 |
| The legendary 50 Cent is two quarters. |
Curtis "50 Cent" Jackson turned 50 years old this month. He is a media personality, rapper, media mogul, producer, actor and online troll.
He is a controversial figure.
He turned the rap game around when he signed to Eminem's Shady Records.
He was signed to Columbia Records in 1997. He did the infamous single, "How to Rob [an Industry Nigga]" on the Madd Rapper album. He dissed numerous rappers and R&B figures threatening armed robbery if they crossed his path.
He was supposed to released his major label debut album, "The Power of the Dollar."
Columbia dealing with controversial issues surrounding rappers decided to shelve his album. 50 would release mixtapes and his second album "Guess Who's Back" on the independent circuit. He would also form a group with childhood friends Tony Yayo, Lloyd Banks and Bang Em Up Smurf. They formed the group Guerilla Unit which we know as G-Unit.
On May 24, 2000, Jackson was attacked by a gunman outside his grandmother's former home in South Jamaica. After getting into a friend's car, he was asked to return to the house to get some jewelry; his son was in the house, and his grandmother was in the front yard. Jackson returned to the back seat of the car, and another car pulled up nearby; an assailant walked up and fired nine shots at close range with a 9mm handgun. Jackson was shot in the hand, arm, hip, both legs, chest, and left cheek.
His facial wound resulted in a swollen tongue, the loss of a wisdom tooth and a slightly slurred voice; his friend was wounded in the hand. They were driven to a hospital, where Jackson spent 13 days. The alleged attacker, Darryl "Homicide" Baum, Mike Tyson's close friend and bodyguard, was killed three weeks later.
Jackson recalled the shooting: "It happens so fast that you don't even get a chance to shoot back .... I was scared the whole time ... I was looking in the rear-view mirror like, 'Oh shit, somebody shot me in the face! It burns, burns, burns.'"
In his autobiography, From Pieces to Weight: Once upon a Time in Southside Queens, he wrote: "After I got shot nine times at close range and didn't die, I started to think that I must have a purpose in life ... How much more damage could that shell have done? Give me an inch in this direction or that one, and I'm gone." Jackson used a walker for six weeks and fully recovered after five months. When he left the hospital, he stayed in the Poconos with his girlfriend and son, and his workout regime helped him develop a muscular physique.
In the hospital, Jackson signed a publishing deal with Columbia Records before he was dropped from the label and blacklisted by the recording industry because of his song, "Ghetto Qu'ran".
In 2002, Eminem was inspired by the lyrics of 50. Em got with Dr. Dre and Jimmy Iovine to listen to his mixtapes. They saw potential in a rapper who was unapologetic, rough and grimey.
When Em released the soundtrack 8 Mile, he included 50 on several tracks. The track that stood out was "Wanksta." That single started a rap feud that had prolonged longer than Em's feud with Raymond "Benzino" Scott.
Em and Dre signed 50 to their labels. He released the Diamond album "Get Rich or Die Tryin'" on Shady and Aftermath Records. It was a blockbuster album and made 50 an iconic figure in hip-hop.
50 would get a label deal for Tony Yayo, Lloyd Banks and later Young Buck who departed Juvenile's UTP Records was signed soon after. Then 50 was asked to sign on The Game to build a West Coast image. That will be explained in the rivalries.
As we honor the legendary media figure, I will revisit some of his greatest rivalries.
Born in Queens, New York, 50 grew up struggling. He was known as a fighter in the streets and they nicknamed him "Boo Boo" because he would body them with his fists when they teased him.
He started selling drugs when he was 12 and was trying to become just like his mom.
Living in South Jamaica neighborhood, his mother Sabrina was a drug dealer raising him until she died in a fire when Jackson was eight years old.
Jackson revealed in an interview that his mother was a lesbian.
Ater his mother's death and his father's departure, Jackson was raised by his grandparents.
He began boxing at about age 11, and when he was 14, a neighbor opened a boxing gym for local youth. "When I wasn't killing time in school, I was sparring in the gym or selling crack on the strip," Jackson remembered.
He sold crack during primary school. "I was competitive in the ring and hip-hop is competitive too ... I think rappers condition themselves like boxers, so they all kind of feel like they're the champ."
At age 12, Jackson began dealing narcotics when his grandparents thought he was in after-school programs, and brought guns and drug money to school. In the tenth grade, he was caught by metal detectors at Andrew Jackson High School: "I was embarrassed that I got arrested like that ... After I got arrested I stopped hiding it. I was telling my grandmother [openly], 'I sell drugs.'"
On June 29, 1994, Jackson was arrested for selling four vials of cocaine to an undercover police officer. He was arrested again three weeks later, when police searched his home and found heroin, ten ounces of crack cocaine, and a starting pistol. Although Jackson was sentenced to three to nine years in prison, he served six months in a boot camp and earned his GED. He has said that he did not use cocaine himself.
Jackson adopted the nickname "50 Cent" as a metaphor for change. The name was inspired by Kelvin Martin, a 1980s Brooklyn robber known as "50 Cent" Jackson chose it "because it says everything I want it to say. I'm the same kind of person 50 Cent was. I provide for myself by any means."
Rivalries.
50 was known for starting shit with other rappers and entertainers.
His most infamous rivalry is with Ja Rule.
Ja Rule was on top of the music charts. He was considered one of the biggest acts to crossover. Behind the scenes, Ja had a rival in Queens. Jackson engaged in a public dispute with rapper Ja Rule and his label, Murder Inc. Records, saying that a friend robbed jewelry from Ja Rule and the latter accused him of orchestrating the robbery. Ja Rule said that the conflict stemmed from a Queens video shoot, when Jackson did not like seeing him "getting so much love" from the neighborhood. At The Hit Factory in New York in March 2000, Jackson had an altercation with Murder Inc. associates and received three stitches for a stab wound. Rapper Black Child claimed responsibility for the stabbing, saying that he acted in self-defense when he thought someone reached for a gun.
The end of the Jackson-Ja Rule feud was confirmed in May 2011. According to Ja Rule, "I'm cool. We ain't beefing no more. We'll never collaborate. That's just what it is. You don't have to be at war with somebody, but it's also kind of like U.S. and another country that they may not get along with. We don't gotta go to war, but we're not friends either. But we can coincide inside of a world. He's doing him, and he's not thinking about me, and I'm doing me and I'm not thinking about him."
On August 7, 2015, the feud between the two rappers later reignited when Ja Rule gave a feedback to a social follower via Twitter over a similar feud between Meek Mill and Drake. Enraged, Jackson later responded with photos and comments via Instagram, only siding with Drake. The feud resurfaced three years later on January 19, 2018, when Ja Rule took to Twitter, calling out 50 Cent on social media.
He also had a feud with Fat Joe.
In connection to his feud with Ja Rule, 50 Cent also took aim at fellow New York rapper Fat Joe, a high-profile collaborator of Ja Rule's.
The feud took aim at Fat Joe following his 2002 track "What's Luv?" featuring Ja Rule and Ashanti. Fat Joe had also continued his collaboration with Murder Inc. on his 2004 track "New York" featuring Jadakiss, prompting a diss track aimed at Fat Joe from 50 Cent on his 2005 album The Massacre entitled "Piggy Bank". Fat Joe later responded with the track "My Fofo" on his album All or Nothing released later that same year. Tensions boiled over during the 2005 MTV Video Music Awards when Fat Joe presented the award for best Hip Hop Video, in which he told the audience "I feel so safe tonight with all this police protection courtesy of G-Unit". 50 Cent later retaliated with a profanity-laden diatribe following his performance of the song "So Seductive" with fellow G-Unit artist Tony Yayo, exclaiming "Fat Joe's a pussy man! [...] Pussy Boy, Nigga What?!". The feud later affected Fat Joe financially as he sought to secure a $20 million contract endorsing Air Jordan sneakers in early 2005, Michael Jordan himself later cancelled the contract following the VMA incident as he was in fear of conflict with 50 Cent or any other affiliates.
Following this; little action was taken on either side as the feud seemed to calm down by 2011. Murder Inc. executive Irv Gotti later expressed anger at Fat Joe following his proposal to quell their longstanding feud with G-Unit in 2010.
In 2012, 50 Cent approached Fat Joe in talks of ending the feud following the two agreeing to perform at a memorial ceremony for then-recently deceased music executive Chris Lighty.
Despite the prior history between the two, 50 Cent and Fat Joe became close friends and business associates shortly thereafter despite Fat Joe's lengthy connections with Ja Rule.
As Fat Joe is facing sexual assault allegations, some of Joe's allies claimed that he tried to put a hit on 50 during the peak of their feud.
The feud with Sean "Puffy" Combs.
Sean "Puffy" Combs aka Diddy has escaped the most devastating criminal charges of his career. The federal government tried to prove that Combs was a sexual predator, sex trafficker and man established in mob activities. The jury found him guilty on procuring and prostitution which carries some time in federal time out.
He is hoping President Donald J. Trump pardons him. It is likely.
50 wants to Trump not to pardon or commute his sentence.
50 once had a good relationship with Combs. That all changed in 2004, 2007, 2017 and 2025. Most of this feud stems from how Combs refused to release Mase so he could join G-Unit. Then Combs defending Rick Ross when 50 was having issues with him.
50 also had an issue when Diddy tried to block his beverages and spirits from competeting with his.
50 has frequently used social media to mock and troll Diddy, particularly in light of the legal issues, posting snarky comments, making offers to buy Diddy's media company, Revolt, and even creating an AI-enhanced image of himself wearing a "Free Diddy" shirt at a basketball game.
50 also publicly calls Diddy gay after it was revealed from a male victim that he used a lot of baby oil when he does sex with people.
 |
| 50 Cent has dismantled G-Unit. He only associates with Tony Yayo now. |
The feuds with Lloyd Banks, Young Buck and The Game.
50 disbanded G-Unit in 2017. He called his former allies a bunch of bums who were ungrateful for all the things he's done for them. The Game is basically one of the most targeted. After being approached by Dr. Dre and Jimmy Iovine, 50 was asked to put The Game in the group. 50 was at first happy to work with Game.
Things turned sour when The Game decided to do things outside the group. Game wanted to collaborate with rappers who had issues with 50. Game was dissing rappers who were nobodies. Game was subliminally dissing 50, Lloyd Banks and Dr. Dre.
50 told Dre that it was toxic working with Game especially after he put a lot of work to make his debut album "The Documentary" successful. 50 was angry over Interscope pushing back "The Massacre" to give Game more room.
Game would soon turn on G-Unit and publicly diss the group. 50 would fire the rapper from the group. Game infuriated by the firing came to Hot 97 studios with his crew. The crew got into a fight with G-Unit's security and one member got shot. Game and 50 were ordered to make peace. Which they did in front of cameras. But the feud did not settle down. Game and 50 were trading shots. Game decided to release his most harshest diss aimed at 50 and G-Unit called "300 Bars and Runnin." The freestyle was one of the most brutal disses aimed at the media mogul and internet troll.
Game was let go from Aftermath and signed on to Geffen to release his four albums before he ended up being on the independent circuit.
Game had turmoils throughout his time. He owes a woman millions for a sexual assault incident in which he failed to show up to court. Now almost his entire catalog is owed to her.
Young Buck was signed in 2003 after 50's album went multiplatinum. He was featured on several tracks. 50 wanted to bring a Southern rapper into the fold.
Buck appeared on the debut G-Unit album, "Beg for Mercy" and it went three times platinum.
Buck was proven to be a successful rapper. His debut album, "Straight Outta Ca$hville" went four times platinum. He was building a brand for the South.
The two would have a fallout shortly after "Buck The World" was released.
Buck having issues with cocaine, money, women and transwomen. Those were costly mistakes. Buck missed several G-Unit tours and was constantly getting in trouble. 50 had to kick him in 2007. Buck ended up patching things out 50 and they collaborated for the final G-Unit album, "T.O.S." and EP "The Beauty of Independence." Buck was let go for good after he was caught up in a sex scandal involving a transwoman. 50 decided to troll and it pissed off Buck.
Buck's allegations of drug abuse and outstanding warrants let to his issues with domestic violence and tax troubles. 50 Cent recorded the conversation between the two where he was crying about the situation.
Buck had to file for bankruptcy after he was stuck with massive debt. He owed child support, Interscope Records for the unreleased album he promised 50 and Dr. Dre when he signed with them and the IRS for numerous failures to file.
 |
| Jimmy Iovine forced 50 Cent and The Game to make peace despite the two publicly denouncing one another. |
Lloyd Banks, 50 Cent's longtime friend left the label in 2017 after he got married. He was one of the founding members of G-Unit. He has released two albums under G-Unit and Interscope. The albums were The Hunger for More and Rotten Apple. The two albums went platinum. He would leave the label with 50 Cent and released his first album post Interscope called H.F.M.2
With Banks it's rather not a strong feud. Banks did have issues with how 50 was running the label and releasing his albums.
Although they've drifted apart, Banks has described their relationship as being like "brothers" who came into the music industry together, and their last conversation involved 50 Cent encouraging Banks to pursue his own ventures. More recently, in September 2023, 50 Cent made comments seemingly poking fun at Banks' tour during his "The Final Lap Tour," though Banks has largely maintained a more reserved stance on addressing these publicly.
Tony Yayo was the hype-man for G-Unit. He was arrested for weapons and drug charges and spent three years in the iron college. He was soon released and then had released his only album on G-Unit and Interscope called Thoughts of a Predicate Felon. He has released albums on the independent circuit and still maintains a friendship with 50.
50 had feuds with Rick Ross, Joe Budden, Vivica A. Fox, Kanye West, Jay-Z, Beyonce, Jadakiss, Nas, Cam'ron, Jim Jones, Bill O'Reilly, Coca-Cola, Floyd Mayweather, Jr. and former president Joe Biden.
 |
50 Cent at Mar-a-Lago when Trump became president-elect again.
|
The support for President Donald J. Trump.
Curtis "50 Cent" Jackson was at Mar-a-Lago with Eddie Griffin, Antonio Brown, Tiger Woods, Ray J and Kodak Black for President Donald J. Trump's election night.
50, the media mogul, rapper and producer is a relic of the past. He feels comfortable with Trump's chaotic presidency. It is because he wants to be rich and feels that Trump will keep making him rich.
50 embraced the incompetent president shortly after the Butler attempted assassination attempt. He would use an image of Trump photoshopped on his "Get Rich or Die Tryin'" cover.
50 visited Capitol in 2024 alongside civil rights attorney Ben Crump to meet with Republican and Democrat lawmakers. CBS News correspondent Nikole Killion asked him about the “significance of African American men” in the upcoming presidential election.
“I see them identifying with Trump,” he told Killion.
When asked why he believed that, 50 Cent said, “Because they got RICO charges.”
Black men gave Trump one of his largest backing. He pulled 35% of the Black male vote. When it comes to Black women he only pulled 5%. So if you do the math, Trump pulled 25% of the Black vote overall, the highest for a white president of a politicial party that opposes a lot of Black policies.
Overall.
While we laugh at 50's endless trolling of celebrities, politicians and viral influencers, you start to notice that he is vile in his attacks on Black women, those in the LGBTQ community and immigrants.
And for a man who is two quarters, this is getting old.
