What is the stage name of rapper Curtis Jackson?

The stage name of rapper Curtis Jackson is 50 Cent. Born Curtis James Jackson III in Queens, New York, he adopted the name early in his rap career and became one of the defining commercial stars of 2000s hip-hop.

Jackson has said the name was inspired by Kelvin Martin, a Brooklyn robber who was known as “50 Cent.” He used the nickname as a metaphor for self-reliance and survival rather than as a reference to money or his legal name. The stylized spelling is normally written as “50 Cent,” though “Fifty Cent” may appear in informal writing.

His breakthrough came with Get Rich or Die Tryin’ in 2003, which featured hits including “In da Club” and “21 Questions.” He also founded the rap group and label collective G-Unit, and later expanded into acting, television production, and business. The Game, Ja Rule, and Lil Wayne are separate artists, despite their connections to the broader hip-hop scene.