Before transitioning to film production, 50 Cent made waves in the music industry, albeit briefly. The Queens, New York native signed to Shady records in 2002 and a year later released his debut album Get Rich Or Die Trying. The album was a commercial success, moving nearly a million copies in its opening week of release.
Those figures, even by today’s standards are massive for any artist – let alone one just making his major-label debut. You can argue his affiliations with Dr. Dre and Eminem played a huge role in his acceptability, and helped fast-track his success, but 50 Cent’s early hunger was palpable. Having survived getting shot nine times, he was always destined for greatness.
He went on to release more succesful projects in his rap career before bowing out. Taking pride in his skillset as a businessman, Fif knew when not to force things. By the release of his fourth album “Curtis,” it was obvious he was starting to lack the same motivation that endeared him to the public, and had started to focus on movies and other investments outside of music.
Several projects were announced and dropped before he eventually released his fifth album. At 47, 50 Cent, born Curtis James Jackson looks destined to never release an album again, though he recently revealed he’s working on new music for what “may not be” his last album.
“I started working on some things. It may not be the last album. It may be broken up into something that goes out with one of the television shows,” he said in an interview with The Breakfast Club.
In this featured article, we rank all of 50 Cent’s albums in order of first-week sales, starting from the lowest.
Editor’s Note: I focused on his solo albums so his two projects with G-Unit; 2003’s Beg For Mercy, and 2008’s Terminate On Sight are not included.
Album: Animal Ambition
Release Date: 2014
Record Label: G-Unit Records/Caroline
First Week Sales: 46,000
Billboard 200 Position: No. 4
Album: Before I Self Destruct
Release Date: 2009
Record Label: Shady Records/Aftermath/Interscope
First Week Sales: 160,000
Billboard Position: No. 5
Album: Curtis
Release Date: 2007
Record Label: Shady Records/Aftermath/Interscope
First Week Sales: 691,000
Billboard Position: No. 2
Album: Get Rich Or Die Tryin
Release Date: 2002
Record Label: Shady Records/Aftermath/Interscope
First Week Sales: 872,000
Billboard Position: No. 1
Album: The Massacre
Release Date: 2005
Record Label: Shady Records/Aftermath/Interscope
First Week Sales: 1.15 million
Billboard Position: No. 1
