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 Jayโs music. After heโd 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 Centโs 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 โGet Rich Or Die Tryinโโ 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 Tryinโ 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.
Realest Killas
50 Cent Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Is that 50 Cent and Pac ready?
Lemme know, holla
It's go'n be some stuff you go'n see
That's go'n make it hard to smile in the future
Yeah nigga, ha ha
Tupac cut his head bald
Then you want to cut yo head bald
Tupac wear a bandana
You wanna wear a banadana
(What do we have here now?)
Tupac put a cross on his back
You wanna put crosses on yo back
Nigga, you ain't Tupac
Is it money and women, funny beginning's tragic ending's?
I can make a million and still not get enough of spendin'
And since my life is based on sinnin', I'm hell bound
Rather be buried that be worried, livin' held down
Yo, that shit is crazy Whoo Kid
Bring that muthafuckin' beat back man
It's go'n be some stuff you go'n see
That's go'n make it hard to smile in the future
Yeah nigga, ha ha
Let's go nigga, dis is what it is
Tupac cut his head bald
Then you want to cut yo head bald
Tupac wear a bandana
You wanna wear a banadana
(What do we have here now)
Tupac put a cross on his back
You wanna put crosses on yo back
Nigga, you ain't Tupac
Is it money and women, funny beginning's tragic ending's?
I can make a million and still not get enough of spendin'
And since my life is based on sinnin', I'm hell bound
Rather be buried that be worried, livin' held down
My game plan to be trained in
Military mind of a thug lord sittin' in a cemetery cryin'
I've been lost since my adolescence calling for Jesus
Ballin' as a youngster wondering if he see's us
Young black males
Crack sales got me three strikes
Livin' in jail this is hell enemies die
Wonder when we all pass, is anybody listnin'?
Got my hands on my semi shotty, everybody's snitchin'
Please God can you understand me, bless my family
Guide us all before we fall into insanity
I'm makin' a point to make my beatin' bumpin' raw life
Drop some shit to make these stupid bitches jaw tight
Till Makaveli return it's all eyes on me, on me
(What do we have here now?)
And you can hate it or love it
But that's what it's go'n be, go'n be
Shoulda listened, I told you not to fuck wit me, wit me
(What do we have here now?)
Now can you take the pressure
That's what we go'n see, go'n see
This is a cry for mercy, I promise
My success would be the death of you
Low and behold, you sold ya soul
Theres nothing left of you
Look in the mirror, ask yourself, who are you?
If you don't know who you are
How could ya dreams come true?
Muthafucka, I sat backed and watched ya
You pretended to be Pac
You pretended to be hot but you not, now
(Now)
You sea-so crip, you can't take the pressure, you pussy
I warned you not to push me
You see me and chills, run up ya spine
God made menace in war but ya heart ain't like mine
And plus, they look at me like I'ma menace
I was playing wit guns, while ya momma had you
And yo friends playing tennis
I'ma nightmare, you see me in ya dream
Wake up and turn on ya TV, and see my ass again
You cowardly hearted, you couldn't make it on ya own
Fuck the source, I'm on the cover of Rollin' Stone
Till Makaveli return it's all eyes on me, on me
(What do we have here now?)
And you can hate it or love it
But that's what it's go'n be, go'n be
Shoulda listened, I told you not to fuck wit me, wit me
(What do we have here now?)
Now can you take the pressure
That's what we go'n see, go'n see
Till Makaveli return it's all eyes on me, on me
(What do we have here now?)
And you can hate it or love it
But that's what it's go'n be, go'n be
Shoulda listened, I told you not to fuck wit me, wit me
(What do we have here now?)
Now can you take the pressure
That's what we go'n see, go'n see
"Realest Killas" is a song by American rapper 50 Cent, featuring guest vocals from Tupac Shakur. The song was released posthumously in 2006 after Tupacโs death. The lyrics start with an indication that the song is for those who are ready to witness and see how things will unfold in the future eventually making it tough for them to smile. The song captures the essence of Tupacโs influence and the continuing comparisons to him even after his death.
The lyrics revolve around Tupac and his influence on the rap scene at that time. Tupac had his head bald and wore a bandana, which became a signature style for him. Even crosses on the back became a hit among the rap artists during this time. The songโs hook reminds the listeners that even though others try to copy Tupacโs style, they are not Tupac. The song also touches upon the harsh realities of life, including struggles with money, women, and tragic endings. Tupacโs influence impacts the singer's orientation to the world and shapes the way the singer perceives things.
In conclusion, "Realest Killas" is an ode to Tupac and his greatness, while also serving a confirmation that Tupacโs music will forever be canonized in the annals of rap music history. It is a reflection of the impact that Tupac had on the scene, and how he continues to influence even new school rappers long after his death.
Line by Line Meaning
Yo, Red Spider
Is that 50 Cent and Pac ready?
Lemme know, holla
50 Cent is inquiring about the readiness of Red Spider, Tupac Shakur, and the rest of the crew. He wants to know if they're ready to go.
It's go'n be some stuff you go'n see
That's go'n make it hard to smile in the future
There are going to be some difficult experiences ahead that will make it hard for people to be happy in the future.
Yeah nigga, ha ha
Let's go nigga, dis is what it is
Tupac cut his head bald
Then you want to cut yo head bald
There's laughter as the crew compares 50 Cent to Tupac Shakur, noting that 50 Cent balds his head like Tupac. The tone is dismissive, as if 50 Cent is just copying Tupac.
Tupac wear a bandana
You wanna wear a banadana
(What do we have here now?)
Tupac put a cross on his back
You wanna put crosses on yo back
Nigga, you ain't Tupac
The crew continues to mock 50 Cent, pointing out the ways he tries to copy Tupac, but emphasizing that he's not like Tupac in any meaningful way.
Is it money and women, funny beginning's tragic ending's?
I can make a million and still not get enough of spendin'
And since my life is based on sinnin', I'm hell bound
Rather be buried that be worried, livin' held down
This verse reflects on 50 Cent's lifestyle, which is centered around wealth, women, and sin. Despite making a lot of money, he's not satisfied and feels trapped, fearing that he's headed to hell.
My game plan to be trained in
Military mind of a thug lord sittin' in a cemetery cryin'
I've been lost since my adolescence calling for Jesus
Ballin' as a youngster wondering if he see's us
In this verse, 50 Cent emphasizes his tough, thuggish image, while also acknowledging a sense of loss and questioning in his life. He wonders if Jesus is watching over him as he lives a life of crime.
Young black males
Crack sales got me three strikes
Livin' in jail this is hell enemies die
Wonder when we all pass, is anybody listnin'?
Got my hands on my semi shotty, everybody's snitchin'
These lines reflect on the harsh reality of life for young black men in America, who are often caught up in the drug trade and subjected to harsh prison sentences. The sense of paranoia and danger is heightened by the mention of guns and snitching.
Please God can you understand me, bless my family
Guide us all before we fall into insanity
I'm makin' a point to make my beatin' bumpin' raw life
Drop some shit to make these stupid bitches jaw tight
In this verse, 50 Cent prays for help and guidance for himself and his family, while also boasting about the power of his music and its ability to shock and impress listeners.
Till Makaveli return it's all eyes on me, on me
(What do we have here now?)
And you can hate it or love it
But that's what it's go'n be, go'n be
Shoulda listened, I told you not to fuck wit me, wit me
(What do we have here now?)
Now can you take the pressure
That's what we go'n see, go'n see
These lines are a boastful declaration of 50 Cent's power and influence, as well as a warning to those who might underestimate him. He is confident in his abilities and willing to take on any challenge or pressure that comes his way.
This is a cry for mercy, I promise
My success would be the death of you
Low and behold, you sold ya soul
Theres nothing left of you
Look in the mirror, ask yourself, who are you?
If you don't know who you are
How could ya dreams come true?
This verse is a taunt directed at 50 Cent's enemies, warning them that his success will destroy them. He challenges them to ask themselves who they really are, and suggests that they have already lost their souls and their sense of identity.
Muthafucka, I sat backed and watched ya
You pretended to be Pac
You pretended to be hot but you not, now
(Now)
You sea-so crip, you can't take the pressure, you pussy
I warned you not to push me
You see me and chills, run up ya spine
God made menace in war but ya heart ain't like mine
In this verse, 50 Cent continues to mock his enemies, accusing them of trying to copy Tupac Shakur and failing. He also challenges their toughness and suggests that they are weak and cowardly compared to him.
And plus, they look at me like I'ma menace
I was playing wit guns, while ya momma had you
And yo friends playing tennis
I'ma nightmare, you see me in ya dream
Wake up and turn on ya TV, and see my ass again
You cowardly hearted, you couldn't make it on ya own
Fuck the source, I'm on the cover of Rollin' Stone
This verse is largely a boastful celebration of 50 Cent's power and influence, as he mocks his enemies and taunts them for their weakness. He sees himself as a nightmare for his enemies, and is proud of his status as a successful rapper and celebrity.
Contributed by Daniel J. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
@Konjo316
Fuck, as soon as Tupac goes in he starts ripping the track, man this dude was insane.
@oathraw2135
Subs is that u from tns ๐๐๐
@Konjo316
@@oathraw2135 I dunno what tns is so i think you mighz have the wrong person.
@Catthatisblue
Stfu nigga
@Nuksukow
@@Catthatisblue lmaooooo I was thinking same thing. These noobs commenting on pac less than a year ago clueless to how he good he was, at least they waking up. Music so bad today that people are at least doing the right thing and going back to find the good shit.
@sombra1412
@@Catthatisblue all you had to do was follow the damn train homie wft u doing here
@jarnold813
"Money and women, funny beginnings, tragic endings
I can make a million and still not get enough of spendin'.."๐๐ฅ
The way he spits that... ๐ฒ
@saschaherdt2162
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@milenceveliki9205
Real G
@GhostTower
Money and women are, from the beginning, tragic endings