50 Cent, (real name: Curtis Jackson, July 6, 1976), is a popular U.S. hip hop artist. Once almost unknown outside his hometown of Jamaica, Queens, he became the first artist signed to Eminem's record label Shady Records who was scouted before knowing Eminem. He appeared on the 8 Mile soundtrack with an accompanying song and video that immediately went into heavy rotation on BET, MTV, and radio stations across the country. In the opinion of many observers his continued success seems guaranteed by his large underground fanbase and the "mad street cred" he has gained by appearing on almost every major mix tape sold in New York in the past few years ... (read more )