50 Cent - Biography

50 CENT'S NEW ALBUM, CURTIS, TAKES HIP-HOP TO THE BANK

Superstar Rapper's Third Album Includes Production from Dr. Dre, Eminem and Timbaland; Guests Include Eminem, Mary J. Blige, Justin Timberlake, Akon and More

SANTA MONICA, CA – April 23, 2007 – On Curtis, his third major label album, rapper 50 Cent gives no quarter. As hard and brutally honest, yet musical and entertaining, as his first two albums--each of them #1 Pop, #1 R&B/Hip-hop and at least seven times platinum--50 Cent (aka Curtis Jackson) tells it like it is on Curtis and makes the resulting controversy pay as he heads "Straight to the Bank," the title of the album's first street track.

Curtis (Shady/Aftermath/Interscope), releasing June 26, 2007, features guest appearances by Eminem, Akon, Justin Timberlake, Mary J. Blige, Robin Thicke, and Nicole Scherzinger from the Pussycat Dolls.

Curtis continues 50 Cent's phenomenal rise from the mean streets. His official debut album, 2003's Get Rich Or Die Tryin', sold 872,000 units in the first four days of its release, making it the fastest-selling debut disc in the SoundScan era (since 1991). The album was the biggest seller of 2003 and is currently ten times platinum worldwide. Later that year, The New Breed, a DVD with a bonus CD including new songs, charted #2 Pop and #1 R&B/Hip-Hop. His second album, 2005's The Massacre, was the second biggest-selling album of the year and is now seven times platinum worldwide.

Since he first dropped his bombs on the music world, 50 has earned 11 Grammy nominations, from Best New Artist to Best Rap Album for each of his first two efforts. Attesting to his worldwide popularity, Get Rich Or Die Tryin' hit #2 in the U.K. and #1 in Australia while The Massacre went #1 in both those countries, #2 in Sweden, and is the biggest-selling rap album in India, where it has been certified double platinum, selling more than 2,000,000 copies.

Back in the U.S., 50 has scored three singles claiming the #1 spot across the charts - R&B/Hip-hop, Rap, and Pop: "In Da Club," "Candy Shop" and "21 Questions" (featuring Nate Dogg). Three more went Top 3 across the board: "P.I.M.P.," "Just A Lil Bit" and "Disco Inferno." Yet another four were Rap Top 10s: "Wanksta," "Outta Control (Remix)," "Window Shopper" and "Best Friend." Four of the above have been certified digital gold: "In Da Club," "Candy Shop," "P.I.M.P." and "Disco Inferno."

From music to movies, videogames to books, a clothing line to footwear, 50 has taken street culture by storm. But as Curtis proves, and as he says in "Straight to the Bank," 50 Cent wants even more.

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G-Unit

Though G-Unit became generally recognized as the brand name associated with 50 Cent, for instance serving as a catch phrase ("G-G-G-G-G-Unit!) as well as a record label (G-Unit Records), it in fact began as the name of his backing posse. G-Unit originally was a trio comprised of 50, Lloyd Banks, and Tony Yayo (often with the accompaniment of either DJ Whookid or Cutmaster C as their DJ), and this particular lineup resulted in a series of popular mixtapes during the early 2000s: 50 Cent Is the Future, God's Plan, No Mercy, No Fear, and Automatic Gunfire.

Before the group had a chance to record its debut album for Interscope in the wake of 50's breakthrough with Get Rich or Die Tryin', Yayo was sentenced to prison for a gun-possession charge. His replacement, Young Buck, stepped up soon afterward, and the group continued its activity, working on yet more mixtape recordings and scoring some big-time success on the "G-Unit Remix" to 50's "P.I.M.P.," which also featured Snoop Dogg and got heavy rotation on MTV. Meanwhile, G-Unit recorded their debut album, Beg for Mercy, over the course of 2003, and Interscope finally rush-released the album on November 14 to combat bootlegging, preceding it with a lead single, "Stunt 101." Several other singles followed, including "Poppin' Them Thangs" and "Wanna Get to Know You." Yayo rejoined the group when he was released from prison in 2004. Other G-Unit affiliates included the Game, Olivia, and Mobb Deep. As 50's stature began diminishing in the late 2000s, however, several of his G-Unit affiliates either defected or were let go. Jason Birchmeier, All Music Guide

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Phinesse

With the smoothly delivered vocals of Giovanni the Great accompanied by the soulful melodies of Dave Devine, the duo known as Phinesse have made a name for themselves by embracing the more sophisticated side of urban music.

Call it R&B with a hip-hop flavour. These Islanders-turned-Melbourne boys have risen to become the most hyped about urban acts in Australia. Phinesse are making waves with their debut smash single 'I Can't Wait', from their forthcoming album, Audio Therapy.

The single was recently selected as part of the RNB Superclub compilation (Warner), a great honour as they were the only Australian band to be included in the mix. The boys show a softer side of hip-hop, going for a smooth crooner vibe. This seems to be working for them as they recently landed the national support for hip-hop superstar 50 Cent tour including a show in Auckland.

Not the average R&B boy band by any stretch of the imagination and the boys refuse to give credence to the R&B stereotypes that plague new artists. The bling, the cash, the girls and the alcohol are definitely not what matter to Phinesse and the boys are willing to take risks and step outside of the box as long as it sounds good!

Just to name a few of the many recent shows, the boys supported RnB icon 'Joe', also Rnb group 'Next' and the king of krunk 'Lil Jon' on their Australian tours. The guys, with a hectic schedule in front of them and a slick video to accompany their single, are sure to be grooving' in town near you.

www.myspace.com/therealphinesse