Hollywood talks about fame. Wall Street talks about fortune. But this week, 50 Cent — the man who once rapped “Get Rich or Die Tryin’” — is talking about something far rarer: heart.

From Hustle to Humanity: 50 Cent Gives It All Away

In a move that’s left fans and fellow artists speechless, rap icon Curtis “50 Cent” Jackson has donated every dollar of his $5 million in recent tour and sponsorship earnings to build a network of homeless support centers in his hometown — Queens, New York.

Standing just blocks from the streets where he once sold mixtapes and dodged bullets, the rapper fought back tears as he made the announcement.

“I’ve seen too many people in my neighborhood freeze through the night. I told myself, if I ever made it — I’d come back for them,” he said quietly.
“No one should have to sleep outside in the cold.”

The “Queens Housing and Hope Initiative”

The project — fully funded by Jackson himself — will create 150 permanent homes and 300 temporary beds, alongside a 24-hour resource hub offering job programs, addiction recovery, and mental health support.

City officials call it “the most significant private donation for homelessness in New York in decades.”
But to those who know him, it’s simply 50 Cent being Curtis Jackson — the kid who never forgot where he came from.

 “Real Success Is When You Come Back”

Far from his flashy “In Da Club” persona, Jackson spoke with raw honesty:

“I used to dream about getting out of Queens. But when I did, I realized — getting out isn’t enough.
Real success is when you come back and change something.”

He recalled nights as a teen with no place to sleep, couch-hopping and praying for a break.

“There were times I didn’t know where I’d wake up the next day. So now, if someone finds warmth because of me — that’s real wealth.”

 Praise from the Streets and City Hall

Queens Borough President Donovan Richards hailed the gesture as “transformative,” adding:

“Curtis grew up here, he knows our struggle. This isn’t charity — this is leadership.”

Housing advocate Linda Morales echoed that sentiment:

“He’s not just building beds — he’s rebuilding dignity.”

Even lifelong locals were moved. One resident said:

“I saw him rise from nothing. Now he’s giving back to the same block that raised him. That’s what Queens pride looks like.”

Beyond Music, Beyond Fame

In two decades, 50 Cent has built an empire — music, TV, business — but says this is his proudest moment.

“People remember the hits,” he said with a small smile. “But I want them to remember that I did something that mattered.”

He’s already planning to expand the initiative across the U.S.

“If this works — and it will — we’ll take it nationwide.”

“From Queens, For Queens”

As he ended his speech, a banner behind him read those words in bold white letters.

He looked out over the crowd — local families, city workers, and fans — and said softly:

“When you grow up here, you learn early that nobody’s coming to save you.
But maybe… we can save each other.”

And with that, the rapper who once fought to escape Queens walked off stage — leaving behind not verses, but a legacy of shelter, warmth, and hope.