|
Posted by Robert
Rap News Network
9/11/2003 11:43:55 PM
Tags and topics realted to this article include 50 Cent.
The Source Magazine has 50 Cent on thver for the latest issue... article is below:
The real 50 Cent was from the Fort Greene projects in Brooklyn. He ran with the Supreme Magnetics Crew back in the mid '80's and was said to have robbed rappers at their own shows. He rockecd custom-made, bulletproof clothign by Dapper Dan and is picture on Eric B & Rakim's "Paid in Full" album cover. But his life was cut short when he was shot and kliled by three gunmen in the elevator of his own building.
To today's rap fans, teh story sounds familiar, probably becasue years later, a young aspiring rapper out of South Jamaica Queens who had no relation or ties to the Boroklyn criminal, will adopt his name and image. "I took the name when he passed," the latter-day 50 told a hip-hop website. "I took somebody taht i thought wouldn't be remembered and made the name into something else." Curtis Jackosn's first major label backed single "How to Rob" released in 1999 worked like a charm. In order to get on, 50 brought beef to everybody.
"How to rob" first and foremost was a humorous record. it was a record that was very lighthearted but a lot of peopel got rubbed the wrong way by it," says Rich Nice, a part of the Trackmasters when they produced the record. Poke of Trackmasters, who initially signed 50 to a record deal through Columbia, adds, "He came from left field. A brand-new artist poppin **** to every single artist adnd going off on them..People was taking it like "Yo who this guy think he is?" Though many artist stook offesne back then, most seem to have let it go, taking it to be exactly what it was - a joke.
Jackson's actual criminal record is as follows: in june of 1994, he was arrestd on felony drug charges, three weeks later he was arrested again on another drug charge. he pleaded out to both cases. You might have heard 50 refer to doing a "three to nine" in his rhymes, but because it was his first offense, Boo-Boo as he was nicknamed back then actually only spent seven months in a "shock incarceration" bootcamp. Shock programs can only be given to nonviolent offenders and are said to discipline inmantes through humiliation, forcing them to perform duties such as scrubbing bathroom rfloorw tih a toothbrush. in January 2001 Jackson's parole term ended. he thanks his parole officer in the album credits to "GRDT".
Most real life criminals would steer clear of discussing their illegal activity on records because there is no statue of limitations for conspiracy or murder, meaning the evidence can be used against you at any time (50 Cent has even stated that "no real murderer is proud to be that"_) But his record labels' marketinga nd publicity department would have you believe otherwise. On "Many Men" 50 implies that the guy who shot him nine times was killed in retaliation. "In the Bible it says what goes around comes around / Homo(cide) shot me three weeks later he got shot down / Now it's clear that I'm here for a real reason / Cause he got hit like I got hit but he ain't ****in' Breathin". In Rolling Stone's April 3 cover story on 50 Cent, the writer Toure, clearly fascinated with 50's seemingly hardcore character, makes sure to emphasize that the alleged shooter was murdered a few weeks after shooting 50 cent, as if to ad more validity to 50's gangsta image. But there has been no proof to support 50's claims that the aforementioned deceased is actually teh same person who shot him.
Many of 50 Cent's old friends and associates don't have a lot of money, so they remember their encounters with him as if it were yesterday. A little overa year ago, before he was signed to Eminem's Shady records, 50 Cent visited the Source to tell his sotry. As he sat down and aired out his frustarations about the industry, his man Smurf from Queens, known in the hood as the GUnit general, sat to his far right. It's a year later and Smurf's feelings about his old friend have changed. "I was in the office at the Source when this ***** was nothing. I'm right there, two guns on me. Now, this ***** done blew up, he sittin on seven million and i gotta ask my man to let me hold money for some Pampers. I been running behind this ***** for two years. My son's birthday s July 4th he's my son's godfater. I was the underboss for him. That **** hurt my heart, kid."
Since blowing up, Curtis Jackson has turned his back on many peopel in exchange for newfound fame and fortune. 50 may remember to thank Interscope's Jimmy Iovine and Eminem when accepting his BET awards, but 50 has forgotten about some old friends. Smurf continues "I was holding everything down for that man, protecting him, by his side, firearms, even vests. But i got caught up in a little shootout in the hood. My bail was $75k he couldn't even come get me. He's telling me i'm on my own cause it ain't have nothing to do with him. This ***** ****ted on me like **** it, I'm rich, **** everybody else. He can't come back to the hood. *****s don't respect that. Smurf quits. **** G Unit. Bang Em Smurf wants out. it's a wrap."
By now, everyone knows that the late Jam Master Jay was the first to sign 50 Cent to his JMJ records back in 1995. 50 first appeared on ONyx's "Shut em down" "He was taught by the best *****s. Jammaster Jay, then he got taught by trackmasters, they probably taught him nhow to make commercial records. Then he went to Dr Dre and Eminem," says Fredro Starr. "So 50 is like an ill-trained soldier in the rap game."
True enough, Curtis Jcakson had talent. But he always did. By the time he recorded "GRDT" he had learned how to perfectly craft songs, handpick the best beats, and pimp the industry. Still, it was the story behind 50 that created the street buzz. It was the controversy between him and murder inc, the fight with Ja Rule, the stabbing at the Hit Factory, and getting shot up in that car in Queens that gave 50 Cnt his edge. And it was the right marketing team that made him a household name. 50 Cent was the answer to Biggie's quesiton "What's Beef?" And Interscope and Shady records made sure you knew it. To this day, however, teh story about what really happened has too many holes in it.
"Bottom line about homeboy: He is a snitch and a good actor." Says Murder Inc's Black Child who was at the scene of the infamous Hit Factory stabbing. "he got the public fooled right now, straight up and down. THey see the guns in the video and they think it's real, but at any time someobdy could snitch. That means everything they talking about they don't really stand up for, and a whole lot of it is just entertainment. He's a good entertainer, i'l leave it at that. he's a good actor, he's playing the role. 200% gangsta, a half a man."
50 Cent has continuously denied the order of protection he is said to have gotten against Black Child, Irv Gotti, and his brother Chris Lorenzo, even though the document has been released for public consumption. 50 had claimed the order of protection was a fraud, but he is lying. It is real, and it was obtaind and verified in the Feb 03 issue of the source. Still, many of 50's loyal fans refused to believe it. The QD3-produced DVD "Beef" also verifies the document.
Being calld a snitch is something 50 has dealt with in the music industry since news of the order of protection surfaced. But on th streets, when 50 recorded "Ghetto Quran" for his first LP, "Power of th eDollar" some raised their eyebrows. 50 name-dropped NY gangstas and drug legends in a way that blatantly disrespects the code of the streets. To many, what he did is comparable to identifying these guys to law enforcement. Last Year, the Nw York Daily News printed a full-page article with his lyrics and pictures of each of the men he names in the song. An FBI raid and investigation of Murder Inc's offices followd shortly thereafter.
50 Cent, most of the rappers who were dissed on "How to Rob" have stuck to him like the vest on his chest - which if you'll notice, he always straps on top of his clothing - hoping to benefit financially from a collaboration or affiliation with 50. Being the latest rap phenomenon and breaking sales records for debut rappers has earned him a few new allegiances. But as 50 Cent reaches new heights of success, there is a growing trail of hip-hop industry heavyweights who have collaborated with him only to later find themselves played by him in the public light.
This past summer 50 Cent was invited to be a part of the Roc the Mic tour. The tour's owner, Jay-Z was once the target of 50's robbing spree, but still put their history to the side for the biggest tour in recent hip-hop history. Toward the end of Jay's run, howver, 50 Cent went onstage cutting into Jay''s time and making comments about being the real reason people came to see the show. Fans started to wonder whether there was still friction between two of the game's top rappers. "I think most peorple came to see 50, but was very shocked when they left about how hot my set was and how hard i worked to put together a real show." said Jay-Z, when questioned whether there was any drama, he responded "50 is very smart he knew if he played the beef card, ti would take people's minds away from judging our shows to asking these questions."
When his Jay-Z stage disses became yesterday's news, 50 continued to utilize drama to sell his show. In St. Louis, he jacked Chingy's "Right Thurr" beat telling the crowd in CHingy's hometown that Chingy was good, but he was better. Chingy wasn't aware beforehand that 50 would call him out, so he responded on stage with, "What's this rumor about 50 jackin' my beat and trying to do my songs over when he cant do m like I do em". Chingy says there's no controversy and claims they're both doing it to create hype.
In the August 10th edition of Billboard, 50 mentison Snoop when discussing his own lyrical content on "21 Questions" He does so in an unfavorable light, saying fans were surprised he could make a record like that because rappers in the past with similar lyrical content would make records that say "My hoe's a trick" like Snoop Dogg. 50 Cent also went on record dsicussing the "Magic Stick" song that he recorded with Lil' Kim for her album. "She held onto it so long that i missed the deadline for my album. It came out great so I let them use it." though the song was Number 1 added on radio it was never released as a single and left many wondering why LIl' Kim didn't shoot a video or even perform the song with 50 (especially at the BET Awards, where 50 left before Kim took the stage). 50 also says he originally wanted Trina on the record. "When it wasn't done exactly the way i felt like the record should be put together, I wasn't interested in having Trina on the record anymore." When it comes to his busness dealings, the rapper is an open book, but that attitude could potentially back fire when his album is not at the top of the charts.
Recent interviews have brought out 50's disregard for anyone, even his allies. While many might credit Eminem with 50's phenomenal sales numbers, 50 would rather credit Dr. Dre. While speaking of the dcision to release "in Da Club" as the first single, 50 told Billboard that Dre was responsible, but tha tEminem had other suggestions for a single. 50 discretedited Eminem's musical taste saying "I said, "Dre which one did you like man?" He said In da Club and Eminem was saying "Well we like this one and Part two on that one" and I said "Dre said, In da Club."
According to manager Chris Lighty,k 50 Cent and Violator have been increasingly trying to distance themselves from Eminem. Some industry execs speculate that 50 is not getting paid what he should be. Others feel that Em will eventually break away from 50. "Through music, I don't think theyre are any friends for Eminem." says Royce da 59, a former friend and rhyme partner of Slim Shady.
Though the media has focused in on 50's rivalry with Murder Inc and Ja Rule, history proves he will diss anyone and everyone in interviews, onstage and on record. If it will keep his name out there. But while the industry beefs are still warm, it's the real drama on the streets that 50 Cent and his G Unit need to wrry about, a source close to 50's head security says the rapper pays his armed security guardsa total of $750 daily to hold him down. That Amounts to $4500 a day that even 50 Cent with his newfound riches probably can't afford yet. Someone has to pay this bill to ensure his safety, and there is a corporate entity that is gladly picking up the tab, though it is likely it will all be recouped and withdrawm from Curtis Jackson's royalty earnings.
The invited beefs that have stemmed from both 50's lyrics and interviews have been profitable, so the Shady Records staff doesn't seem to have a problem with any of it just yet. But much has changed in this past year and Eminem is not used ot having th ekind of beef that 50 has brought his way. But it paid off. Still, when 50's manager Chris Lighty and his employees have to walk around with bulletproof vests themselves as a result of their business dealings with an artist, it makes you wonder if all the drama is worth it.
Though many artists use a gangsta persona to sell records, 50's background helps market this gimmick. In "Keeping it Unreal" from the Village Voice, Ta-Nehisi Coates writes "The sobering fact is that the streets as 50 presents the, brimming with shootouts and crack fiends, do not exist. Of course drugs are still a plague on America's house, and America's gun vilence is a black mark on the developed world, but millenial black America is hardly the wild west scene it was during gangsta rap's prime." As Coates points out, it doesn't matter because the record label is not concerned with reality. It all translated into dollar signs for th epowers that be. And with the industry and corporate funds behind him, 50 cent is becoming Curtis Jackson's reality. Indeed, he did get rich. But in the process, he lost all respect trying.
Find out more about 50 Cent. Other items you may find on 50 Cent include updates, news, multimedia, chat, links and more. Click here...
|
