50 Cent: From Rap Star to Media Mogul
50 Cent is one of the richest and most successful figures in hip-hop. Like Diddy and Dr. Dre, he built a career beyond music, becoming a producer, filmmaker, and actor. However, he will always be remembered as a legendary rapper.
His rise to fame was explosive. In 2003, he released his debut album, Get Rich or Die Tryin’, which went straight to number one on the Billboard 200. By the end of the year, it had sold 12 million copies worldwide. The album’s biggest hit, ‘In Da Club’, was certified Gold by the RIAA and went three times Platinum in the UK.
With Eminem and Dr. Dre as executive producers, Get Rich or Die Tryin’ was a dream debut. It sold 872,000 copies in its first week and was certified six times Platinum by the end of 2003.
Why 50 Cent Wore a Bulletproof Vest
One of 50 Cent’s signature looks was his bulletproof vest, which appeared on his album covers, in music videos, and during his G-Unit days. He explained in an interview with Jonathan Ross that he wore it for protection.
“I’ve been shot myself,” he said, referring to when he survived being shot nine times. “I saw what happened to Tupac and Biggie—if they had worn bulletproof vests, their deaths might have been prevented.”
50 Cent also wore the vest due to tensions with the legendary Queens gangster Kenneth “Supreme” McGriff, who was associated with Irv Gotti and Murder Inc. In the early 2000s, 50 Cent had a fierce rivalry with Ja Rule and the entire Murder Inc. crew.
In March 2000, he was attacked at The Hit Factory studio in Manhattan by Murder Inc. associates. He was stabbed during the altercation, but thanks to his bulletproof vest, he only needed three stitches.
Why He Stopped Wearing the Vest
Eventually, 50 Cent stopped wearing a bulletproof vest. In an interview with Men’s Health, he explained that he no longer needed it.
“I don’t have a specific timeline for that,” he said. “But I started getting other security measures, like bulletproof cars—the same level of protection as the President. So it didn’t make sense to wear the vest every day.”
At the start of his career, the bulletproof vest was a symbol of survival. He knew there was a target on his back and took every precaution to protect himself. His story was so iconic that it even inspired a video game called Bulletproof.
50 Cent’s journey from a rapper to a media mogul proves that his legacy extends far beyond music.
