10 Years of 50 Cent

“Go shorty, it’s your birthday, we gonna party like it’s your birthday”….

It is indeed the tenth birthday (February 6^th 2003) of 50 Cent’s first official album release ‘Get Rich or Die Tryin’’. After flooding the underground mixtape scene with material such as ‘Power of the Dollar’ and ‘50 Cent is the Future’ this was Curtis Jackson’s first shot a mainstream fame.

He already created a buzz for himself with songs like ‘How to Rob’, ‘Wanksta’ and ‘Ghetto Qu’ran’ as Colombia Records, who he was signed to in 2000 dropped him after he was shot nine times outside his Grandmothers house in South Jamaica Queens.

Overcoming adversity was nothing new to 50, his mother was killed when he was eight-years-old and his mentor Jam Master Jay was murdered in 2002. Even though 50 lost the two closes people to him he surrounded himself in the streets with a group initially known as the ‘134 All-Stars’ later 'G-Unit'.

After being shot, 50 stopped selling drug and focused all his attention on succeeding in the Rap game and as soon as he recovered from the shooting (with a new flow due to being shot in the mouth) he was straight back on his grind. 50 somehow managed to get a copy of his ‘Guess Who’s Back?’ mixtape to Eminem who then introduced him to Dr. Dre and the three headed monster was born.

Impressed by his dedication and perseverance (50’s mixtape campaign was unprecedented at the time) Dr. Dre, Eminem and Jimmy Iovine signed him to Shady/Aftermath/Interscope in 2002 for one million dollars and a five album deal.

While the majority of 50’s tracks were all about the struggle and tales from the hood, his first single from GRODT ‘In Da Club’ was a celebration of life and a became 50’s first number one single. The song also won Best Rap Video at the 2003 MTV Video Music Awards and 50 also won the award for Best New Artist. The hit single spent eight weeks on top of the Billboard charts and remained in the charts for 100 weeks. Other album cuts such as '21 Questions' (also a number one single) showed a different side to 50 not seen in his previous releases.

To keep his hardcore audience happy 50 included gritty tracks on the album such as ‘Many Men’, ‘Back Down’ and ‘P.I.M.P’. The album was an instant hit, selling 872,000 copies in it’s first week and debuted in the Billboard charts at number one. The album went on to sell 12 million copies world wide, nominated for two Grammy’s (Best Rap solo performance and Best Rap song) and in 2009 Billboard magazine rated it at number 12 in the top 200 albums of the decade.

A new star was born. The best compliment that can be given to 50 is that GRODT can be spoken in the same breath as legendary debut albums such as Jay-Z’s ‘Reasonable Doubt’ Notorious B.I.G.'s 'Ready to Die' and Nas's ‘Illmatic’. Those album all had reply value and you could listen to them years later without skipping a track GRODT was in that category.

After the success of his GRODT 50 was granted his own label G-Unit Records in 2003, he signed Tony Yayo, Lloyd Bank$ and Young Buck. The group’s first album ‘Beg for Mercy’ sold 3.5 million records, another triumph for 50, everything he touch turned to gold (well platinum actually). All three members of G-Unit released solo albums with one going gold and the other two going platinum, between 2002-2005 was truly the G-Unit era. 50 later signed Mobb Deep, The Game (who also went platinum in 05), M.O.P., Spider Loc, Olivia, Kidd Kidd, Governor, DJ Pauly D,  Precious Paris and Hot Rod.

Not satisfied with conquering the music industry 50 created G-Unit clothing, games, his own website (ThisIs50.com), books and starred in his own film ‘Get Rich or Die Tryin’’(the soundtrack to the film also went double platinum). He knew music wouldn’t last forever and planned for his future after he hung up the microphone.

On March 3rd 2005 50’s second album ‘The Massacre’ was released, this album had a more commercial sound to it with songs like ‘Candy Shop’, ‘Disco Inferno’ and ‘Just a Lil Bit’. Nevertheless ‘The Massacre’ sold a million copies in it’s first week, became the number one album three different countries and went platinum nine times. It was also nominated for Grammy Award for Best Album at the 48^th Grammys.

50 next two albums ‘Curtis’ in 2007 and ‘Before I Self Destruct’ in 2009 were less critically acclaimed (however both went platinum) but included standout singles such as club banger ‘I Get Money’ (Curtis) and ‘Baby by Me’ (BISD).

50 also worked with Glacéau to create a vitamin water drink called Formula 50. In 2007, Coca-Cola purchased Glacéau for 4.1 billion dollars. Forbes estimated 50, who owed a stake in the company earned 100 million dollars from the deal.

After his two previous album were released speculation mounted that 50 wasn’t focused on music anymore, this could be attributed to the fact that he had created a energy drink (Street King, with every purchase, a portion of the sales went to providing a daily meal to an underprivileged child around the world), SMS Audio (headphones) and became a boxing promoter (signing 2004 Olympic gold medallist Yuriorkis Gamboa).

However even though 50 is now a one man conglomerate he never forgot what brought him to the dance, mixtapes. While other rappers such as Jay-Z, Nas and Kayne West abandoned the mixtapes 50 has released six in the past five years.

His last album obligation to Shady/Aftermath/Interscope ‘Street King Immortal’ is due out in spring this year and the singles so far indicate 50 is far from finished. He wants to leave the label the same way he entered with a bang.

Throughout all his rap beefs with Ja Rule, Jay-Z, Fat Joe, D-Block, Nas, Diddy, The Game and Rick Ross, 50 always remained focused and relevant, most importantly for him he has never back down from a challenge or confrontation.

From his death bed to Hollywood, from mug shots to Forbes magazine 50’s journey to the top is a remarkable story, an inspiration! His mission in life was to ‘Get Rich or Die Tryin’ and from where I’m standing it’s mission accomplished without the dying.  

Battle at the Bridge

As Sir Alex Ferguson said after he won his first European Cup in 1999 “football bloody hell”. Even though this game didn’t end as dramatically as that night at the Nou Camp, I’m sure he would have repeated similar words after his side won at Stamford Bridge yesterday after a pulsating encounter.

The match had everything. Would Rio Ferdinand shake Ashley Cole’s hand during the pre match? (He did), controversial decisions, goals, red cards, an injured steward and a complaint by Chelsea against referee Mark Clattenberg for allegedly using "inappropriate language" towards two of their players.

Manchester United began the game four points behind Chelsea and had not registered a league victory at the Bridge since 2002.

Chelsea made two changes from the team that lost their previous match to Shaktar Donetsk, Gary Cahill replaced the suspended John Terry and Edin Hazard came in for the injured Frank Lampard.

The visitors made four alterations from the line-up that came back from 2-0 down to defeat Braga 3-2 in their last match. Rio Ferdinand, Patrice Evra and Antonio Valencia were restored to the starting XI in place of Alexander Buttner, Shinji Kagawa and Darren Fletcher. While two goals hero against Braga, Javier Hernandez was unfortunate to miss out as Ashley Young made his first appearance since August.

The first two minutes set the trend of how entertaining this game would be as Robin van Persie (who on his last appearance on this ground scored a hat-trick) tested Petr Cech. The away side began the game confidently and took the lead on the forth minute when a Van Persie shot cannoned back off the post onto the unlucky David Luiz.

United deserved their goal advantage and eight minutes later they were 2-0 up, this time Van Persie’s  shot found the back of the net directly after a cut back from Valencia.

Chelsea got back into the game with a Juan Mata free-kick a minute before half-time, it was the Spanish international’s seventh goal in seven games.

The last incident of a breathless first half saw Fernando Torres booked for a high challenge Jackie Chan would be proud of on Tom Cleverley.

The second half didn’t start in the same frenetic manner as the first but burst into life in the 53^rd minute when Chelsea equalised. Oscar crossed for his Brazil team-mate Ramires to score with a rear header, the Bridge was rocking and the home team had all the momentum.
That changed on the 62^nd minute when Van Persie turned Cahill and put Young through on goal. Covering defender Branislav Ivanovic clipped the winger’s heels and was given a straight red card by Clattenberg, it was the correct decision.

However six minutes later it is debateable if the right call was made by the referee as he brandished a second yellow card to Torres for diving after he was 'fouled' by Jonny Evans, Chelsea had to play the remaining 22 minutes with nine men. Roberto Di Matteo shook his head in a state of disbelief and Torres remonstrated with the forth official as a left the pitch.

During his post match interview Evans admitted he made "a bit"of contact with Torres to bring him down however Torres made more than "a bit" of an imprint of stud marks on the chest of Cleverly in the first half and was lucky to be on the pitch in the first place.

After all the effort Chelsea made to come back from 2-0 down United were bound to make the extra space count and with 15 minutes left of normal time the inevitable happened but not without the controversy that followed the pattern of the game.

Substitute Hernandez scored the winner but was clearly offside when the ball was played across the Chelsea box by Rafael. As the United players celebrated, objects were thrown onto the pitch and a steward was injured in the aftermath of the goal.

After the game a Chelsea spokesman said that the club were "investigating all the incidents around at that time".

He added: "We have lodged a complaint to the Premier League match official delegate regarding inappropriate language used by the referee towards two of our players in separate incidents in today’s game."

For this weeks league fixtures, Clattenberg has been left off the referee's list as the Professional Games Match Officals stated that he is one of the "elite referee's in world football" but "the level of scrunity (surrounding him) would detract from the match and be unfair to the clubs and supports of both sides".

United took the points here but Chelsea have the chance to get a small bit of revenge in the Capital One Cup on Wednesday in the "Battle of the Bridge" part two. If that game is as dramatic as this one it will be more frightening than most sequels on Halloween night.

Kick it Out: Is enough being done to combat racism in football?

After the previous week in football both here and abroad, I have felt the need to check and double check my calendar to make sure the year is 2012 and not 1982. It seems that racism has unfortunately been thrust into the spotlight in the past year, starting with Liverpool striker Luis Suarez being banned for eight games after being found guilty by the Football Association for racially abusing Manchester United defender Patrice Evra in October last year.

In the same month in 2011, Chelsea captain John Terry was accused of using abusive and/or insulting words and/or behaviour towards Queens Park Rangers defender Anton Ferdinand which included a reference to his colour and/or race. Terry was found guilty of these charges and subsequently banned for four Premier League matches, 'disciplined' by Chelsea, stripped of his England captaincy and fined £220,000 by the FA.

Are four and eight match bans enough of a punishment to stop this happening in English football again? QPR midfielder Joey Barton (currently on-loan at Marseille) was banned for twelve league fixtures after getting sent-off against Manchester City on the last day of the 2011/12 season for violent conduct and subsequent actions after being dismissed. I am not condoning violence anywhere however should that offence carry the same punishment as a combined ban for racially abusing an opponent? After Barton was punished (dismissed as club captain and fined six weeks wages) his club banished him to France for a year but Liverpool players wore t-shirts bearing the image of Suarez in support of their player and we are still waiting to see if Chelsea will strip Terry of his captaincy.

Are clubs sending out the right messages when it comes to racist incidents involving their players?

Some black footballers have expressed their dissatisfaction at the length of bans for both Suarez and Terry along with the belief that the FA are not doing enough to combat the problems the have risen recently.

Reading striker and BBC Radio Five Live pundit Jason Roberts has refused to wear a ‘Kick It Out’ shirt before his team play Liverpool on Saturday.

Roberts explained his boycott of the shirts to BBC Sport, he said: “I won’t wear one. I find it hard to wear a t-shirt after what happened last year.”

He also believed that Terry’s ban was “a year to late” and that The FA should have given him a “longer ban” as the sanction was “nowhere near harsh enough.”

To say English football has a problem with racism would be an overstatement but football is a global game and the scenes in Serbia on Tuesday show that other countries are miles behind us when it comes to dealing with racism on and off the pitch.

Instead of celebrating qualifying for the Under-21’s Euro 2013 Tournament next year being held in Israel after a 1-0 victory, the England Under-21 team were involved with scenes more suited to WWE’s Royal Rumble.

England’s left-back Danny Rose was subjected to appalling racist abuse before, during and after the match by Serbia fans (watch http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oQ15jQt4kmg).

Rose told thefa.com: “It started when we went out for the warm-up, they started the monkey chanting straight away.

“In the first half I went down to get the ball for a throw-in and the fans started again with the monkey chants, but the first half was nowhere near as bad as the second half.

“In the second half I had two stones hit me on the head when I went to get the ball for a throw-in. Every time I touched the ball there was monkey chanting again.”

The shocking behavior of the Serbia fans was bad enough but for their coach Aleksandar Jankovic to say “both sides” were to blame for the ugly scenes and the Serbia captain Slobodan Medojevic to be oblivious to any racial chanting is beyond alarming.

The FA and Prime Minister David Cameron demanded UEFA hand out “tough sanctions” to the Serbia fans if found guilty of racist chanting.

However let’s not hold our breath on those sanctions being tougher than the £16,000 the Serbian Football Federation was fined in 2007 after their fans racially abused then Manchester City defender Nedum Onouha at the Under-21 European Championship in Holland.

This is the same UEFA that recently fined S.S. Lazio just £32,000 for their fans racially abusing Tottenham Hotspurs players in a Europa League match earlier this season.

UEFA would rather fine Denmark’s Nicklas Bendtner £80,000 for revealing underpants carrying an unauthorised sponsor’s logo during the summer’s European Championship. Just that example alone shows how seriously one of the games administrative bodies takes racism.

How can we forget the comments from FIFA president Sepp Blatter who claimed racism could be solved with a simple “handshake” at the end of a match?

With comments like that and the pathetic fines handed out you cannot blame players and fans alike who feel disillusioned with the way racism is being handled.

The day after the Serbia against England Under-21 match, Manchester United defender Rio Ferdinand wrote on Twitter: “The only way to start stopping racism + violence in stadiums is BIG bans... fines means nothing.”

It’s hard to disagree with the former England captain opinion and with the FA funded and supported 'Kick It Out' awareness week beginning yesterday it could be more important than ever for the FA, FIFA and UEFA to do more to kick racism out of football forever.

Friendships Vs. Relationships

Boy meets girl, boy and girl start a relationship, boy has best friend who is a girl, girl friend becomes uncomfortable with friendship between boy and his female friend, female friend misses boy as she hardly spends time with him now he has a girlfriend......

Making a relationship work is hard to do in this day and age but it’s even more difficult to do when friends begin to wonder if they have been cast aside due to a new love interest in their associate’s life. In a relationship it can become difficult to strike the right balance between your partner and your friends of the opposite sex. Both friend and partner want to spend time with you but as you are tied to somebody and want to make your relationship work you can unwillingly neglect your friend even though you have known them longer than you have known your current partner. Both partner and friend can become disillusioned with how they are being treated, your partner can believe your spending too much time with your friend and your friend will wonder if you too are spending enough time together due to your new love interest.

When starting a new chapter in life you can inadvertently overlook your friendship you previously had as effort and time is need to prosper with your other half. It doesn’t mean you don’t treasure your friendship or your feelings change, it is just circumstances that have changed. If a relationship is fresh you need things to run smoothly and make the person you are seeing feel as comfortable as possible. How weird would it be if every time you went anywhere as a couple, that friend would be present as well?

As we get older our outlook on life along with our relationships adjust to new situations. It could be with your parents, friends or partners it’s just a part of life, some would call it evolution. While before you hooked up with your new partner you and your friend could chill and relax together by yourselves at each other’s houses that could now been deemed inappropriate even though your friendship is strictly platonic. Things like spending hours on the phone or going to watch a film together can make things seriously complicated if you’re in a serious relationship with somebody, friends need to be understanding.

Just because you don’t spend as much time as you once did with your friend it doesn’t mean you have forgotten them, its just a case of making slight adjustments to your lives and making time for them. A friend may feel that things don’t need to change at all but until they find themselves in the same situation they might not comprehend why things are moving in a different direction. The question is how do you  handle a situation like this without upsetting anyone?

You never forget your real friends regardless of what status you hold, they will always have a place in your heart.