50 Cent Biography

Fast Facts

• Placed four songs in the Top 10 of Billboard's Hot 100 simultaneously, making him the first artist to do so since the Beatles in 1964
• First began rapping during high school and was introduced to Jam Master Jay in 1996, who would later produce his first big hit, "Wanksta․"
• A protégé of Dr․ Dre and Eminem, he signed with Shady Records and Aftermath Entertainment and released his nine-times-platinum debut album "Get Rich or Die Tryin'" in 2003
• Quote: "I don't get worked up or excited about situations I can't control because it's not in my power, so I might appear crazy to some people․"
• Quote: "Our society loves a train wreck․ Sometimes the person who was supposed to be the butt of the joke can learn information faster than you think․"
• Quote: "[on the late DJ Jam Master Jay] "Jay taught me about bars, Jay taught me how to write hooks, and Jay taught me how to write and make rap records․ He made me want to really rap and do this․""
• Rapper whose hit songs include "Wanksta," "In Da Club," "Disco Inferno" and "Candy Shop․"
• Bought former boxer Mike Tyson's house in Farmington, Conn
• In 2008 he surprised Val Kilmer, with whom he co-starred in the film "Streets of Blood in Louisiana," by composing a song for his children
• The Vitamin Water flavor Formula 50 was named after him