Some people write about that which they fantasize. And, some people write from experience. It’s no surprise, then, that rapper 50-Cent’s rhymes are laced with references to drugs, a life of crime, and prison. Raised in Queens, New York by his grandmother, 50 Cent, born Curtis Jackson, experienced loss early on. His mother died when he was only eight; his father taking off shortly thereafter.

From there, Jackson’s life went on a downward spiral as he dabbled in drugs, often finding himself behind bars. But, 50 Cent was destined for something more. The late 1990s proved to be a turning point in Jackson’s life, and his life of crime slowly began to transform into life of accomplishment when in 1996 he met Jam Master J of Run DMC who quickly signed the young New Yorker to JMJ Records. Unfortunately, 50 Cent didn’t record for JMJ, eventually leaving for a sub-label of Columbia Records. With the new label, 50 Cent began laying down tracks for his debut release “Power of the Dollar,” which produced the controversial single “How to Rob.” The song singled out the industry’s top rappers, sparked fury among many, and almost cost 50 Cent his life when he was shot nine times by an assailant. The incident almost cost him his life, and it also cost him his deal with Columbia.

The two years that followed saw 50 Cent continue with his rapping, albeit underground this time around. His reputation grew, and soon he was the rapper everybody wanted to sign. But, no one wanted to sign 50 Cent more than Eminem. The result was a joint deal with Eminem’s and Dr. Dre’s labels, Shady and Aftermath respectively, and 50 Cent quickly began working on his debut release “Get Rich or Die Tryin’.” But before his debut album hit store shelves, 50 Cent became a bona fide hit with the 2002 back-to-back singles “Wanksta,” and “In da Club.”

50 Cent became an instant hit, but he was still grabbing headlines for his off-air actions, including his stint in jail for illegal gun possession on New Year’s Eve in 2002. Yet, nothing could stop 50 Cent’s rise to the top. “Get Rich or Die Tryin’” sold a stunning 872,000 copies in its first five days of release. 50 Cent concert tickets quickly became the hottest commodity in every town he visited.

50 Cent has been on fire ever since, releasing “Maximum,” (2003), “The Massacre” (2005), and “From Pieces to Weight,” (2005) as he continues to be one of rap’s most controversial figures.