Coordinates	30°19′10″N81°39′36″N
episode name	Pranksta Rap
episode no	344
prod code	GABF03
airdate	February 13, 2005
show runner	Al Jean
writer	Matt Selman
director	Mike B. Anderson
couch gag	The living room floor is a chessboard and the family hops to the couch dressed as chess pieces.
guest star	50 Cent as himselfDana Gould as Barney Fife
Season	16 }}

"Pranksta Rap" is the ninth episode of the ''The Simpsons''' sixteenth season, which originally aired February 13, 2005. It guest stars 50 Cent as himself, and Dana Gould as Barney Fife.

Plot

Homer is watching college football. As he knocks the remote off the couch and into a bag of chips, Santa's Little Helper swallows it, changing the channel whenever he barks. It eventually shows a commercial for a rap concert called "Murder 4 Life" coming to Springfield. Homer tells Bart that he can buy a $50 ticket if he uses his own money. When Marge sees Bart dressed in baggy clothing, she bars him from going to the concert, even though he bought a ticket. Homer takes sides with Marge on the issue, despite his early encouragement.

Bart goes to the concert after escaping from a window. He sits down in the front row, and eventually a microphone falls into his hands. He then grabs it, climbs on stage, and raps about how much of a "fat load" Homer is. Bart rides home in the rapper Alcatraaz's limousine, and Alcatraaz gives Bart a jersey for the concert.

Arriving outside his home, Bart overhears Marge and Homer talking about his escape, saying Bart would be whipped if he was caught. Bart then tries to lie his way out of it. He tosses his jersey onto a tree branch, then sends a note attached to a rock through the living-room window, reading "Your son has been kidnapped. Follow instructions and Bart will not be harmed."

The next morning, Kent Brockman interviews Marge about the kidnapping. Chief Wiggum says that he will find Bart, although everyone in Springfield teases him, because of his past ineptitude. That night, as he walks into his office feeling guilty about it, he cheers himself up by eating a giant stack of pancakes. When he wakes up the next morning, he sees a TV show with Barney Fife, telling him to quit the pity-party and fight crime.

Bart tries to hide from the townsfolk. Milhouse finds him, and Bart explains about the hoax. Milhouse lets him hide at his father's apartment complex, complete with cracked walls, rust, and bedbugs. One night, Bart calls home, and with a strange voice, sounds like a kidnapper. He then switches to his regular voice, telling Marge how the kidnapper will kill him if Marge worries too much. Meanwhile, the police record the phone call. Chief Wiggum then listens to it, and notices a crackling sound in the background. He then identifies it as a tub of popcorn Bart was making during the call, specifically an ultra-cheap brand known as "Chintzy Pop." He asks Apu at the Kwik-E-Mart how many people buy it. He quickly responds how Kirk is the only person who does so, besides Clancy. He then goes to Kirk's house to arrest him and return Bart home. A parade is then held for Chief Wiggum, although Milhouse complains to Bart about how he put his father in jail.

Chief Wiggum is then promoted to police commissioner. He also promotes Lou to chief, and Eddie to Lou's former position. Bart then explains to Clancy about how he lied. However, he responds by saying that he should still keep it a secret, so that he will not lose his job, and because women like Kirk, now that he is a criminal. Nevertheless, Lisa finds the concert jersey in the tree, and realizes that Bart was never kidnapped. Homer ignores her, and simply burns the jersey. Instead, she seeks help from Principal Skinner, who agrees to expose Bart's lies, simply as "a chance to bring down Bart Simpson". Lou then informs Commissioner Wiggum about how Lisa stopped by, trying to put together the puzzle. Clancy gets nervous, and then brings Homer and Bart to Kirk's cell, explaining about how Lisa is going to catch him, while he has already printed out 10,000 business cards as Commissioner. Kirk also explains how he likes jail because of the women and the free food, especially when compared to his downscale apartment.

Lisa and Skinner visit the rappers' mansion, where they show them a video from the concert on their 200" movie screen. The time and date (which appear on a man wearing an oversized clock a la Flava Flav) happen to be on there, as well. Chief Wiggum then bursts through the door, holding up his gun, saying how the rappers must hand over the tape. However, they each have their own guns. Homer accidentally destroys the TV, and possibly the evidence. Alcatraaz sees only one solution to the problem: a party.

In the post-script scene, Skinner asks Alcatraaz if there was any place in the rapping world for a "forty-something elementary school administrator." Alcatraaz says he already hired a man for that job, Superintendent Chalmers.

External links

Category:The Simpsons (season 16) episodes Category:2005 television episodes

es:Pranksta Rap fr:Le Rap de Bart pt:O rap do Bart

Coordinates	30°19′10″N81°39′36″N
Name	50 Cent
Background	solo_singer
Birth name	Curtis James Jackson III
Origin	South Jamaica, Queens, New York, U.S.
Birth date	July 06, 1975
Genre	Hip hop
Occupation	Rapper, actor
Years active	1997–present
Label	Aftermath, Shady, G-Unit
Associated acts	G-Unit, Dr. Dre, Eminem, Sha Money XL, DJ Whoo Kid
Website	}}

Curtis James Jackson III (born July 6, 1975), better known by his stage name 50 Cent, is an American rapper, entrepreneur, investor, record producer, and actor. He rose to fame with the release of his albums ''Get Rich or Die Tryin''' (2003) and ''The Massacre'' (2005). His album ''Get Rich or Die Tryin''' has been certified six times platinum by the RIAA.

Born in South Jamaica, Queens, Jackson began drug dealing at the age of twelve during the 1980s crack epidemic. After leaving drug dealing to pursue a rap career, he was shot at and struck by nine bullets during an incident in 2000. After releasing his album ''Guess Who's Back?'' in 2002, Jackson was discovered by rapper Eminem and signed to Interscope Records. With the help of Eminem and Dr. Dre, who produced his first major commercial successes, Jackson became one of the world's highest selling rappers. In 2003, he founded the record label G-Unit Records, which signed several successful rappers such as Young Buck, Lloyd Banks, and Tony Yayo.

Jackson has engaged in feuds with other rappers including Ja Rule, Nas, Fat Joe, Jadakiss, Cam'ron, Puff Daddy, Rick Ross, and former G-Unit members The Game and Young Buck. He has also pursued an acting career, appearing in the semi-autobiographical film ''Get Rich or Die Tryin''' in 2005, the Iraq War film ''Home of the Brave'' in 2006, and ''Righteous Kill'' in 2008. 50 Cent was ranked as the sixth-best artist of the 2000s by ''Billboard'' magazine. The magazine also ranked him as the fourth top male artist and as the third top rapper behind Eminem and Nelly. ''Billboard'' magazine also ranked him as the sixth best and most successful Hot 100 Artist of the 2000s and as the number one rap artist of the 2000s. ''Billboard'' ranked his album ''Get Rich or Die Tryin''' as the twelfth best album of the 2000s and his album ''The Massacre'' as the 37th best album of the 2000s. As of September 2011, 50 Cent is working on his fifth studio album, which is set to be released in 2012.

Early life

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 twelve, when she was killed in 1988. Twenty-seven 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.

After her death, Jackson moved into his grandparents' house with his eight aunts and uncles. 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".

Jackson began boxing around the age of eleven.

At fourteen, a neighbor opened a boxing gym for local kids.

"When I wasn't killing time in school, I was sparring in the gym or selling crack on the strip", he recalled. In the mid 1980s, he competed in the Junior Olympics as an amateur boxer. He recounts, "I was competitive in the ring and hip-hop is competitive too... I think rappers condition themselves like boxers, so they all kind of feel like they're the champ". At the age of twelve, Jackson began dealing narcotics when his grandparents thought he was at after-school programs. He also took guns and drug money to school. In the tenth grade, he was caught by metal detectors at Andrew Jackson High School. He later stated, "I was embarrassed that I got arrested like that... After I got arrested I stopped hiding it. I was telling my grandmother [openly], 'I sell drugs.'"

Following time spent in a correctional boot camp, Jackson adopted the nickname "50 Cent" as a metaphor for "change". The name was derived from Kelvin Martin, a 1980s Brooklyn robber known as "50 Cent". Jackson chose the name "because it says everything I want it to say. I'm the same kind of person 50 Cent was. I provide for myself by any means".

Music career

1996–99: Early career

Jackson started rapping in a friend's basement where he used turntables to record over instrumentals. In 1996, a friend introduced him to Jam Master Jay of Run-DMC who was organizing his label Jam Master Jay Records.

Jay taught him how to count bars, write choruses, structure songs, and how to make a record. Jackson's first official appearance was on a song titled "React" with the group Onyx on their 1998 album ''Shut 'Em Down''. He credited Jam Master Jay as an influence who helped him improve his ability to write hooks. Jay produced Jackson's first album; however, it was never released.

In 1999, after leaving Jam Master Jay, the platinum-selling producers Trackmasters took notice of Jackson and signed him to Columbia Records. They sent him to a studio in Upstate New York where he produced thirty-six songs in two weeks. Eighteen were included on his unofficially released album, ''Power of the Dollar'' in 2000. He also started the now-defunct Hollow Point Entertainment with former G-Unit affiliate Bang 'Em Smurf.

Jackson's popularity started to increase after the successful but controversial underground single, "How to Rob", which he wrote in half an hour while in a car on the way to a studio. The track comically explains how he would rob famous artists. He explained the reasoning behind song's content as, "There's a hundred artists on that label, you gotta separate yourself from that group and make yourself relevant". Rappers Jay-Z, Kurupt, Sticky Fingaz, Big Pun, DMX, Wyclef Jean and the Wu-Tang Clan replied to the song and Nas, who received the track positively, invited Jackson to travel on a promotional tour for his ''Nastradamus'' album. The song was intended to be released with "Thug Love" featuring Destiny's Child, but two days before he was scheduled to film the "Thug Love" music video, Jackson was shot and confined to a hospital due to his injuries.

2000–01: Shooting

On May 24, 2000, Jackson was attacked by a gunman, alleged to be Darryl "Hommo" Baum, outside his grandmother's former home in South Jamaica, Queens. He went into a friend's car, but was asked to return to the house to get jewelry.

His son was in the house, while his grandmother was in the front yard. Upon returning to the back seat of the car and already seated, another car pulled up nearby. An assailant then walked up to Jackson's left side with a 9mm handgun and fired nine shots at close range. He was shot nine times: in the hand (a round hit his right thumb, to where the bullet passed through and out his little finger), arm, hip, both legs, chest, and his face (his left cheek). The face wound resulted in a swollen tongue, the loss of a wisdom tooth, and a small slur in his voice. His friend also sustained a gunshot wound to the hand. They were driven to the hospital where Jackson spent thirteen days.

Baum, the alleged shooter, was killed three weeks later.

Baum was also Mike Tyson's close friend and bodyguard.

Jackson recalled the incident saying, "It happens so fast that you don't even get a chance to shoot back.... I was scared the whole time.... I was looking in the rear-view mirror like, 'Oh @#!*% , somebody shot me in the face! It burns, burns, burns.'" 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... How much more damage could that shell have done? Give me an inch in this direction or that one, and I'm gone". He used a walker for the first six weeks and fully recovered after five months. When he left the hospital, he stayed in the Poconos with his then-girlfriend and son. His workout regime helped him attain his muscular physique.

While in the hospital, Jackson signed a publishing deal with Columbia Records. However, he was dropped from the label and "blacklisted" in the recording industry because of his song "Ghetto Qu'ran".

Unable to find a studio to work with in the U.S, he traveled to Canada. Along with his business partner Sha Money XL, he recorded over thirty songs for mixtapes, with the purpose of building a reputation.

According to Shady Records A&R; Marc Labelle in an interview with HitQuarters, Jackson shrewdly used the mixtape circuit to his own advantage saying, "He took all the hottest beats from every artist and flipped them with better hooks. They then got into all the markets on the mixtapes and all the mixtape DJs were messing with them." Jackson's popularity rose and in 2002, he released material independently on the mixtape, ''Guess Who's Back?''. Beginning to attract interest, and now backed by G-Unit, Jackson continued to release music including ''50 Cent Is the Future''. The mixtape revisited material by Jay-Z and Raphael Saadiq.

2002–09: Rise to fame

In 2002, Eminem listened to a copy of Jackson's ''Guess Who's Back?'' CD. He received the CD through Jackson's attorney, who was working with Eminem's manager Paul Rosenberg. Impressed with the album, Eminem invited Jackson to fly to Los Angeles, where he was introduced to Dr. Dre. After signing a $1 million record deal, Jackson released the mixtape, ''No Mercy, No Fear''. It featured one new track, "Wanksta", which was put on Eminem's ''8 Mile'' soundtrack. He was also signed to Chris Lighty's Violator Management and Sha Money XL's Money Management Group.

In February 2003, Jackson released his commercial debut album, ''Get Rich or Die Tryin'''. Allmusic described it as "probably the most hyped debut album by a rap artist in about a decade". ''Rolling Stone'' noted the album for its "dark synth grooves, buzzy keyboards and a persistently funky bounce" with Jackson complementing the production in "an unflappable, laid-back flow".

It debuted at number one on the ''Billboard'' 200, selling 872,000 copies in the first four days. The lead single, "In da Club", which ''The Source'' noted for its "blaring horns, funky organs, guitar riffs and sparse hand claps", broke a ''Billboard'' record as the most listened-to song in radio history within a week.

Interscope granted Jackson his own label, G-Unit Records in 2003. He signed Lloyd Banks, Tony Yayo, and Young Buck as the established members of G-Unit. The Game was later signed under a joint venture with Dr. Dre's Aftermath Entertainment.

In March 2005, Jackson's second commercial album, ''The Massacre'', sold 1.14 million copies in the first four days-the highest in an abbreviated sales cycle- and peaked at number one on the ''Billboard'' 200 for six weeks.

He became the first solo artist to have three singles on the ''Billboard'' top five in the same week with "Candy Shop", "Disco Inferno", and "How We Do". ''Rolling Stone'' noted that "50's secret weapon is his singing voice - the deceptively amateur-sounding tenor croon that he deploys on almost every chorus".

After The Game's departure, Jackson signed singer Olivia and rap veterans Mobb Deep to G-Unit Records. Spider Loc, M.O.P., 40 Glocc and Young Hot Rod later joined the label. Jackson expressed interest in working with rappers outside of G-Unit, such as Lil' Scrappy of BME, LL Cool J from Def Jam, Mase from Bad Boy, and Freeway of Roc-A-Fella, some of whom he recorded with. In September 2007, he released his third album ''Curtis'', which was inspired by his life before ''Get Rich or Die Tryin'''. It debuted at number two on the ''Billboard'' 200, selling 691,000 units in the first week, behind Kanye West's ''Graduation'', whom he had a sales competition with, as both albums were released on the same day.

He confirmed on TRL on September 10, 2008 that his fourth studio album, ''Before I Self Destruct'', will be "done and released in November".

On May 18, 2009, Jackson released a song entitled "Ok, You're Right". The song was produced by Dr. Dre and was included in ''Before I Self Destruct''.

In Fall 2009, 50 Cent appeared in the new season of VH1's Behind The Music.

On September 3, 2009 months upon the release of his "Before I Self Destruct" album 50 Cent posted a video for the Soundkillers' Phoenix produced track "Flight 187" which introduced his mixtape, the 50th LAW, and was also featured as a bonus track on his iTunes release of Before I Self Destruct. The song ignited speculation that there was tension between rapper 50 Cent and Jay Z for Jackson's comments in the song.

2010–present

In an interview with the British entertainment website ContactMusic, 50 Cent announced that he was working on a dance album named ''Black Magic''. 50 Cent said he was inspired by the European nightclubs. "First they played hip-hop which suddenly changed to uptempo songs, known as Eurodance". He went on The Invitation Tour in the summer of 2010, in support of ''Before I Self Destruct'' album, and the then shelved ''Black Magic'' album. He "recorded 20 songs to a whole different album concept" before he put those to the side and did something different.

50 Cent revealed that he wanted his new album to have the same "aggression" as his debut record, ''Get Rich or Die Tryin'''.

He later tweeted that the album was "80 percent done", and stated that fans can expect the album in the summer of 2011; however, the album has been delayed to 2012 at the earliest, due to tensions and disagreements at Interscope Records, Later 50 Cent said that he will release his album in November 2011 and it has also been confirmed that "Black Magic" will not be the album's title. 50 Cent has already confirmed that Eminem will appear on the album, but he also confirmed that he has been working with new producers such as Boi-1da and Alex da Kid. Cardiak, who produced Lloyd Banks' “Start It Up”, also confirmed that he had produced a song for the upcoming album.

DJ Whoo Kid confirmed in an interview that 50 Cent was filming a new movie with Robert DeNiro in New Orleans.

50 Cent released the first song from his fifth studio album, titled "Outlaw", to the Internet on June 16, 2011.

The single was produced by Cardiak.

It was released to iTunes on July 19, 2011, although 50 Cent confirmed through his Twitter account that the song was not the album's first single.

50 Cent is set to release a book titled ''Playground''.

Unlike his previous literary efforts — which focus on his life story and the rules of power — this time he's aiming at a teen audience with a semi-autobiographical novel about bullying. According to a statement from the book's publisher, the first-person novel is slated for release in January 2012 and will tell the story of a 13-year-old schoolyard bully "who finds redemption as he faces what he's done."

50 Cent has promised to deliver his fifth studio album album over the past few years, but the LP may be delayed until 2012. In a series of tweets, 50 Cent explained that him and his label Interscope Records aren’t on the same page on how to roll out the album and that he’s delaying its release until they see eye to eye.

50 Cent later suggested that his album will be releasing in November 2011, along with his headphone line ''SMS by 50''.

50 Cent spoke to MTV in relation to the possibility of leaving Interscope Records. "I don't know," 50 told MTV News when asked if he would ink back with Interscope once his five-album deal was fulfilled. "It will all be clear in the negotiations following me turning this actual album in. And, of course, the performance and how they actually treat the work will determine whether you still want to stay in that position or not."

On June 20, 2011, 50 Cent announced that he will release an LP titled ''Before I Self Destruct II''. The announced sequel to his 2009 LP is suggested to be released after his fifth studio album.

On June 26, 2011, 50 Cent planned to shoot a music video for the lead single from his fifth studio album titled ''I'm On It''. However, the music video never surfaced.

50 Cent spoke to Shade45 in relation guest appearances for his fifth studio album. "I did four songs in Detroit with Eminem. I did two with Just Blaze, a Boi-1da joint, and I did something with Alex da Kid. We made two that are definite singles and the other two are the kinds of records that we been making, more aimed at my core audience, more aggressive, more of a different kind of energy to it."

In September 2011, 50 Cent released a song titled "Street King Energy Track #7" in attempt to promote his charitable energy drink ''Street King''.

On September 28, 2011, it was confirmed that 50 Cent is shooting a music video for his lead single from his fifth studio album titled "Girls Go Wild", which features Jeremih.

On October 26, 2011, 50 Cent announced that his fifth studio album will be released in December 2011. However, the album was delayed, and it was announced that the album will now be released on July 2, 2012.

Other ventures

Jackson has established himself in a variety of fields. In November 2003, he signed a five-year deal with Reebok to distribute a "G-Unit Sneakers" line as part of his G-Unit Clothing Company. He provided the voice-over as the protagonist in the video game ''50 Cent: Bulletproof'', which was released for PlayStation 2, Xbox, and the PlayStation Portable.

Its sequel, ''50 Cent: Blood on the Sand'', was released in early 2009. He worked with Glacéau to create a vitamin water drink called Formula 50. In 2007, Coca-Cola purchased Glacéau for US$4.1 billion. ''Forbes'' estimated Jackson, who owns a stake in the company, earned $100 million from the deal after taxes. He has teamed up with Right Guard to launch a body spray called Pure 50 RGX Body Spray and a condom line called Magic Stick Condoms, in which he planned to donate part of the proceeds to HIV awareness.

Jackson has signed a multi-year deal with Steiner Sports to sell his memorabilia.

In 2005, Jackson made a cameo appearance on ''The Simpsons'' episode "Pranksta Rap", in which he makes light of his legal troubles. The same year, he starred alongside Terrence Howard in the semi-autobiographical film ''Get Rich or Die Tryin'''. He starred in the 2006 film ''Home of the Brave'', as a soldier returning home from the Iraq War, traumatized after killing an Iraqi woman.

Jackson is working on a role as a fighter in an Angola State Prison in ''Spectacular Regret'' alongside Nicolas Cage, and starred opposite Al Pacino and Robert De Niro in 2008's ''Righteous Kill'', a movie regarding a police death.

He also started the film production companies G-Unit Films in 2007 and Cheetah Vision in 2008.

In August 2007, Jackson announced plans to launch a dietary supplement company in conjunction with his movie ''Spectacular Regret''.

In August 2005, shortly before appearing in ''Get Rich or Die Tryin''', Jackson published an autobiography entitled ''From Pieces to Weight: Once upon a Time in Southside Queens''. In it, Jackson explores the cultural and economic forces that led him to sell cocaine and crack, details his entrepreneurship as a drug-dealer and then as a rapper, and reflects on his own ethos and on society.

On January 4, 2007, Jackson launched his G-Unit Books imprint at the Time Warner Building. He also co-wrote ''The Ski Mask Way'', a novel about a small-time drug dealer who attempts to rob his employers, which is to be turned into a film. Jackson said he read Robert Greene's ''The 33 Strategies of War'' and worked with the author on a book titled ''The 50th Law'', an urban take on ''The 48 Laws of Power''. In May 2008, Jackson met billionaire Patrice Motsepe to forge a joint venture selling 50 Cent-branded platinum.

In 2008, Jackson started a reality television show on MTV titled ''50 Cent: The Money and the Power''; the winning contestant, Ryan Mayberry, won a $100,000 investment from Jackson.

On September 8, 2009, he published his book ''The 50th Law''.

In 2010, Jackson's film company Cheetah Vision landed $200 million in funding.

In July 2011, 50 Cent revealed his initiative to provide food for millions of people in Africa by 2016. 50 Cent teamed up with Pure Growth Partners to launch a charitable energy drink called ''Street King'' that will help aid in combating world hunger. For every purchase of Street King, a portion of the sales will go to providing a daily meal to an underprivileged child around the world. The partnership coincides with Fiddy’s mission statement of feeding a billion people in Africa over the next five years.

“50 Cent and I share a common vision: To address the world’s problems through smart and sustainable business models,” said Chris Clark, the founder and CEO of Pure Growth Partners. “With the rampant starvation in Africa and hunger afflicting children worldwide, we need socially responsible businesses that affect real change now more than ever.”

50 concurs, stating, “I’m inspired by Clarke’s vision and innovative approaches to tackling serious issues. It’s our mission with Street King to really change children’s lives around the world.”

Jackson founded SMS Audio, selling headphones with the name Street by 50. He has pledged to donate a portion of the sales to charity.

Personal life

Jackson has a tattoo of "Marquise" with an axe on his right biceps. "The axe is 'cause I'm a warrior. I don't want him to be one, though," he explains. He also has "50", "Southside", and "Cold World" inscribed on his back because "I'm a product of that environment. It's on my back, though, so it's all behind me."

Family

On October 13, 1997, Jackson's then-girlfriend Shaniqua Tompkins gave birth to a son, Marquise Jackson.

The birth of his son changed Jackson's outlook on life: "When my son came into my life, my priorities changed, because I wanted to have the relationship with him, that I didn't have with my father." He credited his son for inspiring his career and being "motivation to go in a different direction".

Politics

In 2005, Jackson expressed support for President George Walker Bush after rapper Kanye West criticized him for the slow response in assisting the Hurricane Katrina victims.

If his felony convictions did not prevent him from voting, he claimed he would have voted for Bush.

He later stated that Bush "has less compassion than the average human. By all means, I don't aspire to be like George Bush."

Wealth

In 2007, Jackson was the second wealthiest performer in the rap industry, behind Jay-Z. He resides in Farmington, Connecticut, in the former mansion of ex-boxer Mike Tyson.

He put the mansion for sale at $18.5 million to move closer to his son who lives in Long Island with his ex-girlfriend. On October 12, 2007, the Mayor of Bridgeport, Connecticut declared it "50 Cent Curtis Jackson Day". He was honored with a key to the city and an official proclamation.

One of his homes in New York purchased for 2.4 million dollars in January 2007 and at the center of a lawsuit between Jackson and ex-girlfriend Shaniqua Tompkins caught fire on May 30, 2008 while he was out of town filming for a movie in Louisiana.

In December 2008 Jackson told the Canadian press that he had been affected by the recession, losing several million dollars in the stock market as an investor. He also went on to say that he had been unable to sell his Connecticut mansion and pushed ''Before I Self-Destruct'' back because of the recent economic downturn.

Legal issues

On June 29, 1994, Jackson was arrested for helping to sell four vials of cocaine to an undercover police officer. He was arrested again three weeks later when police searched his home and found heroin, ten ounces of crack cocaine, and a starter gun.

He was sentenced to three to nine years in prison, but managed to serve six months in a shock incarceration boot camp where he earned his GED. Jackson said that he did not use cocaine himself, he only sold it.

His ex-girlfriend Shaniqua Tompkins sued Jackson for $50 million, claiming that he said that he would take care of her for life; the suit, which includes 15 claims was later dismissed by a judge, calling it "an unfortunate tale of a love relationship gone sour."

50 Cent was sentenced to two years probation on July 22, 2005 from an incident in May 2004 when 50 Cent jumped into the audience after being hit with a water bottle. He was charged with three counts of assault and battery.

Lawsuits

On July 21, 2007, Jackson filed a $1 million lawsuit against advertising company Traffix Inc. of Pearl River, New York for using his image in a promotion which he claims threatens his safety.

He became aware of the internet ad after one of his staff members saw it on a MySpace page. According to court documents, the ad features a cartoon image of the rapper and the message: "shoot the rapper and you will win $5000 or five ring tones guaranteed".

Though the ad did not use his name, the image allegedly intended to resemble him, suggesting he endorsed the ad.

The lawsuit calls it a "vile, tasteless and despicable" use of 50 Cent's image that "quite literally calls for violence against him". The lawsuit seeks for unspecified punitive damages and a permanent injunction against the use of his image without permission.

In November 2009, 50 Cent won in a lawsuit against Taco Bell over the fast food chain using his name to promote the brand without his permission.

Feuds

How to Rob

50 Cent said that he intended the single to be a joke, and not meant to disrespect anybody. Nevertheless, a number of rappers mentioned on the song responded on record.

The comments made towards the Wu-Tang Clan were responded to on the Ghostface Killah album ''Supreme Clientele'' on a track called "Ghost Deini" and even more directly on a skit called "Clyde Smith" which included one of the Wu-Tang Clan members talking about how they intended to harm the rapper, which is identifiable as Raekwon when the track is sped up. A supposed diss song, "Who the Fuck Is 50 Cent", which circulated the web in the beginning of 2001 was rumored to be by the Clan, but was proven to be recorded by Polite of American Cream Team (Raekwon's then-side project).

Jay-Z also reacted to the comments in the track called "It's Hot (Some Like It Hot)", off the album ''Vol. 3... Life and Times of S. Carter'':

"Go against Jigga yo' ass is dense I'm about a dollar, what the fuck is 50 Cents?"

Sticky Fingaz responded to the diss with the track "Jackin' for Beats."

"The real 50 from Brooklyn god bless he got outed You just a fake clown who front and rout about it."

Big Pun responds to this track on his album ''Yeeeah Baby'', in the song "My Turn."

"And to the 50 Cent Rapper, very funny – get your nut off, 'cuz in real life, we all know I'd blow your motherfucking head off...If I'm gonna write a song, it'll be about how I had to beat your mothafuckin' ass. And that'll be the name of the motherfucker: 'That's Why I Had To Beat Your Motherfucking Ass', featuring Tony Sunshine."

Kurupt responded on the diss track "Callin' Out Names."

"Now it's 50 mc's that ain't worth shit Get ya ass kicked 50 times, beat to 10 cent"

Wyclef Jean responded on the song "Low Income", from his 2000 album, ''The Ecleftic''.

"I stay so hungry that if 50 Cent came to rob me he'd be part of my charity."

The Inc.

Before signing with Interscope, Jackson engaged in a well-publicized dispute with rapper Ja Rule and his label The Inc.. Jackson claims that a friend robbed Ja Rule of his jewelry and that Ja Rule accused him of setting it up. However, Ja Rule claimed the conflict stemmed from a video shoot in Queens because Jackson did not like seeing him "getting so much love" from the neighborhood. In March 2000, while at The Hit Factory studio in New York, Jackson had an altercation with Murder Inc. associates. He was treated for three stitches after receiving a stab wound. Rapper Black Child claimed responsibility for the stabbing, saying he acted in self-defense because he thought someone reached for a gun.

An affidavit by an IRS agent suggested that Murder Inc. had ties to Kenneth "Supreme" McGriff, a New York drug lord who was suspected of being involved in the murder of Jam Master Jay and the shooting of Jackson. An excerpt of the affidavit read:

In an interview with MTV, Ja Rule acknowledged his defeat against 50 Cent and stated that his new album, The Mirror, will not be continuing any past feuds that he has engaged in. He said: There was a lot of things I wanted to say, and I didn't want there to be any bitter records on the album. Because I'm not bitter about anything that happened [in the past few years].

Fat Joe, Nas & Jadakiss

Before releasing ''The Massacre'', Jackson recorded a song "Piggy Bank", a response to Ja Rule's song "New York", which was leaked before the album's release. The song takes aim at rappers including Fat Joe, Nas, and Jadakiss. Fat Joe responded with a song, "My Fofo", accusing Jackson of taking steroids, hiding in his home, and being jealous of The Game. Jadakiss also responded with a song, "Checkmate", and said that Jackson was trying to "create a buzz for his new album". The "Piggy Bank" music video portrays animated caricatures of Jadakiss (as a Ninja turtle), Fat Joe (as King Hippo from ''Mike Tyson's Punch-Out''), Nas (as a kid chasing a "milkshake" truck in a Superman costume), and The Game (as Mr. Potato Head). He also disses all of them on the beef version of his single "Window Shopper" Kelis, Nas's then-wife, responded to the song on her single "Bossy". Nas later responded with "Don't Body Ya Self (MC Burial)." Nas later dissed 50 on the song "Street Ridaz" on Game's mixtape "Brake Lights".

Sean Combs

Jackson spoke negatively about Bad Boy Entertainment mogul Sean Combs and recorded a song, "Hip-Hop", revealing the reasons behind his negative feelings: primarily, a contract dispute over Mase. In the song, he implied that Diddy knew about The Notorious B.I.G.'s murder and threatened to expose him through former associates. The feud was resolved, with both rappers appearing on MTV's ''TRL'' and ''Sucker Free'', respectively, stating that there were no longer problems. The feud reignited in 2010 with 50 Cent dissing Diddy, saying his music "sucks".

Cam'ron

On February 1, 2007, Cam'ron and Jackson had a live argument on ''The Angie Martinez Show'' on Hot 97 radio. Jackson commented that Koch Entertainment was a "graveyard", meaning major record labels would not work with their artists. Cam'ron then ridiculed the record sales of G-Unit members Lloyd Banks and Mobb Deep by stating that Jim Jones outsold their albums despite being signed to an independent label and that his group, The Diplomats, had a distribution deal from several labels. Both rappers released "diss" songs with videos on YouTube. Jackson suggested in "Funeral Music" that Cam'ron is no longer able to lead The Diplomats and that Jim Jones should take his place. Cam'ron responded with "Curtis" and "Curtis Pt. II", in which he makes fun of Jackson's appearance, calling him "a gorilla, with rabbit teeth". Jackson responded by releasing "Hold On" with Young Buck.

Game

Although he was close with The Game, before The Game released his debut album ''The Documentary'', they soon became at odds. After its release, Jackson felt The Game was disloyal for saying he did not want to participate in G-Unit's feuds with other rappers and even wanting to work with artists they were feuding with. He also claimed that he wrote six songs on the album and was not receiving proper credit for his work, which The Game denied.

Jackson later dismissed The Game from G-Unit on Hot 97 radio. After the announcement, The Game, who was a guest earlier in the evening, attempted to enter the building with his entourage. After being denied entry, one of his associates was shot in the leg during a confrontation with a group of men leaving the building. When the situation escalated, both rappers held a press conference to announce their reconciliation. Fans had mixed feelings as to whether the rappers created a publicity stunt to boost the sales of the albums they had just released. Nevertheless, even after the situation deflated, G-Unit criticized The Game's street credibility. The group denounced The Game and announced that they will not be featured on his albums. During a Summer Jam performance, The Game launched a boycott of G-Unit called "G-Unot".

After the performance at Summer Jam, The Game responded with "300 Bars and Runnin'", an extended "diss" aimed at G-Unit as well as members of Roc-A-Fella Records on the mixtape ''You Know What It Is Vol. 3''. Jackson responded through his "Piggy Bank" music video, which features The Game as a Mr. Potato Head doll and also parodies other rivals. Since then both groups continued to attack each other. The Game released two more mixtapes, ''Ghost Unit'' and a mixtape/DVD called ''Stop Snitchin, Stop Lyin''.

Jackson posted a cover of The Game's head on the body of a male stripper for "Hate It or Love It (G-Unit Radio Part 21)" mixtape, as a response to The Game displaying pictures of G-Unit dressed as Village People. Although he was signed to Aftermath Entertainment, The Game left the label and signed with Geffen Records to terminate his contractual obligations with G-Unit (although others claim Jackson pressured Dr. Dre to kick him off). G-Unit member Spider Loc had also began to insult The Game on various songs. In addition, The Game released "240 Bars (Spider Joke)" and "100 Bars (The Funeral)" both attacking G-Unit, Spider Loc and others. Jackson's response was "Not Rich, Still Lyin'" where he mocks The Game. Lloyd Banks replied to the Game on a Rap City freestyle booth session. The Game quickly released a "diss" record called "SoundScan" where The Game pokes fun at Lloyd Banks' album ''Rotten Apple'' falling thirteen spots on the ''Billboard'' 200 chart and disappointing second week sales. Lloyd Banks replied on his mixtape ''Mo' Money In The Bank Pt. 5: Gang Green Season Continues'' with a song called "Showtime (The Game's Over)". Lloyd Banks states that Jackson wrote half of The Game's first album ''The Documentary'' and pokes fun at The Game's suicidal thoughts.

In October 2006, The Game extended a peace treaty to Jackson, which was not immediately replied to. However, a couple days later, on Power 106, he stated that the treaty was only offered for one day. On The Game's album, ''Doctor's Advocate'', he claims that the feud is over on a few of the songs.

In July 2009, The Game stated the beef was squashed with help from Michael Jackson and Diddy, and he apologized for his actions during the beef. Tony Yayo said that neither Jackson (50 Cent) or G-Unit would accept his apology. Since then, The Game continued his old "G-Unot" ways at live concerts. Jackson released "So Disrespectful" a diss song on ''Before I Self Destruct'' targeting Jay-Z, The Game and Young Buck. Game later responded with the song "Shake", poking fun of the music video for 50's single "Candy Shop", quote, "Me and 50 aint agreeing on shit so I had to (Shake) Aint no telling what he putting in that protein (Shake) Seen the candy shop video look at this nigga (Shake) And thats the same shit that made the nigga Young Buck (Shake)". He also takes shots at Lloyd Banks and Tony Yayo, in which he says, "I'm surprised that Lloyd Banks and Yayo didn't (Shake) Wasn't selling no records Jimmy Iovine said (Shake)". Game also dissed G-Unit several times on the song "400 Bars".

In September 2011, 50 Cent dissed Game on the song "Love, Hate, Love", in which Game responded to on his twitter, saying he was going to diss him back after his tour was finished, quote:

Rick Ross

In January 2009, Rick Ross started a feud with 50 Cent because he supposedly looked at him the wrong way at the BET Awards. However, Jackson told news sources that he did not even remember seeing Rick Ross there. In late January, a track entitled "Mafia Music" by Rick Ross, leaked onto the Internet. There were several lines that seem to diss Jackson. Days later, Jackson released "Officer Ricky (Go Head, Try Me)" in response to Rick Ross's disparaging remarks on his "Mafia Music" song. The next day Rick Ross appeared on Shade 45, and told Jackson to come up with something better in 24 hours.

Before going to Venezuela, Jackson uploaded a video entitled "Warning Shot", where he warns Rick Ross: ''"I'ma fuck your life up for fun"''. In addition, Jackson released the first of a series of "Officer Ricky" cartoons. Early February, Jackson once again made a video which he uploaded to YouTube where he interviews "Tia", the mother of one of Rick Ross's children. She verifies his being a correctional officer and claims his whole persona is fake and fraudulent. On Thursday, February 5, 2009, The Game, who Jackson has a long-standing "beef" with, called up Seattle's KUBE 93 Radio Station. When asked about the beef between Jackson and Rick Ross, The Game sided with Jackson and said that things are not looking good for Rick Ross. However, he offered to help Rick Ross get out of this situation, stating ''"Rick Ross, holla at your boy, man,"'' and ''"50 eating you'', boy."

On his album ''Deeper Than Rap'', Ross references Jackson in the song "In Cold Blood". A video for the song was released that portrayed Jackson's mock funeral. Upon release, Ross stated that he has ended Jackson's career.

In an interview, Jackson said: "Rick Ross is Albert From CB4. You ever seen the movie? He's Albert," he added. "It never gets worse than this. You get a guy that was a correctional officer come out and base his entire career on writing material from a drug dealer's perspective such as "Freeway" Ricky Ross."

Lil Wayne

After hearing word that Lil Wayne had prepared a song for him after 50 made some unkind remarks, 50 lashed out at Wayne first on August 17, 2007 with the song "Part Time Lover". Wayne never really responded to the song, although a 50 Cent diss track called "Louisianimal" did leak much later on November 17, 2008. Jackson responded to Lil Wayne in January 2009 in a song entitled "Play This On The Radio". As of August 14, 2009, the controversy between Jackson and Lil Wayne seems to have ended after Jackson appeared and performed at Lil Wayne's America's Most Wanted Musical Festival stop in Anaheim, California.

Young Buck

''Main article: 50 Cent vs. Young Buck''

After numerous rumors of a "beef" within G-Unit, Jackson officially dismissed Young Buck from the group, in 2008. He later assured that he was still signed with the label. Numerous slander songs then arose on the internet from both camps, with Young Buck appearing in a music video of former rival The Game. Jackson then leaked a taped phone conversation between himself and Young Buck, which showed one of the true reasons for the falling out; Jackson was owed money by the Southern rapper. Young Buck later stated the conversation took place over a year before the leak. The two camps have since released a multitude of songs against each other, with the feud settling down by 2009, with Young Buck stating he's been working on his latest album, which is still to be released under the G-Unit label.

Discography

''Get Rich or Die Tryin''' (2003)

''The Massacre'' (2005)

''Curtis'' (2007)

''Before I Self Destruct'' (2009)

''Fifth studio album'' (2012)

Awards and nominations

Filmography

Year	Title	Role	Notes
2003	''50 Cent: The New Breed''	Himself	Documentary DVD
2005		Marcus	Film debut
2006		Jamal Aiken	Supporting Role
	''Righteous Kill''	Spider	Supporting Role
	Clarence	Supporting Role
''50 Cent: The Money and the Power''	Himself	TV series (one episode: "Choose Your Crew Wisely")
	''Streets of Blood''	Stan Johnson
	Himself	TV series (Season 6, Episode 3: "One Car, Two Car, Red Car, Blue Car")
	Thigo
''Caught in the Crossfire''	Tino	Executive producer
		Jimy
	Rich
	Lionel	Supporting Role
	Himself
		Black	Post-production
''Blood Out''	Hardwick
	Sonny
	''All Things Fall Apart''	Deon
	Malo
	–	Producer
	Shamus Cocobolo
		Pre-production
2013

Voice work

Year	Title	Role	Notes
	''The Simpsons''	Himself	TV series (one episode: "Pranksta Rap")
''50 Cent: Bulletproof''	Himself	Video game, voice only
	''50 Cent: Blood on the Sand''	Himself	Video game, voice only
''Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2''		Video game, voice only

References

External links

50 Cent at AOL Sessions

* Category:1975 births Category:Living people Category:Actors from New York City Category:African-American businesspeople Category:African American film actors Category:African-American film producers Category:African American rappers Category:African American record producers Category:Aftermath Entertainment artists Category:American investors Category:American music industry executives Category:American shooting survivors Category:American stock traders Category:American video game actors Category:Brit Award winners Category:Echo winners Category:Businesspeople from New York City Category:Grammy Award winners Category:G-Unit members Category:Hip hop singers Category:People convicted of drug offenses Category:People from Queens Category:Pseudonymous rappers Category:Rappers from New York City Category:Shady Records artists Category:Survivors of stabbing Category:Sony/ATV Music Publishing artists Category:World Music Awards winners

af:50 Cent als:50 Cent ar:50 سنت az:50 Cent bg:Фифти Сент bs:50 Cent br:50 Cent ca:50 Cent cs:50 Cent da:50 Cent de:50 Cent et:50 Cent el:50 Cent es:50 Cent eo:50 Cent fa:فیفتی سنت fr:50 Cent fy:50 Cent ga:50 Cent gl:50 Cent ko:50 센트 hy:50 Սենտ hi:50 सॅण्ट hr:50 Cent id:50 Cent is:50 Cent it:50 Cent he:50 סנט ka:50 Cent sw:50 Cent ku:50 Cent lv:50 Cent lt:50 Cent hu:50 Cent mk:50 Cent ml:50 സെന്റ് xmf:50 Cent nl:50 Cent ja:50セント no:50 Cent nn:50 Cent uz:50 Cent pl:50 Cent pt:50 Cent ro:50 Cent ru:50 Cent stq:50 Cent sq:50 Cent simple:50 Cent sk:50 Cent sl:50 Cent so:50 Cent sr:50 Cent sh:50 Cent fi:50 Cent sv:50 Cent ta:50 சென்ட் th:50 เซ็นต์ tr:50 Cent uk:50 Cent vi:50 Cent vls:50 Cent yi:פופציק צענט yo:50 Cent zh:50 Cent

Coordinates	30°19′10″N81°39′36″N
background	solo_singer
birth name	Sarah Lewe
born	June 13, 1980Germany
genre	Pop, R&B;, soul
occupation	Singer, songwriter, dancer, musician, philanthropist
years active	2001–present
associated acts	Wyclef Jean, Ne-Yo, Natural, Naturally 7, Marc Terenzi, TQ, Enrique Iglesias
label	Epic Records, SONY
website	www.sarah-connor.com }}

Sarah Terenzi (born June 13, 1980 in Delmenhorst Germany) better known as Sarah Connor is a German recording artist,songwriter and television personality, who rose to fame in early 2000s. Awarded with several prizes and accolades, Connor has received four Comets, a Top of the Pops Award, a Goldene Kamera, a Goldene Europa, a World Music Award, and eleven Echo nominations, winning eight.

Connor debuted in 2001 under the guidance of artist manager George Glueck and became the first solo act to ever have four consecutive chart-topping hits on the German Media Control Singles Chart. Following success in mainland Europe with her single "From Sarah with Love" and her R&B-oriented; debut album ''Green Eyed Soul'', a series of hit records established her position as the most successful German pop female vocalists to emerge in the 2000s with sales in excess of 15 million copies worldwide. Her latest effort, seventh studio album ''Real Love'', was released in October 2010, amid her engagement as judge on the German reality television show ''X Factor''.

Divorced from American pop-rock musician Marc Terenzi, with whom she appeared in two reality shows, ''Sarah & Marc in Love'' (2007) and ''Crazy and Sexy: Sarah Connor'' (2008), during their marriage,she has a son named Tyler and a daughter, Summer, with her former husband.

Biography

Early life

Connor is the eldest of six siblings born to Michael Lewe, an advertising writer of American descent, and his wife Soraya Lewe-Tacke (née Gray), a former fashion model and homemaker of Scottish, Irish and German heritage, in Hamburg. She has four sisters: Anna Maria, Marisa, Sophia-Luisa, and Valentina; and one brother, Robin. Her maternal half-brothers Mick and Lex were born in 2008.

Connor grew up listening to soul music, mostly influenced by her paternal grandfather who was born in New Orleans. A church choir became her first experience in the gospel music field at a very young age. In her teen years Connor tried out and was accepted to a performing arts school. Although all students were required to choose an instrument, Connor was the only one allowed to study voice. She took vocal lessons once a week and worked as a waitress in a hotel to pay for them.

In 1997, Connor was picked to sing with the backing choir during the performance of "Heal the World" at Michael Jackson's ''HIStory'' concert tour in Bremen, Germany. Overwhelmed by a personal meeting with Jackson at the end of the show, she signed a contract with her first management the following year, that resulted in her pseudonym Sarah Gray and the recording of a number of demo tapes, including cover versions such as "Silent Night" and "This Christmas" and the local radio success "Ula la Ula." In 1999, she provided the leading vocals for producer Marc van Linden's dance remix of the 1982 record "Last Unicorn," which reached number 86 on the German Singles Chart. Unhappy with her management though, Connor teamed up with manager Carlo Vista, who got her signed as Sarah Connor with producer George Glueck's label X-Cell Records a short time after. As a direct consequence, she decided to quit school and leave home at the age of 19.

Recording and performing career

2001–2003: Breakthrough with ''From Sarah With Love''

Connor fluctuated between Hamburg, Hannover and Berlin to work on her debut album, involving producers such as Bülent Aris, Toni Cottura, Diane Warren, and the production duo Rob Tyger and Kay Denar. ''Green Eyed Soul'', which was eventually released on November 26, 2001 in German-speaking Europe, yielded her first two singles "Let's Get Back to Bed – Boy!," a collaboration with American rapper TQ, and "French Kissing," a song based on BLACKstreet’s "No Diggity." However, it was the album’s third single "From Sarah with Love" which reached the top position in Germany, Poland, Portugal and Switzerland and raised Connor’s fame all over Europe. The song garnered the singer a Comet and an ECHO Award. Album reviews were generally positive, with ''laut.de'' especially praising Connor’s vocal strengths.

Only ten months later, her second album ''Unbelievable'' (2002) was released in Europe. Wyclef Jean wrote, produced and rapped on the album’s lead single, "One Nite Stand (of Wolves and Sheep)," which once again entered the top 5. ''Unbelievable'' simultaneously achieved gold status in Germany within 48 hours and spawned another three singles, including Diane Warren-penned "Skin on Skin," "He's Unbelievable" and "Bounce" (which would be released as a single on 3 different occasions and countries including the United States.)

In October 2003, Connor released a live DVD branded ''Sarah Connor Live – A Night to Remember: Pop Meets Classic'', whose performance had been recorded at the Alten Kasselhaus in Düsseldorf on January 24, including indiviudal performances of own songs with a classical orchestra backing her up. In November 2003, in spite of being heavily pregnant with her first child, Connor released her third album called, ''Key to My Soul''. The album’s first single, "Music Is the Key" featuring New York a cappella singers Naturally 7, became her second number-one hit in Germany. "Just One Last Dance", the album's second and final single, was a re-recorded edition of the album’s original version, including new vocals by Marc Terenzi’s band Natural. The duet once again reached number-one in Austria, Germany, and Switzerland and the top 20 on a composite World Top 40.

The album "Sarah Connor" featured the first single, "Bounce". It was released in many countries. including Japan, Australia, New Zealand, Canada and the United States. In Germany, the single made it to #14 on the charts. In England and Ireland it peaked at number 14 and was certified gold in Australia. In America, the song only managed a #54 on the Billboard Hot 100. The album made it to number 106 and took off in the U.S., selling almost 100.000 copies.

2004–2008: International Success

After a lengthy hiatus that saw the birth of her son Tyler, Connor returned to music in fall 2004 with the release of her single "Living to Love You." The ballad reached number-one in Germany and Switzerland, becoming her third consecutive chart-topper, and preceded her fourth album ''Naughty But Nice'' (2005). Connor re-teamed with longtime contributors Booya, Kay Denar und Rob Tyger to work on the album, whose release coincided with the broadcast of her ProSieben reality series ''Sarah & Marc in Love''. Her highest-charting effort yet, ''Naughty But Nice'' debuted on top of the German Albums Chart and reached the top three in Austria and Switzerland, selling 100,000 copies within the first two days of its release. Critical reaction towards the album was generally mixed, with Allmusic rating it three starts out of five, and ''laut.de'' summing it as "underclass music for the disco around the corner." Spawning just one another single, "From Zero to Hero" was picked to be used as the theme song to the computer-animated movie ''Robots'' (2005), for which Connor voiced the character of Cappy. The song became her fifth chart-topping single in Germany and the fourth number-one hit single in a row.

In fall 2005, Connor embarked on the Naughty but Nice concert tour. Compiling twenty-three dates in Austria, Germany and Switzerland, the tour concluded a month later. In December 2005, she released a holiday album named ''Christmas in My Heart''. Containing a mix of traditional but contemporary English standards and re-written German songs in English language, both the album and its same-titled lead single reached number four on the charts. Eventually certified platinum by the IFPI, the album was re-released the following year, including the previously unreleased single "The Best Side of Life," another top four success.

Returning from yet another hiatus after the birth of her daughter Summer in 2006, Connor released her sixth studio album ''Soulicious'' in March 2007. Mainly made up of 1960's and 70’s Motown covers, but also including two original songs, recording for the entire album took place at the former main building of the Berliner Rundfunk, where Connor was backed by a symphonic orchestra of forty-eight musicians. Upon its release, the album reached the top ten in Austria, Germany and Switzerland, where it each reached gold status. Critics, again, gave ''Soulicious'' a mixed response, with ''CDStarts.de'' calling it "a sterile soul adaption for ''The Dome'' stage." Leading single "The Impossible Dream (The Quest)," which was featured in a publicity campaign for the comeback fight of German boxer Henry Maske, and "Sexual Healing," a duet with American singer Ne-Yo, reached the top ten and top twenty of the singles charts respectivey.

Heading into a new musical direction, Connor intensified work on her next original album with producers such as Remee, Thomas Troelsen and J.R. Rotem. In May 2008, it was announced Connor and her family would once again participate in an eight-part reality show titled ''Sarah and Marc: Still Crazy in Love"'' on ProSieben. The special began airing on July 3, 2008, and followed the recording and promotional events for the new album, branded ''Sexy as Hell''. Its first single, "Under My Skin," co-written by Troelsen, was released on August 1, 2008, in German-speaking Europe, with the album following on August 22, 2008. The song had originally come from DBSK's song "Mirotic". Subsequently, she was nominated for an ECHO.

2009–present: X-Factor

In 2009, Connor contributed to a re-recorded version of Enrique Iglesias' duet "Takin' Back My Love," replacing American singer Ciara's original vocals on the song. Released as the second single from Iglesias' 2008 ''Greatest Hits'' album in German-speaking Europe, Poland and the Czech Republic, it reached the top ten of the German Singles Chart.

In April 2010, it was announced that Connor would appear alongside mentor George Glueck and musician Till Brönner as a judge on the debut series of ''X Factor'', aired on the German VOX network. Connor's eighth studio album titled ''Real Love'' was released on October 22, 2010, and preceded by the single "Cold as Ice" Connor performed on the ''MTV European Music Awards 2010'' live Cold as Ice. Two weeks later Cold as Ice reached in the Belgien and Duth charts.

The Album ''Real Love'' reached #8 on the German Album charts and has now more than 30,000 copies.

Personal life

Connor's romantic relationships have been widely covered in the media. Prior to her music career, Connor started dating singer Martin Scholz, who was a member of the German boy band Touché and thus, shared the same management with her. Their three-year relationship ended in early 2000.

Amid rumors about affairs with fellow collaborators TQ and Wyclef Jean, Connor met Marc Terenzi, lead singer of American boy band Natural, at the Bravo Happy Holidays festival in Rust, Germany in July 2002. The pair began dating and in June 2003, it was announced they were engaged and expecting their first child, Tyler Marc Terenzi, who was born on February 2, 2004 in Orlando, Florida. On February 29, 2004 the couple invited their friends to a dinner supposedly to celebrate the birth of their son; however they announced that they in fact had eloped. The couple renewed their vows this time with a wedding ceremony on August 18, 2005 in Altafulla, Tarragonès, near Barcelona, Spain. The wedding was the subject of their ProSieben reality show ''Sarah and Marc in Love''. On June 23, 2006, Connor gave birth to their second child, a girl, named Summer Antonia Soraya. In November 2008, Connor announced her separation from Terenzi.

After her separation from Terenzi, Connor was linked with Brazilian footballer Diego Ribas da Cunha, although the couple claimed to be good friends. In April 2010, Connor announced that she is in a relationship with her manager, Florian Fischer, singer of the 1990s pop trio The Boyz. In February 2011 they confirmed to Bild that they are expecting a child.

Connor lives since 2007 in Los Angeles.

Impact and controversy

Connor has made an impact in Germany as well as surrounding countries. She is one of the best-selling German artists of all time, holding records for having four consecutive number ones (ending with "From Zero to Hero"), the first artist to accomplish this, and five number ones overall (four of which are ballads); she ties with Modern Talking and Boney M for this latter feat.

Image wise, her image and logo have graced several products. In Germany outside of her own promotional merchandise, she has her own line of jeans, perfume, and her own cakes.

Connor has also been embroiled in a few controversies. In January 2002, she performed on the popular German television show ''Wetten, dass..?'' wearing a tight and revealing dress. Rumors swirled she had worn no panties, which created such a controversy that the front pages of popular tabloids (including ''Bild'') ran headlines about it. Connor had actually worn skin colored panties so they would not show. She later auctioned the dress off for charity.

In June 2005, she got into another controversy, when she performed the German national anthem at the opening ceremony of the new stadium in Munich, at the Allianz Arena, singing "Brüh im Lichte dieses Glückes" ("Scald in the light of this fortune") instead of "Blüh im Glanze dieses Glückes" ("Flourish in the blessing of this fortune"). This faux pas was documented in her show 'Sarah and Marc in Love'.

Some of the impact and controversy has also touched her personal life. In 2005, German comedian Oliver Pocher mocked and parodied Connor’s reality show ''Sarah and Marc in Love'' on his show ''Rent a Pocher''. Not liking having her family mocked, Connor brought legal action against him. The outcome is unknown but he did eventually apologize.

Filmography

Film
Year	Film	Role	Notes
2005	''Robots''	Maria	Voice
2006	''Ein Mädchen namens Rania''	Rania Meyer	Film debut, main role
2010	''Isch kandidiere''	Herself	Cameo

Television guest appearances
Year	Title	Role	Notes
2003	''Gute Zeiten, schlechte Zeiten''	Laura Werner	Guest star, 4 Episodes
		Herself	Reality Television
"Christmas In Sarah's Heart"	Herself	Television special, Promo for ''Christmas in My Heart''
2007	"Germany's Next Topmodel"	Herself	Guest joror, 1 Episode
2008		Herself	Reality Television, Promo for ''Sexy as Hell''
2010–2011	"X-Factor"	Herself	Main joror
2011		Sarah Lewe	Guest star, 1 Episode

Discography

Studio albums

''Green Eyed Soul'' (2001)

''Unbelievable'' (2002)

''Key to My Soul'' (2003)

''Naughty but Nice'' (2005)

''Soulicious'' (2007)

''Sexy as Hell'' (2008)

''Real Love'' (2010)

Compilation albums

Sarah Connor (2004)

Holiday albums

''Christmas in My Heart'' (2005)

Tours

Green Eyed Soul Tour (2002)

Sarah Connor Live (2003–2004)

Naughy but Nice Tour (2005)

Sexy as Hell Tour (2009)

Awards

References

External links

Official website

Complete discography page

Category:Article Feedback Pilot Category:1980 births Category:Living people Category:Blue-eyed soul singers Category:English-language singers Category:German female singers Category:German pop singers Category:German soul singers Category:The X Factor judges Category:Rhythm and blues singers Category:Universal Music Group artists Category:World Music Awards winners

bg:Сара Конър cs:Sarah Connor de:Sarah Connor et:Sarah Connor es:Sarah Connor (cantante) fr:Sarah Connor (chanteuse) id:Sarah Connor it:Sarah Connor (cantante) ka:სარა კონორი lv:Sāra Konora hu:Sarah Connor (énekesnő) ms:Sarah Connor nl:Sarah Connor (zangeres) ja:サラ・コナー no:Sarah Connor pl:Sarah Connor pt:Sarah Connor (cantora) ro:Sarah Connor (cântăreață) ru:Сара Коннор (певица) sr:Sara Konor (pevačica) fi:Sarah Connor sv:Sarah Connor th:ซาราห์ คอนเนอร์ tr:Sarah Connor vi:Sarah Connor (ca sĩ) zh:莎拉·蔻娜

Coordinates	30°19′10″N81°39′36″N
name	Ray William Johnson
nationality	American
other names	RWJ, Ray Johnson, RayWJ
occupation	YouTube comedianrapper
years active	2007–present
known for	YouTube videos
website	raywj.com }}

Ray William Johnson is a comedian best known for his YouTube videos, which made him the most-subscribed content creator on that site by 2011, with the most-subscribed channel of all time, as of August 2011. Many of his videos include commentary on other videos under the show title ''Equals Three''. Many of the videos he comments on often enjoy a sudden growth in popularity, as noted by numerous press reports.

As of August 2011, his channel is the number one most subscribed on YouTube, with over 4.4 million subscribers, and over 1.2 billion video views. In February 2011, one industry publication noted that Johnson currently had six of the top twenty most watched videos of the month.

Background

When Johnson was studying at Columbia University to pursue a career in law, he became interested in watching YouTube videos, and eventually, making videos himself. He took notice of the fact that people visit YouTube either to watch viral videos or their favorite video bloggers. From that observation, he started his first formatted show, ''Equals Three'', as a way to combine video blogging and viral video reviews.

Current Projects

Equals Three

Italic title	no
Show name	Equals Three
Genre	ComedyReviewing
Creator	Ray William Johnson
Executive producer	Ray William Johnson
Producer	Erin Schmalfeld
Presenter	Ray William JohnsonGuest presenters:KassemG (2 episodes)Meekakitty (2 episodes)Dan Brown (1 episode)
Writer	Phil HaneySteve GreeneMarvin SilbermintzErin SchmalfeldIlana CohnRay William Johnson
Presented by	Ray William Johnson
Country	United States
Language	English Spanish (Igual A Tres)
Subscribers	approx. 4.3 million
|num episodes	218 (as of 20th of August 2011)
Editor	Brandon Perna
Channel	YouTube
First aired
Last aired	present
Related	BreakingNYC,Your Favorite Martian,Breaking Los Angeles,Igual A Tres
Website	http://RayWJ.com
Production website	}}

In Equals Three (stylized as "=3"), Ray William Johnson reviews, criticizes, and adds commentary to some of the internet's latest viral videos. The Equals Three comes from the three videos he review each episode. Equals Three episodes are usually uploaded to his Youtube channel twice in a week (every Monday and Thursday). In these episodes, Johnson interacts with his audience by posting a viewer-submitted "comment question of the day", then features five of his favorite comments in the proceeding episode. Equals Three is the most subscribed channel on YouTube to date, having over 4 million subscribers, and is recognized by Guinness World Records. Because of that, every Equals Three episode can consistently obtain millions of views within a week, often featured on the YouTube front page. Johnson later co-produced the Spanish version of Equals Three, ''Igual a Tres'', that is dedicated to his Spanish-speaking audiences who have been exceptionally supportive. Igual a Tres adopts the same format and concept of reviewing viral videos and is hosted by PeeDeeFlo.

Your Favorite Martian

In January 2011, Johnson launched a collaborative YouTube channel called "Yourfavoritemartian", which features animated music videos of comedic nature. The songs are performed by a virtual band of four fictional cartoon characters: PuffPuff Humbert (lead singer, voiced by Ray William Johnson), DeeJay (DJ, voiced by Robin "Big Rob" Truman), Axel Chains (drummer), and Benatar (guitar/keyboard). Ray writes lyrics, raps, sings, composes beats, and sometimes collaborates with other musicians to produce the songs. The following is a list of music videos that have been released so far:

''My Balls'' (January 26, 2011) {3:13}

''Zombie Love Song'' (February 9, 2011) {3:59}

''Bottles of Beer'' (February 23, 2011) {3:41}

''Club Villain'' (March 9, 2011) {4:12}

''The Stereotypes Song'' (March 23, 2011) {4:26}

''The Unofficial Smithers Love Song'' (April 6, 2011) {3:55}

''Orphan Tears'' featuring Wax (April 20, 2011) {3:36}

''Mr. DoucheBag'' (May 4, 2011) {3:55}

''Transphobic Techno" (Bitch Got a Penis)'' (May 18, 2011) {3:25}

''Grandma Got a Facebook'' (June 1, 2011) {3:33}

''Tig Ol' Bitties'' (June 15, 2011) {3:52}

''Fight to Win'' featuring DeStorm Power (June 29, 2011) {3:51}

''Stalkin' Your Mom'' featuring Wax (July 13, 2011) {3:13}

''Robot Bar Fight'' (July 27, 2011) {3:12}

''8-Bit World'' featuring Hoodie Allen (August 10, 2011) {3:30}

The newest song is yet to be released but on the YourFavoriteMartian channel it says it will be released on Septermber 7, 2011.

To date, Johnson has released 15 songs through the channel. As of August 2011, the channel has over 1.4 million subscribers and averaging over 10 million views per video. Due to the rapid growth of popularity of the channel and the music videos getting more views than the Equals Three episodes, Johnson has commented in his Breaking Los Angeles video blog that he at some point hopes to have the music videos released weekly instead of bi-weekly.

BreakingNYC / Breaking Los Angeles

"Breaking NYC" is a former daily video blog or "Vlog" that Johnson started in December 2009 while living in New York City. He made the vlogs almost daily until June 2010. After nearly a year-long hiatus, Johnson resumed contributing to the video blog channel, creating a new higher quality series with a similar format. The new series titled "Breaking Los Angeles and the Adventures of Puff Puff" is released every Friday and is filmed in Los Angeles. Ray often features rather notable guests in his new series, including rapper/musician Wax, slam poet George Watsky, rapper/musician Hoodie Allen, battle rapper Dumbfoundead, comedian Gabriel Iglesias, director/actor Bobcat Goldthwait, etc.

References

External links

Official Site

Category:Living people Category:American comedians Category:American Internet personalities

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