The Nine-Shot Miracle: How Many Times Was 50 Cent Shot And The Untold Aftermath

The story of Curtis "50 Cent" Jackson is inseparable from the near-fatal event that cemented his legend. It is a piece of hip-hop folklore that transcends music, becoming a narrative of survival, reinvention, and ultimate success. As of December 13, 2025, the facts remain chillingly consistent: 50 Cent was shot a total of nine times in a targeted assassination attempt that should have ended his life and career before they truly began. This single, brutal incident in May 2000 became the crucible that forged the global mogul we know today, transforming a talented street rapper into an unkillable icon.

The details of the shooting—the number of bullets, the specific injuries, and the alleged shooter—are constantly revisited in interviews and documentaries, most recently as Jackson promotes his new true-crime series. He continues to reflect on how that day, which left him with nine bullet wounds, forced a complete creative and personal overhaul, leading directly to the gritty, authentic sound that would define an era of hip-hop music and launch his massive business empire.

The Complete Biography and Profile of Curtis '50 Cent' Jackson

Curtis James Jackson III, known professionally as 50 Cent, is a towering figure in modern entertainment. His life story is a quintessential rags-to-riches tale, marked by immense adversity and extraordinary entrepreneurial genius.

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• Full Name: Curtis James Jackson III
• Date of Birth: July 6, 1975
• Place of Birth: South Jamaica, Queens, New York City, New York
• Early Life: Raised by his grandmother after his mother, Sabrina Jackson, passed away when he was eight. He began dealing drugs at age 12.
• Career Origin: Started rapping seriously in the late 1990s under the tutelage of Jam Master Jay of Run-DMC.
• The Turning Point: The May 2000 shooting incident led to him being dropped from Columbia Records but ultimately paved the way for his discovery by Eminem and Dr. Dre.
• Breakthrough Album: Get Rich or Die Tryin' (2003), one of the fastest-selling debut albums in history.
• Major Labels: Shady Records, Aftermath Entertainment, Interscope Records.
• Music Group: Founder of the influential hip-hop collective G-Unit.
• Business Ventures: Notable entrepreneurship in various sectors, including the successful sale of his minority stake in Vitaminwater (Glacéau) for an estimated $100 million. He is also the owner of Sire Spirits, which markets premium brands like Le Chemin Du Roi Champagne and Branson Cognac.
• Television/Film: Highly successful producer and actor, best known for the critically acclaimed *Power* universe on Starz, as well as *BMF* (Black Mafia Family).

The May 2000 Shooting: Nine Bullets and the Injuries Sustained

The attempted assassination of 50 Cent occurred on May 24, 2000, in his old neighborhood of South Jamaica, Queens, New York. Jackson was sitting in a car outside his grandmother's house, where he was living at the time, when a vehicle pulled up alongside him. An assailant opened fire with a 9mm handgun at point-blank range.

The sheer number of times 50 Cent was shot—nine—is what propelled the story into legend. He was struck in multiple critical areas, yet miraculously survived. The nine bullet wounds were distributed across his body:

• One bullet struck his hand.
• One bullet hit his arm.
• One bullet entered his chest.
• One bullet struck his hip.
• Two bullets hit his legs, fracturing them in several places.
• One bullet struck his face, specifically the left cheek.

The facial wound was particularly significant. The bullet passed through his cheek and lodged in his jaw, resulting in a swollen tongue and the permanent loss of a wisdom tooth. This injury fundamentally altered his voice, giving him the slightly slurred, gravelly delivery that became one of his most recognizable vocal trademarks on tracks like "In Da Club" and "Many Men." The recovery was arduous, requiring months of physical therapy and a prolonged hospital stay. He was confined to a wheelchair for six weeks during the initial phase of his recovery.

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The Alleged Shooter and the Immediate Aftermath of the Attack

The identity of the shooter is a key part of the '50 Cent shooting' mythology. The man allegedly responsible for firing the nine shots was Darryl "Hommo" Baum, a notorious figure and former bodyguard for boxing legend Mike Tyson. The motive for the shooting is widely believed to be related to Jackson's controversial song "Ghetto Qu'ran," which detailed the criminal histories of prominent drug dealers and figures in Queens, New York.

The consequences for the alleged gunman were swift and dramatic. Just three weeks after the attempt on Jackson's life, Darryl Baum was himself killed in an unrelated retaliatory shooting. This rapid, violent turn of events further solidified 50 Cent's street credibility and the narrative of his survival against impossible odds. He was, in his own words, "bulletproof."

The immediate professional fallout was also significant. Columbia Records, which was set to release his debut album *Power of a Dollar*, dropped him from the label due to the controversy and the perceived risk associated with the rapper's lifestyle. The album was shelved. This setback, however, proved to be the greatest catalyst for his later success.

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From Near-Death to Global Mogul: The Career Reshaping

The near-fatal attack was the single most defining moment of 50 Cent's career. Instead of retreating, he embraced the experience, using it as the foundational subject matter for his music. His survival story became his brand.

The Birth of *Get Rich or Die Tryin’*

The raw, unfiltered aggression and survivalist mentality that came from being shot nine times permeated his subsequent mixtapes, which caught the attention of Eminem. In 2002, Eminem and Dr. Dre signed 50 Cent to Shady Records and Aftermath Entertainment, respectively. The new debut album, *Get Rich or Die Tryin'*, was a direct reflection of his life, his pain, and the trauma of the shooting. Hits like "Many Men (Wish Death)" explicitly detail the feeling of being targeted and surviving an assassination attempt, resonating with millions worldwide.

The album title itself is an entity—a simple, powerful statement that encapsulated the stakes of his life. It was a complete departure from the original, less focused *Power of a Dollar* concept, proving that the trauma of May 2000 gave him an unparalleled focus and authenticity.

The Business Acumen Forged in Adversity

The mindset that allowed Curtis Jackson to survive nine bullet wounds is the same tenacity he applied to his business ventures. He often speaks about the shooting in recent interviews, noting that the incident forced him to prioritize his goals and recognize the fragility of life. This perspective fueled his transition from a rapper to a diversified entrepreneur and television producer.

His business empire, G-Unit, expanded far beyond music, encompassing clothing, film production, and his highly successful alcohol brands, Le Chemin Du Roi and Branson Cognac. His ability to leverage his brand, his story, and his street-hardened resilience is what makes him a modern business tycoon.

In essence, the attempted murder of Curtis Jackson was the birth of 50 Cent, the global phenomenon. He took the nine bullets meant to silence him and turned them into nine reasons why the world had to listen.