Curtis James Jackson III, otherwise known as rapper 50 Cent, has filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection, according to The Wall Street Journal. According to court documents filed in the U.S. Bankruptcy Court in Hartford, Conn., Jackson's "debts are primarily consumer debts." The rapper reported assets and liabilities ranging from $10-$50 million.
The filing comes days after a jury ordered 50 Cent to pay Lastonia Leviston $5 million. The lawsuit stems from a 13-minute video that appeared online in 2009 featuring a wig-wearing 50 Cent as a narrator named Pimpin' Curly. The character made explicit remarks about Leviston and taunted rap rival Rick Ross, who wasn't in the video but has a daughter with Leviston. At the time the video surfaced, Ross and 50 Cent were trading barbs via video, lyrics and interviews, according to Billboard.
50 Cent first burst onto the rap scene with his 2003 album, "Get Rich or Die Tryin," which was produced by rap legend Dr. Dre. The lead single from the album, "In Da Club," was a smash hit and spoke of his tough life that included being shot nine times. Now 40, 50 cent is also a businessman - his interests have ranged from mining to water drinks - and an actor whose credits include the Starz network action series "Power" and the upcoming boxing movie "Southpaw," according to the Associated Press.
