Resilience, Rhymes, and Retribution: Life Lessons From 50 Cent's 'Power of the Dollar'
Before he got rich, it all started with a dollar and a dream…
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My father is easily the flyest man I have ever known. He had an unwavering belief in clothes and what they could do for him. There was never a day he moved through the world without looking the part. His love for brands like Giorgio Armani, True Religion, and Nike's Air Force 1 came first—he never wore a creased pair of trainers in my life.
I recognised my father's respect for clothes and emphasis on looking good among the rappers I saw on MTV and 106 & Park. My father was indistinguishable from them, and I dare say he dressed better. During his adolescence, my father appreciated hip-hop through his growing music collection and breakdance; he had a spell as a b-boy, and just like many of his contemporaries, he lived and breathed rap during the 90s.
Hip-hop was born in New York, and the city's importance to global culture has consistently been recognised—a melting pot of endless possibilities and creativity, with many artists and DJs thriving during this era of self-expression. Being the birthplace of hip-hop meant the East Coast rap scene was shaped by legendary artists such as Rakim, Run D.M.C, Mobb Deep, Jay-Z, Lil Kim, DMX, Nas, 50 Cent and The Notorious B.I.G. with their rapping abilities and varying styles.
Although New York (and by extension, Queens) was known as a creative hub, instrumental in hip-hop's development, minorities across the city suffered during the 90s as poverty was rife and gentrification spiralled out of control, displacing people from their communities. Crime rates were rising, and inequality was becoming more apparent across the city. Hostile energy had taken over, and the music produced reflected the realities people were facing.
Post-9/11, these communities in poorer parts of New York were promised inclusion after decades of brutality, discrimination and urban decay by the police and military. George W. Bush tried to use the "war on terror" efforts as a way to unite Americans despite his administration being responsible for the suffering faced by minorities.
Many artists did not buy the bribery of the state and saw "the war on terror" as a promotion of patriotism and a false claim to a country that treated them like second-class citizens. Hip-hop often acts as a reflection of the times, offering commentary on issues such as police brutality, inequality and the pursuit of success, which became difficult to navigate during this period—songs were being banned, minorities were still being brutalised, and hip-hop was even more policed.
Hip-hop has always existed in every facet of Black culture. It is in the way we speak, how my dad dresses, how we dance, and how we do our hair. The globalisation of a Black sound and culture meant that hip-hop's popularity existed outside our immediate community.
There has never really been a specific moment that I fell in love with hip-hop because it is all I have ever known, but there are moments that I attribute to it, making me the person I am today. Hip-hop is something my father shared with me from a young age. My parents loved music—they collected CDs and cassettes and were the first people who taught me to appreciate physical media.
I would regularly sift through their collection, and two CDs integral to my upbringing in my father's collection were Tupac's Greatest Hits and 50 Cent's Get Rich Or Tryin'. I often remember moments when my parents would lovingly sing along to "21 Questions" whenever it would appear on TV as if they wrote it for each other. I was born in 2001, and my parents were in their early 20s when they were raising me, so it sometimes feels like I grew up with them, absorbing their interests and tastes at the same rate. Hip-hop was alive in the home I grew up in, and my introduction to 50 Cent was through my father's CD collection.
Despite the differing styles in hip-hop, East Coast rap has consistently been recognised and speaks to people for its commentary on inner-city hardship and resilience. Music has always been a ruthless industry, and rappers in the 90s faced immense difficulty navigating an incredibly inaccessible space, which unfortunately meant that record labels exploited some.
Two of the biggest rappers of all time, Jay-Z and Nas, were feuding. Their rivalry peaked during this era, gaining the attention of hip-hop fans worldwide. Their feud was epitomised by diss tracks like Jay-Z's "Takeover" and Nas' "Ether," fuelling album sales and becoming emblematic of the competitive energy that defined hip-hop and music history.
Hardcore rap artists like DMX, Mobb Deep and Wu-Tang Clan rose from their environments and albums like It's Dark and Hell is Hot, The Infamous, and Enter The Wu-Tang (36 Chambers) were defined by minimal, menacing production, piano chords, aggressive drums and detailed, confrontational bars regarding the harsh realities experienced in the hood.
This era also witnessed the rise of movies like Belly—directed by Hype Williams—which provided a cinematic glimpse into street life and hip-hop culture, featuring artists like DMX and Nas in leading roles, and In Too Deep with Omar Epps and LL Cool J featuring an all-star hip-hop soundtrack and Light It Up featuring another star-studded cast including R&B singer Usher in his debut role which was produced by legendary songwriter-record producer Kenneth "Babyface" Edmonds.
The East Coast rap scene remained a home for creativity and innovation, constantly adapting to the ever-changing landscape. In the 2000s, hip-hop fashion underwent a significant evolution, with trends that reflected the culture and style of the era influencing mainstream culture through music videos, style choices, and larger-than-life personas.
The rise of streetwear brands like Wu Wear, Rocawear, and FUBU played a significant role in shaping 2000s hip-hop fashion, as rappers were diversifying and entering new territory. Accessories such as oversized sunglasses, chains, and baseball caps were essential to 2000s hip-hop fashion, adding flair and personality to outfits. Brands like Nike and Adidas became synonymous with hip-hop fashion during the 2000s. All of these trends and fashion brands have made a resurgence throughout 2020s fashion, highlighting the everlasting influence of hip-hop culture in fashion.
For many people, 50 Cent's story starts with Get Rich Or Die Tryin', but that couldn't be further from the truth. In 1997, he signed with the late Jam Master Jay of Run-D.M.C.'s JMJ Records and released his debut single, "The Glow", on a white label vinyl that same year. His major breakthrough came in the form of Onyx's 1998 song "React". At that point, 50 Cent was an underground rapper with limited experience, mostly freestyling and recording over boom-bap-esque instrumentals in his friend's basement. Jam Master Jay continued to mentor 50, giving him career-defining advice in the ensuing years.
In 1999, 50 Cent got to work on his upcoming debut album, Power of the Dollar, after being signed to Columbia Records by the successful production duo Trackmasters. The first track was "How to Rob", a comedic rap song detailing how 50 Cent would steal from fellow rap peers, including Jay-Z, Sticky Fingaz (from rap collective Onyx), DMX and more, which created a buzz, 50 strategically planned these shots, to elevate his career.
After pissing everyone off and inspiring Jay-Z to diss him at Hot 97's Summer Jam that same year on "It's Hot (Some Like It Hot)" (years before they would end up collaborating). The chaotic whirlwind of "How To Rob" (which was also featured on the In Too Deep soundtrack alongside "Rowdy Rowdy") resulted in what 50 wanted: he created enough noise to stand out in hip-hop.
Musically, the album is the atypical mafioso rap affair, popularised by Raekwon's Only Built 4 Cuban Linx… (1995) and Fat Joe's Don Cartagena (1998), only updated and polished with a Timberland boot footprint and club-sculpted R&B for the new millennium. Beat-wise, a majority of the album is handled by the aforementioned Trackmasters, with additional support from EPMD's Erick Sermon, Al West and L.E.S. and 50 Cent himself.
"As The World Turns", 50's Bun B collaboration, sounds like cruising down the sunbeam streets of Queens in a BMW 325i on a one-way trip to Texas. The one-two punch of "Thug Love" with Destiny's Child and "Material Girl" with Dave Hollister are the mandated R&B cuts that Trackmasters ironically sound most comfortable on the boards, likely due to their extensive R&B catalogue. Late-album standout "I'm A Hustler" is a true hidden gem. Showcasing 50 Cent's younger, pre-gunshot-morphed flow, the track is a paragon of East Coast rap. I mean, 50 spits, "I'm the type to swallow my blood before I swallow my pride," all over DJ Scratch's boom-bap setup.
Tracks like the playfully sinister "The Hit" and fan-favourite "Your Life's on the Line" arguably heightened tensions between himself and Ja Rule, with 50 allegedly parading Ja Rule's chain around in the music video for the latter. The infamous track "Ghetto Qu'ran (Forgive Me)" got him shot nine times over a misunderstanding. This was in the days leading up to when 50 was supposed to shoot the music video for "Thug Love with then-R&B quartet Destiny's Child. Kenneth "Supreme" McGriff took it as a diss and a dry-snitch attempt and had also led to 50 getting blackballed within the music industry. Now that's a rough Tuesday.
With a lone Jam Master Jay by his side, 50 was dropped from Columbia, and his debut album was shelved before seeing the day of light proper. 50 Cent was bad for business, and arguably his best album disappeared, an album that showcased 50's talents across the board: unparalleled rapping ability, swagger and street chronicles. Fortunately, street rap breeds street innovation, and the album is heavily bootlegged on CD, vinyl, and cassette. Currently, it's readily available on sites where internet rogues sail the high seas. As of 2024, Columbia Records has no plans to release Power of the Dollar.
After his recovery and a prolific mixtape run in Canada with 2002's mercurial Guess Who's Back? and the G-Unit-assisted 50 Cent is the Future, the rapper was scouted by Eminem and, by extension, Dr. Dre, the founder of Aftermath Records. This marked the beginning of the 50 Cent that the world came to recognise. Eminem and 50 Cent collaborated on multiple tracks throughout their partnership, including the brazen "Patiently Waiting" from Get Rich Or Die Tryin'.
With the three allied, they forever changed the landscape of rap music with Get Rich Or Die Tryin'. Selling a monstrous 872,000 copies in its first week alone, the lone thread left uncut from Power of the Dollar was "Your Life's on the Line." Dropping the 'your' from the title, the song found refuge as a bonus cut present on most pressings of Get Rich Or Die Tryin'. Over the years, just under a dozen of the tracks have resurfaced on various compilations, mixtapes, and the Power of the Dollar promotional EP itself, which had five of the album's tracks welded to them. With a glossy and polished LP bolstered by the budget of a small blockbuster to start afresh, the rest was history.
“50’s appeal came from his seamless ability to blend street authenticity and mainstream viability, making him one of hip-hop’s most compelling artists.”
Get Rich Or Die Tryin' is widely regarded as one of the greatest hip-hop albums ever and remains a seminal work in the genre's history. Its influence can be seen in the subsequent careers of numerous artists and the continued popularity of 50 Cent as a musician and cultural figure.
50 Cent shaped the zeitgeist of the 2000s, and his impact has not been matched since, as well as paving the way for many artists to follow in his footsteps. Still, the LP's razor-sharp wisdom owes part of its success to its fallen brother, Power of the Dollar, as it became the artistic forerunner for 50's sharpened artistry and commercial appeal.
Alongside an album, 50 Cent played the lead role in a semi-autobiographical portrayal of his rise from a life of crime to becoming one of the most influential figures in rap music of the same name. Directed by Jim Sheridan, Get Rich Or Die Tryin' (2005), humanised Curtis Jackson—the man behind the 50 Cent mask—and explores his semi-dramatised rise to fame and stellar acting chops, demonstrating his potential to crossover culturally. The film further enriched 50's influence on hip-hop and his role in shaping the aesthetics of modern pop culture. The film did have its fair share of critics, but 50's ambition and charisma had resonated with audiences and did well at the box office.
50 Cent's sights were not just set on music and film—over the years, he has been involved in numerous high-profile brand partnerships and endorsements throughout his career. Notably, he co-founded the successful beverage brand VitaminWater, which The Coca-Cola Company later acquired for a reported $4.1 billion in 2007. This deal earned 50 Cent a substantial payout, further solidifying his reputation as a savvy businessman alongside his G-Unit clothing line.
50 Cent in 1999. Images property of Ernie Paniccioli.While we mostly know 50 Cent as the artist, he has solidified his mogul position in television and literature. Curtis Jackson is responsible for executive producing popular shows like Power and BMF. In 2009, he collaborated with Robert Greene, the bestselling author of The 48 Laws of Power, on the New York Times bestseller The 50th Law, which explored themes of power, success, and self-mastery. This notable partnership brought together their respective expertise in music and literature.
In 2020, 50 Cent expanded his literary pursuits by releasing an audiobook version of Hustle Harder, Hustle Smarter, his candid and insightful memoir that offers valuable lessons on success, resilience, and personal growth.
His recent music moments include the 2022 Super Bowl performance alongside Dr. Dre, Snoop Dogg, Kendrick Lamar, Eminem, and Mary J. Blige. 50 Cent has just come off a tour celebrating the twentieth anniversary of Get Rich Or Die Tryin'. He has also appeared on albums by other hip-hop legends, including Nas' Magic 2 and Nicki Minaj on her long-awaited Pink Friday 2.
Representative of second chances through his willingness to start over again and try his hand in different fields. Rising from the streets of Queens to global stardom, 50 Cent's raw lyricism, gritty storytelling, and unapologetic persona shaped an era.
Whether through his chart-topping hits, acclaimed television productions like Power, or his savvy business efforts, 50 Cent's influence transcends the boundaries of music, leaving an everlasting legacy that continues to inspire and resonate with audiences worldwide. We will never see anything like Curtis "50 Cent" Jackson again. If it wasn't for my father's broad CD collection and, by extension, his love for 50 Cent, I might not've developed the strong kinship and adoration I have for physical media today. For that alone, I'm forever grateful.
"True ownership can come only from within," said 50 Cent in The 50th Law. "It comes from a disdain for anything or anybody that impinges upon your mobility, from a confidence in your own decisions, and from the use of your time in constant pursuit of education and improvement."
Listen to 50 Cent's Power of the Dollar on YouTube below: