Curtis James Jackson III (born July 6, 1975 in South Jamaica, Queens, New Y… Read Full Bio ↴Curtis James Jackson III (born July 6, 1975 in South Jamaica, Queens, New York), better known by his stage name 50 Cent, is a Grammy award nominated rapper, actor, singer, entrepreneur, author and founder of the hip hop group and label G-Unit.

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.

Take It To The Top
50 Cent Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴

[Chorus]
Shawty if you love me like your lost and you can't find your way without me
You goin' wake up one day when I'm gone thinking why did you doubt me
But you better believe me I take it to the, take it to the, take it to the top
You got to believe me I take it to the, take it to the, take it to the top

I made you why would I play you?
Not only showered you with gifts I bathed you

Plus I hit the first night and I stayed too
I know it's early but I just thought I would page you

Hey you!
More then I'm willing and able
You get tired from all the presents that I gave you
Still you

Be acting like you someone faithful
You swear I'm fucking on a rendezvous
When you think of freaking I be on my girl
Even when we not freaking you be on my mind
I'm more mature I'm flipping them dollars

So I can't give you all of my time cause I'm,
24 hours a day stuck in a war
Atleast 8 hours or more cooking them rhymes up
So 16 hours just you can hit the store and you complaining you want more free time?

[Chorus]

You got to believe me baby I'm making it easy baby
My SWA you watching Feezy baby
I got a mean Mercedes and got a cleaning lady
Heres some advice for you, you better heat it baby

Long as your whip in the room and got a strip on them booms
So what the fuck do you care cause I live on the road
I'm busy gripping them Ole's that's how you gripping them clothes
Home I ain't getting no dough I can't be sitting in there

So what they worth is they own baby I'm different then them
I bring them benjamins in look at the kitchen in there
Look at the living room set look at that thing on your neck
Matching that thing on your wrist but got some digits in there

I give a fuck if they stare I give a fuck what they think
I get them budgets in check and put the diesel in there
Don't let them people in there
Gas you up and get you all upset
You win my heart and I'm a keep you there

[Chorus]

And since these feelings at heart are not right I,
Put in position to rock ice right and,
Them other niggas be singing the same song they might,
Have what it takes but they handle things wrong

You in your mens or something you want the meaner man
You got to believe yourself cause I believe in me
I got the Beamer keys I'm just as clean as these
I smoke the greenest trees
Them other niggas be fronting

[Chorus]

Overall Meaning

In the song "Take It to the Top" by 50 Cent, the artist boasts about his wealth and success, while also addressing the doubts and insecurities of his lover. The chorus implies that while the lover may doubt the rapper's loyalty and intentions now, she will eventually regret her doubts when she realizes how much he has done for her. The verses detail how 50 Cent has provided his lover with gifts and attention, but also how he is busy with his career and cannot always prioritize her free time. He also mentions how he is different from other men, and how he doesn't need to front about his status because his success and wealth are legitimate.

The overall message of the song appears to be one of both assurance and warning. 50 Cent wants his lover to know that she does not need to doubt his intentions, and that he has real love for her despite his busy schedule. However, he also makes clear that he expects her to trust and believe in him, and warns that she will regret it if she strays from him.

Line by Line Meaning

Shawty if you love me like your lost and you can't find your way without me
If you love me like you're lost without me, you'll regret it once I'm gone

You goin' wake up one day when I'm gone thinking why did you doubt me
When I'm gone, you'll realize your mistake of doubting me

But you better believe me I take it to the, take it to the, take it to the top
Believe me when I say, I take it to the top

You got to believe me I take it to the, take it to the, take it to the top
You have to believe me, that I'll reach the peak

I made you why would I play you?
Why would I play you when I'm the one who made you?

Not only showered you with gifts I bathed you
I gave you a lot of gifts and took care of you

Plus I hit the first night and I stayed too
We slept together the first night and I stayed with you

I know it's early but I just thought I would page you
I know it's early, but I just wanted to check on you

Hey you!
Hey, you there!

More then I'm willing and able
I do more than I'm capable of

You get tired from all the presents that I gave you
You get tired of my gifts

Still you be acting like you someone faithful
You act like you're faithful, but you're not

You swear I'm fucking on a rendezvous
You think I'm cheating on you

When you think of freaking I be on my girl
When you think of sex, I think of my girl

Even when we not freaking you be on my mind
Even when we're not having sex, you're on my mind

I'm more mature I'm flipping them dollars
I'm mature and making lots of money

So I can't give you all of my time cause I'm,
I can't give you all of my time because I'm busy

24 hours a day stuck in a war
I'm busy 24 hours a day

Atleast 8 hours or more cooking them rhymes up
I spend at least 8 hours or more writing my songs

So 16 hours just you can hit the store and you complaining you want more free time?
I spend 16 hours working, and you're complaining about not having enough free time?

You got to believe me baby I'm making it easy baby
Trust me, baby, I'm making things easier for you

My SWA you watching Feezy baby
My assistant is watching things for me

I got a mean Mercedes and got a cleaning lady
I have a nice car and someone to clean my things

Heres some advice for you, you better heat it baby
Here's some advice for you, you better listen

Long as your whip in the room and got a strip on them booms
As long as you have your car and jewelry

So what the fuck do you care cause I live on the road
Why do you care if I'm always on tour?

I'm busy gripping them Ole's that's how you gripping them clothes
I'm busy making money, which is how you can afford nice clothes

Home I ain't getting no dough I can't be sitting in there
When I'm not making money, I can't just sit at home

So what they worth is they own baby I'm different then them
I'm not like other people, so their worth doesn't matter to me

I bring them benjamins in look at the kitchen in there
I make a lot of money, look at my kitchen

Look at the living room set look at that thing on your neck
Look at our nice living room and your necklace

Matching that thing on your wrist but got some digits in there
Your wristwatch matches, but it has a high value

I give a fuck if they stare I give a fuck what they think
I don't care if people stare or what they think of me

I get them budgets in check and put the diesel in there
I manage my budget and put gas in my car

Don't let them people in there
Don't let other people interfere

Gas you up and get you all upset
They will just make you upset

You win my heart and I'm a keep you there
If you win my heart, I'll keep you there

And since these feelings at heart are not right I,
Since my heart doesn't feel right,

Put in position to rock ice right and,
I put myself in a position to wear expensive jewelry

Them other niggas be singing the same song they might,
Other people might sing the same song as me

Have what it takes but they handle things wrong
They might have talent, but they handle it wrong

You in your mens or something you want the meaner man
You want a tough man

You got to believe yourself cause I believe in me
You have to believe in yourself because I believe in myself

I got the Beamer keys I'm just as clean as these
I have the keys to a BMW, and I'm just as cool as other people

I smoke the greenest trees
I smoke the best quality marijuana

Them other niggas be fronting
Other people might be faking it

Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group, Kobalt Music Publishing Ltd., Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: JONATHAN ROTEM, LESLIE PRIDGEON, CURTIS JACKSON, ERIC BASS

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind

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