Jam Master Jay Records
Jam Master Jay of Run-DMC signed him to his label for a brief time. His first official appearance on a song was on the group Onyx song "React", on their album "Shut 'Em Down" in 1998. Jam Master Jay began teaching 50 how to make a record.

Columbia Records
After leaving Jam Master Jay, the platinum hitmakers Trackmasters took notice of 50 and signed him to Columbia Records in 1999. They shipped 50 to Upstate NY where they locked him up in the studio for 2 1/2 weeks. He turned out 36 songs in this short period, which resulted in Power Of The Dollar. His career took off after the release of the successful, but controversial single "How to Rob" playfully painting him as a deliriously hungry up-and-comer daydreaming of robbing famous rappers. Offended by this record, Jay-Z, Big Pun, Sticky Fingaz, and Ghostface Killah all replied to the song. The next single, "Ghetto Qur'an", led to a feud with a drug kingpin known as Kenneth "Supreme" McGriff, founder of a gang known as the "Supreme Team." The song goes in depth about the business of the drug trade and exposed the names of many in the business. The debut album Power of the Dollar was shelved due to the controversies surrounding the rapper, and also led to the infamous shooting and feuds with numerous rappers affiliated with McGriff.

Shooting
In April 2000, three days before filming his video with Destiny's Child for the song "Thug Luv", 50 Cent was shot at 9 times. Three of the 9mm bullets hit him, one in the jaw and one in each leg. This occurred in front of his grandmother's house in Queens, New York. While his injuries were non-life threatening, he underwent surgery and spent the next few months in recovery while Columbia Records dropped him from the label. After his recovery, 50 Cent returned to the recording studio, despite having no income or backing, with his new business partner and friend Sha Money XL. The two recorded over 30 songs, strictly for mix tapes, with the sole purpose of building a reputation. 50 Cent's popularity rose and by the end of Spring 2001 he released the new material independently on the makeshift LP, Guess Who's Back?. Beginning to attract interest, and now backed by G-Unit, 50 Cent continued making more songs. But than create new songs as they had before, 50 decided to showcase his hit-making ability by retouching beats which had already been used. They released the red, white and blue bootleg, "50 Cent Is the Future," revisiting material by Jay-Z and even Rapheal Saadiq.

Shady/Aftermath
After getting signed to a seven figure deal. 50 quickly released another bootleg of borrowed beats, "No Mercy, No Fear." The CD featured only one new track, "Wanksta." The track was put on Eminem's 8 Mile soundtrack.

The popularity of G-Unit
In its first week of release, his debut "Get Rich Or Die Tryin'" sold 872,000 copies. The album was certified gold in its first week and platinum the next, and it broke the record for first week sales of any major label debut in the entire Soundscan era. The rapper's debut album "Get Rich or Die Tryin'" was certified six times platinum by the RIAA.
Interscope then granted 50 Cent his own label, G-Unit Records. 50 Cent appointed his manager Sha Money XL as the president. The label signed on Lloyd Banks, Tony Yayo and Young Buck as the established members of G-Unit. Dr. Dre and 50 Cent had signed The Game under a joint venture. After the departure of The Game, the rapper signed singer Olivia and rap veteran Mobb Deep to G-Unit Records. Spider Loc, M.O.P., and Young Hot Rod joined G-Unit after the signing of Mobb Deep. 50 Cent has expressed interest in working with other rappers outside of G-Unit such as Lil' Scrappy of BME, LL Cool J from Def Jam, Mase from Bad Boy, and Freeway of Roc-A-Fella Records, some of whom he has now recorded with.

Fort Minor