Curtis “50 Cent” Jackson turns 50 years old today, July 6, 2025 — a milestone as epic as his rise from Queens hustler to global hip‑hop icon. Here’s a deep dive into his extraordinary career path and what makes this 50th birthday so symbolic.

Milestone Birthday

• Born July 6, 1975 in South Jamaica, Queens, New York, Curtis Jackson marks his 50th birthday today

• Fans and pop-culture outlets have noticed the coincidence that 50 Cent is turning the same age as his stage name — truly a “50 turns 50” moment.

Career Timeline

Early Life & Beginnings (1980s–1999)

• Grew up amid hardship after his mother died in a fire when he was eight; started dealing drugs as a teen and boxed in Junior Olympics.

• Mentored by Jam Master Jay in ‘97, sharpening songwriting skills. Secured a deal with Columbia in 1999 to record Power of the Dollar — though the album was shelved after his 2000 shooting.

Mixtape Breakthrough & Major Label Debut (2002–2003)

• Dropped Guess Who’s Back? in 2002, gaining Eminem and Dr. Dre’s attention, which led to a $1 million deal with Shady/Aftermath/Interscope

• Debuted Get Rich or Die Tryin’ in February 2003, supported by the explosive hit “In da Club,” which topped the Billboard Hot 100 for nine weeks and became one of the most heard songs ever on US radio.
  

  Commercial Peak & G‑Unit Era (2005–2007)

  • Followed up with The Massacre (2005), another multi-platinum success.

  • In 2007, released Curtis, famously pitting its sales against Kanye West’s Graduation in a widely publicized competition.

 

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50 CENT Posted his life story through video on his official Instagram.

Continued Music, Business Ventures & Acting (2008–2014)

• Released Before I Self Destruct in 2009 and Animal Ambition in 2014.

• Launched G‑Unit Records, a Reebok sneaker line, G‑Unit Films & Books, and partnered with Vitamin Water and Formula 50 in the early 2000s.

• Transitioned to screen, starring in Get Rich or Die Tryin’ (2005) and spearheading the hit Starz series Power (2014–2020).

Recent Ventures & Legacy (2015–Present)

• Filed for bankruptcy in 2015, but continued producing, including Pop Smoke’s posthumous Shoot for the Stars, Aim for the Moon, released 2020.

• Focused on acting, writing, and media production; appeared in Expend4bles (2023) and joined Street Fighter cast in 2025.

• In 2023, Billboard ranked him 17th among “50 Greatest Rappers” and 6th top artist of the 2000s.