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 Run NY
50 Cent Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
I Run New York
Even When I Aint There Lil Nigga
I Run New York
I Said The Walls Have Ears Lil Nigga
I Hear When You Talk
Lets Get This Shit Clear Lil Nigga
I Run New York
I Wake Up/stare At The Ceiling
Im Alive
What A Beautiful Feeling
I Put My Vest On/right After I Put On My Draws
Its A Habit/im Always Prepared For War
See My Lifes Like Some Shit You Seen In A Flick
Bitches Act Like Porn Stars When They Sit On The Dick
When I Was Gettin Out The Game I Said One More Flip
Test My Aim In The Range Im Like One More Clip
Its My Brain/im Insane/i Be On Some Shit
Man I Run Interscope/jada's Tryin To Annoy Me
Hes Nothin But Another Disgruntled Employee
Been In The Game 10 Years And He Still Aint Rich
Even His Momma Upset That He Still Aint Shit
But He Keep Runnin His Yap/like Imma Take All That
One More Word Out His Mouth/ill Push Styles Shit Back
See The Nozzle On My Trey Pound Is 3 Inches Long
And The Kick On The Four-four Is Extremly Strong
But A Lil Trey Deuce Is Like/ Pop Pop
Chase His Ass Up The Block Till His Bitch Ass Drop
And Them Verses He Be Kickin/none Of Em Hot
Cuz He Aint Got None Of That Shit He Sayin He Got
And He Aint Did None Of That Shit He Sayin He Did
And I Aint Got/time To Be Talking Bout This Shit
Fuckin Faggot...
I Gets Busy Lil Nigga
I Run New York
Yea I Live In C.t. Lil Nigga
But I Run New York
Now I Dont Go To Parties Lil Nigga
But I Run New York
And I Stay Gettin G's Lil Nigga
Cuz I Run New York
Yayo,tell Em I Run New York
My Money Longer Than Yours
Nigga Call Your Recruits
The Lox Made More Money/in Them Damn Shiny Suites
The Game About Sales,drugs,and Rappin
Jada Fuck Your Punch Lines/my Shirt Went Platinum
Styles And Sheek Looch/went Double Plastic
Yayo Buck And Banks Is Putting Out Classics
A Hundred Shots/a Hundred Clips/y'all Ready To Die
Fat Joe Aint A Gansta/you Scared To Fly
Automatic Mosberg/who Want A Piece Of This Pump
Ill Have Ja Rule Burried In Some High Heel Pumps
Vest Up In A Bullet Proof/man Fuck That
Homie Shoot Up My Whip/all You Leave Is A Scratch
Yo Ill Flip Cocaine In Your Project Lobby
And Beat You With My Pistol Like Kane Did Chachi
Its T.o.n.y./y.a.y.o.
My Whole Clique Got Dough/my Hoes On The Fly Home
G4's/we Fly On Leers
And My Rocks Lookin Like/flash Lights In My Ears Nigga
When Im Down In D.c. Lil Nigga
I Tell Em/i Run New York
When Im Out In Philly Lil Homie
I Run New York
When Im In V.a. I Tell Niggas/guess What
I Run New York
When Im In N.c. Niggas Holla At Me
Cuz I Run New York
Yayo, Tell Em I Run New York.....
Now Who The Fuck Told This Lil Nigga He Can Talk To Me Like That ?
Catch Em, Ill Ball Him Up, And Roll Him Somwere.
Hahaha...
D,y,wanna Talk To Me ? Wanna Tell Me Whats Goin On ?
Want Me To Service Him For Real, Cuz Ill Service Him.
I'll Murder!! Hahahhaa....
'ey, Get Puffy On The Phone.
Tell Him I Said, Tell That Nigga Puffy I Said Get Out The Mirror For A Second Let Me Talk To Him.
Puffy Own The Nigga Mother Fuckin Publishing.
Tell Him I Wanna By The Nigga Jadakiss Publishing.
Nigga Still Aint Recoup.
Awww, Nigga You In The Red. You Owe Money Nigga.
Oh Man, Now Why You Made Me Put Your Business In The Street ?
Now Niggas Know You Aint Shit. Damn.
I See Your Monkey Ass In The Paper, Cuz You Aint Return Them Jewells You Borrowed. You Better Give Em Back. You Dirty Nigga.
Aint None Of That Shit You Be Wearin Yours.
Haha.. We Couldve Kept It A Secret Nigga
These The Niggas Im Supposed To Beef With?
Aaawwwww Man.
This Fight Is Fixed.
Your Being Set Up. Haha...
Thats What He Gone Say: "they Set Me Up Man, I Aint Know The Nigga Was Gonna Do That".
Haha....
In "I Run NY," 50 Cent claims his dominance over New York and the music industry, claiming that even when he isn't physically present, he still controls everything. The chorus emphasizes this idea with the line "I run New York" being repeated over and over. The first verse showcases 50 Cent's daily routine and his mentality around always being prepared for war, demonstrating his dedication to success. The second verse refers to industry beef, including his ongoing feud with Jadakiss. He insults Jadakiss' financial situation and claims that he has never done what he says in his music, while also bragging about his own success. Finally, the spoken word outro includes a phone conversation where a person (likely a rival) asks to talk to him, to which 50 Cent threatens to "murder" him.
Line by Line Meaning
The Walls Have Ears Lil Nigga
There are people listening and paying attention to everything you say
I Run New York
I am in control and have power over New York City
Even When I Aint There Lil Nigga
Even when I am not physically present, I still have influence and control
I Run New York
I am the one who runs New York City
I Said The Walls Have Ears Lil Nigga
I am aware of the things you say, even when you think no one is listening
I Hear When You Talk
I pay attention to your conversations and know what you're saying
Lets Get This Shit Clear Lil Nigga
Let's make it clear and leave no room for misunderstanding
I Run New York
I am the person who controls and dominates New York City
I Wake Up/stare At The Ceiling
I wake up and reflect on my life
Im Alive
I am alive and grateful for being alive
What A Beautiful Feeling
It is a wonderful sensation
I Put My Vest On/right After I Put On My Draws
I prioritize protection and always prepare for conflicts
Its A Habit/im Always Prepared For War
Being prepared for battle is a part of my everyday routine
See My Lifes Like Some Shit You Seen In A Flick
My life resembles scenes from a movie
Bitches Act Like Porn Stars When They Sit On The Dick
Women behave like adult film actors when they engage in sexual activities
When I Was Gettin Out The Came I Said One More Flip
As I was leaving the illegal activities, I decided to do one more drug deal
Test My Aim In The Range Im Like One More Clip
I practice my shooting skills with firearms and always want to do one more round
Its My Brain/im Insane/i Be On Some Shit
My thought process is unique and crazy, and I engage in unusual activities
Man I Run Interscope/jada's Tryin To Annoy Me
I have control over the record label Interscope, and Jadakiss is attempting to provoke me
Hes Nothin But Another Disgruntled Employee
Jadakiss is merely a dissatisfied worker
Been In The Game 10 Years And He Still Aint Rich
Despite being in the music industry for a decade, Jadakiss hasn't achieved financial success
Even His Momma Upset That He Still Aint Shit
Even Jadakiss's mother is disappointed in his lack of accomplishment
But He Keep Runnin His Yap/like Imma Take All That
Jadakiss continues to talk excessively, thinking I will be affected by his words
One More Word Out His Mouth/ill Push Styles Shit Back
If Jadakiss says one more thing, I will delay the release of Styles P's project
See The Nozzle On My Trey Pound Is 3 Inches Long
The barrel of my pistol is three inches in length
And The Kick On The Four-four Is Extremly Strong
The recoil of my .44 caliber firearm is very powerful
But A Lil Trey Deuce Is Like/ Pop Pop
On the other hand, a small .32 caliber gun makes a noise like 'pop pop'
Chase His Ass Up The Block Till His Bitch Ass Drop
I would pursue Jadakiss relentlessly until he is exhausted and defeated
And Them Verses He Be Kickin/none Of Em Hot
Jadakiss's rap lyrics are not impressive or impressive
Cuz He Aint Got None Of That Shit He Sayin He Got
Jadakiss does not possess any of the things he claims to have
And He Aint Did None Of That Shit He Sayin He Did
Jadakiss hasn't actually done any of the things he boasts about
And I Aint Got/time To Be Talking Bout This Shit
I don't have the time or patience to discuss this matter
Fuckin Faggot
An offensive and derogatory term used to insult someone
I Gets Busy Lil Nigga
I am always working and accomplishing things
I Run New York
I am the one who controls and manages New York City
Yea I Live In C.t. Lil Nigga
Yes, I reside in Connecticut
But I Run New York
However, I still have authority and power over New York City
Now I Dont Go To Parties Lil Nigga
I do not attend social gatherings or events
But I Run New York
Nevertheless, I am the one who governs and dominates New York City
And I Stay Gettin G's Lil Nigga
I am consistently earning a significant amount of money
Cuz I Run New York
Because I am the one who controls and manages New York City
Yayo,tell Em I Run New York
Inform Yayo to let everyone know that I am the one who runs New York City
My Money Longer Than Yours
I have more money than you do
Nigga Call Your Recruits
Tell your companions to come and support you
The Lox Made More Money/in Them Damn Shiny Suites
The group The Lox has earned more money while wearing expensive outfits
The Game About Sales,drugs,and Rappin
The music industry revolves around record sales, drug references, and rapping skills
Jada Fuck Your Punch Lines/my Shirt Went Platinum
Jadakiss's punch lines are unimpressive compared to my success in selling merchandise
Styles And Sheek Looch/went Double Plastic
Styles and Sheek Looch achieved great success in their careers
Yayo Buck And Banks Is Putting Out Classics
Yayo, Buck, and Banks are releasing highly regarded and influential music
A Hundred Shots/a Hundred Clips/y'all Ready To Die
I have a vast arsenal of ammunition and weapons, and you should be prepared to face death
Fat Joe Aint A Gansta/you Scared To Fly
Fat Joe is not a true gangster, and you are afraid of confrontation
Automatic Mosberg/who Want A Piece Of This Pump
I possess a powerful automatic shotgun, and I am challenging anyone who wants to face it
Ill Have Ja Rule Burried In Some High Heel Pumps
I will humiliate and defeat Ja Rule by burying him while wearing feminine footwear
Vest Up In A Bullet Proof/man Fuck That
I protect myself with a bulletproof vest because I don't trust others
Homie Shoot Up My Whip/all You Leave Is A Scratch
If someone damages my car, they will only cause minor harm
Yo Ill Flip Cocaine In Your Project Lobby
I am capable of selling drugs in your neighborhood
And Beat You With My Pistol Like Kane Did Chachi
I would physically harm you using my firearm, similar to how Kane harmed Chachi in a television show
Its T.o.n.y./y.a.y.o.
Referring to Tony Yayo's and my initials
My Whole Clique Got Dough/my Hoes On The Fly Home
Everyone in my crew is wealthy, and my female companions travel luxuriously
G4's/we Fly On Leers
We travel on private jets and have a lavish lifestyle
And My Rocks Lookin Like/flash Lights In My Ears Nigga
The diamonds in my jewelry sparkle brightly and attract attention
When Im Down In D.c. Lil Nigga
When I am in Washington D.C.
I Tell Em/i Run New York
I inform people that I am the person in charge of New York City
When Im Out In Philly Lil Homie
When I am in Philadelphia
I Run New York
I continue to assert my dominance and control over New York City
When Im In V.a. I Tell Niggas/guess What
When I am in Virginia, I let people know
I Run New York
That I hold power and authority over New York City
When Im In N.c. Niggas Holla At Me
When I am in North Carolina, people reach out and communicate with me
Cuz I Run New York
Because I am the one who controls and manages New York City
Now Who The Fuck Told This Lil Nigga He Can Talk To Me Like That ?
Who gave this disrespectful person permission to speak to me in such a manner?
Catch Em, Ill Ball Him Up, And Roll Him Somwere.
If I catch him, I will physically harm and dispose of him
D,y,wanna Talk To Me ? Wanna Tell Me Whats Goin On ?
Do you want to have a conversation with me? Do you want to inform me about the current situation?
Want Me To Service Him For Real, Cuz Ill Service Him.
Are you suggesting that I should engage in violent actions against him? Because I am capable of doing so
I'll Murder!! Hahahhaa....
I am willing to commit murder, and I find it amusing
'ey, Get Puffy On The Phone.
Hey, get in touch with Puffy and put him on the phone
Tell Him I Said, Tell That Nigga Puffy I Said Get Out The Mirror For A Second Let Me Talk To Him.
Inform Puffy that I want him to pause whatever he is doing and have a conversation with me
Puffy Own The Nigga Mother Fuckin Publishing.
Puffy has ownership of the other person's publishing rights
Tell Him I Wanna By The Nigga Jadakiss Publishing.
Notify him that I am interested in purchasing Jadakiss's publishing rights
Nigga Still Aint Recoup.
That person hasn't earned back the money invested in him
Awww, Nigga You In The Red. You Owe Money Nigga.
That person has accumulated debt and owes money
Oh Man, Now Why You Made Me Put Your Business In The Street ?
You have forced me to expose your personal matters publicly
Now Niggas Know You Aint Shit. Damn.
Now everyone knows that you are worthless
I See Your Monkey Ass In The Paper, Cuz You Aint Return Them Jewells You Borrowed. You Better Give Em Back. You Dirty Nigga.
I read about your actions in the newspaper. You have not returned the borrowed jewelry and must return it immediately. You dishonest individual
Aint None Of That Shit You Be Wearin Yours.
None of the things you wear actually belong to you
Haha.. We Couldve Kept It A Secret Nigga
We could have kept this information private
These The Niggas Im Supposed To Beef With?
These are the individuals that I am supposed to have conflicts with?
Aaawwwww Man.
Oh, man
This Fight Is Fixed.
This conflict has been prearranged in some way
Your Being Set Up. Haha...
You are being manipulated and deceived
Thats What He Gone Say: 'they Set Me Up Man, I Aint Know The Nigga Was Gonna Do That'.
That is the excuse he will come up with: 'They set me up, I didn't know he would take that course of action'
Haha....
Laughs sarcastically
Contributed by Thomas W. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
@PaperChaserCEO
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@mr.g7177
2k19: fully admitting to 50 that he did indeed.... run NY in this time
@JmanTV647
Was this before or after "Shots Fired" by Jada & Kiss
@577niccy
@Jamal Johnson yeah jada featuring kiss went hard af, both really good artists
@lamontking-ff1mh
@Mr. G 717 drehfr
@Evil-Times
‼️🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥‼️the WALLS have Ears..!!
@youtubingminds9884
Yayo was actually a menace on this, imagine if this dude popped off like that all the time
@benstonks9047
Yayo only ever go off if he got something to proof or if he mad af. in this case, it's the latter
@davidstanley9543
Yayo went off on a lot of tracks. You must not know those old school G Unit mixtapes. The verse he did on Banks "ain't no click" off the Hunger For More album and the song "click click" on Mobb Deeps "Blood Money" album was crazy too. Yayo was never the most lyrical in the group, but he had his moments where he snapped on a beat at any given time. For real.
@trollinuhoz
Yayo slept on... he snap in a few joints