50 cent (Curtis Jackson)

50 Cent (Born Curtis James Jackson III on July 6th, 1975) was born in South Jamaica Queens, and began his career as a drug dealer at an early age. His mother, who had him when she was just 15 years old, was killed at the young age of 23 years old, at the time Curtis was only 8.

At 12 years old Curtis had already begun selling drugs, and by 10th grade while attending Andrew Jackson High School Curtis was carrying guns, and was given away by the metal detectors at his school. In June of 1994 Curtis made the mistake of selling crack to an undercover police officer during a sting. He spent 7 months in a shock incarceration boot camp.

The nickname 50 Cent was adopted from a Brooklyn Criminal in the 1980s who’s real name is Kelvin Martin. 50 Cent started the rap supergroup G-Unit with his childhood friends and partners in crime, Tony Yayo and Lloyd Banks, and has used his fame and superstar status to leverage the group and push his friends into the lime light.