Eminem signed 50 Cent in 2002 today.
Friends and colleagues for many years, Eminem and 50 Cent have become a household name in hip-hop. Despite the fact that their output has dwindled in recent years, many remember them fondly from their busy rapping days in the Shady Records movement. 19 years ago today (June 17, 2002), one of the most iconic deals took place as Eminem signed 50 Cent to Shady Records, under Dr. Dre’s Aftermath. It is said that the Detroit Rapper signed fifty after he heard his 2002 compilation album “Guess Who’s Back?“.
“Theo, my attorney, and Paul Rosenberg work close together like they know each other,” said 50 Cent. “They came up together so, I had a CD called Guess Who’s Back and Em, right got a copy of it and he was in the middle of completing The Eminem Show, so he didn’t get a chance to properly listen to it, but after he got that done he heard it and he was like “Ya’ll need to come out here now!” so they flew me out on like Friday night, I fly to Los Angeles the next day and I met wit him and Dre and then after we met it was kinda all alright.”
50 Cent went on to sign a $1 Million deal with Eminem and Dr. Dre. With the aid of Em & Dre, 50 Cent became one of the world’s best-selling rappers, especially after his record-breaking first major-label album “Get Rich or Die Tryin.” The project debuted at #1 on the Billboard 200, moving over 872k copies in the first week in the US. Last year (2020), the album was 9x Platinum by the RIAA. 50 Cent’s second album “The Massacre“, also received the same reception as it sold 1.15 million copies in its first four days of release in 2005, the 6th-largest opening week for an album at the time.
⬇️ TODAY IN HIP-HOP ⬇️
2002: 50 Cent signs to Eminem, Shady Records pic.twitter.com/anzOPEGMxw
— XXL Magazine (@XXL) June 17, 2021
50 made certain that Em and Dre received their investment back before departing Shady Records and Aftermath in 2014. The Recording Institute of America recognised each of his first three albums (Get Rich Or Die Trying, The Massacre, and Curtis) as gold or better (RIAA). His first two albums went platinum. Obviously, 50 has had an incredible career, and collaborating with Dre and 50 was a significant part of it.
Even though Fifty left Eminem’s label Shady Records in 2014, they are still the best friends and praise each other on several occasions. In 2020 when 50 received the Hollywood Hall of Fame star, both Em & Dre were available at the ceremony. “I’m here today because he’s not only a business partner to me, this is one of the best friends I’ve known in the world,” said Eminem. “I would say it’s much more fun to be his friend than it is to be his enemy, ’cause this guy is f**king relentless. And he won’t stop. He pretty much does it all. And he’s also helped me through a lot of hard times in my own life and he’s always been there when I need him. So, 50, congrats on your star, man. Hollywood is making it official what I knew from the beginning and Dre knew from the beginning.”
50 Cent has sold more than 30 million albums worldwide and has received several prizes, including a Grammy, thirteen Billboard Music Awards, six World Music Awards, three American Music Awards, and four BET Awards. Jackson had appearances in the semi-autobiographical film Get Rich or Die Trying (2005), the military picture Home of the Brave (2006), and the crime thriller film Righteous Kill (2007) as an actor (2008). Billboard recognised 50 Cent as the sixth-best musician of the 2000s and the third-best rapper (after Eminem and Nelly). “Get Rich or Die Tryin” and “In da Club” were named on Rolling Stone’s list of the “100 Best Albums & Songs of the 2000s.”
During the Pepsi Superbowl 2022, both performed together in the halftime show. The Detroit rapper had the smallest performance time during the night, and he allegedly offered 50 Cent half of his time. Slim Shady “made the request” for 50 Cent to perform at the halftime performance, according to Page Six, and the POWER mogul was “glad to do it.” “They’re pals, and he would do anything for him,” a source close to 50 Cent and Eminem stated.
In the end, Ed Sheeran was the one to bring Eminem and 50 Cent back together for the first time in seven years. Because Sheeran is clearly a fan of the Shady/Aftermath crew, his decision to rap alongside them on 2019’s “Remember The Name” was well received. Em, and 50 brought little vigour to the piano-driven rhythm, which was propelled by nostalgia. Many fans were looking forward to hearing what the “Patiently Waiting” team would sound like in a modern-day duet, given their previous success.
Being honored at the Hollywood Walk of Fame 50 Cent mentioned “Out of all the things that I don’t remember about 2002, I have a very clear memory of the first time I met 50,” Marshall Mathers said. “I think one of the things I noticed when he first walked into the room was his presence, right, because it just kinda felt like he’s gonna be a star. Like, just the way he carried himself, swagger, everything. It just seemed like he was the whole package. What’s crazy about it to me is the charisma and the personality matched the intensity of his music and that first album is so classic.”
