Let’s dive into the amazing story of Eminem and 50 Cent’s friendship, starting with their lives before they met.
50 Cent’s Early Struggles
After 50 Cent survived being shot nine times in 2000, no label wanted to sign him. He didn’t have the best reputation, especially after releasing a song like “How to Rob,” where he threatened many people in the music industry with robbery. On top of that, he already had beef with Ja Rule.
The Beginning of a Feud
In 1999, Ja Rule was robbed at gunpoint in Queens, New York, by one of 50 Cent’s supposed affiliates. After this, they had a run-in at a club where Ja Rule was allegedly hostile. Ja denies seeing the group there, leading to what was probably a simple misunderstanding. Soon after, 50 Cent released his diss track of Ja Rule, “Life’s on the Line.”
Escalating Tensions
However, it wasn’t until 2000 that things got physical in Atlanta, Georgia. The pair were booked to perform at the same club, which ended in a physical altercation between them. Later that year, 50 Cent was stabbed. 50 Cent’s G-Unit crew ran into Murder Inc at Hit Factory studios in New York City, where Ja was allegedly tipped off to their whereabouts.
The Struggle for Recognition
By that time, 50 Cent had made a lot of enemies, so he struggled with labels. This greatly upset the rapper. The producer of Sha Money XL told 50 that he had just bought himself a new house where the rapper could record. He then came with his homies, found a DJ called DJ Whoo Kid, and started recording mixtapes.
Eminem Enters the Scene
50 Cent’s records reached Detroit, catching Eminem’s attention. Eminem couldn’t stop listening to them and was ecstatic. He brought the music to Dr. Dre, who was equally impressed. They decided to do a joint venture and flew 50 Cent out to L.A. After a meeting, they got Dre involved. As 50 Cent said in an interview, “I am on the Dream Team now. I have two of the coolest bodyguards, Dr. Dre and Eminem.”
Signing the Deal
Eminem was instrumental in signing 50 Cent to a record contract. The deal was a joint venture between Eminem’s Shady Records and Dr. Dre’s Aftermath Records, under the umbrella of Interscope Records. This was an ideal situation for 50, as he had both Dre and Eminem contributing on the production side.
The Rise to Fame
In 2002, a track for the film “8 Mile” was released under the name “Rap Game.” In 2003, the historic album “Get Rich or Die Tryin'” was released, with Eminem featuring on two tracks. In the song “Patiently Waiting,” 50 Cent called Marshall his favorite white boy. Eminem also appeared in the legendary “In Da Club” music video, and in turn, 50 Cent mentioned his friend in the song.
A Growing Friendship
The guys began to perform together, which strengthened their friendship. At that time, the feud between Ja Rule and 50 Cent was in full swing, but Ja had a new opponent: Eminem. Ja Rule was mad at Eminem for signing a contract with 50 Cent. Ja released a diss track mentioning Eminem’s daughter, leading to Eminem releasing “Hailie’s Revenge.
Joint Diss Tracks and Hits
This was not the end. 50 and Eminem made a joint diss track against Ja Rule, “Hail Mary,” taunting him for never being able to become the next Tupac. In 2006, they released what was perhaps their main joint hit, “You Don’t Know.”
Eminem’s Struggles
From 2002 to 2008, Eminem struggled greatly with drug addiction. In 2006, his health deteriorated, especially after his close friend Proof died. Marshall himself said it was a perfect reason to get high again. He gained a lot of weight, peaking at 230 pounds.
Overcoming Addiction
Eminem’s addiction led to a near-fatal overdose of methadone. After finishing rehab, he released the album “Relapse,” featuring 50 Cent in the song “Crack a Bottle.” 50 Cent mentioned that Eminem planned to drop “Relapse 2” but changed his mind after the response to “Relapse.
Continuing Collaborations
In 2012, another collaboration, “My Life,” was released. 50 Cent revealed that he and Eminem were offered “See You Again,” which went on to feature Wiz Khalifa and Charlie Puth, but they had to turn it down due to Eminem’s involvement with the “Southpaw” soundtrack.
Eminem’s Support
After Eminem’s diss on Trump, 50 Cent posted on Instagram, saying, “Still number one. Love you Em, you my friend for life.” In 2018, Eminem’s beef against MGK was loud in the hip-hop community. 50 Cent naturally backed his close friend, highlighting the significance of Eminem’s impact.
Supporting Each Other
In 2020, Eminem supported 50 Cent at the Hollywood Walk of Fame star ceremony, giving an emotional speech. Eminem’s call to 50 Cent during a serious moment showed the depth of their friendship.
Acting Together
In 2021, the series “Black Mafia Family” was released, with 50 Cent as one of the producers. He called Eminem to play the role of the character White Boy Rick.
Super Bowl Performance
In 2022, the guys gave a legendary performance at the Super Bowl halftime show. This performance caused some controversy, but it also showcased their lasting bond.
A True Friendship
Representatives of the World Cup invited Eminem and 50 Cent to perform, but Eminem refused. Despite the offer, their friendship remained strong.
Looking Ahead
In an interview, 50 Cent gave us good news: he plans to bring “8 Mile” to television. This is an example of a true friendship that will touch anyone’s heart.