He signed with JMJ, the label of Run DMC DJ, Jam Master Jay, and began crafting his skills. When the platinum hit makers The Trackmasters took notice of 50 and signed him to Columbia Records in 1999, his breakthrough seemed inevitable. They shipped 50 to upstate New York and locked him up in the studio. In just over two weeks, 50 cranked out 36 songs, which resulted in Power of a Dollar, which Blaze Magazine deemed a classic. The album produced a sarcastic stick-up anthem called "How to Rob" which blew through the roof and playfully depicted a ruthless up-and-comer detailing how he would rob famous artists like Master P and Timbaland. Amidst the controversy and a potential breakout cut, "Thug Love" with Destiny's Child, heavy bootlegging tainted Columbia's position on the controversial 50 and they pulled the album. Then, in April of 2000, 50 was shot nine times, including a nine millimetre bullet to the face. He spent the next few months recovering and Columbia Records promptly dropped him from the label. Despite a lack of backing and money, 50 teamed up with new business partner Sha Money XL and produced over 30 new songs with the sole purpose of creating a buzz on the underground tip. The recordings spread through New York on black market CDs and mix-tapes like a virus and the rapper eventually released the new material independently on the makeshift LP, "Guess Who's Back" Beginning to attract interest, and now backed by the G-Unit crew, 50 kept grinding out more songs. In the midst of a major-label bidding war between Jive, Universal and J, according to reports...
