Fans of rap legend 50 Cent are stunned by the dramatic transformation he underwent for a 2011 movie in which he starred and co-produced.
The ‘In Da Club’ star is best known for his music but has also built a notable acting career, particularly through his role as Kanan Stark on the Starz crime drama Power.
Born Curtis Jackson III, the rapper made a splash with his debut album Get Rich or Die Tryin’ under Eminem’s Shady Records.
The Grammy and Emmy winner has established a highly successful career and continues to push boundaries with his projects, as highlighted by recently resurfaced photos from one of his past films.
In Things Fall Apart, 50 Cent portrayed Deon, an American football running back with dreams of going pro and playing in the NFL after excelling at the college level.
However, just as he is on the brink of turning professional, he falls ill with a genetic disease, which upends his life and shatters his football dreams.
In the film, Deon battles cancer while coming to terms with his new reality, ultimately learning to find the silver linings in his changed circumstances.
The late Ray Liotta also stars in the film, but the major talking point is how much weight 50 Cent lost for the role, achieving the transformation without the use of CGI.
The 49-year-old followed a liquid-only diet and exercised for three hours a day on a treadmill for nine weeks to achieve his appearance and weight, similar to Christian Bale’s transformation for The Machinist, where he lost 63 pounds (28.5 kg).
The rapper lost an impressive 54 pounds (24.5 kg) in nine weeks for the role. Although he falls slightly short of Bale’s weight loss, it remains a staggering achievement.
The multi-millionaire is renowned for his muscular physique, frequently going topless at shows and famously appearing topless and upside down in the ‘In Da Club’ music video.
When photos of the star on set were released, rumors circulated that it was a hoax. Jackson quickly refuted these claims, stating at the time, “I was starving,” and announced that he would resume touring once filming was complete.
“I’ve been eating. I’ll be back in shape in no time!”
Before filming the 2011 movie, the hip-hop artist disclosed that he had some of his tattoos removed as he pursued a more serious acting career.
He stated, “I took ’em off. I’ve been on a few acting projects, and they’ve been making me get up… My call time is four hours before the regular acting talent because of the tattoos.”
It proved to be worth it, with roles in films like Southpaw and Den of Thieves becoming major hits at the box office. Additionally, the critically acclaimed TV series Power (2014-2020) showcased his acting ability and solidified his reputation in the acting world.
