In 2000, rapper Curtis “50 Cent” Jackson found himself at the center of a violent shooting incident outside his grandmother’s home in Queens, New York, where he was targeted and shot multiple times. Surviving the brutal attack, which left him with lasting scars, 50 Cent endured 13 days in critical care followed by five months of recovery. He later turned this traumatic experience into artistic fuel, famously referencing the incident in his album Get Rich or Die Tryin’, where he also hinted at the identity of his alleged shooter, Daryl “Homicide” Baum. This track “Many Men” marked the beginning of a larger narrative that intertwined 50 Cent’s career with unexpected figures, including legendary boxer Mike Tyson.
Baum, who was close to Tyson and reportedly served as part of his inner circle, was alleged to have played a direct role in the attempt on 50 Cent’s life. His connection with Tyson raised questions within the hip-hop community, especially given Tyson’s high-profile dedication of his 2000 fight against Lou Savarese to Baum, shortly after the shooting. Just weeks after the incident, Baum was killed in a retaliatory attack, adding further mystery and darkness to the situation.
The drama took another turn during the trial for Baum’s murder, where Dwayne Myers, a member of the notorious Cash Money Brothers gang, claimed that Tyson had allegedly placed a bounty on the individuals responsible for Baum’s death. Tyson’s public image, already tinged with a fierce persona in and out of the ring, was clouded by these allegations, adding a layer of intrigue to his involvement with Baum and their shared, albeit violent, loyalty.
The aftermath of the shooting had a profound impact on 50 Cent’s career. Dropped from Columbia Records in the wake of the incident, he later found new support under Eminem and Dr. Dre, eventually launching his career to stratospheric heights. However, the story of 50 Cent and Tyson took another unexpected turn when 50 Cent purchased Tyson’s sprawling 50,000-square-foot mansion in Connecticut in 2003, reportedly paying $4.3 million. At the time, Tyson was facing significant financial troubles, with debts totaling around $23 million. The purchase helped Tyson ease his financial burdens, sparking public speculation as to why 50 Cent would come to the aid of someone so closely tied to his own traumatic past.
The mansion, known for its grandeur, featured 21 bedrooms, 25 bathrooms, a recording studio, and multiple sports courts, reflecting both Tyson’s and 50 Cent’s larger-than-life personalities. The property’s extensive amenities and size, however, proved to be a heavy financial strain, costing 50 Cent over $65,000 monthly in maintenance. After a decade-long struggle to sell the property, he eventually let it go for $3.1 million, a far cry from its original asking price.
Tyson and 50 Cent’s unusual relationship sparked public debate and fan theories. Some speculated that 50 Cent’s acquisition of the mansion was more than a real estate investment, suggesting it might have been a symbolic move. A fan theory even posited that 50 Cent turned the room where Baum reportedly once slept into his master bedroom—a symbolic “chess move” in his complex relationship with Tyson.
Despite these conjectures, the story remains shrouded in ambiguity, as the exact motives behind Tyson’s alleged involvement in 50 Cent’s shooting and 50 Cent’s subsequent purchase of Tyson’s mansion remain unclear. Whether the rapper’s gesture was a calculated step, an olive branch, or a statement on the power dynamics within their shared world of fame and controversy, it continues to spark curiosity and conversation among fans and industry insiders alike.
The saga of 50 Cent and Mike Tyson captures the essence of a deeply intertwined hip-hop and boxing culture, where loyalty, rivalry, and vengeance intersect in unpredictable ways. For now, the true story remains elusive, leaving room for both speculation and intrigue around these two iconic figures. The impact of their relationship, however, stands as a testament to the high stakes and complex webs of influence within the worlds they occupy.
