The Complete Story Behind 50 Cent’s Shooting

50 Cent is a massively influential rapper, with Billboard hits like “In Da Club” and “Candy Shop,” and essential albums like Get Rich or Die Tryin’. Curtis James Jackson III (the real name of “50 Cent”) had a music career that took him from mixtapes and a breakout debut album to the stage of the Super Bowl Halftime show. However, his journey to success was not without obstacles, including a near-fatal shooting in 2000 that has since become a defining moment in his life and career.

On May 24, 2000, 50 Cent was shot nine times with a handgun in a drive-by shooting in front of his grandmother’s house in South Jamaica, Queens in New York. According to reports, the rapper was standing outside the house when a car drove by, and someone inside opened fire on him. 50 Cent was hit multiple times, including in his hand, arm, hip, legs, chest, and face. He was taken to the hospital in critical condition and underwent multiple surgeries to save his life.

The shooting was widely reported in the media, and many people were shocked that someone as successful as 50 Cent had been targeted in such a violent way. The rapper himself has described the experience as a turning point in his life, saying that he realized how lucky he was to be alive and how he needed to make the most of his second chance.

The circumstances around the shooting remain somewhat shrouded in mystery, and there are several different theories as to what led to the attack. Some people believed that the shooting resulted from 50 Cent’s involvement in the drug trade, while others thought it resulted from a personal dispute.

He always claimed the man who shot him was a low-level drug dealer who himself died three weeks later. But court testimony revealed that a three-person hit squad targeted him after he wrote a disparaging song about drug kingpin Kenneth “Supreme” McGriff.

Jon Ragin, a former associate of McGriff, testified that McGriff and two other gang members met after the shooting. “Supreme said, ‘I got him.’”

Credits to: Getty Images

McGriff’s Supreme Team gang ran a drug network that took in $200,000 daily and was responsible for eight murders in 1987 alone.

Despite the lack of concrete information about the circumstances of the shooting, it has had a significant impact on 50 Cent’s life and career. The rapper said that the experience made him more aware of his mortality and inspired him to work harder to achieve his goals. He has also used the shooting as a source of inspiration in his music, referencing it in several of his songs and using it to connect with his fans.

The shooting also had a significant impact on his public image. Before the attack, he was known primarily for his musical talent, but after the shooting, he became known for his toughness and resilience. He has often referred to himself as a “survivor” and has used the shooting to inspire others to overcome their own obstacles and difficulties.

In addition to its impact on 50 Cent’s life and career, the shooting has also significantly impacted the Hip-Hop community more broadly. It served as a reminder of the violence and danger that often accompanied the drug trade and sparked a broader discussion about the role of guns in the Hip-Hop community.

During an episode of Oprah’s Next Chapter in 2012, Jackson returned to where he was shot.

“I arrived around twelve o’clock in the afternoon on May 24.” “She was bent over in the yard planting flowers, and I moved over here to get in the vehicle where my companion was waiting for me, and a car pulled up on the side of us, and a guy stepped out of the passenger seat of that car, came round behind it, and shot through the actual car.”

Darryl Baum

When 50 Cent was a guest on Lil Wayne’s Young Money Radio program at Apple’s Beats 1 station, he finally confirmed the trigger man.

“When I was shot, Hommo pulled the trigger. He was part of Mike Tyson’s board. ”

Darryl ‘Hommo’ Baum, the man who shot Jackson, was murdered three weeks after attempting to kill 50 Cent.

How Many Times Was 50 Cent Shot?

Having a hard-knock life seems to have inspired many of today’s most successful musicians. Jay-Z often credits his upbringing in Brooklyn’s Marcy Projects as a motivator for his success. And before A$AP Rocky became a household name, he was toughing it out on the streets of Harlem, where his brother was a victim of gun violence, according to MTV.

In other cases, a rapper’s pre-fame life contradicts the persona they put on for the public. Rick Ross revealed during a 2012 interview with Rolling Stone that before becoming a widely successful MC, he was a corrections officer. Moreover, Ludacris, often noted as one of the biggest acts to come from Atlanta, was actually born in Champaign, Illinois, per ABC 7.

However, 50 Cent, whose real name is Curtis Jackson, has had quite a tumultuous life story. In fact, Fif has had a storied past that includes drug dealing, the death of his mother, and an incident that left him shot a number of times, per the New York Post.

50 Cent was shot nine times and survived

As noted by The Guardian, 50 Cent was shot nine times in 2000. A notorious moment in hip-hop history, the “Many Men” rapper was allegedly shot by a rival MC, according to Billboard.

While 50 Cent has maintained he was shot by a rival drug dealer, federal investigators believe he was targeted by Kenneth “Supreme” McGriff and members of label Murder Inc., per Billboard. The outlet further explains that the 2000 shooting was believed to be an act of revenge for the song “Ghetto Koran,” which McGriff felt exposed his narcotics dealings.

“After the actual shooting . I went through a portion of me actually being afraid because I was hurt physically,” 50 Cent said following the incident. “I was hurt bad. I was afraid and uncomfortable with being afraid and the only time I wasn’t afraid is when I was actively involved in actually looking for somebody connected to it.”

50 Cent was left with gunshot wounds to his legs, hands, and face, as detailed in a 2012 interview with Oprah. He also revealed that being shot was less painful than he thought it would be, saying, “It doesn’t hurt as much as people imagine it hurts because of the adrenaline . it hurts after.”

50 Cent had a tough upbringing

50 Cent was born and raised in Jamaica, Queens, New York, per Biography. In an interview with Big Issue, the rapper revealed he went to live with his grandmother after his mother was killed when he was 8 years old. “I didn’t understand it. To have a single parent as your guardian — they’re your whole life. I was eight. I was just like, ‘[W]hat do you mean?'”

In 1997, 50 Cent committed to mastering his craft and began writing lyrics full time (via Big Issue). The “In Da Club” rapper explained to the outlet that Jam Master Jay from Run D.M.C. helped him further develop his skills and prepare him for entry into the world of hip-hop. “Jay taught me how to count bars — and when the chorus should start and stop. And I kept practicing,” he said to Big Issue. “Sometimes hard work beats talent. I wrote all the time, and so I got better and better.”

Just a few years later, in 1999, 50 Cent signed a recording deal with Columbia Records and was spearheaded towards success — the same year he would fall victim to a nine-bullet barrage, which he miraculously survived.