Reference Reviews

Doug’s Student Reference Room

50 Cent, by Michael V. Uschan. 104 p. Farmington Hills, MI: Lucent Books, 2008. ISBN 13: 978-1-4205-0011-0. ISBN 10: 1-4205-0011-2. $32.45.

At age 25, Curtis Jackson, better known as 50 Cent, was hit by nine bullets, including one each to his face and chest, while sitting in a car in front of his grandmother’s house. Soon after, Columbia records cancelled release of his debut album, and his promising career seemed over. Less than three years later, the rapper had joined forces with Ja Rule and Dr. Dre and had created two songs that were on Billboard magazine’s top ten list at the same time. The author chronicles 50 Cent’s turbulent life largely without casting judgment, despite the star’s drug-filled, violent life. In addition to a detailed account of the rapper’s troubled childhood, young readers may appreciate the star’s determination and business and marketing acumen. The final chapter does present the criticisms of 50 Cent that are prevalent in the debate over Gangsta Rap—that he is still a thug, that he glorifies and may even contribute to the spread of violence—but this argument is largely overshadowed by the earlier account of the singer’s wild success and the lavish life he leads as a result. Recommended for middle school, high school and public libraries.
—Doug Achterman