Curtis James Jackson III, known as 50 Cent, is an American rapper, actor, and television producer born in Queens, New York City in 1975. Rising from a challenging background, he survived a near-fatal shooting in 2000 and gained major recognition after Eminem signed him in 2002. His debut album Get Rich or Die Tryin, released in 2003, topped charts and included hits like In da Club and 21 Questions. He followed this success with The Massacre in 2005 and founded G-Unit Records. Over his career, 50 Cent has sold over 30 million albums worldwide and received numerous awards, including a Grammy and a Primetime Emmy. Beyond music, he produced and starred in the hit TV series Power and its spin-offs. He is widely considered one of the most influential rappers of his time.