The Story of 50 Cent Getting Shot Nine Times

In the realm of hip-hop, few stories resonate with the gritty rawness of survival and resilience as that of Curtis James Jackson III, globally recognized as 50 Cent. His trajectory from a street-savvy rapper to a global icon is marred by a near-fatal event that not only shaped his career but also his very existence.

This is the story of the day 50 Cent stared death in the face and lived to tell the tale. Also known as the day he got shot nine times.

A Brief Backstory

At the time, 50 Cent was midway through experiencing his breakout as an artist. It was not long after the release of the controversial single “How to Rob,” his major label debut with Columbia Records, and just over a month before the scheduled release date for his debut album Power of a Dollar: July 4th 2000.

“How To Rob” was an underground hit and it catapulted 50 Cent into the limelight, leading to an invitation from Nas to join him on the Nastradamus promo tour (which did happen). Things were looking up for his rap career.

However, just as he was on the cusp of a major breakthrough, his life took a drastic turn.

The Day That Changed Everything: May 24, 2000

It was a typical day in South Jamaica, Queens, New York. 50 Cent was at his grandmother’s house, and suddenly found himself engulfed in an unexpected maelstrom of violence.

Sitting in a friend’s car outside his grandmother’s house, he was ambushed when another car pulled up. Without a moment’s warning, an assailant emerged from the vehicle and opened fire.

A hail of bullets from a 9mm handgun rained down upon him. Nine shots, fired at close range, tore into his body, marking him with scars he would carry for the rest of his life.

He recalled this, and even returned to the scene of the crime during a 2012 interview with Oprah Winfrey (full interview here).

50 Cent Tells the Story of the Day He Got Shot (Oprah, 2012)

The Wounds of War

The aftermath was gruesome. Bullets had pierced his hand, arm, hip, legs, chest, and even his face.

Notably, a bullet ripped through his right thumb, exiting through his pinky, while another caused a gaping hole between the rows of his teeth, reshaping his gums.

The physical toll was immense, but so too were the psychological scars. His voice, now permanently altered, would become a signature of his survival story.

The Road to Recovery

Rushed to the hospital in critical condition, 50 Cent’s life hung in the balance. Thirteen days in the hospital, multiple surgeries, and a painstaking recovery process that included physical therapy, a workout regimen, and initial dependence on a walker marked his journey back to health.

It took about five months, but 50 Cent emerged not just alive, but reborn.

Who Shot 50 Cent?

The shooting was not just a random act of violence. Theories linked it to his past involvement in the drug trade and personal disputes. The identified shooter, Darryl ‘Hommo’ Baum, an associate of Mike Tyson, met his own violent end three weeks later.

Drug kingpin Kenneth “Supreme” McGriff was alleged to have ordered the hit, a claim supported by Jon Ragin’s testimony. McGriff’s notorious background as a gang leader involved in drugs and murders only thickened the plot.

McGriff is serving a life sentence in prison as of 2007.

The Aftermath

Following the shooting, 50 Cent faced a significant setback when Columbia Records dropped him, and his album Power of the Dollar was never released.

However, this did not deter him. He surged back, achieving worldwide fame with hits like “In Da Club” and “Candy Shop,” which were released in the years following his recovery.

In conclusion, 50 Cent’s narrative is more than a story of a rapper who survived a shooting; it’s a tale of unwavering determination and the ability to triumph over adversity.

His journey from the depths of a near-death experience to the pinnacle of global success is a testament to the enduring spirit of one of hip-hop’s most iconic figures.