Why was 50 Cent shot 9 times? How the Life-Changing Incident Shaped His Career!

Rapper 50 Cent recently reflected on the near-fatal shooting he survived in 2000, when he was hit with nine gunshot wounds. In a candid interview, he shared the intense thoughts and emotions he experienced in the aftermath of the attack, revealing how the incident fundamentally changed his outlook on life. When asked whether he considered returning to music immediately after the shooting, 50 Cent admitted that his focus was far from his career at that time.

The 2000 shooting has since become a pivotal moment in 50 Cent’s life and career. For many, even those unfamiliar with his music, the story of the rapper surviving nine bullets is what stands out the most. The attack happened outside his grandmother’s home in Queens, New York, and was reportedly orchestrated by drug lord Kenneth ‘Supreme’ McGriff. The gunman, Darryl ‘Hommo’ Baum, fired multiple shots, striking 50 Cent in his legs, hand, chest, and face. Despite the severity of his injuries, he survived after months of recovery.

50 Cent has described the ordeal as a source of his resilience and a defining part of his rise in hip-hop. His past association with Queens street life and the conflict with McGriff’s circle is believed to be the main reason behind the shooting attempt, which sought to end his life before his music career could take off. However, instead of halting his journey, the incident added a raw authenticity to his music and persona that resonated with many fans.

In a later interview, 50 Cent reflected on the shooting, saying it initially terrified him but ultimately made him stronger. He explained:
“It doesn’t hurt as much as people imagine it hurts – because of the adrenaline. But it hurts after… Going through that experience, when you get hurt that bad, either your fear consumes you or you become a bit insensitive. There was a point where I was afraid… and then in the recovery process, I got tired of being afraid. The only way to cover those emotions was to be a bit more aggressive. And to be angry about the situation, opposed to how I was actually feeling at that point.”

Following his recovery, 50 Cent faced the challenge of rebuilding not only his health but also his career. At a time when the music industry lacked online platforms like YouTube or iTunes, and with record labels ignoring his calls, he had to find creative ways to get his music out. He shared:
“I wasn’t thinking about a CD. As soon as you feel fine, the doctors are telling you you’re fine, you’re going to recover and you look and you go, ‘Whoa, what am I going to do?’ The record company is not answering the phone anymore, everything is changing, and then it’s like you got to figure out how to do it on your own.”

Without digital outlets, 50 Cent resorted to distributing his music through street channels, cleverly encouraging bootleggers to copy and spread his tracks. This unconventional strategy helped launch his breakthrough album Get Rich or Die Tryin’, which was initially planned to be titled Power of a Dollar. He noted:
“We were in a different climate, so I couldn’t do anything that the new artists can do. They go record and upload music to YouTube and Apple iTunes… I had to trick bootleggers into thinking to steal it so they could reproduce it and distribute it for me, ’cause there were no other outlets to get it out.”

Ultimately, surviving the shooting not only shaped 50 Cent’s image but also fueled the grit and determination that propelled him to hip-hop stardom.