50 cent biography summary

50 Cent, (real name: Curtis Jackson, born July 6, 1976), is a popular U.S. hip hop artist. Once almost unknown outside his hometown of New York, he became the first artist signed to Eminem's record label Shady Records who was scouted before knowing Eminem.

He appeared on the 8 Mile soundtrack with an accompanying song and video that immediately went into heavy rotation on BET, MTV, and radio stations across the country. In the opinion of many observers his continued success seems guaranteed by his large underground fanbase and the 'mad street cred' he has gained by appearing on almost every major mix tape sold in New York in the past few years.

Interscope Records is very determined to sell 50 Cent as the 'real deal', as the success of an artist in gangsta rap depends on his street credibility and reputation.

In this respect 50 Cent has a clear advantage over almost every other mainstream rapper. His mother was killed in a drug deal, he was a dru