50 Cent - Hip Hop Legend and Media Superstar

Once almost unknown outside his hometown of southside Jamaica, Queens, he is currently signed to Eminem's record label Shady Records and Dr. Dre's Aftermath Entertainment. The rapper, who was the first to sign to Shady Records, was scouted before knowing Eminem. Eminem first encountered 50 Cent with MTV News reporter Sway Calloway; Eminem apparently had not heard any of 50 Cent's performances before seeing him in person. He appeared on the 8 Mile soundtrack with an accompanying song and video ("Wanksta") that immediately went into heavy rotation on BET, MTV, and radio stations across the country. In the opinion of many observers his continued success seems guaranteed by his large underground fanbase and the street credibility he has gained by appearing on almost every major mix tape sold in New York in the past few years.

Before signing to Interscope, 50 Cent was living under his grandparents' roof. He soon became immersed in the drug trade. Hustling around his native Jamaica, Queens neighborhood by the name of "Boo Boo". It was during this period of distributing narcotics alongside fellow Queens native Tony Yayo. In June of 1994, Jackson was arrested on felony drug charges. Being a second time offender, Jackson was able to plead out of significant prison time by accepting seven months in a "shock incarceration" boot camp. He would later boast about this period as his doing "seven to nine." He became a father to a son, Marquise, in 1997. Jackson met up with Jam Master Jay of Run-DMC fame and was signed to his label JMJ. Jay taught him the basics and then 50 left the label in search of someone who could help him achieve his dream of rap stardom. He teamed up with the hip-hop production duo Track Masters who recognized 50 Cent's talent for incisive lyrics and signed him to Columbia Records in 1999. Although he looks back on this time with displeasure "How to Rob", the humorous ode to robbing a slew of industry rappers was an instant hit for New York radio. Power of the Dollar the debut album was never released, due to his shooting in 2000 that Columbia Records used as incentive to drop 50 Cent.

Interscope Records has sold 50 Cent as the "real deal", as the success of an artist in gangsta rap depends on his street credibility and reputation. His mother was killed in a drug deal, he was a great drug dealer himself, he has been shot nine times, and he built a large rap empire in New York City before ever signing a major record deal.

-Source: Wikipedia