50 Cent Says 2000 Shooting Transformed Career

Curtis “50 Cent” Jackson told Fox News he has been reflecting on a 2000 ambush in Queens when he was shot nine times, an experience that nearly derailed his life. He says the attack led to his original album Power of a Dollar being shelved and his label going quiet, forcing him to hustle and at times trick bootleggers into distributing his music. Connections — including Eminem — and new backing eventually enabled the release of Get Rich or Die Tryin', which reshaped his artistic concept and inspired songs such as "Many Men (Wish Death on Me)." Jackson framed the story as one of self-reliance and resilience, saying there are "no excuses." He has since parlayed his profile into TV projects, including the Fox Nation series 50 Ways to Catch a Killer.