Originally signed by major label Columbia Records in 1999 with a planned release of an album called “Power of the Dollar”. A young 50 Cent intended on tapping into underground hype with a lead single called ‘How to Rob’ in August 1999.
Within a year of How To Rob’s release, 50 Cent was dropped from the label, and the album was canceled after he was shot nine times in Queens, New York in May 2000. After this blacklisting, 50 Cent had to look for alternative locations to record new music, as he was too hot and too controversial of a figure by the time he recovered from the shooting.
According to records obtained by The Smoking Gun - 50 Cent was not able to find work in the United States, so he packed up shop and began working on independent releases in the Great White North - In Canada he recorded two known mixtapes called Guess Who’s Back, and 50 Cent is the Future.
As legend has it, Eminem got his hands on a copy of “Guess Who’s Back” through 50’s attorney, who was working with Eminem’s manager, Paul Rosenberg. They liked what they saw, 50 signed with Dr. Dre’s Aftermath Entertainment, and Eminem’s Shady Records... and 50's journey to superstardom began.
Join Myles Galloway as he tells you the true story of 50 Cent's 'In Da Club' complete with unearthed footage from 50 Cent at the time.
Sources: http://www.thesmokinggun.com/documents/crime/surveilling-50-cent 
https://www.theguardian.com/world/2005/sep/08/arts.usa
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