50 Cent

Curtis James Jackson III, known professionally as 50 Cent, is an American rapper, actor, and television producer who became one of the most influential figures in hip-hop during the early 21st century. Born on July 6, 1975, in Queens, New York City, Jackson began his musical journey in 1996. His early career was marked by significant adversity; while signed to Columbia Records, he recorded his debut album, Power of the Dollar, but the project was shelved after he survived a near-fatal shooting in May 2000. This incident led to his departure from the label and a return to the underground mixtape circuit.

Jackson's 2002 mixtape, Guess Who's Back?, caught the attention of Eminem, who subsequently signed him to Shady Records under the umbrella of Dr. Dre’s Aftermath Entertainment and Interscope Records. This partnership paved the way for his major-label debut, Get Rich or Die Tryin', released in 2003. The album was a massive commercial success, debuting at number one on the Billboard 200 and featuring chart-topping singles such as "In da Club" and "21 Questions." The album eventually earned a nine-times platinum certification from the RIAA.