In 2011, 50 Cent discussed his significant transformation for a film, and initially, many believed it was merely a joke.
Fans of the rap icon were taken aback when vintage photos surfaced of him during the filming of one of his earlier movies.
While the rapper known for ‘Candy Shop' is primarily recognized for his music, he has also built a notable acting career with roles in series and films such as Power, Expend4bles, and 13.
In 2011, the 49-year-old acted in the movie All Things Fall Apart with Ray Liotta, Mario Van Peebles, and Lynn Whitfield.
Curtis Jackson is the actual name of a man who aspired to be a professional American football player. Sadly, his dreams were crushed when Deon, a running back, fell seriously ill due to a genetic condition, altering the course of his life and ending his sports ambitions.
To depict a football player fighting cancer, 50 Cent shed significant weight, dropping from 214 pounds (97 kg) to 160 pounds (72.5 kg) in only nine weeks. He accomplished this by following a liquid-only diet and dedicating three hours daily to running on a treadmill.
When you see the pictures of his change, you might not even recognize him as the rapper from ‘In Da Club.' The difference is really amazing.
Fans are used to seeing the rapper looking pretty buff. (Andrew Chin/Getty Images)
During that period, rumors circulated suggesting it was all a hoax, as many found it difficult to accept that the celebrity had truly lost such a significant amount of weight.
The actor described the process as quite difficult, yet it was not unfamiliar to him. He recalled that in 2000, after being shot in the jaw, he was limited to liquids, which resulted in further weight loss.
“This time it was a lot tougher for me,” he told the Associated Press at the time.
“I had to discipline myself not … to actually have myself be in the physical state to convey the energy I felt. It's a passion project for me.”
The difference is staggering. (Jamie McCarthy/Getty Images)
Struggling to maintain his fitness, he began researching how other actors transformed their bodies for various roles. Christian Bale famously shed an incredible eight stone for his performance in The Machinist, while Robert De Niro underwent a similar transformation for his role in Cape Fear.
50 Cent stated, “I went on the computer. As things became challenging, I wanted to understand their experiences, so I looked up all the interviews they did at various times while promoting their projects.”
Once the movie was finished, the actor promised that he would be ‘fit again really soon' and all set to go on tour.
Featured Image Credit: Jamie McCarthy/Getty Images/X/@50Cent
