50 Cent Reveals the Affirmation That Saved His Life After 9 Bullets—The Words He Still Repeats Every Morning: “Get rich or die tryin’”

Curtis “50 Cent” Jackson’s story has always been defined by survival. Long before platinum records, film roles, and a business empire, he was a young man from South Jamaica, Queens, who stared death in the face. In 2000, Jackson was shot nine times at close range and left for dead. Most would not have lived to tell the story. But 50 Cent not only survived—he transformed the trauma into a personal philosophy, anchored by one uncompromising affirmation:

“Get rich or die tryin’.”

“I still repeat it every morning,” he confessed. “It saved my life then, and it still drives me now.”

A Mantra Born From Pain

The shooting left Jackson in the hospital for months, with doctors doubting whether he would walk—or rap—with the same strength again. Yet for him, the ordeal sharpened his perspective: success wasn’t an option, it was survival.

“Those words weren’t about money,” he explained. “They were about purpose. Either I was going to turn everything I’d been through into something bigger, or I wasn’t going to make it at all.”

From the Streets to Stardom

Armed with that mindset, Jackson poured his pain and determination into music. His raw, unfiltered authenticity set him apart in an industry dominated by polish. When he released his debut album Get Rich or Die Tryin’ in 2003, the title was more than branding—it was the mantra that had carried him out of the hospital and into history.

The album sold over 10 million copies worldwide, launching him as one of hip-hop’s defining voices and cementing his place in cultural history.

Words That Still Guide Him

Two decades later, 50 Cent has become more than a rapper: he is a businessman, actor, and producer. Yet the affirmation that once kept him alive still frames his mornings.

“I say it before I start the day,” he revealed. “It reminds me that nothing is guaranteed, but if you put everything on the line, you’ll find a way.”

A Legacy of Resilience

What began as survival poetry evolved into a philosophy of ambition, resilience, and grit. For millions of fans, “Get rich or die tryin’” became more than an album title—it was a rallying cry for perseverance against impossible odds.

For 50 Cent, it remains the sentence that saved his life. A line that became armor. A reminder that tragedy did not define him—he defined himself.

Would you like me to style this piece as a music culture feature (tying the mantra to his influence on hip-hop) or a motivational profile (framing it as a universal story of survival and resilience)?