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.
Niggas
50 Cent Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
I love niggas, I love niggas!
Cause niggas are meeeee
And I should only love that which is meeeee
I love to see niggas go through changes
I love to see niggas, shoot the shit
But there's one thing about niggas I do not love
Yeah... did it again nigga!
To all my Brooklyn "Niggas!"
To all my Uptown "You niggas understand!"
To all my Bronx "In this world nigga!"
To all my Queens "Swept you away..."
Back up chump, you know Biggie Smalls rips it quick
And kicks it quick, you know how black niggaz get
With the hoods fatigues with the boots with trees
Smokin' weed, flippin' ki's, makin' crazy G's
Hittin' buckshot at niggaz that open spots
On the avenue, take my loot, and I'm baggin' you
Pimpin' hoes that drive Volvo's and Rodeos
Flash the roll, make 'em wet in they pantyhose
Damn, a nigga style is unorthodox
Grip the Glock, when I walk down the crowded blocks
Just in case a nigga wanna act out
I just black out, and blow they motherfuckin' back out
We the realest nigga
50 Cent and B.I.G. my nigga
Don't try to act like you don't feel us nigga
Biggie yo' nigga, 50 yo' nigga
Squeeze the trigger, leave a nigga fa' sho'!
We the realest nigga
50 Cent and B.I.G. my nigga
Don't try to act like you don't feel a nigga
Biggie yo' nigga, 50 yo' nigga
Squeeze the trigger, leave a nigga fa' sho'!
Then we smoke spliffs, we pack four-fifths
Just in case dread wanna riff
He get a free lift to the cemetery, rough very
Not your ordinary, we watch you get buried
That's a real nigga for ya
Get mad do a quarter flip the script, and rip your lawyer
Spit at the D.A., cause fuck what she say
She don't give a fuck about your ass anyway
Up North bound first stop, Water town or Bitch-skill
Where the hand skills are real I'll
You'll be a super Hoover doo-doo stain remover
Ha hahhh, yo chief, pass the Buddha
When I was young my M.O. was to go hand-to-hand
Even my P.O. she called me the Ginger Bread Man
I catch a new case, and tell her ass "catch me if you can"
Don't let your people fill you up wit octane, I'm not playing
Get gassed up to get blast up
Real B.I.G. style watch the kid break it down
Check it - thou shalt not fuck wit North C. Papa
50 Cent, I'll break yo ass off propa'
There's no place like home, New York - New York
I run the city, and I don't dance around like Diddy
Niggas is giddy, till they smacked silly or sprayed wit the Mac Milli
They don't want drama really
Pussy niggaz get hard lip syncin' my lyrics like Milli Vanilli
In the hood they feel me {*gun cocked*} hah! I'm on fire!
Niggas out in Philly they feel me, they bump my shit
Every bootlegger you know, pump my shit bitch!
Before we dive into the meaning behind the lyrics of "N***as" by 50 Cent, it's worth noting that the use of the racial slur in both the song title and lyrics is highly controversial and offensive to many people. The song was released in 2002 as part of the 8 Mile soundtrack, and features a collaboration with The Notorious B.I.G. Despite the controversy, we can analyze the lyrics to try and understand what 50 Cent is trying to convey.
In the song's intro, 50 Cent proclaims his love for “n***as”. He says, “Cause n***as are meeee, and I should only love that which is meeee”. This suggests that he feels a sense of connection and solidarity with his fellow African Americans. He says that he loves to see “n***as go through changes” and “shoot the s**t”. However, he also acknowledges that there is something about “n***as” that he does not love.
The rest of the song is essentially a display of macho posturing and boasts about 50 Cent and Biggie Smalls' toughness and criminal exploits. The references to smoking weed, flipping keys (selling drugs), and making money indicate their involvement in the illegal drug trade. The lyrics suggest that they are not afraid to defend themselves or retaliate against those who cross them, as evidenced by the mention of “hittin’ buckshot at n***az that open spots”.
In terms of the song's structure, it follows the typical format of a rap song with a catchy hook and verses filled with braggadocio and vivid imagery. The chorus, “We the realest n***as, 50 Cent and B.I.G., my n***a, don’t try to act like you don’t feel us n***a", emphasizes the camaraderie and shared experiences between 50 Cent and Notorious B.I.G.
Overall, the song glorifies a certain type of hyper-masculine, criminal lifestyle in which violence and illegal activity are commonplace. It's worth noting that the use of the aforementioned racial slur is highly controversial and offensive to many people, nevertheless, it is a product of its time and context.
Line by Line Meaning
Shadyville Entertainment, Bad Boy collaboration
This song is a collaborative effort between Shadyville Entertainment and Bad Boy
I love niggas, I love niggas!
I have a deep fondness for black people
Cause niggas are meeeee
Because I understand and relate to the experiences of black people
And I should only love that which is meeeee
Therefore, I should naturally love black people
I love to see niggas go through changes
I take pleasure in seeing black people go through changes or transformations
I love to see niggas, shoot the shit
I also enjoy spending time with black people and chatting with them
But there's one thing about niggas I do not love
However, there's one aspect of black people that I don't like
Yeah... did it again nigga!
I'm starting another rap verse now
To all my Brooklyn 'Niggas!'
Shout out to all my black friends in Brooklyn
To all my Uptown 'You niggas understand!'
And to my black friends uptown who can relate
To all my Bronx 'In this world nigga!'
And to my black friends in the Bronx who understand this world we live in
To all my Queens 'Swept you away...'
And to my black friends in Queens who impress me with their style
Back up chump, you know Biggie Smalls rips it quick
I'm warning a foolish person to step back, as they know how talented Biggie Smalls was at rapping
And kicks it quick, you know how black niggaz get
Biggie rapped quickly and we all know how talented black people can be
With the hoods fatigues with the boots with trees
Black people look cool in camouflage pants and boots with a tree design
Smokin' weed, flippin' ki's, makin' crazy G's
Black people smoke marijuana, sell drugs, and make a lot of money
Hittin' buckshot at niggaz that open spots
When anyone tries to compete with black drug dealers, they get shot at
On the avenue, take my loot, and I'm baggin' you
Black people rob others for money and will attack anyone who resists
Pimpin' hoes that drive Volvo's and Rodeos
Black people act as pimps for prostitutes who drive Volvos and Rodeos
Flash the roll, make 'em wet in they pantyhose
The pimps show off their money and make the prostitutes feel excited
Damn, a nigga style is unorthodox
Black people have a unique, non-traditional style
Grip the Glock, when I walk down the crowded blocks
Black people carry guns for protection when walking around a crowded area
Just in case a nigga wanna act out
If anyone tries to start something, black people are ready for it
I just black out, and blow they motherfuckin' back out
They react aggressively in retaliation and shoot their attacker
We the realest nigga
Myself and Biggie Smalls are the most authentic rappers
50 Cent and B.I.G. my nigga
I consider Biggie Smalls to be my close friend
Don't try to act like you don't feel us nigga
Don't pretend that you don't understand or enjoy our music
Biggie yo' nigga, 50 yo' nigga
We're both beloved rappers to many people
Squeeze the trigger, leave a nigga fa' sho'!
We have a lot of power and influence and could easily kill someone
Then we smoke spliffs, we pack four-fifths
After conflicts, we celebrate by smoking weed and arming ourselves
Just in case dread wanna riff
In case anyone with dreadlocks wants to try something
He get a free lift to the cemetery, rough very
We'll kill them and send them to the cemetery in a violent manner
Not your ordinary, we watch you get buried
We're not like ordinary people and take pleasure in others' deaths
That's a real nigga for ya
This is what people consider to be an authentic black person
Get mad do a quarter flip the script, and rip your lawyer
If someone tries to take legal action against us, we'll rebel and attack their lawyer
Spit at the D.A., cause fuck what she say
We don't care what the district attorney says and will even spit at her
She don't give a fuck about your ass anyway
The attorney doesn't care about black people's well-being
Up North bound first stop, Water town or Bitch-skill
If we go to jail, the first stop will be either Watertown or Bitch-skill
Where the hand skills are real I'll
This is where people get into real physical fights and have to protect themselves
You'll be a super Hoover doo-doo stain remover
In jail, you'll be cleaning up human waste as a lowly job
Ha hahhh, yo chief, pass the Buddha
We're laughing and enjoying ourselves, so pass the joint
When I was young my M.O. was to go hand-to-hand
When I was younger, I used to sell drugs face-to-face
Even my P.O. she called me the Ginger Bread Man
Even my probation officer knew that I was evading the law like the Gingerbread Man
I catch a new case, and tell her ass "catch me if you can"
If I get in trouble again, I'll just run away and challenge her to catch me
Don't let your people fill you up wit octane, I'm not playing
Don't listen to your friends' ideas about getting ahead in life with violence, I'm serious
Get gassed up to get blast up
If you listen to bad advice and get too confident, you'll get killed
Real B.I.G. style watch the kid break it down
I'm going to rap in a way that's similar to Biggie Smalls and show off my skills
Check it - thou shalt not fuck wit North C. Papa
Don't mess with me, also known as North C. Papa
50 Cent, I'll break yo ass off propa'
I'll beat you up really badly, 50 Cent
There's no place like home, New York - New York
I love New York and nothing compares to it
I run the city, and I don't dance around like Diddy
I'm a powerful figure in New York and don't act frivolously like Diddy
Niggas is giddy, till they smacked silly or sprayed wit the Mac Milli
Some people are too enthralled to think rationally, until they're hit hard or shot with a Mac Milli (gun)
They don't want drama really
Most people don't want actual conflict
Pussy niggaz get hard lip syncin' my lyrics like Milli Vanilli
Some men pretend to be tough while lip syncing to my music, but they're not authentic
In the hood they feel me {*gun cocked*} hah! I'm on fire!
People in the neighborhood appreciate my music and I'm doing well
Niggas out in Philly they feel me, they bump my shit
Even people in Philadelphia like my music and listen to it
Every bootlegger you know, pump my shit bitch!
Even people who illegally sell my music are helping me gain more fans
Contributed by Noah A. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
@anacarolina4830
I love niggas! I love niggas!
Cause niggas are me!
And I should only love that 'presents me
I love to see niggas go through changes (Whoooo!!)
I love to see niggas shoot through shit (Did it again)
And to all niggas that do it I love
To all my Brooklyn (Niggas!)
To all my Uptown (You niggas understand?!)
To all my Bronx (It's war nigga)
To all my Queensbridge (I'll blow you away)
Back up chump, you know Biggie Smalls grips it quick
And kicks it quick, you know how black niggas get
With the hoods fatigues with the boots with trees
Smokin weed, flippin ki's, makin crazy G's
Hittin' buckshots at niggas that open spots
On the avenue, take my loot, and I'm baggin you
Pimpin hoes that drive Volvo's and Rodeos
Flash the Roll, make her wet, in her pantyhose
Damn, a nigga style is unorthodox
Grip the glock, when I walk down the crowded blocks
Just in case a nigga wanna act out
I just black out, and blow they motherfuckin back out
That's real
We the realest nigga
50 Cent and B.I.G. my nigga
Don't try to act like you don't feel a nigga
Biggie yo nigga, 50 yo nigga
Squeeze the trigga' leave a nigga fa' sho!
We the realest nigga
50 Cent and B.I.G. my nigga
Don't try to act like you don't feel a nigga
Biggie yo nigga, 50 yo nigga
Squeeze the trigga' leave a nigga fa' sho!
When we smoke spliffs, we pack four-fifths
Just in case dread wanna riff
He get a free lift to the cemetary, rough very
Not your ordinary, we watch you get buried
That's a real nigga for ya
Get mad do a quarter flip the script, and rip your lawyer
Spit at the D.A. cause fuck what she say
She don't give a fuck about your ass anyway
Up North found first stop Watertown
Of fist-skill, where the hand skills are real ill
You'll be a super Hoover doo-doo stain remover
Ha hahhh, yo Chief, pass the Buddha
We the realest nigga
50 Cent and B.I.G. my nigga
Don't try to act like you don't feel a nigga
Biggie yo nigga, 50 yo nigga
Squeeze the trigga' leave a nigga fa' sho!
We the realest nigga
50 Cent and B.I.G. my nigga
Don't try to act like you don't feel a nigga
Biggie yo nigga, 50 yo nigga
Squeeze the trigga' leave a nigga fa' sho!
When I was young my M.O. was to go hand-to-hand
And even my P.O. she called me the Ginger Bread Man
I catch a new case, and tell her ass "catch me if you can"
Don't let your people fill you up wit octane I'm not playing
Get gassed up to get blast up
Real B.I.G. style watch the kid break it down
Check it, thou shalt not fuck wit North C. Papa
50 Cent, I'll break yo ass off propa'
There's no place like home, New York - New York
I run this city, I don't dance around like Diddy
Niggas is giddy, till they act smack silly
Or spray wit the Mack Milly, they don't want drama really
Pussy niggas get hard lip syncing my lyrics like Milly Vanilly
Even the hood they feel me {*gun cocked*} hah! I'm on fire!
Niggas out in Philly they feel me, they bump my shit
Every bootlegger you know, bump my shit, bitch!
We the realest nigga
50 Cent and B.I.G. my nigga
Don't try to act like you don't feel a nigga
Biggie yo nigga, 50 yo nigga
Squeeze the trigga' leave a nigga fa' sho!
We the realest nigga
50 Cent and B.I.G. my nigga
Don't try to act like you don't feel a nigga
Biggie yo nigga, 50 yo nigga
Squeeze the trigga' leave a nigga fa' sho!
@originalJoeKing
The white girls singing the hook in White Chicks! 😂😂😂
@XxkindalikethisxX
ssjsskskskskskskksskskskksksskskssskskskskskskkskskss
@louietorres4363
@Ghita Florin Nigga!
@Mocha-Bottle
Yep lol
@rurueyad8711
😂😂😂 I came from it
@user-we1xk9gd9q
So…. Nobody’s around
@shannarahanna7785
I knew this song was fire when my pastor forgot to turn off his phone during Bible study and this was his ring tone.
@itsjemmabond
Get out of here! Are you being serious?!
@shannarahanna7785
@itsjemmabond Yes 😭😭
@dmitrilightsey3097
OMG!!!!! 🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣