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.
Life`s On The Line
50 Cent Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Nobody likes me, but that's okay
Cause I don't like y'all anyway
And I don't like y'all anyway
Fuck all y'all!
My watch talk for me, my whip talk for me
My gat talk for me
What up homie
They want to blow me 'cause the shit I floss wit sayin a lot for me
I came into rap humble, I don't give a fuck now
Serve anybody like niggas who hustle uptown
Coke price go up, cats is come down
The D's run in my crib, I'm nowhere to be found
The bitch who hustle for me, they don't even stash tracks
They keep it on em, right there in they ass crack
When I don't like a nigga, I don't pretend to
I'll have the paramedics wrap your fucking head like a Hindu
Look, I ain't going nowhere, so get used to me
OG's look at me and see what they used to be
I'm that nigga that sold coke, the nigga that sold dope
The nigga that shot Dice when he broke to So So
The thug, they pop shit
The thug that pop clips
The thug that went from three and a half to whole bricks
Nigga ain't in his right mind, going against me
My picture's painted through words that make a blind man see
Scream murder! (I don't believe you!)
Murder! (Fuck around and leave you!)
Murder! (I don't believe you!)
Murder, murder! (Your life's on the line!)
Y'all niggas don't want no parts of me
I'm trying to figure out how y'all started me
Make me catch her on the late night
Pop shots wit the fifth and slide off wit the six
I'm not a marksmen while spark issue, I spray random
Not a pretty nigga but my moms think I'm handsome
I hate to hear "He say, She say" shit
Unless he say she say she on my dick
It's no coincidence, niggas who fuck wit me get shot up
I do a Cali style drive by and tear ya block up
You soft through, be putting up a crazy front
I stay wit the Mac, 'cause niggas tried to blaze me once
In the hood they be like, "Damn, 50 really spitted on em"
"You heard that shit?" "Yeah, 50 really shitted on em"
Beef, you don't want none, so don't start none
You just a small player in this game, play a part son
Scream murder! (I don't believe you!)
Murder! (Fuck around and leave you!)
Murder! (I don't believe you!)
Murder, murder! (Your life's on the line!)
These cats always escape reality when they rhyme
That's why they write about bricks and only dealt wit dimes
Leave it to them, and they say they got a fast car
Nascar, truck wit a crash bar
And TV's in the dash, pa
See em in the five wit stock rims, I just laugh, pa
I catch stunts when I ain't trying
I ain't lying, I sit Don P til I split up
Keep my rent split up
Get outta line, I get you hit up
Now if you say my name in your rhyme, watch what you say
You get carried away, you can get shot and carried away
Now here's a list of MC's that can kill you in eight bars:
50, Jay-Z and Nas
I'ma say this shit now and never again
We ain't buddies, we ain't partners and we damn sure ain't friends
The games you playing, you get killed like that
Acting like you all hard, you ain't built like that
See me when you see me nigga, one
Scream murder! (I don't believe you!)
Murder! (Fuck around and leave you!)
Murder! (I don't believe you!)
Murder, murder! (Your life's on the line!)
Y'all niggas don't want no parts of me
I'm trying to figure out how y'all started me
Make me catch her on the late night
Pop shots wit the fifth and slide off wit the six
The song "Life" by 50 Cent is an aggressive and hard-hitting rap about his rise to fame and how he doesn't care for those who don't like him. In the first verse, he talks about how he doesn't like anyone, and he doesn't need them to like him. He boasts about his possessions, stating that they speak for him, and anyone who doesn't know him will instantly be attracted to him because of them. He then talks about how he came into the rap game humble but now will serve anyone like those who hustle uptown. The second verse is about how he is not scared of anyone, even the police. He talks about the people who work for him and keep their stash of drugs in their ass crack. He boasts about how he is the one to be feared and that anyone going against him is not in their right mind. In the final verse, he talks about how most rappers use their imagination to talk about their possessions and cars, but he lives a life that they only write about. He also lists some MCs who can kill you with their rhymes.
This song tells of 50 Cent's struggles and how he had to work hard to get where he is, and how he doesn't take crap from anyone. It shows his dominance in the rap game and how he is a force to be reckoned with. He talks about his possessions and how they speak for him, showing off his wealth and power. This song is an example of 50 Cent's gritty and straightforward style that has made him a household name.
Line by Line Meaning
Nobody likes me
I am not well-liked by people
Nobody likes me, but that's okay
I don't care that people don't like me
Cause I don't like y'all anyway
I don't like those people who don't like me
And I don't like y'all anyway
I don't like those people who don't like me
Fuck all y'all!
I don't care about anyone who doesn't like me
My watch talk for me, my whip talk for me
The expensive items I have show my wealth and status
My gat talk for me
My gun speaks for me, indicating my power and ability to cause harm if needed
What up homie
Greetings, friend
For bitches who don't know me
For women who are not familiar with me
They want to blow me 'cause the shit I floss wit sayin a lot for me
Women are attracted to me because of the expensive items I have, which indicate wealth and power
I came into rap humble, I don't give a fuck now
I used to be humble in my rap career, but now I don't care what people think
Serve anybody like niggas who hustle uptown
I will work with anyone who can benefit me, like those who deal drugs in wealthier areas
Coke price go up, cats is come down
When the price of cocaine increases, those who deal it suffer losses
The D's run in my crib, I'm nowhere to be found
If the police come to my house, I will hide and evade them
The bitch who hustle for me, they don't even stash tracks
The women who work for me don't even hide the drugs, they carry it on their body
They keep it on em, right there in they ass crack
They carry the drugs on their body, specifically in their butt crack
When I don't like a nigga, I don't pretend to
When I dislike someone, I am honest about it and don't fake friendship
I'll have the paramedics wrap your fucking head like a Hindu
If you cross me or disrespect me, I'll have you beaten badly
Look, I ain't going nowhere, so get used to me
I'm here to stay, so people should accept that fact
OG's look at me and see what they used to be
Older gangsters look at me and see their past selves
I'm that nigga that sold coke, the nigga that sold dope
I'm the person who dealt drugs in the past
The nigga that shot Dice when he broke to So So
I shot someone named Dice when he owed money to my crew
The thug, they pop shit
I am a dangerous criminal and people talk about me negatively
The thug that pop clips
I am a criminal who uses guns and commits serious crimes
The thug that went from three and a half to whole bricks
I've gone from dealing small amounts of drugs to large quantities
Nigga ain't in his right mind, going against me
Anyone who opposes me is not thinking clearly
My picture's painted through words that make a blind man see
My storytelling is so vivid that even someone who cannot see would understand what I am saying
Scream murder! (I don't believe you!)
Exclaim that someone is threatening murder, but I don't believe it
Murder! (Fuck around and leave you!)
Someone is threatening to kill someone if they continue to act out of line
Murder, murder! (Your life's on the line!)
Your life is at risk because of your actions
Y'all niggas don't want no parts of me
People do not want to mess with me because I am dangerous
I'm trying to figure out how y'all started me
I don't understand why people have a problem with me
Make me catch her on the late night
I may need to catch someone during the night when they are not expecting it
Pop shots wit the fifth and slide off wit the six
I will fire shots with my gun and escape quickly and unnoticed
I'm not a marksmen while spark issue, I spray random
I am not a skilled shooter, I fire my gun randomly
Not a pretty nigga but my moms think I'm handsome
I am not attractive, but my mother thinks I am
I hate to hear 'He say, She say' shit
I dislike rumors and gossip
Unless he say she say she on my dick
I only care about rumors if they involve someone being interested in me romantically or sexually
It's no coincidence, niggas who fuck wit me get shot up
People who cross me or mess with me usually get harmed or killed
I do a Cali style drive by and tear ya block up
I will drive by and shoot up a whole area
You soft through, be putting up a crazy front
People act tough, but they are actually weak
I stay wit the Mac, 'cause niggas tried to blaze me once
I carry a gun called the Mac-10 because someone previously tried to shoot and kill me
In the hood they be like, 'Damn, 50 really spitted on em'
People in the neighborhood are impressed by my lyrics about other rappers
"You heard that shit?" "Yeah, 50 really shitted on em"
People are talking about my diss tracks against other rappers
Beef, you don't want none, so don't start none
Don't start a fight with me because you will lose
You just a small player in this game, play a part son
You are not important in this industry, so don't try to act like you are
These cats always escape reality when they rhyme
Other rappers don't talk about their true lives in their music
That's why they write about bricks and only dealt wit dimes
They talk about dealing drugs, but only in small amounts
Leave it to them, and they say they got a fast car
Other rappers brag about their cars
Nascar, truck wit a crash bar
Calling out rappers for driving stock cars with safety features
And TV's in the dash, pa
Other rappers put televisions in their cars
See em in the five wit stock rims, I just laugh, pa
I find it funny when rappers have basic cars with no modifications
I catch stunts when I ain't trying
Even when I am not trying, I attract attention and admiration
I ain't lying, I sit Don P til I split up
I am telling the truth when I say I drink Don Perignon and make it last
Keep my rent split up
I split my rent into different payments to avoid suspicion
Get outta line, I get you hit up
If someone disrespects me, I will have them harmed or killed
Now if you say my name in your rhyme, watch what you say
If you mention me in your song, you better be careful what you say
You get carried away, you can get shot and carried away
If you talk too much in your song about me, you may get killed
Now here's a list of MC's that can kill you in eight bars:
Here's a list of rappers who have a lot of skill in their music
50, Jay-Z and Nas
Myself, Jay-Z, and Nas are very talented and capable of producing deadly rhymes
I'ma say this shit now and never again
I am speaking the truth right now, and I won't repeat myself
We ain't buddies, we ain't partners and we damn sure ain't friends
Don't get it twisted, we are not close and do not have a friendly relationship
The games you playing, you get killed like that
If you continue to play games and disrespect me, you may end up dead
Acting like you all hard, you ain't built like that
Don't act tough when you're not tough
See me when you see me nigga, one
If you have a problem with me, we can handle it when we meet face to face
Lyrics © Kobalt Music Publishing Ltd., Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: TERRENCE QUENTIN DUDLEY, CURTIS JAMES JACKSON
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
dt089
Absolute masterpiece of an album. It's rare you find something like this album now a days. There are great rappers, talented rappers that exist these days, but the raw delivery, street rapping that 50 combined with his talent is hard to come by. The closest I can find in 2022 is Griselda, who are incredible. Either way, 50 changed the game.
Dying Horizon Light2
Exactly his charisma
Adi
check griselda out you'll love them
JayX3
King Von was authentic, try some of his songs if u haven’t heard
Craig Hoosier
@Adilol, I take it you didn't read what he wrote, worse than people not reading the posts on marketplace lol
DANIEL HODGKINSON
One of them songs that will never die 🔥🔥🔥 MURDER
DIY Overhauler
I couldn't stop listening to this the first time I heard it
Jon Jones
This played when i was working out and damn.. I put it on replay for the rest of my workouts.
Monique Sanders
Facts
Alex Guevara
Same!