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.
Never Enough
50 Cent Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
People think I'm a little bit crazy
I get it from all angles, even occasionally
Doc Dre-zie will have to step in every once in a while to save me
To make me stop and think about it 'fore I just say things
Sometimes I forget what other people just may think
A lot of rappers probably wouldn't know how to take me
If they heard some shit, I'd lay the tape 'fore they erase me
Sometimes the average listener rewinds and plays me
Twenty times 'cause I say so many rhymes it may seem
Like I'm goin' too fast 'cause my mind is racin'
And I could give a fuck what category you place me
Long as when I'm pushin' up daisies and gone
As long as you place me amongst one of them greats
When I hit the heavenly gates I'll be cool beside Jay-Z
For every single die hard fan who embraced me
I'm thankful for the talent in which God gave me
And I'm thankful for the environment that he placed me
Believe it or not, I thank my mom for how she raised me
In the neighborhood daily that jumped and chased me
It only made me what I am today, see
Regardless of what anybody believes who hates me
You ain't gonna make or break me
Tryna strip me of my credibility and make me look fake, G
You're only gonna be in for a rude awakening
'Cause sooner or later you haters are all gonna face me
And when you face me with all the shit you've been savin' to say to me
You had all this time to think about it
Now don't pussy out and try to about face me
'Cause I've been patiently waitin' for the day
That we finally meet in the same place to see
No matter how many battles I been in and won
No matter how many magazines on my nuts
No matter how many MC's I eat up
Oh, it's never enough
No matter how many battles I been in and won
No matter how many magazines on my nuts
No matter how many MC's I eat up
Oh, oh, it's never enough
My flow's untouchable, now you gotta face it
Uh oh, it gets worse when I go back to the basics
You gon' say the wrong shit and get your whole face split
The smell of victory, love it so much I can taste it
I spot my target, blaze it, direct hit
Graze it, your peace talk, save it
Your shit sounds dated, you're overrated
I'm obligated to study your moves then crush you motherfuckers
If I'm the best and the worst, then God's gift is a curse
Soldier trained to destroy, you payin' attention, boy?
I spit shit, slick shit, so quick you miss it
To be specific I go ballistic as hieroglyphic
My music is a drug, press play, you ain't gotta sniff it
Chew it or pop it, roll it, bag it or chop it
It'll get your high over and over, but you gotta cop it
When it's hot, it's hot, your hatin' is undeniable, stop it
No matter how many battles I been in and won
No matter how many magazines on my nuts
No matter how many MC's I eat up
Oh, it's never enough
No matter how many battles I been in and won
No matter how many magazines on my nuts
No matter how many MC's I eat up
Oh, oh, it's never enough
In "Never Enough," 50 Cent reflects upon his rise to fame and how his success has fueled his ambitions. He acknowledges that he comes across as crazy to some people, but he is unfazed by their criticism. Dr. Dre is his mentor and occasional savior, reminding him to think before he speaks. 50 Cent recognizes that he can be too fast-paced and aggressive for some listeners, but he doesn't care as long as he is remembered as one of the greats. He thanks God and his mother for giving him the talent and upbringing that molded him into who he is today. He is confident in his abilities and warns his enemies that they cannot break him or make him look fake.
The song is a reflection of 50 Cent's competitive nature and his unwillingness to settle for anything less than success. He sees himself as one of the greats and wants to be remembered as such. The lyrics also highlight his confidence in his own abilities and his lack of concern for what others think of him.
Line by Line Meaning
There's not much you could do or say to phase me
I am unbothered by criticism or disrespect
People think I'm a little bit crazy
My behavior is perceived as erratic or unusual
I get it from all angles, even occasionally
Criticism comes from many sources, sometimes surprising
Doc Dre-zie will have to step in every once in a while to save me
Dr. Dre has to intervene and advise me to think before speaking
To make me stop and think about it 'fore I just say things
I need to consider the impact of my words before speaking impulsively
Sometimes I forget what other people just may think
I can be unaware of how others perceive me or my actions
A lot of rappers probably wouldn't know how to take me
Many other rappers would not know how to respond to me
If they heard some shit, I'd lay the tape 'fore they erase me
I would make a recording of evidence in case someone tries to silence me
I maybe a little too fast paced and racy
My style can be overwhelming or disorienting
Sometimes the average listener rewinds and plays me
My lyrics require multiple listens to understand because they are clever and intricate
Twenty times 'cause I say so many rhymes it may seem
My rhymes are so numerous that they can be difficult to process
Like I'm goin' too fast 'cause my mind is racin'
My mind is so quick that it can be hard to keep up with
And I could give a fuck what category you place me
I do not care how others categorize or label me
Long as when I'm pushin' up daisies and gone
As long as I am remembered when I am dead and gone
As long as you place me amongst one of them greats
As long as I am recognized as one of the greatest rappers of all time
When I hit the heavenly gates I'll be cool beside Jay-Z
When I die, I will be happy to be next to Jay-Z in heaven
For every single die hard fan who embraced me
I am grateful for every fan who has supported me wholeheartedly
I'm thankful for the talent in which God gave me
I am grateful for my God-given talent
And I'm thankful for the environment that he placed me
I am grateful for the circumstances and opportunities I have been given
Believe it or not, I thank my mom for how she raised me
I am grateful for my mother's parenting and upbringing
In the neighborhood daily that jumped and chased me
Growing up, I faced many challenges and obstacles in my neighborhood
It only made me what I am today, see
Those experiences helped shape me into the person I am today
Regardless of what anybody believes who hates me
Despite any negative opinions or feelings towards me
You ain't gonna make or break me
You cannot control my success or failures
Tryna strip me of my credibility and make me look fake, G
You are attempting to ruin my reputation and authenticity
You're only gonna be in for a rude awakening
You will be surprised by the consequences of your actions
'Cause sooner or later you haters are all gonna face me
Eventually, those who dislike me will have to confront me
And when you face me with all the shit you've been savin' to say to me
When we finally meet face to face and you express all the negative things you have bottled up
You had all this time to think about it
You have had ample time to prepare your arguments
Now don't pussy out and try to about face me
Do not back down and change your stance when confronted with me
'Cause I've been patiently waitin' for the day
I have been anticipating this confrontation for a long time
That we finally meet in the same place to see
The day we finally meet in person to settle our differences
No matter how many battles I been in and won
Despite the many rap battles I have won
No matter how many magazines on my nuts
No matter how many magazines write about me positively
No matter how many MC's I eat up
No matter how many other rappers I outshine or defeat
Oh, it's never enough
My ambition and drive for success is insatiable
My flow's untouchable, now you gotta face it
My rapping skills are unparalleled and undeniable
Uh oh, it gets worse when I go back to the basics
My rap style is even more impressive when I simplify it
You gon' say the wrong shit and get your whole face split
You will face consequences if you speak negatively about me
The smell of victory, love it so much I can taste it
I am so driven by success that I can almost taste it
I spot my target, blaze it, direct hit
I identify my competition and take them down directly and swiftly
Graze it, your peace talk, save it
Your attempts at making peace are meaningless to me
Your shit sounds dated, you're overrated
Your music is outdated and you are overhyped
I'm obligated to study your moves then crush you motherfuckers
I feel a duty to analyze my competition and then beat them soundly
If I'm the best and the worst, then God's gift is a curse
Being both the best and the worst has its pros and cons
Soldier trained to destroy, you payin' attention, boy?
I am trained to win and defeat my competition, are you ready?
I spit shit, slick shit, so quick you miss it
My rhymes are so complex and fast that you may miss their meaning
To be specific I go ballistic as hieroglyphic
I become incredibly passionate and explosive in my music, like hieroglyphics
My music is a drug, press play, you ain't gotta sniff it
My music is so addicting and impactful, you do not need to physically ingest it
Chew it or pop it, roll it, bag it or chop it
Whether you listen to my music casually or obsessively, it will still affect you
It'll get your high over and over, but you gotta cop it
My music will constantly give you a high, but you have to buy it
When it's hot, it's hot, your hatin' is undeniable, stop it
My music is great and your criticism is unsubstantiated, so stop being hateful
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management, Capitol CMG Publishing, REACH MUSIC PUBLISHING, Kobalt Music Publishing Ltd., Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: Michael A Elizondo, Curtis James Jackson, Marshall B Mathers, Andre Young, Nathaniel Hale
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@Beluga-pl8nt
Eminem's verse motivates you, 50 cent's verse makes you feel badass, Nate Dogg's hook makes everything so much more lit 🔥🔥 This song is a freakin' masterpiece
@sandrahenriksson6257
Nate will forever remain as the king of all hooks. Rest in peace, man
@bogdangrigore4459
Sa aataaaaaaqaqqqqaqaqaq
@mtkgmi2329
Facts 💪🏾💪🏾💯
@Ryan692.
This song contains probably my favorite verse by 50 Cent. Great flow to it.
@stockandgamblinglife
i could give you a thousand 50 verses and you would say that this one is better.. so much classic shit he was the best
@seijinumaru
Fuck yeah it does.
@seijinumaru
Talk about an introduction.
@charlescooper8630
He says it all n the beginning. My flow is untouchable lol
@darrenraphael
Try Creep by mobb deep ft 50 cent. This song has 50 cent best verse.