This violent and introspective memoir reveals not only 50 Cent's story but also the story of a generation of youth faced with hard choices and very few options. It is a tale of sacrifice, transformation, and redemption, but also one of hope, determination, and the power of self. Told in 50's unique voice, the narrative drips with the raw insight, street wisdom, and his struggle to survive at all costs -- and behold the riches of the American Dream.
From Pieces to Weight: Once Upon a Time in Southside Queens
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Editorial Reviews
From Publishers Weekly
Starred Review. The rap superstar known as 50 Cent was born Curtis James Jackson III in 1976. His mother, a smalltime drug dealer, was murdered when he was eight, but that didn't stop him from pursuing her profession. 50 Cent is unflinchingly honest about his mother, his drug past and just about everything else in this raw, literate memoir chronicling his rise from Jamaica, Queens, to the top of the Billboard charts. In his neighborhood, recalls 50 Cent, the only people with money were the drug dealers: "They were my role models." By 11, he'd made his first sale. Over the next decade, 50 Cent evolved from a hustler selling capsules of crack cocaine ("pieces") to a kingpin purchasing by the kilo ("weight"). With money came girls, clothes, cars—and trouble. 50 Cent describes spraying bullets at rivals, outrunning police on his motorcycle and waking up to a drug raid on his house. He avoided jail by serving time in a boot camp–style incarceration center, which did nothing but turn him into a "stronger, meaner, and more focused criminal." His big break into music came through a chance meeting with Jam Master Jay (of Run-DMC). Yet even while trying to break into the business, 50 Cent couldn't leave his past behind, wearing bulletproof vests to meetings with record executives and slipping back into the drug trade when his career didn't take off immediately. Fans will discover the origins of 50 Cent's famous feud with Ja Rule; they'll also get more details about the notorious 2000 shooting that left him with nine bullet holes in his body. Opinionated, unrepentant and unabashedly self-promoting, 50 Cent's memoir celebrates the rapper's peculiar brand of the American Dream (and the title of his breakthrough album): Get Rich or Die Tryin'.
Copyright © Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.
Copyright © Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.
Review
"Cool, hard, and vivid, a minor classic of a genre you might call gangster rap noir. No fluff here. 50 Cent tells the story of his life...with a novelist's economy."
-- The New York Times
"50 Cent is unflinchingly honest...in this raw, literate memoir.... Opinionated, unrepentant, and unabashedly self-promoting, [From Pieces to Weight] celebrates the rapper's peculiar brand of the American Dream."
-- Publishers Weekly (starred review)
"A gripping read."
-- Time Out New York
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Customer Reviews
Most Helpful Customer Reviews
15 of 15 people found the following review helpful
Format:Hardcover
50's story is exactly what he says it is, an autobiography of sorts. It gives the reader a glimpse at the circumstances that helped shape the man he is today. What I really enjoyed about this book was his honesty when it came to his emotions. If he was scared he said "I was scared", there was no fronting. He did not try to play the tough guy, he gave you the scenarios he was faced with and left it to the reader to form an opinion. I thought the story was refreshing in it's realness. People watch Scarface over and over again because it's a rush, well imagine if it were a true story and Tony Montana wrote a book, everyone would read it. I happen to have lived in Jamaica Queens and so I guess reading about that part of the "hood" made it even more interesting for me. I think the people that are mad that he is capitalizing off of his fame(especially if you live in America) are not thinking straight. America is the land of capitalization. What do you want him to do, only rap and that's it...why? If there is a demand for his story then it's his job as a business man to supply that demand, end of story. 50 has led an interesting life thus far and he gave us a taste of it. Don't get upset that he is doing well, be happy for him. Be happy that he is not shooting up the streets, be happy that he can make money through his law abiding talents. Anyway, to those interested in buying the book, I thought it was good over all and it felt like watching a movie, action sequences and all. If you want to see the movie when it comes out, buy or borrow the book so that you can get the scoop early and compare it to the movie.
20 of 22 people found the following review helpful
Format:Hardcover
I just finished my copy of From Pieces to Weight and it was incredible. I read the whole book in a day and a half i couldn't stop reading it. It is the core of the hood. In most instantces i could relate to him. Everything he said has to be actually lived out you can't make up stuff like that not even the movies can pin point that. I really hope that who ever reads this book realizes that coming up from the bottom is not the easiet thing to do.50 cent if you read this review this was a great book it felt as if i was up close and personal with you , this book will leave a great impact if people take time out to read it. God bless you and all your endevers and whoever else reads this book should realise his isn't glorifying anything negative it is what it is man .Keep your belief in God 50 and you will truely find out your purpose in life.
11 of 11 people found the following review helpful
4.0 out of 5 stars
Stereotypically, i didnt think he could write this well. I was proven very, very wrong
September 28, 2005
By K. Scalcione
Format:Hardcover
"Curtis Jackson" aka 50 Cent definatly shocked me with his tale of childhood. I LOVED the words and phrases that he uses in this book. Some parts are histerical. The number 1 reason that i want to read this book is because i was very curious about his life, growing up in Jamacia, Queens. I pass through there every day to go to Manhattan and i always wonder what his life was like. This book definatly lays it out for you.
However i thought that 50 Cent lacked the proper smooth transition to link his "hustlin'" days to his Rap days. I thought that it ABRUPTLY changed right from Drugs to Rap in a matter of a page. I felt he could have made that transition more smooth.
He also talked very little about his career as a rapper. I just thought he could have expanded on it as much as he did his childhood.
But over all i definatly give this book a 8 out of 10. It was very well written in a vocabulary sense and i thought it was appealing to younger audiences. A few people on the train asked me about this book and how i was. I told them to go to Borders ASAP and buy it. It is a definate good read.
However i thought that 50 Cent lacked the proper smooth transition to link his "hustlin'" days to his Rap days. I thought that it ABRUPTLY changed right from Drugs to Rap in a matter of a page. I felt he could have made that transition more smooth.
He also talked very little about his career as a rapper. I just thought he could have expanded on it as much as he did his childhood.
But over all i definatly give this book a 8 out of 10. It was very well written in a vocabulary sense and i thought it was appealing to younger audiences. A few people on the train asked me about this book and how i was. I told them to go to Borders ASAP and buy it. It is a definate good read.
6 of 6 people found the following review helpful
By D-Ash
Format:Hardcover
But this was a great book, usually I find it hard for books to keep my attention, but not this one. Without a doubt the best book I have ever read. I tells the true story of 50 Cent in his own words. He had a tough life and made it big, you can't hate a man for that. If people miss out on reading this masterpiece then they are surelly missing a great read for anyone, not just fans of Hip-Hop or 50 Cent. Buy this book or check it out at the library. It should win some of those book awards, not sure of the names, but I know they're out there.
5 of 5 people found the following review helpful
Format:Hardcover
I'm an avid reader of everything from Wilbur Smith to Isabelle Allende. And I also am a huge music and hip hop fan. This book, on its own, is a great read. I picked it up right before I took a flight to Europe and finished it in 3 days. 50's story of his rise from a very young hustler in Queens (11 years old!) to a mega-star rapper is a great story. His life story is compelling and entertaining. You feel his voice and feelings come through the pages.
Defintiely worth picking up. I have passed it on to 2 people already who were equally pleased. however you wanna put it, it's tight, it's off the heezy, it's dynamic. Definitely worth the money.
Defintiely worth picking up. I have passed it on to 2 people already who were equally pleased. however you wanna put it, it's tight, it's off the heezy, it's dynamic. Definitely worth the money.
4 of 4 people found the following review helpful
Format:Audio CD
His rap is explicit, raucous, and born of the street. So is his memoir. He's braggadocios, a master of self-promotion - he had to be to rise from drug riddled South Jamaica, Queens to become the fastest selling debut artist of all time. And, he's probably packed more living and almost dying into his brief 26 years than most who have lived into their 80s.
Fans, and they are legion (record sales of over 20 million worldwide), will welcome this bio. Others will steer a wide berth. Whatever the case he does have an amazing story to tell, which makes other rags to riches tales pale beside it.
He was given the name Curtis James Jackson at birth in 1976. His mother dealt drugs. He saw her murdered when he was 8-years-old. His grandparents took him in, but he'd learned his lesson well. He was only 11 when he emulated his mother by selling drugs. As he would later say the drug dealers were the only people he knew who had money, and as the title of his debut reiterates "Get Rich Or Die Tryin'."
He did both. He was shot 9 times and did jail time. At that time no one would have bet a dime on 50 Cent. However, luck was with him and he did get a chance in the music business. One would like to say that the rest is history, but the fact is that's a checkered history because when his music career wasn't doing as he thought it should he went back to doing what he then knew best - selling.
Unbelievable as it seems after so many ups and devastating downs, 50 Cent is now firmly at the top.
One may wonder why 50 Cent didn't read his story himself. After all, no one can tell it better. Whatever the reason, actor J.D. Williams is highly listenable, offering a solid performance and wisely not trying to imitate 50 Cent.
- Gail Cooke
Fans, and they are legion (record sales of over 20 million worldwide), will welcome this bio. Others will steer a wide berth. Whatever the case he does have an amazing story to tell, which makes other rags to riches tales pale beside it.
He was given the name Curtis James Jackson at birth in 1976. His mother dealt drugs. He saw her murdered when he was 8-years-old. His grandparents took him in, but he'd learned his lesson well. He was only 11 when he emulated his mother by selling drugs. As he would later say the drug dealers were the only people he knew who had money, and as the title of his debut reiterates "Get Rich Or Die Tryin'."
He did both. He was shot 9 times and did jail time. At that time no one would have bet a dime on 50 Cent. However, luck was with him and he did get a chance in the music business. One would like to say that the rest is history, but the fact is that's a checkered history because when his music career wasn't doing as he thought it should he went back to doing what he then knew best - selling.
Unbelievable as it seems after so many ups and devastating downs, 50 Cent is now firmly at the top.
One may wonder why 50 Cent didn't read his story himself. After all, no one can tell it better. Whatever the reason, actor J.D. Williams is highly listenable, offering a solid performance and wisely not trying to imitate 50 Cent.
- Gail Cooke
Most Recent Customer Reviews
2.0 out of 5 stars
Reviews
I still havn't recieved it yet, and it said it will come by january 22nd. Hopefully i will recieve it in the next few days.
Published 4 months ago by Arman
3.0 out of 5 stars
Cheap
This is 50 Cents memoir on his life in the drug game and rise to fame. It is a good accounting of life in the Southside of Jamaica Queens that touches on the crack era in the 80s... Read more
Published 13 months ago by Jim Wilson
4.0 out of 5 stars
Great book!!!
This book details 50 Cent's journey from a street corner hustler to rap superstar. In it he recounts all the trials and tribulations he had to go through to get to the state of... Read more
Published 13 months ago by MGeorge
5.0 out of 5 stars
Great Autobiography!!!!
It is a very interesting story.I didn't want to pause, oh yeah it was that great. The story of his journey to success can't be beaten. I have so much respect for him.
Published 15 months ago by Jannbablo
4.0 out of 5 stars
50's Real Life Story
This book was a journey through the mind of 50. it showed the world how some great hip-hop artists start out in the real world. Read more
Published 17 months ago by camrun413
5.0 out of 5 stars
excellent read!
didnt expect much but when i got into it, it was great. true story that reads like an novel. couldnt put it down. great quick read!
Published 19 months ago by Stephen K. Mbugua
1.0 out of 5 stars
Worse book I've ever read
I couldn't even read this whole book (I read through half of it in high school) because it didn't sound anything like English. Read more
Published 23 months ago by Rocky Louis
5.0 out of 5 stars
The best book i have ever read!
it is beyond doubt that this is the best book i have ever read!
from the first page you get cought in his way of writing, and his life.
from the first page you get cought in his way of writing, and his life.
Published 24 months ago by PatrickAndersen
3.0 out of 5 stars
From Pieces to Weight
This book isn't very good, there are a lot of other books that cover the Queens drugs dealers that are way better than this including Queens Reigns Supreme and Copshot but I guess... Read more
Published on December 23, 2010 by Seth Ferranti- Gorilla Convict Publications
5.0 out of 5 stars
Insightful
I saw 50 cent on the Chelsea Lately show recently. Until then, I hadn't given him a second thought. I honestly figured he was just another thug rapper type (I am not into rap). Read more
Published on January 31, 2010 by Sumer Hall
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