G-Unit Records
Founded	2003
Founder	50 Cent
Distributor(s)	Interscope, EMI
Genre	Hip hop, Gangsta rap
Country of origin	United States, UK
Official Website	http://www.thisis50.com/

G-Unit Records is an American record label, specializing in hip hop music, founded in 2003 by rapper 50 Cent. Upon its inception, it operated as a subsidiary of, and was distributed through, Universal Music Group's Interscope Records. In August 2010, the label added an additional distribution with EMI,^[1][2] however, it still maintains a distribution with Interscope.^[3] G-Unit Records has a subsidiary label that caters to other genre's of music including along with R&B, Dance and Pop division of the label, G-Note Records.^[4]

History[link]

2003–2005[link]

Following the success of 50 Cent's debut album, Get Rich or Die Tryin', he was granted his own record label. This was when G-Unit Records was created.^[5] G-Unit, then consisting of Lloyd Banks, Tony Yayo and Young Buck, was signed to the label as a group as well as solo artists. Bang Em Smurf was very closely affiliated with them before they signed to Interscope Records.^[6] He claimed that before 50 Cent saw mainstream success, the two recorded a mixtape from which they would earn $5 each, they sold 400,000 copies. 50 Cent allegedly never gave Bang Em' Smurf his share.^[6] In addition to this Bang Em' Smurf claimed that 50 Cent did not contact or bail him out while he was in jail. This led to him and his close friend, Domination, no longer wanting to be affiliated with the group. Domination was never an official member of G-Unit but was a close friend of Bang 'Em Smurf during his G-Unit days. After the two had a brief feud with 50 Cent and G-Unit in 2003, Domination and Bang 'Em Smurf were no longer associated with G-Unit. Bang 'Em Smurf was never actually signed to G-Unit as an artist, but rather as an executive, or "boss," as he put it.^[7]

2003 saw the release of G-Unit's commercial debut, Beg For Mercy, which sold 377,000 copies in its first week of release.^[8] It has now sold over 2.7 million units in the U.S.^[9] and 6 million copies worldwide.^[10] It has been certified 2× platinum by the RIAA.^[11]

After bringing in Game in early 2004,^[12] Spider Loc was also signed around the time of Young Buck's album release.^[13] As a result of the problems that 50 Cent encountered with Game's falling out with the label in 2005, he was not sure whether or not to sign any new artists to his "family", which was how he perceived G-Unit as a group and record label. However, later that year, the opportunity to sign Mobb Deep^[14] and M.O.P.^[15] came up.

2006–2009[link]

In 2006, G-Unit Records signed Young Hot Rod.^[16] In the same year, in conjunction with Mobb Deep's Infamous Records, they signed both Nyce and 40 Glocc. In 2007, Mazaradi Fox was also added to the label.^[17] It was also highly anticipated that Detroit rapper Trick Trick, would sign to the label,^[18] though this deal never came to be.

In 2008, amidst rumors of a "beef" within G-Unit between 50 Cent and Young Buck, 50 Cent officially kicked Young Buck out of the group, though assuring that he was still signed with the label.^[19] Numerous slander songs then arose on the internet from both camps, with Young Buck being included on a track with former rival Game. 50 Cent then leaked a taped phone conversation between himself and Young Buck, which showed one of the true reasons for the falling out; 50 Cent was owed money by the Southern rapper. Young Buck later stated the conversation took place over a year before the leak.^[20] The two camps have since released a multitude of songs against each other, while the feud seems to be settling down as of late 2008, with Young Buck stating he's been working on his latest album, which will still be released under the G-Unit label.^[21]

In late 2009, G-Unit Records founder 50 Cent released his fourth album, Before I Self Destruct, which featured a track entitled "So Disrespectful", which insulted his various rivals including Jay-Z and G-Unit Records artists Game and Young Buck. Also in 2009, 50 Cent would collaborate with former Roc-A-Fella Records artist Beanie Sigel, which would also lead to speculation that Beanie Sigel was signing to G-Unit Records.^[22] While promoting Before I Self Destruct, 50 Cent also did a radio interview in which he spoke about the G-Unit Records roster. Within the interview it was confirmed that Game, Young Buck, Spider Loc, Young Hot Rod where signed to the label, while both M.O.P and Mobb Deep were no longer signed to the label.^[23] The year 2009, also saw the signing of New York rapper, Trav, former Grand Hustle R&B singer, Governor and^[24] Beanie Sigel on the 5th of November respectively. 50 also confirmed this.[10]

2010–Present[link]

In early January 2010, 50 Cent claimed that he was looking to sign new comedians, and authors to the label, expanding outside of the realm of recording artists.^[25] Atlanta borne comedian, Young Jack Thriller, would be the first comedian signed to the label,^[25] releasing a weekly "So Disrespectful," YouTube podcast.^[26] He would also be a regular guest on Shade45's G-Unit Radio, and co-host of the program.^[27][28] Also in early 2010, in reference to his recent affiliation with 50 Cent and possibly G-Unit Records, Beanie Sigel stated that he would not be signing with the label, as he and 50 Cent mutually "used" each other, though no harm to their business relationship was made.^[29] Also in early 2010, label signee Young Buck responded to various songs released on 50 Cent's Before I Self Destruct. He released five records aimed at 50 Cent, Tony Yayo, Lloyd Banks, G-Unit, and 40 Glocc.^[30]

Though he was previously unsure about signing new talent to the label, in January 2010, 50 Cent expressed interest in signing European R&B singer Jamelia to G-Unit Records, citing that it could not only help her build a reputation in the U.S., but also sign a new female artist to the label, which hasn't had a female artist since Olivia.^[31]

In an interview with MTV, 50 Cent announced that he is looking for new artists, "You'll see new faces, because I'm looking for new artists now. I'll sign new artists and take them with me and kinda groom them. Some of the stuff you can't teach a person; they gotta have it". While he was on tour, recently made affiliate Beanie Sigel confirmed after a long awaited wait, that he would be finished signing to G-Unit when 50 got back from tour.^[32]

In August 2010, amidst the controversy surrounding Montana Fishburne's entrance into the adult film industry, co-porn star, Brian Pumper, released several rap songs shouting out 50 Cent, Lloyd Banks, and Tony Yayo. Pumper repeatedly stated his wish to be signed to G-Unit. However, the members of G-Unit have repeatedly stated they are not interested in signing Pumper.^[33] Also in August, Tony Yayo discussed how he and The Pack member, "Lil B," had hooked up and worked together in the studio, along with Yayo's newly proclaimed protoge, "Danny Brown." He also stated that there was a large possibility that Lil B might be signing to G-Unit Records, and spoke as if Danny Brown was already signed.^[34] Despite this, Brown confirmed that he is not signed to G-Unit as of yet, but he is talks of possibly signing to the label.^[35] Also in September 2010, there was quite a bit of speculation that R&B singer Mýa, was in the process of, or already signed to the label.^[36] Lloyd Banks later in September would confirm that Mobb Deep member Havoc was in talks to negotiate a new contract for the group in terms of signing to the label.

In early March 2011, rapper Shawty Lo reported in an interview that he was in talks with the label about signing.^[37] On June 8, 2011 it was confirmed by both Shawty Lo and AllHipHop.com that he had signed a deal with the label.^[38] He had this to say about signing with the label, " “This is like something before the album, my new situation with G-Unit was just solidified and I got off the phone with 50 yesterday, I just signed a really large deal,”.^[39] It was later confirmed by Shawty Lo that he had not signed to the label as an individual artist, but so that his label D4L would be under and part of the G-Unit Records roster.^[40]

It was rumored that Lea Sunshine, the singer who was featured in Lil' Flip's hit single "Sunshine", was signing to label. After touring with G-Unit and being featured on G-Note Records singer Hot Rod debut single, she confirmed on her Twitter account that she had signed with 50 Cent and G-Note Records.^[41][42][43]

After a cameo appearance in Tony Yayo's music video, "Haters", it was reported by MTV that former Young Money affiliate, Kidd Kidd, had signed with the label.^[44][45] As well as this young and upcoming rapper Genasis, reported via his Twitter that he had just inked a deal with 50 Cent and the G-Unit Records label after 50 Cent seen a video of Genasis performing.^[46][47]

In the beginning of December 2011, 50 Cent officially signed Jersey Shore (TV series) star DJ Pauly D to G-unit and G-Note Records. DJ Pauly D is signed to produce 3 albums that are pop related. 50 Cent and DJ Pauly D have already started on a few collaborations as well as planning. ^{[48] [49]}

Also in December, 50 Cent introduced his new female artist Paris who had just signed with the label on his mixtape, "The Big 10".^[50]

In December 9, 2011, 50 Cent released his free mixtape, "The Big 10". Guest appearances include Kidd Kidd, Paris, and G-Unit member Tony Yayo.^[51]

In April 2012, after being ousted from the crew back in 2008, Young Buck has entered talks to work with the label. Days after indicating that he would be open to re-teaming with his old crew at G-Unit Records, Young Buck now confirms that he has begun negotiations with the label about making his return. Buck provided the update in a recent interview stating "I'ma be honest with you," he said, "Finally we're at a point where we're having some kind of negotiations with what they're going to be able to do for us at G-Unit."^[52] The Nashville, Tennessee native said he was ready to make his return to music, whether as a part of G-Unit or not. "Y’all are gonna be hearing from me," he said. "I don't want to put a timing on it, but the wait is absolutely over, and we're just trying to figure out what's the best situation for us, where I'm gonna go." Buck stated in an interview after a concert in California April 4, 2012. Young Buck's last album was the 2010 independent release The Rehab. It’s been a rough go for Buck since he was expelled from 50’s crew in 2008, he has run into financial troubles and he recently escaped an attempted drive-by shooting in his hometown. Although it doesn’t look like the rapper has straightened out his relationship with 50 Cent, but he says the label has finally agreed to negotiate. The negotiations may not lead to a new deal between Young Buck and G-Unit, but the rapper remains optimistic and explained that it’s only a matter of time before he ends up finding a place to take his talent.^[53][54]

Distribution[link]

On August 13, 2010, in an interview with MTV News, Lloyd Banks announced that G-Unit had signed a distribution deal with EMI in North America. The distribution deal is strictly with artists Lloyd Banks and Tony Yayo, as stated by 50 Cent in an interview, that G-Unit as a label is not completely distributed by EMI, as he and G-Unit are still obligated under the Interscope G-Unit Distribution.^[3] In 2012, G-Unit Records was dropped from Interscope because the great deal 50 cent did.^[55]

G-Note Records[link]

G-Note Records is a subsidiary record label of 50 Cent's G-Unit Records.^[4] The label was set up in late 2010 to handle all Hip-Hop, R&B and Pop artists on the record label.^[56] The artists signed to this label are Governor, who was signed to G-Unit Records in 2009 and Hot Rod who originally was signed to G-Unit Records in 2006.^[57] In early 2011, Lea Sunshine was signed to the label.^[58] In the beginning of December 2011, DJ Pauly D was signed to G-Note Records.^[59]

Artists[link]

Labels[link]

G-Note Records[link]

• • Young Hot Rod
  • Governor
  • Lea
  • DJ Pauly D

D4L[link]

• • Shawty Lo
  • Fabo
  • Mook-B
  • Stoney (Stuntman)

DJs and producers[link]

• Sha Money XL
• DJ Whoo Kid
• Nick Speed
• Red Spyda
• DJ Pauly D
• Jake One
• Doe Pesci
• Nature Boi
• DJ Neeli Neel
• Big Dawg
• Dellarock Entertainment
• Tecknolgy

Comedians[link]

• Young Jack Thriller
• Crazy Kev

Discography[link]

References[link]

External links[link]

• G-Unit Records on Myspace

This article may require cleanup to meet Wikipedia's quality standards. No cleanup reason has been specified. Please help improve this article if you can; the talk page may contain suggestions. (December 2011)

G-Unit
From left to right: Tony Yayo, 50 Cent & Lloyd Banks at the "Rider Pt. 2" video shoot
Background information
Origin	New York City, U.S.
Genres	Hip hop
Years active	2002–present
Labels	G-Unit Records
Associated acts	Eminem, Mr. Porter, Dr. Dre, Mobb Deep, Snoop Dogg, Swizz Beatz
Website	thisis50.com
Members
50 Cent Lloyd Banks Tony Yayo
Past members
Game Young Buck

G-Unit is an American hip hop group originating from New York City formed by 50 Cent. The name of the group is short for Guerilla Unit.^[1]

Group history[link]

Early days[link]

The group's founding members, 50 Cent, Lloyd Banks and Tony Yayo all grew up on the same block rapping together.^[2][3][4]

Rise to fame[link]

Rapper 50 Cent signed to Interscope Records. Due to the success of his commercial debut album, Get Rich or Die Tryin', he was granted his own record label. This was when G-Unit Records was created.^[5]

G-Unit logo

The group continued to work hard and released several mixtape series which earned them a lot of attention in the rap industry.^[5] The most prominent of these being 50 Cent Is the Future, God's Plan, No Mercy, No Fear and Automatic Gunfire. G-Unit has also started a mixtape series with their DJ, DJ Whoo Kid, called G-Unit Radio. G-Unit gained more popularity when a remix to 50 Cent's "P.I.M.P." was released, featuring Snoop Dogg and G-Unit.

But before the group had a chance to record its debut album, Tony Yayo was sentenced to prison for a gun-possession charge as well as bail-jumping.^[6] During Tony Yayo's prison sentence, the group signed Tennessee rapper, Young Buck.

At Tony Yayo's prison sentence, G-Unit recorded their debut album, Beg for Mercy. The album was quickly released on November 14, 2003 to combat bootlegging and had significant commercial success.^[7] Tony Yayo made only two appearances on the album, both on songs that were recorded before his arrest.

Former affiliates[link]

Bang'em Smurf was very closely affiliated with them before they signed to Interscope Records.^[8] He claimed that before 50 Cent saw mainstream success, the two recorded a mixtape from which they would earn $5 each, they sold 400,000 copies. 50 Cent allegedly never gave Bang'em Smurf his share.^[8] In addition to this Bang'em Smurf claimed that 50 Cent did not contact or bail him out while he was in jail. This led to him and his close friend, Domination, no longer wanting to be affiliated with the group. Domination was never an official member of G-Unit but was a close friend of Bang'em Smurf during his G-Unit days. After the two had a brief feud with 50 Cent and G-Unit in 2003, Domination and Bang'em Smurf were no longer associated with G-Unit.^[8]

Former members[link]

The Game was originally placed into G-Unit by Dr. Dre and Jimmy Iovine. However after a while, tensions began to rise between G-Unit and 50 Cent. 50 Cent claimed that The Game was being disloyal to the group because he did not want to get involved with the feuds with Fat Joe, Nas, and Jadakiss even going as far as to say that he wished to work with them. 50 Cent also felt that he did not receive proper credit for co-writing some of the songs on Game’s debut album.^[9] For more information see G-Unit vs. The Game feud.

On April 7, 2008, in an interview with Shanna Leviste on New York's Hot 97 FM, 50 Cent stated that Young Buck was no longer a member of G-Unit but he is still signed to G-Unit Records.^[10] 50 Cent cited problems involving excessive spending and Young Buck's public claim to not being paid royalty checks.^[11][12]

Members[link]

• 50 Cent
• Lloyd Banks
• Tony Yayo

Former members

• Game (2004–2005)
• Young Buck (2003–2008)

Albums[link]

Debut album[link]

In 2003, the group's debut album, Beg for Mercy, was released. However, while the album was being recorded, Tony Yayo was sentenced to jail on charges of gun possession. Therefore, he only makes two appearances both on pre-recorded tracks. His face is seen on the brick wall of the album cover because he could not be photographed on account of his jail sentence. Beg for Mercy sold 2.3 million copies in the U.S. and 4 million copies worldwide.^[7] The only featured guests on the album were R&B singers, Joe & Butch Cassidy. Production came from Hi-Tek, Dr. Dre, Scott Storch as well as others.

Second album[link]

Their second album, T.O.S: Terminate on Sight, was released on July 1, 2008.^[13][14] While the album was being recorded, internal conflicts arose between Young Buck and 50 Cent, which resulted in Young Buck being kicked out of the group, but still signed to G-Unit Records.^[10] Young Buck still appeared on songs previously recorded with the group, but was credited as a featured artist. As of August 8, 2008, the album has sold 185,000 copies in the United States.^[15][16] Along with Young Buck, Mavado guests on the album, while production came from Swizz Beatz, Street Radio, Tha Bizness, Rick Rock, Polow da Don and others.

Labels[link]

After fulfilling their contract with Interscope Records it was announced EMI Label Services has signed a deal with 50 Cent’s label, G-Unit Records, in which EMI will distribute and promote releases on the G-Unit roster in North America.

Various ventures[link]

Clothing line[link]

The G-Unit Clothing Company was established in 2003, when 50 Cent teamed up with Marc Ecko (the founder of Eckō Unlimited), to create a line of clothing and accessories inspired by 50 Cent and fellow members of G-Unit.

G-Unity Foundation[link]

G-Unit has founded G-Unity Foundation Inc. (often called simply G-Unity), a public foundation that provides grants to nonprofit organizations that focus on improving the quality of life for low-income and underserved communities.

Controversy[link]

An anti-50 Cent billboard in Tribeca, New York.

The Game[link]

In early 2005, a feud between The Game and G-Unit began. Even before The Game's first album was released and their feud became public, there was tension between The Game and 50 Cent.^[17] Soon after The Documentary's release, 50 Cent felt that the rapper was disloyal for saying he did not want to participate in G-Unit's feud with other rappers, and even wanting to work with artists with whom G-Unit were feuding, such as Nas and Jadakiss.

50 Cent also claimed that he was not getting his proper credit for the creation of the album. He also claimed that he wrote five of the songs, but The Game denied that. During that dispute, a member of The Game's entourage was shot after a confrontation at the Hot 97 studio in New York City.^[18] After the situation between them escalated, 50 Cent and The Game held a press conference to announce their reconciliation.^[19] Fans had mixed feelings as to whether the rappers created a publicity stunt to boost the sales of the two albums the pair had just released.^[18] Nevertheless, even after the situation had apparently deflated,^[20] G-Unit continued to feud with The Game who responded during a performance at Summer Jam and launched a boycott of G-Unit called "G-Unot".^[21] The phrase G-Unot is a pun on the group's name, and a pejorative term to refer to the group. It is short for "G (Gangster) You Not". 50 Cent has since registered the G-Unot trademark for himself which has in turn prevented The Game from using it anymore.^[22]

After the performance at Summer Jam, The Game responded with "300 Bars and Runnin'", an extended track aimed at G-Unit as well as members of Roc-A-Fella Records on the mixtape You Know What It Is Vol. 3. 50 Cent responded through his "Piggy Bank" music video, which features The Game as a Mr. Potato Head doll and also parodies other rivals.^[23] 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.

50 Cent's rebuttal was "Not Rich, Still Lyin'" where he mocks The Game.^[24] In addition, G-Unit started to respond on numerous mixtapes and new G-Unit member Spider Loc began insulting The Game in various songs. The Game responded with "240 Bars (Spider Joke)",^[24] a song mainly aimed at Spider Loc, but also addressing Tony Yayo and rap group M.O.P.,^[24] and on the song "The Funeral 100 Bars".

In October 2006, The Game extended a peace treaty to 50 Cent, which was not immediately replied to.^[25] However, a couple days later, on Power 106, he stated that the treaty was only offered for one day.^[26] On The Game's album, Doctor's Advocate, he claims that the feud is over on a few of the songs. The feud seemed to have gained steam after Tony Yayo allegedly slapped the fourteen year old son of Czar Entertainment CEO, Jimmy Rosemond. The Game responded with "Body Bags" on his mixtape, You Know What It Is Vol. 4.^[27] G-Unit have released a song named "We On Some @#!*% " which is aimed at Czar Entertainment as well as Cam'ron and Fat Joe.^[28] In June 2010 Game expressed that he would not object to a G-Unit reunion. After the G-Unit reunion idea circulated around the internet a Facebook group was launched to help encourage the G-Unit comeback.^[29]

Ja Rule[link]

Before signing with Interscope Records, 50 Cent had been in disputes with rapper Ja Rule and his label Murder Inc. Records. 50 Cent claimed that the feud began in 1999 after Ja Rule spotted him with a man who took his chain.^[3] However, Ja Rule claimed the conflict stemmed from a video shoot in Queens because 50 Cent did not like Ja Rule "getting so much love" from the neighborhood.^[30] A confrontation occurred in a New York studio where rapper Black Child, a Murder Inc. artist, stabbed 50 Cent, which resulted in him having three stitches. ^[31]

Since then, Black Child made a towards 50 Cent, Called "You the Wanksta". In the song, Black Child talks about shooting 50 Cent, stabbing him, and other things, "I got a lot of living to do before I die, and I ain't got time to waste, shoot this @#!*% in his face. How you call your self ferrari you dont ride like me in da hood every day ready to die like me." "50 you had a gun i had a knife, you didnt pop one shot i poked you and u called 911.".

Cadillac Tah can also be heard dissing 50 Cent, on "Snitch in Da Club".

The exchange of insult tracks released from both parties culminated into Ja Rule releasing Blood in My Eye, which was an album that mostly insulted 50 Cent. Ja Rule eventually tried to squash the feud with 50 Cent by using minister Louis Farrakhan in a televised interview. However, the attempt at peace lost credibility as the interview was scheduled a day before Blood in My Eye was released. As a result, most fans, along with 50 Cent, dismissed the interview as a blatant publicity stunt. Because of the ongoing feud between the two, 50 Cent's labelmates Eminem, Dr. Dre, Obie Trice, D12 and Busta Rhymes have also become involved and have also released tracks which insult Ja Rule.

Ja Rule later released R.U.L.E. with the successful single, "New York", featuring Jadakiss and Fat Joe in which Ja Rule took subliminal shots at 50 Cent. This single prompted 50 Cent to enter a feud with the two featured artists (see article on "Piggy Bank" for details).

Although it seemed that the feud was over, Ja Rule returned with a track entitled "21 Gunz".^[32] In response, Lloyd Banks and 50 Cent released the track "Return of Ja Fool" on Lloyd Banks' mixtape Mo Money in the Bank Pt. 4, Gang Green Season Starts Now.

In an interview with MTV, Ja Rule has 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].^[33]

Fat Joe[link]

G-Unit on the set of the "Rider Pt. 2" video, a diss track aimed at Fat Joe.

50 Cent pointed out that Fat Joe painted a target on himself for partnering up with Ja Rule in a song where Ja Rule insulted 50 Cent. 50 Cent recorded the track "Piggy Bank" in which he attacked Fat Joe. Fat Joe responded with a track entitled "My Fofo" and although he said that he would not respond, he made three more tracks, "Massacre of Fifty", "Victim", and "Whip Your Head". 50 Cent and Tony Yayo took more shots at him on "I Run NY". Even though things died down, at the 2005 MTV Video Music Awards, Fat Joe mentioned that all of the police presence in the venue was "courtesy of G-Unit" which related to his lyrical accusations that 50 Cent was a "snitch".^[34] 50 Cent and Tony Yayo retaliated on set later in the show at the end of their performance by shouting obscenities towards Fat Joe and Terror Squad, which were censored by MTV.^[34] Tony Yayo claimed Fat Joe ran from them at the VMAs. Also, Pistol Pete (a non-rapping member of Terror Squad) appeared on The Game's "Stop Snitchin, Stop Lyin" DVD and disrespected Tony Yayo, Chris Lighty (owner of Violator Records who had ties with 50 Cent^[35]), and James Cruz (50 Cent's manager) and claims he chased Tony Yayo near a jewelry store. Lloyd Banks, Spider Loc, and Young Buck have also been insulted by Fat Joe. In 2007, the feud was continued in interviews and by affiliates from both parties.^[36][37] The feud has begun once again in 2008 with songs and videos being released from both parties. 50 Cent also released a mixtape entitled Elephant In The Sand, which is a mock title of Fat Joe's album Elephant In The Room. The front and back covers contain photos of Fat Joe on a beach. This wasn't taken lightly by two of Fat Joe's closest brothers in MC Lyrical Master C and Grandmaster T, who had previously collaborated with 50 Cent on his hit record "Money in the Bank".^[38]

Cam'ron[link]

A feud between 50 Cent and Cam'ron began when 50 Cent was on Hot 97 giving an interview and Cam'ron called in.^[39] Cam’ron asked 50 Cent whether he had the power to stop records from being released on Koch Records and 50 Cent said that he does in some respects. As the conversation escalated into an argument, 50 Cent called Koch Records the "industry graveyard".^[39] Cam'ron pointed out that Jim Jones' newest album sold just as much as Lloyd Banks' album did, despite the fact that Dipset is on an independent label while G-Unit is on a major label. 50 Cent took offense to this and said that Lloyd Banks has more money than Lil Wayne and Jim Jones, which makes record sales irrelevant. Cam'ron became upset and rebutted 50 Cent's statements. Most notably, he brought up the poor record sales of the Mobb Deep album, Blood Money. Eventually the debate became so heated that the radio station was forced to end the call.^[39] On February 9, 2007, the video of 50 Cent's "Funeral Music" premiered on DJ Kay Slay's Myspace. The video attacked the leader of Dipset. This is not seen as an attack on other members of Dipset, as 50 Cent says "From now on, Jimmy's the boss of Dipset. And Juelz is the Capo. Cam is demoted to soldier. We like Jimmy better anyway". At the end of the video, there is a poster showing a fictional drawing of Cam'ron with a gun saying "50 Cent" on the burial, along with his date of death; being February 8 when the video was released. Cam'ron recently responded with a track called "Curtis" titled after 50 Cent's first name. Cam'ron doesn't state too much, other than claiming he enjoys 50 Cent's shoutouts to Dipset members Juelz Santana and Jim Jones, then goes on to discuss Santana's and Jim Jones' sales on their recent albums. 50 Cent and Young Buck made the song "Hold On" together with a video in which 50 Cent takes shots at Cam'ron. Cam'ron responded with "Curtis Pt.2", which he shot a video for.

Discography[link]

• Beg for Mercy (2003)
• T.O.S: Terminate on Sight (2008)

Awards[link]

• Vibe Awards
  • 2004 - Best Group - G-Unit

• AVN Awards
  • 2005 - Best Interactive DVD - Groupie Love
  • 2005 - Best Music - Groupie Love by Lloyd Banks

References[link]

External links[link]

Wikimedia Commons has media related to: G-Unit

• Official G-Unit site
• G-Unit at Allmusic
• G-Unity Foundation

50 Cent
50 Cent in 2009
Background information
Birth name	Curtis James Jackson III
Born	(1975-07-06) July 6, 1975 (age 36)
Origin	South Jamaica, Queens, New York City, New York, United States
Genres	Hip hop
Occupations	Rapper
Years active	1997–present
Labels	Aftermath, Shady, G-Unit
Associated acts	G-Unit, Dr. Dre, Eminem, Sha Money XL, DJ Whoo Kid
Website	50cent.com

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 eight times platinum by the RIAA.^[1]

Born in the South Jamaica of Queens, New York City, Jackson began drug dealing at the age of twelve during the 1980s crack epidemic.^[2] 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.^[3] Billboard magazine also ranked him as the sixth best and most successful Hot 100 Artist of the 2000s^[4] and as the number one rap artist of the 2000s.^[5] Billboard ranked his album Get Rich or Die Tryin' as the twelfth best album of the 2000s^[6] and his album The Massacre as the 37th best album of the 2000s.^[7] As of September 2011, 50 Cent is working on his fifth studio album, which is set to be released in 2012.^[8]

Early life[link]

Curtis Jackson III grew up in South Jamaica, a poverty-stricken urban neighborhood in Queens, 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 eight, when she was killed in 1983. Twenty-seven years old 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.^[9][10]

After her death, Jackson moved into his grandparents' house with his eight aunts and uncles.^[11][12][13] 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".^[14]

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.^[15] 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".^[16] At the age of twelve, Jackson began dealing narcotics when his grandparents thought he was at after-school programs.^[17] 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.'"^[14]

Following time spent in a correctional boot camp, Jackson adopted the nickname "50 Cent" as a metaphor for "change".^[18] 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".^[19]

Music career[link]

1996–99: Early career[link]

Jackson started rapping in a friend's basement where he used turntables to record over instrumentals.^[20] 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.^[21][22] 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.^[16] Jay produced Jackson's first album; however, it was never released.^[9]

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.^[10] Eighteen were included on his unofficially released album, Power of the Dollar in 2000.^[23] He also started the now-defunct Hollow Point Entertainment with former G-Unit affiliate Bang 'Em Smurf.^[24][25]

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.^[18][26] 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".^[18] Rappers Jay-Z, Kurupt, Sticky Fingaz, Big Pun, DMX, Wyclef Jean and the Wu-Tang Clan replied to the song^[26] and Nas, who received the track positively, invited Jackson to travel on a promotional tour for his Nastradamus album.^[13] 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.^[27]

2000–01: Shooting[link]

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.^[10] 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).^[9][14][28] The face wound resulted in a swollen tongue, the loss of a wisdom tooth, and a small slur in his voice.^[13][14][29] 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.^[30]

Baum was also Mike Tyson's close friend and bodyguard.^[31]

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.'"^[14] 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".^[11] 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.^[9][14][32]

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.^[33][34] 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."^[35] 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.^[23]

2002–09: Rise to fame[link]

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.^[27] Impressed with the album, Eminem invited Jackson to fly to Los Angeles, where he was introduced to Dr. Dre.^[9][21][27] After signing a $1 million record deal,^[21] Jackson released the mixtape, No Mercy, No Fear. It featured one new track, "Wanksta", which was put on Eminem's 8 Mile soundtrack.^[23] 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".^[36] 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".^[37]

It debuted at number one on the Billboard 200, selling 872,000 copies in the first four days.^[38] The lead single, "In da Club", which The Source noted for its "blaring horns, funky organs, guitar riffs and sparse hand claps",^[39] broke a Billboard record as the most listened-to song in radio history within a week.^[40]

Interscope granted Jackson his own label, G-Unit Records in 2003.^[41] 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^[38]- and peaked at number one on the Billboard 200 for six weeks.^[42]

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".^[43] 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".^[44]

From left: With Olivia, Lloyd Banks, and Young Buck in Bangkok, Thailand, February 2006

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.^[45][46] 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.^[47] In September 2007, he released his third album Curtis, which was inspired by his life before Get Rich or Die Tryin'.^[48] It debuted at number two on the Billboard 200, selling 691,000 units in the first week,^[49] 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^[50] for the Soundkillers' Phoenix^[51] 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.^[52]

2010–present[link]

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".^[53] 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.^[54]

50 Cent revealed that he wanted his new album to have the same "aggression" as his debut record, Get Rich or Die Tryin'.^[55][56]

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^[8] and it has also been confirmed that "Black Magic" will not be the album's title.^[8] 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.^[57] Cardiak, who produced Lloyd Banks' “Start It Up”, also confirmed that he had produced a song for the upcoming album.^[58]

DJ Whoo Kid confirmed in an interview that 50 Cent was filming a new movie with Robert DeNiro in New Orleans.^[59]

50 Cent released the first song from his fifth studio album, titled "Outlaw", to the Internet on June 16, 2011.^[60]

The single was produced by Cardiak.

It was released to iTunes on July 19, 2011,^[61] although 50 Cent confirmed through his Twitter account that the song was not the album's first single.^[62]

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."^[63]

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.^[8]

50 Cent later suggested that his album will be releasing in November 2011, along with his headphone line SMS by 50.^[8]

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."^[64]

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.^[65]

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.^[66] However, the music video never surfaced.^[67]

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."^[68]

In September 2011, 50 Cent released a song titled "Street King Energy Track #7" in attempt to promote his charitable energy drink Street King.^[69]

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.^[70][71]

On October 26, 2011, 50 Cent announced that his fifth studio album will be released in December 2011.^[72] However, the album was delayed, and it was announced that the album will now be released on July 2, 2012.^[73]

Other ventures[link]

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.^[74][75] 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.