50 Cent

50 Cent, born Curtis Jackson in Queens, New York, broke through in 2003 with his debut album "Get Rich or Die Tryin'" under Dr. Dre and Eminem's mentorship. The album sold over 800,000 copies in its first week and established 50 Cent as a dominant force in East Coast hip-hop. His gritty street narratives and catchy hooks made him one of the most commercially successful rappers of the 2000s.