In his autobiography, From Pieces to Weight: Once upon a Time in Southside Queens, he wrote: “After I got shot nine times at close range and didn’t die, I started to think that I must have a purpose in life.
50 Cent, whose real name is Curtis Jackson, was shot nine times on May 24, 2000, in Queens, New York City. He was hit by nine bullets in different parts of his body, including his hand, arm, hip, legs, chest, and cheek. Despite maintaining serious injuries, he survived the shooting and later used the incident as inspiration for his music and business ventures.
50 Cent – aka Curtis James Jackson III – first came onto the music scene in the early 2000s.
Since rising to fame, the ’21 Questions’ rapper has expanded into executive producing, acting, and directing to stay relevant. In 2021, he’s said to be worth $40 million (£28,972,600).
But did you know, he didn’t start taking his music career seriously until he was shot?
Born in Queens, New York in July 1975, Jackson’s childhood was tainted by drugs and gangs.
After his mother was shot dead, he was taken in by his grandmother to be raised. By age 12, Jackson was selling drugs on the streets, at the height of the crack cocaine epidemic.
By age 15, he was in ‘juvie’ (juvenile prison) and recalls his grandmother visiting him there. He said in a tweet looking back at those days, “on the South Side you have to grow up faster. I made a lot of mistakes. I was already in juvie. I remember my Nana coming to see me, she is my angel… she love me unconditionally