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 Jayās music. After heād 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 Centās 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 āGet Rich Or Die Tryināā 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 Tryinā 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.
Loyalty
50 Cent Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
I like the way this feel right here
Yo turn me up in the head phones just a lil' bit
Yeah
There ain't shit in this world deeper than loyalty and love
(Except loyalty and love, between thugs)
For you, I pull up in the whip and spray the whole strip
For you, there ain't a damn thing that I won't do
I'm a Thug, this my way I show, my love for you
(Nigga for you, I get the coke, I'ma turn it into cash)
For you, if we go broke, we gon' rob a nigga ass
(For you, if we get knocked, I'ma have to take the weight
Cause with a record like yours dogg, you ain't stayin' upstate)
Nigga for you, I kill a whole God damn crew (Why?)
Cause I know you'd do the same thing too...Haha
I ride, you ride for me, my enemies your enemies
How could you not love a Thug like me?
Would you ride for me? (You ain't even got to ask)
Would you die for me? (Nigga, they blast you, they blast me)
Would you cry for me? (Shit, when I die I don't cry for me, just keep reppin' Southside for me)
Nigga, you ride for me? (You ain't even got to ask)
Would you die for me? (Nigga, they blast you, they blast me)
Would you cry for me? (Shit, when I die I don't cry for me, just keep reppin' Southside for me)
(Nigga, I'm the stem, you the crack
I'm the clip, you the gat
I'm the Glock, you the mac
I'm the artist, you the trap
I'm a pen, you the pad
I'm the Dutch, you the bag
I'm the knife, you the stab
I'm the driver, you the Jag)
I'm the ice, you the bezel
I'm grimy, you ghetto
I'm the bow, you the arrow
I'm the shell, you the barrel
I'm a pimp, you a player
I'm dope, you the hustler
I'm a nine, quiet me down, you the muffler
Would you ride for me? (you ain't even got to ask)
Would you die for me? (nigga, they blast you, they blast me)
Would you cry for me? (shit, when I die I don't cry for me, just keep reppin' Southside for me)
Nigga, you ride for me? (you ain't even got to ask)
Would you die for me? (nigga, they blast you, they blast me)
Would you cry for me? (shit, when I die I don't cry for me, just keep reppin' Southside for me)
You can catch me in public housing, wit' bundles of D
Or in the Santa Monica mountains, bundled up to ski
Since, time is money, I rhyme on the clock
And walk through the strip with a nine in the ox
You seen the ice, you know it's top notch
And when it comes to dice, I'm seeing' shorty to the shot box
Banks stop, guns pop through your tank top
And leave you wet up like a sonar range drop
When I grind, I wear the same thing tomorrow
When you grind, it's Showtime at the Apollo
Damn near every rapper gotta hide sixteen
Well my flow's like a ho that's sixteen
I ran through niggas, dismantled niggas
They mad cause they see me in Cancun bitches
But I'm ghetto, straight from the 'hood my nigga
If there's no toothbrush I'ma use my finger
I got so many minks, and so many leathers
The crib is surrounded by animal protesters
I'm a grown man, still livin' like I'm young
With the mind of an old man, full of wisdom
Here the cops come, task force van
Rock so much ice, I'm called Jack Frost man
And while we sippin' on cris', you sippin' backwash man
Your team got heart, but your heart's in my hand
You want sixteen bars, in song format
Or sixteen cars on your mom's doormat...Wha
"True Loyalty" by 50 Cent, featuring Lloyd Banks and Tony Yayo, is a song that speaks on the significance of loyalty and friendship in the lifestyle of a Thug. In the chorus, the artists ask each other if they would be willing to ride, die or cry for one another, with a promise that they would do the same in return. The lives of the Thugs are depicted as rough and dangerous, displaying their power and bond as a team. They rely on each other to get through the hardships of the streets and turn their lifestyles into success.
The first verse speaks about the level of love and loyalty between the Thugs. They are willing to move mountains no matter the cost for their brothers. The second verse shows the different roles each artist plays in the team, using metaphors that highlight their significance together. The closing bars of the song portrays how the artists' lives have evolved to become successful, while portraying their levels of influence in the industry.
50 Cent, Lloyd Banks, and Tony Yayo have had a history of creating relatable music for the inner city. They regularly emphasized their loyalty to each other and the importance of their bond in their songs. "True Loyalty" is one of many songs that have come to define the G-Unit rap group.
Line by Line Meaning
There ain't shit in this world deeper than loyalty and love
The only things that are more important than loyalty and love are loyalty and love between gangsters
For you, I pull up in the whip and spray the whole strip
I love and care for you so much that I'm willing to shoot anyone who gets in your way without any hesitation
For you, there ain't a damn thing that I won't do
I love and value you so much that I'm willing to do anything to make you happy, regardless of what it is
Nigga for you, I kill a whole God damn crew (Why?)
Cause I know you'd do the same thing too
I'm willing to kill anyone who tries to mess with my loyal friend, because I know that my friend would do the same thing for me
Would you ride for me? (You ain't even got to ask)
Would you die for me? (Nigga, they blast you, they blast me)
Would you cry for me? (Shit, when I die I don't cry for me, just keep reppin' Southside for me)
If you're my loyal friend, you'd be willing to ride and die for me, and I know that I would do the same for you. And if we ever lose each other, just keep repping our home base for me
I'm the stem, you're the crack
I'm the Glock, you're the mac
I'm the knife, you're the stab
I'm the driver, you're the Jag
You and I are like two sides of the same coin - I provide the foundation and tools for us to achieve success, and you're the one who puts them into action
When you grind, it's Showtime at the Apollo
When you work hard for your money, every day feels like a performance, and every opportunity to show off your skills is important
I'm ghetto, straight from the 'hood my nigga
If there's no toothbrush I'ma use my finger
Despite how much success I've achieved, I still come from humble beginnings and am willing to do whatever it takes to survive, even if that means using unconventional methods
You want sixteen bars, in song format
Or sixteen cars on your mom's doormat...Wha
If you want a verse from me, I'll gladly give you 16 of the hottest bars you've ever heard. Or, if you really want to test me, I can also give you 16 luxurious cars to adorn your mother's doorstep
Lyrics Ā© Kobalt Music Publishing Ltd.
Written by: CURTIS JAMES JACKSON, MARVIN BERNARD, ANDY THELUSMA
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@kemdaman159
Iāll never forget the day I heard this song. G unit forever, and Yayo still doesnāt get enough credit for his verse
@DigitalV4
Kam šÆ
@redcrimson1028
True. Yayo had the best part
@MYSUNNDABLESSONE
Facts here in 2023
@craighampton7293
To true
@mikechecka7
if theres no toothbrush ima use my finger! he killed this shit
@fifthdimensionguru
"I got so many minks, and so many leathers... The crib is surrounded by animal protesters."š„š„š„š„š„
@JamesKlass79
You want 16 bars? Song format? Or 16 cars on ya moms doormat!
@QUNYC7
The original G-Unit! No Buck,Game or Kidd Kidd. Keep it NYC!
@haz1nr425
G Hix old school tony yayo šš