Pure-blooded gangster 50 Cent

If R&B focuses on melody, then HIP-HOP focuses on "storytelling." Whoever’s story is ruthless and true enough can become the darling of the rap industry.

Who is the most popular in the rap industry today? In terms of influence, of course he offends a lot of people every time he releases a disc. He made an autobiographical movie and established his own record company. But in terms of popularity, I'm afraid he can't compare to Eminem, who also comes from 50 Cent, a thoroughbred street gangster. In 2003, 50 Cent came out with his "Get Rich Or Die Tryin'" (Get Rich Or Die Tryin'). The album tells the story of the cruelty, hardship, fear and heart-wrenching depression of the black life at the bottom. It slaps the increasingly mediocre Hip-Hop world in the face and lets everyone who listens to hip-Hop or thinks they are playing hip-hop know what true hip-hop originates from black people.

Background, street gangster

50 Cent was born Curtis Jackson in 1976 in the Queens neighborhood of New York. Like many black children born in the slums, 50 Cent has been exposed to words such as robbery, rape, drug trafficking, and prostitution since childhood. He had barely met his biological father, and his mother made a living by selling drugs. When he was 8 years old, he was found dead on the street. The cause of death is unknown. From then on, 50 Cent was raised by his grandparents. A few years later, 50 Cent inherited his mother's business and sold cocaine on the streets without telling his grandparents. He got his first taste of jail in high school - supposedly to keep his grandmother from finding out he was dealing drugs, he hid cocaine in his sneakers, and one day he wore the wrong shoes and was detected by the school. The device checked out. From there, his underground drug dealing activities turned public, and he told his grandmother point-blank, "I'm a drug dealer."

Although 50 Cent's black income can reach 5,000 US dollars a day, he feels depressed about this chaotic life. That's when he discovered a way to escape this state - rapping. 50 Cent showed off his talents at some street parties and made a small fortune. In 1997, after the birth of his son Marquis, 50 Cent began to take rap seriously as his career.

New born calf, not afraid of power

The first talent that 50 Cent scored was Jam Master Jay, a member of Run-D.M.C. He gave 50 Cent a tape full of rhythm and asked 50 Cent to rap to the rhythm. 50 Cent's performance left a deep impression on Jay, and he later signed him to his company JMJ. "Jay taught me what kind of lyrics will be popular; Jay taught me how to find creative inspiration; Jay also taught me how to make records. He was the one who put me on the right track." 50 Cent later recalled in an interview road.

Jam Master Jay has always been 50 Cent's mentor and helpful friend. Even when 50 Cent left JMJ due to unsatisfactory development and other reasons, Jay always gave him advice and help.

With the introduction of Trackmasters, 50 Cent signed with the powerful Columbia Records in 1999. After being locked in a recording studio in New York for two and a half weeks, 50 Cent delivered 36 songs, including "Power Of A Dollar," considered a rap classic by Blaze magazine. In another song "How to Rob", 50 Cent made fun of big names in his industry such as Jay-Z, Big Pun, Sticky Fingaz, etc., which caused quite a stir among fans. But at the same time, he also made some enemies, such as Ja Rule, who subsequently started several rounds of verbal wars with him.

Survived the catastrophe and went underground

If 50 Cent starts to have smooth sailing from now on, it is possible that the rap world will just have another little star who loves to shout.

The following series of events not only made 50 Cent's black background more intense, but also added a magical color to his rap journey.

In May 2000, 50 Cent was shot outside his grandmother's house. Nine 9mm bullets whizzed towards him, one piercing his face and one hitting his hand. The other seven were shot on the arms and legs. Fortunately, he survived and was hospitalized for only 13 days, but he spent nearly five months recovering at home. One of the bullets fired into his face removed a layer of his gums and left a cavity in two rows of teeth, slightly altering his voice.

After the shooting, 50 Cent became a hot potato. Columbia rushed to get rid of this troublesome figure, and the upcoming "The Power of a Dollar" was also thrown into the ice cave.

50 Cent did not recover from this. He formed G-Unit with a group of friends and began the life of an underground band. With the help of his new partner Sha Money XL, 50 Cent released an independent album "Guess Who's Back" at the end of 2001. Some of the album's contents are covers of famous rap songs (such as "Be Here" by Raphael Saadiq, "Ya'll Been Warned" by Wu-Tang Clan), some are mocking rap stars at the time (mainly Ja Rule), and several songs are 50 Cent talks about being shot. These things quickly spread on the streets of New York, and Jay-Z even praised: "50 Cent is the future (of HIP-HOP)."

Finally, you will meet a noble person, and Eminem will help you

"50 Cent is my favorite rapper right now." These words from Eminem, the most famous white MC, can be said to have changed his life. Eminem and his mentor, rap master Dr. Dre, both admire 50 Cent and are confident in his potential to become the next popular rap star. The two cordially invited 50 Cent to join their Shady/Aftermath company. Facing this dream lineup, 50 Cent certainly grasped this once-in-a-lifetime opportunity, for which he also received a $1 million signing bonus.

With the help of this noble person, 50 Cent’s development will naturally be smooth sailing. In the few months after signing the contract, 50 Cent prepared the album "Money or Life" with the help of Eminem and Dr. Dre. The two superstars each also supervised some of the tracks in the album, making it already quite popular. The highly anticipated album is even more compelling. Before the album was completed, Eminem spared no effort to support 50 Cent and put his "Wanksta" on the soundtrack of the movie "8 Mile" starring him. The single became a huge success after it was released at the end of 2002. It ranked No. 13 on the Billboard; and then the first single "In Da Club" from the album "Money or Life" produced by Dr. Dre rushed to the top of the charts.

On February 6, 2003, Interscope (the parent company of Shady/Aftermath) began to officially release the "Money or Life" album. In just 5 days, the album sold 872,000 copies, making it the fastest-selling debut album since the sales statistics system was established in May 1991.

When 50 Cent comes out, who will compete with him?

In 2003, the American music scene was dominated by 50 Cent. His "Money Not Life" was the highest-selling album of the year. It sold 6.5 million copies in the United States alone, far ahead of all other albums. artist. Although 50 Cent lost the hit to the alternative rock group Evanescence at the 2004 Grammy Awards, 50 Cent has remained in the limelight at some awards ceremonies that are voted by fans or dominated by record sales, such as the MTV Awards. Received recognition from multiple awards.

Now that we have entered 2005, 50 Cent has finally accumulated enough points to start scolding.

The album, titled "The Massacre," caused a massacre of words before its release, and a collective massacre of fans' wallets after its release. In the face of 50 Cent's shining "butcher's knife", Jennifer Lopez, the Latin beauty who has always been famous, can only be the vase next to the boss, second in line. The album sold 1.14 million copies in four days and topped the Billboard charts for six consecutive weeks. In less than two months, sales exceeded the 3 million mark. It’s really like, “When 50 Cent comes out, who can compete with him?” No wonder he has made harsh words before. , raving that "this album will kill them to pieces".

Some keywords of 50 Cent

50 Cent

The reason why he got such a bad name is because 50 Cent hopes that his life can be easy to follow. change; it was also the name of a Queens drug dealer.

Ruffian Eminem

Speaking of 50 Cent’s friends, of course we have to mention Ruffian Eminem. The encounter between these two people can be said to have changed the history of HIP-HOP. Without Eminem, 50 Cent would have to struggle for at least another N years. What does 50 Cent think of this great benefactor?

“Eminem is an annoying genius,” 50 Cent said, laughing. “Every time we go into the studio, he has a new idea, and I just say, ‘Oh, man, I have a new idea too. ', Eminem is really a rapper among rappers, he listens to everything - every word, every slang, even the slightest change in your tone."

He can hear it outside the studio. How did the two of them get along? 50 Cent said that because their schedules are very tight, they cannot go out often. The two often exchange parenting experiences together (50 Cent has an 8-year-old son, Marquis, and Eminem has a 10-year-old daughter, Hailey. Both are single fathers), and will also discuss their enemies in the hip-hop circle.

Enemies

The relationship between Ja Rule and 50 Cent can be traced back to an accident in which Ja Rule was robbed in a club in Queens. The robber was a man who lived near 50 Cent’s home. An acquaintance, Ja Rule believes 50 Cent is behind it. Later, 50 Cent was shot at Hit Factory and it was said that Ja Rule had his men execute it. Now Ja Rule and his record company "Murder" and the entire Shady company are taking it on. Records released by the two companies often include songs that criticize each other.

50 Cent’s comment on this nemesis is “He is also very popular. The reason he is jealous of me is that my records can sell well, but he can’t. People are not interested in his story. Day was on TV with Mary J. Blige."

Shooting

In addition to the nine-bullet shooting case in 2000 that involved himself, 50 Cent also had another famous shooting case that was also related to him. That was October 30, 2002, when his mentor Jam Master Jay was shot in a recording studio in Queens and died on the spot. The police suspected that 50 Cent was related to this incident and took him back to investigate for several days. Ironically, this put 50 Cent on the front page of the entertainment section. This was the first time he received mainstream media attention, and it also provided free publicity for his upcoming release of "Money, Not Life."

Bulletproof vest

Black rap relies on lip service, which naturally offends many people. After being robbed in 2000, 50 Cent finally realized this. He will always take three bodyguards with him when he goes out now. This is not enough. He also wears a body armor very carefully in case of accidents. It is said that he also bought one for his son, which is not only bulletproof but also bombproof.

G-Unit

G-Unit is the abbreviation of Guerrilla Unit, which means "guerrilla alliance". G-Unit is composed of four good friends with similar interests, namely 50 Cent, Lloyd Banks, Tony Yayo and Young Buck.

G-Unit follows an East Coast rap style. It released an album "Beg for Mercy" in November 2003, which peaked at No. 2 on Billboard and has sold over 2 million copies. The success of this album led the famous "Reebok" company to release a running shoe named G-Unit.

Upstart

50 Cent has never concealed his desire for success and money, from the lingering copper sound in the album intro to the emotionless singing in "P.I.M.P" "...I don't know what rumors you heard about me, but don't even think about getting a penny from me..." This is how the image of a little person who "takes money rather than his life" was established. Perhaps people have too strong an impression of him coming from a slum, but his current success is undoubtedly a huge contrast in the eyes of the world. "Upstart" is one of the most commonly used terms when the media mentions him.

Fortunately, 50 Cent has not forgotten his roots because of his sudden wealth. In an interview, he once said: "I will never give up my street character. Without this background, I would never be able to Achieve today's success. ... If my true colors are gone, and there is no point for me to continue in the music industry, maybe one day fans will say, '50 Cent has no meaning at all, let's listen to other people's songs.' Then I will disappear immediately.

”

Album: "The Massacre (DVDA)"

Singer: 50 Cent

Language: English

Company: Aftermath

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Date: March 3, 2005

Album: "The Massacre"

Singer: 50 Cent

Language: English

Company: Aftermath

Date: March 3, 2005

Album: "Unit Radio 10"

Singer: 50 Cent

Language: English

Company: Guangzhou Audiovisual

Date: January 2005

Album: "Candy Shop [Single]"

Singer: 50 Cent

Language: English

Company: Universalpolygram

Date: 2005.04.00

Album: " Mixtape Legend》

Singer: 50 Cent

Language: English

Company: TingShow.Com

Date: February 2004< /p>

Album: "24 Shots"

Singer: 50 Cent

Language: English

Company: TingShow.Com

< p>Date: August 18, 2003

Album: "Get Rich or Die Tryin'"

Singer: 50 Cent

Language: English

p>

Company: Interscope Records

Date: February 2003

Album: Gods Plan [50 Cent / G-Unit] Singer: 50 Cent

< p>Language: English

Company: TingShow.Com

Date: November 2002

Album: "Guess Whos Back"

Company: Unknown

Date: 2002

Album: "50 Cent Is the Future"

Singer: 50 Cent

Language : English

Company: TingShow.Com

Date: 2001

Album: "Power Of The Dollar"

Singer: 50 Cent

Language: English

Company: TingShow.Com

Date: 2000

Jay-Z:

< p>Jay-Z has quickly become the commander-in-chief of rap on the entire East Coast since his debut in 1996. He is not only one of the top rappers but also one of the most outstanding music producers, with a unique reputation in the pop music industry. Very high status. In addition, the Roc-A-Fella record company run by Jay-Z is also one of the labels with the most outstanding commercial performance in the entire black music market, and has a very important influence on the entire rap music market. Each of Jay-Z's albums has sold more than platinum. After entering the new century, with the continuous new achievements in music and the increase in musical influence, Jay-Z's tentacles have gradually shifted from rap music itself to In terms of other music, such as increasing cooperation with Southern rap and West Coast rap outside the East Coast and the production of R&B music, it has made considerable contributions to promoting rap music and pop music as a whole.

Jay-Z, formerly known as Shawn Carter, also known as Sean Carter, was born on December 4, 1970 in Brooklyn, New York, USA. Like other rap stars born here, Shawn Carter's father left when he was very young. He and his mother Gloria Carter, this difficult time is what Shawn Carter remembers most. The young Shawn Carter supported his and his mother's life alone, and soon he became an ordinary black rapper on the street. At first, he gave himself a name derived from jazz, "Jazzy", which was soon shortened to Jay-Z. Being a rapper does not make enough money. In order to survive, Jay-Z must also engage in some unsightly activities like other young people there, but more often than not, Jay-Z still relies on some small recording studios. Record some tapes yourself and sell them to make money. After Jay-Z's rap talent gradually became known to people nearby, Jay-Z began to work part-time with some small local rap groups and some singers. Here he had the opportunity to be exposed to rap music production and other work, and these The recording industry also aroused Jay-Z's ambitions. Jay-Z did not sign with a major record company like other singers. Instead, he founded Roc-A- with two friends, Damon Dash and Kareem "Biggs" Burke. Fella Records, he attached his record company to Def Jam (then called Priority Records) and began producing and releasing music albums. In 1996, Jay-Z recorded and released his first solo album, which was also the first album for Roc-A-Fella Records, "Reasonable Doubt". This album was released during the most brutal period of the rap music war between the East and West coasts. The gangsta rap album is very surprising, with many singles becoming the top of the charts. Now it is recognized as Jay-Z's most outstanding album in the last century, and it has also become a classic of gangsta rap albums. The initial success of "Reasonable Doubt" also made a good start for Jay-Z's next album and the development of Roc-A-Fella Records. In 1997, Jay-Z's second album "In My Lifetime, Vol. 1" was released. In this album, the business-savvy Jay-Z aimed to attract more listeners and expand his popularity and the influence of the record company. The album's music style has changed from extreme gangster rap to pop rap that is more acceptable to all audiences. At the same time, the album has invited many big-name singers including Sean "Puffy" Combs to help out. These measures have achieved remarkable results. Not only has multiple singles hit the charts, but the sales of this album also quickly surpassed "Reasonable Doubt" and entered the top three of the Billboard 200. Jay-Z has become a first-class artist. rap star. On September 29, 1998, Jay-Z's third solo album "Vol. 2: Hard Knock Life" was officially released. Nearly half of the 14 singles in this pure pop music album became chart hits, of which Some have now become Jay-Z's iconic works, such as "Hard Knock Life (Ghetto Anthem)", with which Jay-Z further expanded his territory. At the same time, this album also became a Billboard hit after its release. 200 chart, this is also Jay-Z's first number one album. Jay-Z, who has completely transformed into a popular rapper, won his only personal success so far at the 41st Grammy Awards in 1998. With a Grammy trophy and the album "Vol. 2: Hard Knock Life" winning the Best Rap Album of the Year award, Jay-Z has become the top rap star recognized by all aspects.

In 1999, Jay-Z released his fourth solo album. This album is "Vol. 3: Life and Times of S. Carter" which still tells his own story. At this time, Jay-Z has generally used the method of co-singing with other singers to perform songs. Almost every song in this album is sung by Jay-Z and other singers. It is also commercially successful. Still maintaining its own glory, this large-scale cooperation with other singers has also made Roc-A-Fella Records gradually become an important part of the rap industry. In 2000, Jay-Z released his fifth solo album "Dynasty Roc la Familia". In addition to the record itself still maintaining high commercial results, the Roc-A-Fella record company, which had already become famous in the industry, began to work on this album. The album gradually introduces some newcomers from his company to sing songs with Jay-Z. Perhaps it is because there is a lack of big-name singers to join the album, so there has been some decline in sales than before. However, with this album, Jay-Z began to cooperate with some super music producers, such as the famous Neptunes and Kayne West. This also paved the way for Jay-Z's development as a producer to a certain extent. Promoting effect. On September 18, 2001, Jay-Z's best album in the new century, "The Blueprint", was officially released. This album was somewhat surprising in that it did not invite big-name stars to participate in the singing, but only sang "Renagade" with Eminem. ", this album has also become Jay-Z's most personal work since his debut album "Reasonable Doubt", and is therefore considered Jay-Z's most classic album since "Reasonable Doubt". The huge sales and influence, as well as the many excellent singles in the album, made this album more powerful to consolidate Jay-Z's position in the rap music world. Jay-Z, together with Sean "Puffy" Combs and others, became A representative figure in the rap industry.

But some of the singles in this album caused some trouble. Jay-Z used some of the singles to satirize other singers during previous concerts, which caused a protracted war of words, and This continued long after the album was released. But after that, Jay-Z began to collaborate with other singers. He first collaborated with the Roots and released MTV's unplugged live album "Unplugged" later in 2001. He also collaborated with another rap star R . Kelly co-released the album "Best of Both Worlds" in 2002. In 2002, Jay-Z released a double CD album "The Blueprint? The Gift & the Curse" with other stars, and a single CD version of the album "Blueprint 2.1" was released in the first half of 2003. Although these two albums The sequel to 2001's "The Blueprint" was still a commercial success and still included a large number of stars, but in the eyes of fans and critics they did not reach the heights of "The Blueprint". On November 14, 2003, Jay-Z released his tenth album "The Black Album", which was billed as his last album. Do you believe that this album is the last solo album of Jay-Z's music career? But this is indeed what was said when promoting the record, but no matter what, such a gimmick allowed the album to sell 463,000 copies in just four days after its release, becoming Jay-Z's sixth number one album. This sales volume is even higher than that of his classic album "The Blueprint" in September 2001, but for a rapper like Jay-Z, he will still sell such albums even without such publicity. The results are out. If this is really Jay-Z's last album, then there will be no regrets for the fans, because this is indeed a very good album.

In this album, Jay-Z did not invite any other singers to collaborate with him. Therefore, from the perspective of album production, this album can even reflect Jay-Z's personal style even more than "The Blueprint". Although it does not have a chorus of big-name singers, it does have a super luxurious production lineup. The producers of the single are famous gold medal producers such as Timbaland, Eminem, The Neptunes, Kanye West, and Just Blaze. In terms of music, the entire album creates a farewell atmosphere. "December 4th" is a song dedicated to his mother by Jay-Z. Taking this affectionate single as the first single of the album will inevitably make people feel sad. By association, this may indeed be Jay-Z's farewell album, and what's even more impressive is that in "Moment of Clarity", Jay-Z actually recalled his father and said at the end of the single The idea of ??forgiving his deceased father is enough to make people fall into the farewell atmosphere of this album. It is worth mentioning that the producer and mixer of "Moment of Clarity" had a similar experience with Jay-Z. Eminem. The name of the last song on the entire album is "My 1st Song". Seeing him will make people inexplicably feel sad about parting. This album may not be Jay-Z's most classic album, but it is definitely among the top three. Using this album as Jay-Z's final masterpiece is enough to thank the fans, but probably the vast majority of fans are waiting for Jay-Z's final album. -Z's encore.