Curtis James Jackson III (born July 6, 1975),[1] better known by his stage name 50 Cent, is an American Grammy Award winning rapper and actor. He rose to fame with the release of his albums Get Rich or Die Tryin' (2003) and The Massacre (2005). Both albums achieved multi-platinum success, selling more than twenty-six million copies combined.[2]

Born in South Jamaica, Queens, Jackson began drug dealing at the age of twelve during the 1980s crack epidemic.[3] After leaving drug dealing to pursue a rap career, he was shot at and struck by nine bullets during an incident in 2000. After releasing his album Guess Who's Back? in 2002, Jackson was discovered by rapper Eminem and signed to Interscope Records. With the help of Eminem and Dr. Dre, who produced his first major commercial successes, Jackson became one of the world's highest selling rappers. In 2003, he founded the record label G-Unit Records, which signed several successful rappers such as Young Buck, Lloyd Banks, and Tony Yayo.

Jackson has engaged in feuds with other rappers including Ja Rule, Fat Joe, Jadakiss, Cam'ron, Rick Ross, and former G-Unit members The Game and Young Buck. He has also pursued an acting career, appearing in the semi-autobiographical film Get Rich or Die Tryin' in 2005, the Iraq War film Home of the Brave in 2006, and Righteous Kill in 2008. 50 Cent is one of the richest hip hop performers, having a gross worth of $440 million in 2008. On December 11, 2009, 50 Cent was ranked as the 6th best artist of the 2000-2009 decade by Billboard Magazine. (Also ranking as the 4th Top male artist and as the 3rd Top rapper behind Eminem and Nelly)[4] He was also ranked as the 6th best and most successful Hot 100 Artist of the 2000-2009 decade by Billboard Magazine.[5] Billboard Magazine also named him the #1 Rap Song Artist of the 2000-2009 decade.[6] His album Get Rich or Die Tryin' was ranked as the 12th best album of the 2000-2009 decade by Billboard Magazine.[7] With his album The Massacre ranking as the 37th best album of the 2000-2009 decade by Billboard Magazine