My 52 Cents

50 Cent. Half a Lonnie? Two quarters? Rapper? Controversialist? Criminal? Inspirer? Stylish? I pick all of the above. All of the above because this man, Curtis Jackson III, doesn’t get one reaction out of all people. Many feel very differently about 50 and his actions. Feelings so different it is causing quite the ruckus.
Just recently Liberal MP Dan McTeaque asked that the Canadian immigrations minister Joe Volpe to reconsider letting 50 into the country for his cross Canada “massacre” tour. With the rapper’s history in crime and the recent shootings and high gang activity in major Canadian cities,I understand why McTeaque feels so nervous about letting 50 across the border. Last year a person was shot outside one of his concerts.
As many of you might know 50 cent is a hip hop “artist,” but did you know that he is was shot at 9 times and lived to talk about it? Did you know that he is a convicted criminal with a record? Did you know that he is now worth and estimated 60 million dollars, and I am almost certain non of it has made its way to charitable organizations? Does all of this ring an uncomfortable tone in you as it does in me?
How is it that a man who, not five years prior, was selling drugs, getting shot and living the true thug lifestyle, now able to drive any car he wants, live in any house he chooses, travel and eat any dish at any price, and not feel the need to give anything back? Not only that but he sends all these kid who look up to him the wrong message. He gives them false hope about how to “get rich.” Being in a gang, committing crime, sex and violence leads to success? Forget preaching hard work, which is actually what makes you rich. The really ironic thing is that 50 works his butt off, but you won’t catch him getting that across to his young followers.
50 has found his niche and a massive market and is going to milk it for all he can. Music, clothing, sports drinks, sneakers, video games, what’s next a baby gangster line of clothing? “Get it while it’s hot, baby doo-rags going fast!” I wouldn’t count it out. This man clearly has no problem mixing violence with anything; be it children, women, sex or the world. He said in an interview with Jamie Gangel that it is just “art imitating life.” Well, now we know why art is so hard to define. If this is art, then we have just entered a whole new realm of crazy.
Have any of you seen the imagery for his movie “Get Rich or Die Trying?” Let me give you a visual. Picture 50’s perfectly muscular, tattooed back. Mix in a baby, then throw in a gun tucked into the back of his pants for dramatic effect. This is outrageous! How far are we willing to go? 50 tries to defend the imagery to Julian Roman by suggesting that we see violent images all the time when we go to rent DVD’s, so why are we singling him and his new movie out? He does have a tiny point there but I have never seen blatant exploitation of violence and children like this ever before.
Not only do we have kids playing violent video games and TV daily, but now they are exposed to it before they can talk! Lets get the pendulum swinging they other way please.
I have found myself trying to figure out if I actually like the songs he produces, or if they are simply the creations of a talented hip hop producer. I will admit to having danced to his songs but do I actually like a man telling me that he wants to “unbutton my pants, just a little bit,” or “take me to the candy shop” so I can “lick the lollipop?” I think not.
50 cent will come to Canada. He will perform for millions and leave richer then when he arrived. He got past immigration (perhaps not easily, but still got past) and be praised by Much Music and the like when he visits their headquarters, but he will have “dyed trying,” because his spirit is dead. But hey, he’s rich. And I guess that is all the matters, right?