In the summer of 2000, the hip-hop world was nearly robbed of one of its most influential figures. Long before the multi-platinum albums and business empires, Curtis “50 Cent” Jackson was a target in the streets of South Jamaica, Queens. The story of him surviving nine shots at close range has become a cornerstone of rap mythology, but for G-Unit soldier Tony Yayo, it wasn’t a legend—it was a horrifying, blood-soaked reality.
The Ambush: May 24, 2000
It happened on a Wednesday afternoon outside 50 Cent’s grandmother’s house. As 50 sat in the back of a friend’s car, a gunman pulled up and unleashed a hail of gunfire from a 9mm handgun.
The Aftermath by the Numbers:
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9 Shots: The number of bullets that struck 50 Cent at close range.
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Impact Zones: He was hit in the hand, arm, hip, both legs, chest, and his left cheek.
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The Resulting Scar: The shot to the face resulted in a swollen tongue, the loss of a wisdom tooth, and the signature slightly slurred voice that would later define his sound.
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13 Days: The duration of his hospital stay before he was sent home to recover in secret.
“He Was Still Laughing”
Tony Yayo, 50’s childhood friend and loyal partner-in-rhyme, has often shared the chilling details of the aftermath. In high-profile interviews—including a recent 2025 appearance on Club Shay Shay with Shannon Sharpe—Yayo recalled the sheer shock of seeing his friend riddled with holes but maintaining a “superhuman” level of mental fortitude.
“I counted every bullet hole in his body,” Yayo shared, describing the grim tally. “And the crazy part was the mentality. Even when he was shot up, he was a thinker. He didn’t want me to see him in that state of weakness because he knew it would f*** with my mental.”
According to Yayo, despite the physical devastation, 50 Cent’s spirit remained unbroken. There were accounts of 50 even managing a grim laugh at the hospital, fueled by a mixture of adrenaline and a newfound sense of purpose. He told Yayo he couldn’t let him visit initially because he didn’t want his “soldier” to be scared of the streets or “f*** with his mental” by seeing his leader “banged up.”
The Metaphor: 9 Shots
The trauma of that night eventually fueled 50 Cent’s creative output. In 2015, he released a short film and song titled “9 Shots.”
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The Concept: Produced by Frank Dukes, the track serves as a metaphor for the nine times 50 felt his life was at a crossroads.
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The Music Video: Directed by Eif Rivera, the video features Tony Yayo and Lloyd Banks, depicting a gritty betrayal that mirrors the street life 50 left behind.
The Legacy of “Many Men”
The shooting changed the trajectory of hip-hop. After being dropped by Columbia Records and blacklisted by the industry, 50 Cent used his recovery to launch an “insane” mixtape campaign that eventually caught the ears of Eminem and Dr. Dre.
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“Many Men (Wish Death)” (2003): This track from his diamond-certified debut album, Get Rich or Die Tryin’, is the definitive account of the shooting. The music video used actual crime scene photos and a dramatized version of the event.
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The Recovery: 50 Cent spent six weeks using a walker and five months in total recovery. He credits the incident with giving him a “purpose in life,” famously stating: “After I got shot nine times at close range and didn’t die, I started to think that I must have a purpose.”
2025: The Living Legend
As of late 2025, 50 Cent has transitioned from the “most dangerous man in rap” to a global television mogul with his Power and BMF universes, with a net worth estimated at $150 million. Yet, Tony Yayo remains one of his most frequent collaborators, recently launching his own cannabis empire while continuing to defend the G-Unit legacy. Their bond is a reminder of the night when a hailstorm of bullets failed to stop a man who simply refused to die.