For rapper 50 Cent, the birth of his son meant putting fatherhood ahead of the 'hood.
"It wasn't getting shot," said the platinum-selling Queens native, who took nine bullets in a 2000 murder try. "It was my son and creating a stable life for him."
The "Get Rich or Die Tryin'" singer returns to his old South Jamaica home Saturday, encouraging kids to get active in the community and avoid the street life.
"I want to be able to go and talk to them and [have] them really feel what my experience has been," he told the Daily News Thursday.
It's an intense, one-of-a-kind experience.
The rapper survived the shooting outside his grandmother's house. The one-time drug dealer was also stabbed.
But the rap icon said kids don't set out to do wrong. "They do what they're influenced to do," said 50 Cent, who hopes to exert a more positive influence.
The 35-year-old performer, whose real name is Curtis Jackson, is hosting "Forever Young Day" in Baisley Park - a six-hour event aimed at promoting exercise for local children.
The hip-hop artist tried hosting a similar neighborhood festival last year, but it was postponed because of security concerns surrounding his plans to perform.
An NYPD spokesman confirmed they are aware of Fitty's appearance, with adequate security assigned to the area.
Still, locals don't need to fear a melee like last week's South Street Seaport show - the performer won't pick up a microphone.
Fitty said the near-riot for a free Drake concert cut his chances to sing hits like "In Da Club" or "What Up Gangsta."
"They would've said no to me immediately," said the rapper, whose son Marquise is now 14.
He said lack of guidance led him to selling crack cocaine. Now, by promoting more activities, he can help others avoid making the same mistakes.
"You don't feel the repercussions because it comes so far after the game," the drug dealer-turned-rapper said. "I had no options: It was go on welfare or go in the street."
And now kids are spending too much time on the computers and the numbers of children who are obese are skyrocketing.
"Technology is keeping them still," he said, adding that he always stayed active as a kid by playing basketball or boxing. "You don't see that anymore."
The hip-hopper said he's working hard to get back in shape after gaining back the 50 pounds he shed for a movie role.
"I put the weight back on," he said, laughing. "I'm not back in shape, but my size is back."
Source: NY Daily News
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