Q&A 50 Cent

By Rebecca Winters

Does anyone ever call you Mr. Cent? Just this guy named Dan.

Why are the key moments in your book all about wounds--by your mom, by bullets, by Jay-Z? The major setbacks in my life made me who I am. Jay-Z makes fun of me at a concert, and suddenly everybody wants to know, who is this 50 Cent?

Do you work harder now than you did when you were selling drugs? About the same, actually. Nonstop. Different product, same hustle. There's no such thing as 9 to 5 when you work for yourself.

You had to cry for scenes in your upcoming movie, Get Rich or Die Tryin'. Did that come easily? I've spent my life trying to hold that emotion in. I replaced it with anger. So to become emotional in front of a camera, with 16 people standing around, no, that wasn't easy.

Is Eminem your closest friend? Em comes right after my grandmother. She can do no wrong. He does things I don't like, but I get over it.

What do you think of two of your tour mates getting arrested for gun possession after your show recently? I have the biggest bull's-eye on my back when it comes to law enforcement. But I don't blame the police. Their perception is based on my history and my music.

Who's your date for the Video Music Awards? My son--he's 9. If he's free.