50 Cent Reflects on Learning His Late Mother Was Gay and Channelling Vulnerability Into His Music
In an interview with Variety, 50 Cent shared that he felt no shame after his grandmother explained that his late mother, Sabrina Jackson, was gay. The hip-hop mogul recounted how understanding her life shaped his perspective and inspired his introspective lyrics on 'Hate It or Love It.'
Hip-hop veteran 50 Cent is opening up about the moment he learned about his late mother's sexuality, explaining that the realization never carried any personal stigma or embarrassment for him.
Speaking in an interview with Variety, the rapper recounted how his childhood perspective shifted once his grandmother stepped in to clarify his mother's relationships. During his early years, 50 Cent simply viewed the women visiting his household as everyday company.
"When your mom has friends around, you look at them and just see friends," 50 Cent told Variety. "As a child, I just saw two women hanging out. My grandmother informed me later that there was more going on and they weren't just friends, and I was like, 'Oh! Now I know what that was!'"
He emphasized that learning the truth did not cause him distress or regret. "I'm not ashamed of that in any way," he told the publication, adding that he simply grew up around that environment.
That personal revelation eventually found its way into his discography. 50 Cent drew upon those childhood memories when writing his verse for the collaborative track "Hate It or Love It" alongside The Game. On the record, he addressed the dynamic directly, rhyming about his initial youthful confusion upon witnessing his mother kissing another woman in a difficult environment. Speaking to Variety, the artist noted that allowing himself to be vulnerable regarding the situation ultimately made the music far more powerful.
His mother, Sabrina Jackson, gave birth to him when she was 15 years old and died when he was just eight years of age, according to details shared in the interview. Following her death, 50 Cent was raised by his grandmother. The rapper, who did not know his father, recalled being unable to fully process the news when he was initially told that his mother had passed away and would not be coming back.
Variety also questioned 50 Cent on whether he had ever discussed their parallel backgrounds with Jay-Z, whose mother, Gloria, is also a lesbian. While acknowledging that their maternal experiences are an element they share in common, 50 Cent stated that the topic has never surfaced in conversations between the two artists.
"No, but it is something we have in common," 50 Cent told Variety. "But then, find the line. We just reacted differently to it. One of us doesn't mind, and the other one kind of minds a little bit."
50 Cent first spoke publicly about his mother's sexuality during an interview in 2012, as noted in the reporting. At that time, he recounted his grandmother explaining to him that a kiss he witnessed was distinct from others he had seen. During that earlier period, he also credited former President Barack Obama's public endorsement of same-sex marriage as an influence that helped shape his own perspective and support for marriage equality.