For our January 2011 issue, rapper Curtis “50 Cent†Jackson provides BLACK ENTERPRISE an all-access look at how he’s evolved into an entrepreneur extraordinaire. In a revealing interview, the 35-year-old speaks candidly about recent deals, notable milestones and future plans that make up his burgeoning business empire. But just what goes into being Curtis “50 Cent†Jackson? You’ll have to pick up the January issue when it hits newsstands on December 28 to get the full story, but in the meantime BLACKENTERPRISE.com will whet your appetite with a series of Web exclusive content that further unmasks the controversial businessman…
Curtis “50 Cent†Jackson is a man of many talents. From music to movies, and everything in between, he’s made a conscious effort to pursue (and achieve) his dreams, all the while motivating others to do the same. In addition to awarding scholarships to college-bound kids, the Curtis “50 Cent†Jackson Community Garden opened in the Jamaica section of Queens, NY in 2008. Generously funded by Jackson’s G-Unity Foundation, the 15,000-square-foot renovated space now provides a green, family-friendly area for neighborhood residents which include more than 52,000 children.
But in this online exclusive, Jackson, one of our 40 Next–who in 2003 launched his foundation to provide grants to nonprofit organizations in low-income and underserved communities–admits that his hip-hop persona is no role model.
“I think it’s a parent’s responsibility to raise children. I figure an entertainer’s job is to entertain,” says Jackson. “For a kid that’s watching me that views me as an actual role model, I’d say, everything with the music is me creating and capturing a story. Watch what I do, not exactly what I say, because that’s the entertainment portion.”
For more on Curtis “50 Cent†Jackson, read “The Many Faces of 50†in the January 2011 issue of BLACK ENTERPRISE, which hits national newsstands on December 28.
What do you think of Jackson’s view on an entertainer’s responsibility? Take our poll and leave a comment below.
EXCLUSIVE: See behind-the-scenes photos of 50 Cent at our Janaury 2011 cover shoot here.