Why 50 Cent was afraid of his own mother: “I could not escape her”
50 Cent had a turbulent childhood, and those who have chronicled his early life, including biographers and journalists, have suggested that his relationship with his mother and the area he grew up in contributed to his aggressive tendencies early in his career.
Akin to his character in the iconic Power series, Fifty was raised in the Queens neighbourhood of South Jamaica, the same neighbourhood that legendary rapper Nicki Minaj also hails from.
It was here that the Get Rich Or Die Tryin’ emcee learnt about the rules of the streets and the music industry. In a 2021 interview, the lyricist spoke about being bullied as a child and the harsh treatment he received from his late mom. In fact, he disclosed that, as a youngster, he was slightly fearful of her.
During the discussion, he revealed that his Starz series Power draws much inspiration from his own life. Speaking about his character, 50 Cent explained, “[There’s a scene] from the first episode where Kanan gets roughed up and he goes back in the house and [his mother put the toys in the socks]. That really happened. Like, that was from my life.”
While talking about his early years, the ‘Candy Shop’ rhymer admitted that although kids in the neighbourhood pushed him around, things weren’t much better at home, and he even went as far as to assert that he preferred being outside rather than at home with his mom.
Elaborating on his treatment in and out of the house, Fifty told the publication, “There’s a point where, things that you are afraid of, that I got bumped around a lot in the park, but I was more afraid of my mom than the people.”
He continued, “I got bumped around by because I could not escape her. Her being a single mom at that point, she was everything.” 50 Cent’s mother was far from soft. In fact, to the surprise of many, the emcee has previously confirmed reports that during the 1980s crack epidemic, she made extra money as a drug dealer to provide a roof over Fifty’s head.
Providing a vivid description of her actions and why she put the fear of god in him, the Massacre creator detailed, “She was my mom and my dad, and she was tough, so I didn’t know when it was OK to be emotional and when it wasn’t. She would look at me on the floor and say, ‘Get up. What you don’t over there cryin’ and actin’ like a little girl?’ She’d get mad, and you go, ‘Oh, s—, it’s not OK to be hurt this time.'”
Although 50 Cent was, in many ways, afraid of his mother, she did provide protection for him and following her death, aged 23, the rapper lived with his grandma who, due to age, couldn’t protect him as much. It was outside his grandmother’s home that he was shot nine times in 2000 and during this era when he began selling crack himself.