Rise Above

50 Cent has had a tough life. At twelve, he was dealing cocaine. The same year his mother was murdered. Training as an amateur boxer; he conditioned himself to become a champion, which is exactly what he did when he turned to his passion: hip-hop. He has released two number one albums, three movies, two video games and even a clothing line. Yes, the man who made bullet proof vests cool may be very busy, but these days heʼs more concerned with designer fashion than struggling to stay alive on the streets. His catchy hooks, rhymes about guns and girls, and laid back delivery have made him a hip-hop icon. For 50 Cent, determination and ambition were two traits that helped him rise above the kind of street violence that prematurely ends lives, and took him to the top of the music charts, proving that it doesnʼt matter where you come from, if youʼve got the will to succeed, it can take you wherever you want to go. His journey is an inspiration. In just a matter of years he went from drugs, crime and jail time to becoming one of the biggest artists on the planet. Born Curtis Jackson in Queens, he grew up with his teenaged mother until her murder, when he was still a child. Moving in with his grandparents, he started selling cocaine on the streets, making up to 5,000 dollars a day. His life of crime led him to a six month stint in a boot camp for juvenile delinquents. Things appeared to take a positive turn when Run DMC took him under their wing, and he set to work on his own album before his luck seemingly ran out. He was shot nine times in front of his grandparentshouse. After that, hard work at building contacts in the music industry led to collaboration with Eminem, and since then he has never looked back.