The first 26 years of Curtis Jackson's life have made way for a remarkable success story. Born and raised in the rugged streets of Southside Jamaica, Queens, Jackson (better known these days as 50 Cent) endured a rough childhood. While growing up fatherless, 50 learned the tricks of the drug trade as a youngster by observing his mother's hustling ways. When 50 was only eight years old, his mother passed away and he was taken in by his grandparents.
In his early teens, 50 followed in his mother's footsteps and began hustling on the streets of Queens, New York. After making a name for himself as a lucrative drug dealer, he found himself getting into more and more trouble with the law. Once his son was born, however, 50 decided to refocus his energy and turned toward rap music. His talent was discovered quickly by one of hip-hop's pioneer DJs, the late Jam Master Jay of Run-DMC fame, and the great DJ decided to take young 50 under his wing. While helping 50 hone his skills as a lyricist, Jam Master went a step further and signed him to his JMJ Records music label. Under Jay's guidance, 50 learned to structure songs and count bars.
50 Cent, born Curtis Jackson III, grew up in the South Jamaica neighborhood of Queens in New York City. He grew up without a father and was raised by his mother, Sabrina, who gave birth to him at the age of fifteen. Sabrina, a cocaine dealer, raised Jackson until the age of eight, when she was murdered in 1983. Twenty-three at the time, she became unconscious after someone drugged her drink. She was then left for dead after the gas in her apartment was turned on and the windows shut closed.[4][5] After her death, Jackson moved into his grandparents' house with his eight aunts and uncles.[1][6][7] He recalls, "My grandmother told me, 'Your mother's not coming home. She's not gonna come back to pick you up. You're gonna stay with us now.' That's when I started adjusting to the streets a little bit".[8] Jackson grew up with his younger...