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.
What If
50 Cent Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
It's that classic s***
That gangsta s***, yeah
Man I watched the sun go up but come down, sayin' what if?
Man I watched the tide roll in and roll out, sayin' what if?
Homey I play the block tryin' to get my packs off, sayin' what if?
Man if I get a shot, I could make it to the top, damn what if?
If I got on some pretty boy s*** like Puffy
N****z in the hood, man they just wouldn't love me
If I wore a suit every day like Jay-Z
N****z would think I blew up my f***in' head and went crazy
If I put diamonds in my teeth like Baby
I wouldn't stand a chance of tryin' to sell like Shady
If I put out bulls*** joints like AZ
Every chance n****z get, they'd try and play me
But I move around with a little 380
A n**** try to stunt, a n**** get sprayed be
If I smoked weed all day like Snoop do
I'd see the world different through my dilated pupils
If I bust dance moves on you like Usher
N****z did say, "50 that ain't gangsta, f*** ya"
Man I'ma just keep doin' what I do
'Cause n****z can't do me, better than I do, ha, ha
Man I watched the sun go up but come down, sayin' what if?
Man I watched the tide roll in and roll out, sayin' what if?
Homey I play the block tryin' to get my packs off, sayin' what if?
Man if I get a shot, I could make it to the top, damn what if?
What if I had blockbuster flicks like Will Smith?
And all the backpack n****z loved me like Mos Def
I'd probably be a cool a** n**** like Ice Cube
Picture me in this flick right now lookin' so cool
What if I was a low key n****, just laid back?
Hustle to keep a homey 'round, somebody to hold the gat
Man what if Halle Berry was my next baby moms?
S*** I'd give that child support up with no problems
If I caught a case and jumped bail I'd get caught
'Cause I'm that n**** everybody know from New York
But if I was the new rap n**** you didn't know
You'd be sayin', "Damn that kid got a sick flow"
What if I just cruised through your hood on 22's
Bumpin' Curtis May field or Marvin, somethin' smooth
And if I let the top down on the Azure
Yeah that'd make you sick to your stomach I'm sure, ha, ha
Man I watched the sun go up but come down, sayin' what if?
Man I watched the tide roll in and roll out, sayin' what if?
Homey I play the block tryin' to get my packs off, sayin' what if?
Man if I get a shot, I could make it to the top, damn what if?
In this song, 50 Cent reflects on the many "what ifs" in his life and imagines what his life would be like if he made certain choices. He considers the various paths he could have taken in his career and in his personal life. He muses on what it would be like if he were a different kind of rapper, if he had a child with Halle Berry, if he cruised on 22s and listened to Curtis Mayfield or Marvin Gaye. In each verse, he imagines a new scenario and ponders what it would be like to be in that situation.
The song is emblematic of 50 Cent's fascination with the trappings of success and his longing for a life that is different from his own. While he has achieved great success as a rapper, he is still haunted by the sense that there is something more that he could have achieved. Through his lyrics, he grapples with these feelings of longing and dissatisfaction, and tries to make sense of the choices he has made in his life.
Overall, "What If" is a reflective and introspective song that showcases the depth and complexity of 50 Cent's worldview. It is a testament to his ability to explore the many facets of his own psyche and to offer a nuanced and insightful take on the world around him.
Line by Line Meaning
Yeah, I'm f***in' wit' dis
I am enjoying and feeling this music
It's that classic s***
This is a classic style of music
That gangsta s***, yeah
This is a type of music associated with gangsters
Man I watched the sun go up but come down, sayin' what if?
I pondered the possibilities and what could have been throughout the day
Man I watched the tide roll in and roll out, sayin' what if?
I spent time thinking about various possibilities and what could have been while watching the ocean
Homey I play the block tryin' to get my packs off, sayin' what if?
I sell drugs on the street corners and think about what I could have done differently to not be in this position
Man if I get a shot, I could make it to the top, damn what if?
If I had the opportunity, I could become very successful
If I got on some pretty boy s*** like Puffy
If I adopted a more polished and soft style like Puff Daddy
N****z in the hood, man they just wouldn't love me
The people in the neighborhood would not respect me if I changed my style
If I wore a suit every day like Jay-Z
If I dressed in professional attire like Jay-Z
N****z would think I blew up my f***in' head and went crazy
People would think I lost my mind if I changed my style too drastically
If I put diamonds in my teeth like Baby
If I had a dental attachment with diamonds like Birdman
I wouldn't stand a chance of tryin' to sell like Shady
I would not be able to compete with Eminem
If I put out bulls*** joints like AZ
If I released low-quality music like AZ
Every chance n****z get, they'd try and play me
People would criticize and undercut me if I produced poor music
But I move around with a little 380
I carry a small handgun with me
A n**** try to stunt, a n**** get sprayed be
If someone comes at me aggressively, they will be shot
If I smoked weed all day like Snoop do
If I used marijuana frequently like Snoop Dogg
I'd see the world different through my dilated pupils
My perspective would change due to the effects of marijuana
If I bust dance moves on you like Usher
If I danced professionally like Usher
N****z did say, "50 that ain't gangsta, f*** ya"
People would criticize me for not being true to the gangster style
Man I'ma just keep doin' what I do
I will continue with my current style and behaviors
'Cause n****z can't do me, better than I do, ha, ha
I am the best at being myself
What if I had blockbuster flicks like Will Smith?
What if I starred in hit movies like Will Smith?
And all the backpack n****z loved me like Mos Def
If the conscious rap community respected me like they do Mos Def
I'd probably be a cool a** n**** like Ice Cube
I would have a similar public persona to Ice Cube
Picture me in this flick right now lookin' so cool
Imagine me in a movie looking fashionable
What if I was a low key n****, just laid back?
What if I had a more low-key and relaxed personality?
Hustle to keep a homey 'round, somebody to hold the gat
Work to have friends who can protect me, who also carry guns
Man what if Halle Berry was my next baby moms?
What if Halle Berry was the mother of my child?
S*** I'd give that child support up with no problems
I would financially support the child without any issues
If I caught a case and jumped bail I'd get caught
If I committed a crime and skipped bail, I would be caught
'Cause I'm that n**** everybody know from New York
I am well-known in New York City
But if I was the new rap n**** you didn't know
If I was a lesser-known artist
You'd be sayin', "Damn that kid got a sick flow"
People would admire my rap skills
What if I just cruised through your hood on 22's
What if I drove around in your neighborhood on large rims?
Bumpin' Curtis May field or Marvin, somethin' smooth
Playing smooth music by Curtis Mayfield or Marvin Gaye
And if I let the top down on the Azure
If I drove a convertible Azure and removed the top
Yeah that'd make you sick to your stomach I'm sure, ha, ha
People around me would be envious and upset, which is amusing to me
Man I watched the sun go up but come down, sayin' what if?
I thought about various possibilities throughout the day
Man I watched the tide roll in and roll out, sayin' what if?
I pondered different scenarios and what could have been while watching the ocean
Homey I play the block tryin' to get my packs off, sayin' what if?
I sell drugs on the street corners and think about what could have been different in my life
Man if I get a shot, I could make it to the top, damn what if?
If I had a chance, I could become very successful
Lyrics © Ultra Tunes, BMG Rights Management, Universal Music Publishing Group, Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Songtrust Ave, Abkco Music Inc., Kobalt Music Publishing Ltd., Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: DARRYL CARTER, LINDA COOKE, CURTIS JACKSON, CURTIS JAMES JACKSON, BOBBY WOMACK
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Ahmed El Sayed
on If I Can't
good