Was 50 Cent In The Military? Here's The Answer

50 Cent has been rapping for over twenty years. Did he ever spend time in the military?

50 Cent has not served in the military. There is no record of his service and 50 Cent has never claimed that he served in the military. The rapper was subjected to backlash from a Facebook post by a Marine Corps member in 2013, however. The Marine expressed his disdain over 50 Cent wearing a Marine uniform for the music video “Rider Pt. 2,” which was released by G-Unit, a rap group including 50 Cent.

Keep reading to learn more about the controversy.

Playing Military Dress Up?

In 2013, a member of the US Marine Corps took to Facebook to share his anger about 50 Cent donning a Marine uniform, without ever having been in the military. 

The post, which appears to have since been deleted, said the following:

My Name Is Cpl Schafer Matthew B United States Marine Corps And The Reason I Am Writing This Is To Ask You What The F— You Think Your Doing Disgracing My Uniform We All Damn Well Know You NEVER Served In My Corps What Makes You Think You Have The Right To Put Medals On Your Chest That You Didnt Earn I Wanna Know Who The F— You Think You Are And Who Gives You The Right To Impersonate A Marine!?

Many who saw the post agreed with the Marine, with thousands liking and sharing it, as well as leaving supportive comments.

One poster wrote, “Hip hop just went to far! Respect the colors that never runs. 50 cent, you are a joke stay home and drink your vitamin water [sic].”

However, others criticized the Marine and instead supported 50 Cent’s choices. One fan of the rapper commented:

Not to mention ur just a mindless zombie for the gov, N 50 has done more, and given back more to this country than u ever could imagine.

The music video in question had actually been produced several years before the outraged Marine shared his views on Facebook, back in 2009. 

It’s assumed that the military man had only just gotten around to watching the video for “Rider Pt.2,” a single from G-Unit’s T·O·S (Terminate on Sight) album.

In the video, the rappers of G-Unit and background performers wear various uniforms from across several US military forces. Many of the uniforms are adorned with medals.

The track and accompanying video is drawing a parallel between military service and life in the dangerous streets of the rappers’ upbringings. 

50 Cent, for instance, is thought to have begun selling drugs when he was just 12 years old on the streets of Queens, New York.

Lyrics in the song include: “I done told you boy I’m a soldier boy” and “Fo’ Fo’ out, I know bout, the keys of war.”

Several outraged commenters on the Facebook post argued that serving one’s country should not be compared to the hardships faced by civilians.

Watch the controversial music video below.

50 Cent has yet to comment on the controversy, and it seems unlikely he will ever do so, given the time that has passed since both the making of the video and the angered Facebook post.

Not the Only Time he’s Put on a Uniform

50 Cent, who often goes by his real name—Curtis Jackson—when acting, dressed up as an Army National Guard soldier prior to making the music video that stirred up tension in the military community. 

The actor had the role of Specialist Jamal Aiken in Home of the Brave (2006). He can be seen in a medal-adorned uniform in a still from the movie.

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