On May 24, 2000, the world of hip-hop was shaken when rising star 50 Cent was shot nine times outside his grandmother’s home in South Jamaica, Queens. The incident, which garnered widespread media attention and forever altered the landscape of rap music, stemmed from a complex web of street rivalries and personal vendettas.
50 Cent, born Curtis Jackson, had recently begun to make a name for himself in the music industry, drawing from his experiences growing up in a neighborhood rife with crime and violence. The shooting occurred when 50 was in the back seat of a friend’s car, preparing to hand over some jewelry. In a shocking turn of events, an assailant approached the vehicle and opened fire with a 9mm handgun, hitting 50 multiple times in the hand, arm, hip, legs, chest, and face. The attack left him with significant injuries, including a swollen tongue and a slurred voice—a stark reminder of the violence he had narrowly escaped.
In the aftermath of the shooting, 50 Cent spent 13 days in the hospital, recovering from his wounds. He later reflected on the experience, noting that the physical pain was overshadowed by the adrenaline of the moment. The man who shot him, identified as Daryl Hobbs, was killed weeks later, further complicating the narrative surrounding the attack.
The motivations behind the shooting were deeply rooted in 50 Cent’s rise in the music industry and his burgeoning rivalry with fellow rapper Ja Rule and the Murder Inc. label, which was led by Irv Gotti and Supreme McGriff. Tensions escalated after 50 Cent released the controversial track “Ghetto Quran,” which named several prominent drug dealers and gangsters from Queens, including McGriff, who was suspected of orchestrating the hit on 50. The song was perceived as a significant breach of the street code, prompting retaliation from those implicated.
Supreme McGriff, a notorious figure in New York’s drug trade and the leader of the Supreme Team—a powerful crack dealing organization—felt threatened by 50 Cent’s growing influence. The Supreme Team, which had operated successfully throughout the 1980s and 1990s, was known for its violent methods and strict adherence to the code of silence, making 50 Cent’s lyrics particularly inflammatory. As 50 Cent gained popularity, he became a target, seen as someone who could potentially undermine McGriff’s legacy and business.
The beef intensified further when personal encounters between 50 Cent and members of Murder Inc. led to confrontations. A notable incident occurred at a club in Atlanta, where 50 was attacked after a heated exchange with Ja Rule. The scuffle ended with 50 Cent taking Ja Rule’s chain, a symbolic act of dominance that played into their ongoing rivalry.
In addition to the tensions with Murder Inc., 50 Cent’s association with E Moneybags, a close friend who was also embroiled in the conflict, placed him in further danger. The rivalry between E Moneybags and Supreme culminated in a violent confrontation that left E Moneybags dead, further escalating the stakes for 50 Cent.
Despite the odds stacked against him, 50 Cent’s survival became a pivotal moment in his career. The aftermath of the shooting not only solidified his reputation as a tough figure in hip-hop but also played a crucial role in shaping his music. Following his recovery, he released the mixtape “Guess Who’s Back,” which included tracks that directly addressed his rivals and the violence he had encountered.
50’s journey from the streets to superstardom was marked by a relentless pursuit of success, underscored by the scars of his past. His story is one of resilience, illustrating the harsh realities of the world he came from and the lengths he would go to reclaim his narrative. The shooting served as a catalyst for his transformation, propelling him to fame while simultaneously highlighting the dangerous intersections of music, street life, and violence.
Today, 50 Cent stands as a testament to survival and success in the face of adversity, with his story continuing to resonate within the hip-hop community and beyond.