50 Cent

Curtis James Jackson III, known professionally as 50 Cent, is an American rapper, actor, and television producer born on July 6, 1975, in Queens, New York City. He began his musical career in 1996 and recorded his debut album, Power of the Dollar, in 1999-2000. However, after being shot nine times in May 2000, the album's release was canceled, and he was dropped from Columbia Records. His breakthrough came in 2002 when his mixtape Guess Who's Back? caught the attention of Eminem, leading to a contract with Shady Records. 50 Cent's debut studio album, Get Rich or Die Tryin', released in 2003, achieved critical acclaim and commercial success, featuring hit singles like "In da Club" and "21 Questions." He later founded G-Unit Records and released several successful albums, including The Massacre and Curtis. Despite facing a decline in critical reception with his later works, he shifted his focus to television, executive-producing and starring in the series Power and its spin-offs. With over 30 million albums sold worldwide, Jackson has received numerous awards, including a Grammy Award and a Primetime Emmy Award. In addition to his music career, 50 Cent has acted in several films, including the semi-autobiographical Get Rich or Die Tryin' and the war film Home of the Brave. He has been recognized by Billboard as one of the greatest rappers and top artists of the 2000s, with his work being featured in various prestigious lists by Rolling Stone.