50 Cent (also known as Fitty" or "Fifty") is an American rapper, actor, entrepreneur and executive producer. He was born in Queens, New York City on July 6, 1975. "50 Cent" is his public name, but his birth name is Curtis Jackson. Growing up, he never knew his father and his mother were murdered when he was just 8 years old. He grew up in a neighborhood called STP. He learned how to play basketball and football. He got shot nine times in STP. Before becoming a rapper he was a drug dealer.