BEHIND CLOSED DOORS
WORDS: N. ALI EARLY

He’ll probably receive a lifetime achievement award sometime after his legacy has been well established and chances are his grandmother’s mantle will have been clear of accolades since the dawn of his storied career. As made as any man in hip hop, 50 Cent has been nominated for a mind boggling 14 Grammy’s, but never had the pleasure of seeing his favorite woman smile that proud smile.

In 2003, after disposing of his most obvious irritant, he took the reigns as the new kid on the block, selling upwards of 12 million copies with the release of Get Rich Or Die Tryin’. He won fans and celebrity for his trouble, but no trophies. No best artist of the year. Not the best song. Nothing.

Unsurprisingly, his success was lauded by critics and he quickly earned that “don’t fuck with me” kind of distinction. If it wasn’t for his lyrics, it was his menacing presence, suggestive delivery and unmistakable wit, all of which separated him from the crowd.

Ironically, as soon as we began to learn who he was as an artist, the Jamaica Queens emcee evolved further. From Glaceau to Reebok, Playstation, Reality TV and now movies, 50 Cent is an unadulterated brand and his label, G-Unit Records, is an independent powerhouse.

With all due respect to his peers, 50 Cent is as successful as he is because he has learned from his mistakes and equally important, his circumstance. Many men claim to have lived the life of a hustler and a gangster, but Mr. Jackson is the proof in the pudding.

“A lot of the artists haven’t had a long enough period to be exposed to those different situations,” 50 explains. “I walk in a lot of rooms and I feel like I’m an alien – like I’m the only one from where I’m from.

“People laugh when I say things and I’m just offering my personality. If I possess a quality that allows people to enjoy me, it’s my confidence, but they don’t understand that I spent such a long time where I was the only person that believed in me. So it’s easy for my confidence to be mistaken for arrogance at some point.”

Read the rest of this article in its entirety here.