| His lockjaw delivery makes him look as | | | | |
| gangsta as Marlon "the Godfather" Brando, but | | | | Never losing focus, 50 moved on and recorded |
| 50 Cent is no actor, folks. In fact, his | | | | another album, Power of the Dollar, this time |
| unique articulation has to do with a hole in | | | | with Columbia Records. But two months before |
| his jaw, the result of having taken a bullet | | | | he was set to debut in 2000, he suffered |
| in the face (along with eight other shots | | | | those infamous nine point-blank gunshot |
| taken to the rest of his body). He managed to | | | | wounds and was dropped from his label as a |
| defeat the odds by leaving the street hustle | | | | result. This turned out to be a blessing in |
| behind before it was too late, transforming | | | | disguise, however. Although the Power of the |
| his life of crime into a profession in rhyme. | | | | Dollar album was shelved, its catchiest |
| Whether rapping about the streets, the clubs, | | | | single, "How to Rob," was featured in |
| or even certain candy shops, 50 has quickly | | | | countless mix tapes circulating across the |
| emerged as one of hip-hop's most dominant and | | | | East Coast. And they inevitably made it to |
| talked about superstars to date. | | | | the West Coast and onto the Internet. The |
| | | | song became a turning point in 50's career. |
| Born Curtis Jackson, the New York native was | | | | In it, he paints portraits of how he'd stick |
| raised in a drug-infested area of South | | | | up random celebrities, from Mariah Carey to |
| Jamaica, Queens, and so, naturally, he was | | | | members of the Wu-Tang Clan to even Jay-Z. |
| introduced to the negative side of the ghetto | | | | The single sparked not only controversy |
| at an early age. 50 never knew his father, | | | | within the industry but also extreme popular |
| and his mother was a crack cocaine dealer and | | | | demand from hip-hop fans. |
| addict who was murdered in her own home by an | | | | |
| unknown assailant at the age of 23. Only 8 | | | | His budding popularity, legendary |
| years old at the time, 50 moved in with his | | | | invulnerability to bullets, and expertise in |
| grandparents, where he eventually followed in | | | | verbal assaults earned him the right to sign |
| the footsteps of his mother by the age of 12. | | | | with Eminem and Dr. Dre in 2003. In doing so, |
| In tenth grade, he was arrested and given | | | | he's sold more albums in two years (Get Rich |
| juvenile probation for possession of | | | | or Die Tryin' and The Massacre) than most |
| narcotics. 50 dropped out of school shortly | | | | artists in any music genre can dream of |
| thereafter. He continued his hustle, but the | | | | selling in their entire careers. GameSpot |
| law caught up with him again, this time twice | | | | recently filmed exclusive interviews with 50 |
| in a matter of three weeks. Perhaps these | | | | Cent, the G-Unit, and the producer of the |
| arrests put things in perspective for young | | | | upcoming video game 50 Cent: Bulletproof. |
| 50, because soon after, he began to show an | | | | Watch the videos in this special feature for |
| interest in writing rhymes with a few of his | | | | the latest on the world's premier rapper and |
| buddies. One of his crew introduced him to | | | | his new video game. Sign me up to receive |
| the late Jam Master Jay of Run-D.M.C., who | | | | email updates on the latest news, contests |
| showed 50 the ropes and produced a few | | | | and videos for 50 Cent and other Interscope |
| unreleased tracks for him. | | | | Records artists. |