50 Cent shattered the entire American music industry’s preconception that he was “too dangerous to work with” with a fiery underground mixtape campaign that reached across the border and prompted Eminem to declare, “this is my favorite rapper.” The unexpected endorsement immediately led to a historic deal with Shady Records and Dr. Dre, launching one of hip-hop’s biggest careers.
The criticism was a professional death sentence. After being shot nine times in May 2000, Columbia Records immediately canceled his contract, shelving his debut album, Power of the Dollar . The consensus among major players in the American music industry was that he was too violent, too risky, and too much of a liability to invest in. 50 Cent found himself completely blacklisted, with everyone assuming his career was over before it began.
Refusing to accept defeat, 50 Cent executed a fiery live rebuttal by retreating to Canada, where he was able to record and self-produce a series of raw, aggressive mixtapes. Most notably, the 2002 release Guess Who’s Back? was a massive underground success. He audaciously rapped over beats from other famous artists, using the tracks to mock his rivals and powerfully assert his position as an undeniable force. This raw, street-level campaign builds a fierce, independent reputation for his uncompromising flow and content.
The recognition arrived from the highest possible echelon. One of these tapes made its way to Eminem, who was instantly captured by 50 Cent’s talented and compelling story. Instead of being deterred by the street violence and professional risk, Eminem was reported floored by the rapper’s skill. He publicly marveled at 50 Cent’s music, going on the radio to declare, “Yo, 50 Cent is definitely my favorite rapper right now.” This unprecedented seal of approval from one of the world’s biggest artists led to a historic bidding war, culminating in a joint deal with Shady Records and Dr. Dre’s Aftermath Entertainment. 50 Cent had forced the industry to look past the bullets and acknowledge the genius.