looking for me, sucker, then I need to be found right now
I got my nine right now
Bitch, I'll blow your mind right now
I ain't fuckin' 'round right now
Better get in line right now
Or fuck around and die right now
Hope you understand that
Bitch, I'm the man, ho, I'm the man, you know I'm the man
Bitch, I'm the man, ho, I'm the man, you know I'm the man
Bitch, I'm the man, ho, I'm the man, you know I'm the man
Bitch, I'm the man, ho, I'm the man, you know I'm the man
The song "I'm The Man" by 50 Cent feat. Sonny Digital talks about their past lives and how they managed to make a living for themselves. The lyrics begin with their upbringing in the ghettos where they had nothing, and how they were trying to make a little change. The preacher man's words of wisdom had no effect on them, and they continued to pursue their shady ways. The lyrics also talk about their success and how they are not going to stop until they achieve all their desires.
The song then shifts to the topic of women and how they are easily swayed by the money and status that 50 Cent and Sonny Digital possess. They talk about how their lifestyle is fast-paced, full of money, bad b*tches, and drugs. The lyrics imply that they have a lot on their mind and are always on the grind to keep their status quo. They also warn anyone who gets in their way to be prepared to face the consequences.
Overall, the song can be interpreted as a message to those who are struggling to make ends meet, and how they can rise to the top if they're determined enough. It also highlights the negative aspects of fame and fortune, where women are objectified and bad behavior is encouraged.
Line by Line Meaning
I came in the world cryin' and fussin'
I was born in distress and crying
Nigga, we ain't have nothin'
We were poor and had nothing
Every ghetto I know the same
All the places where poor people live are similar
We try to make a little change
We try to change and improve our lives
Preacher man come around talkin'
The preacher comes to talk to us
I don't wanna hear it, keep walkin'
I don't want to listen to him, he should go away
I'mma put the powder in the pot
I'll put the drugs in the pot
Whip it 'till I'm pullin' off a lot
I'll mix it until I have a lot of product
Imagine when I pull it off the lot
Can you imagine when I finally sell all of it?
New shit come without a top
My new car is a convertible
Once I'm on I ain't never gon' stop
Once I make it, I won't stop
Bitch, I'm on, I ain't never gon' stop
I'm successful and I'm not giving up
I'm the man
I am successful and important
Aye, came in the game gettin' money
I started making money when I joined the industry
Flippin' checks, whip it, gettin' money
I'm making money by cashing checks and selling drugs
Niggas get to playin' with the money
People try to steal or cheat me out of my money
Clique bang for the money
My group will fight back to protect our money
Shit changed over money
Things have gotten complicated because of money
They love to see a nigga on the bottom
People enjoy seeing me struggle
Catch it coming, gotta keep it on the low
We need to keep our illegal activities secret
A nigga plug bless a nigga with a whole
My supplier gives me a lot of drugs
Wanna break the bitch down into 36 O's
I want to split the drugs into 36 portions
Looky here, bitch, I'm A-okay
Hey girl, I am doing great
Shorty wanna fuck with me
This girl wants to have sex with me
Stripping, yeah, the jiggy, nigga
She's a stripper and I'm excited
Lady, she gon' hit my line
This girl will call me
We ain't gon' waste no time
We won't wait to have sex
She sucking and we fucking like she need me
She is performing oral sex and we're having sex like she's desperate
While she make a bankroll easy
She's earning money easily
All the light in the room from the T.V
The only light in the room is coming from the television
We gettin' it on then I'm gone
We're having sex and then I'll leave
It's the type of shit that a nigga be on
This is the type of thing that I do
Too much on my mind right now
I have a lot on my mind at the moment
I'm on the grind right now
I'm currently focused on making money
Looking for me, sucker, then I need to be found right now
If someone is looking for me, they can find me now
I got my nine right now
I have my gun with me now
Bitch, I'll blow your mind right now
I'll shock and impress you right now
I ain't fucking around right now
I'm not here to play games
Better get in line right now
You should respect me and follow my lead
Or fuck around and die right now
Or else you might get killed now
Hope you understand that
I hope you comprehend what I'm saying
Bitch, I'm the man, ho, I'm the man, you know I'm the man
I am important and successful, you already know that
I'm a bonafide grade A hustler
I am a legitimate top-quality entrepreneur
A1, day 1, they can't touch us
I'm the best, and nothing can compete with me
Nigga like me, I be with the shit
I'm a person who has experienced a lot and can handle anything
Try and stick me I'mma get you hit
If you try to harm me, I'll get someone to hurt you
Yeah, you know just how I get down
You already know what I'm capable of
Bad bitches around, they smoking and they drinking
There are attractive women smoking and drinking around me
And I'm thinking it can all work out
I'm optimistic that everything will be good
Seen your bitch back blown out
I saw your partner have sex with someone else
It's never nothing personal, believe me
It's not personal, it's just business
I fuck around, your bitch don't wanna leave me
I have sex with women and they don't want to leave me
She talking 'bout takin' flights tonight when I'm out of town
She's planning to fly out to meet me while I'm not home
Not around, she want me to fly in to put it down
She wants me to fly to her and have sex
It's nothing to a real nigga, had that ass flying in first class
It's easy for me, as a successful person, to have her fly first class
'Cause you seem to be regular, she don't want nothing regular
Because you are average, she wants something extraordinary
Turn me on when she talk Spanish, that fat ass
She turns me on when she speaks Spanish and has a big butt
You know I wanna get with it, so lady let's get it
You know I want to have sex, let's do it
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group, Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Kobalt Music Publishing Ltd.
Written by: Sonny Corey Uwaezuoke, Curtis James Jackson, Joshua Lance Harbin, Kendall Smith
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@odurs
Its February 2024, let's see how many legends are listening to this incredible song💚
@biahulfa1420
Im in my car waiting for crepe. And suddenly i want to listen this old gem hahah
@mojovibezz1635
💯
@JoshuaTap
👑💪
@_Hnna..
me 🤝
@bongambanjwa7023
Right here
@kimberlycanales916
Nobody does it like 50. He's still the man.
@CharlesSegovia
🎉🎉🎉🎉
@user-ux7tz6yt9f
TePapa
1:02 @@CharlesSegovia
@andrewnichols1023
He is Tupac, shot 9 times, but lived to tell the story, has a mad crazy past but has made himself into a legend, plus makes great music.