The Shocking Details-Who Shot 50 Cent and Why?

In 2000, rapper 50 Cent was shot 9 times in an assassination attempt outside his grandmother’s house. The shooting left him hospitalized with severe injuries, but he miraculously survived. Over the years, 50 Cent has referenced the shooting in many of his most popular songs. But details about who exactly shot him and why have remained murky, until now. In this article we reveal The Shocking Details-Who Shot 50 Cent and Why.

We reveal the shocking truth about what led to 50 Cent’s near-fatal shooting based on court documents and insider information. We uncover the shady drug lord behind the shooting, his specific motives, and the ultimate fate of the triggerman.

50 Cent’s Early Life and Rise to Fame

Born Curtis Jackson III in Queens, New York, 50 Cent had a turbulent upbringing surrounded by crime and drugs. He began dealing crack cocaine at 12 years old and had several drug-related arrests as a teen. But he also discovered rapping as an artistic outlet.

Mentored by Run DMC’s Jam Master Jay, 50 Cent started recording music and garnered attention for his mixtapes on the streets. In 1999, he landed a record deal with Columbia Records and was preparing to release his debut album Power of the Dollar. 50 Cent seemed destined for hip-hop stardom until violence derailed his career.

The Assassination Attempt That Nearly Killed 50 Cent

On May 24, 2000, 50 Cent was sitting in a car outside his grandmother’s house in South Jamaica, Queens. Suddenly, a black Ford Expedition pulled up next to him. The passenger got out holding a 9mm handgun and opened fire, shooting 50 Cent 9 times at close range before speeding off.

50 Cent was hit in his hands, arms, legs, chest, and face. He somehow survived but was badly injured, needing to stay in the hospital for 13 days and undergoing intense physical therapy for months. In interviews, 50 Cent admitted feeling fearful and angry following the shooting. But this brush with death ultimately lit a fire under him.

The Drug Lord Behind 50 Cent’s Shooting

So who wanted 50 Cent dead and why? According to explosive court revelations in 2005, the mastermind behind the shooting was notorious Queens drug lord Kenneth “Supreme” McGriff. McGriff was the infamous leader of The Supreme Team, a violent drug gang that ruled the crack cocaine trade in Queens during the 1980s.

In 2000, McGriff had been released from prison and was attempting to build his former empire back up. He apparently took issue with 50 Cent naming him in the song “Ghetto Qu’ran” from his unreleased album. 50 Cent saw the song as a tribute to the “street legends” he grew up around. But McGriff saw it as a violation of the code of silence around his criminal dealings. Enraged, McGriff allegedly hired a hitman to take out 50 Cent as punishment.

The Triggerman Who Shot 50 Cent

The triggerman McGriff contracted was revealed to be Darryl “Hommo” Baum, a close associate of Mike Tyson and Lil Kim’s bodyguard. On May 24, 2000 Baum carried out McGriff’s gruesome hit on 50 Cent, shooting him 9 times at point-blank range before speeding off.

But Baum would not live to see another day. Just 3 weeks later he was killed in a drive-by shooting in Brooklyn. Rumor was it was retaliation by 50 Cent’s crew. But others suggest McGriff had Baum killed to tie up loose ends after the failed assassination attempt made headlines.

The Aftermath: Prison for McGriff, Superstardom for 50 Cent

Following 50 Cent’s shooting, authorities eventually arrested and convicted Kenneth McGriff for multiple murders thanks to eyewitness testimony. He received a life sentence with no chance of parole.

50 Cent, meanwhile, channeled his anger over the shooting into fueling his rap dreams. He caught the ear of Eminem and Dr. Dre with his mixtapes and was signed to their labels Shady Records and Aftermath Entertainment. 50 Cent then exploded onto the hip hop scene with his smash hit 2003 debut Get Rich or Die Tryin’ featuring vengeful songs clearly inspired by his shooting like “Many Men (Wish Death Upon Me)”.

The album launched 50 Cent into global superstardom, making him the biggest breakout hip hop star in years. He’s since sold over 30 million albums worldwide, proving that even a ruthless attempt on his life could not stop his meteoric rise to the top. I sincerely hope you enjoyed reading this “The Shocking Details-Who Shot 50 Cent and Why?” article.