Who Killed 50 Cent’s Mother? The Lingering Mystery of Sabrina Jackson’s Death
50 Cent lost his mother, Sabrina Jackson, before reaching his teenage years. Both he and his mother were involved in the drug scene, leaving some to think she was shot.
By D.M.Sept. 30 2024, Published 12:28 p.m. ET
Rapper turned mogul 50 Cent has always been open about his rough upbringing. He often reflects on the impact of being raised in Queens by his single mother, Sabrina Jackson.
Sabrina was a well-known figure in her neighborhood, who was involved in the drug trade, which eventually led to her tragic death. Despite the dangers she faced in her world, Sabrina worked hard to provide for 50 (real name: Curtis Jackson), doing whatever she could to ensure he had a better future.
In interviews, 50 often describes his mother as fiercely independent and strong-willed. Her entrepreneurial mindset, though tied to the drug scene, left a lasting impression on her son.
After her passing, Curtis went to live with his grandparents, but the loss of his mother forever altered his path. Sabrina’s death has captivated hip-hop fans for years, with fans questioning what happened to 50’s mother.
50 Cent appears in photo in Instagram
Was 50 Cent’s mother Sabrina Jackson shot?
Sabrina Jackson's death in 1983 was a suspected homicide. Authorities believe someone drugged her and left her unconscious in her apartment before setting it on fire.
Despite the suspicious circumstances, no arrests were made, and her killer remains unidentified. This tragic event left 50 Cent without his mother during his most formative years.
50 has spoken about the tragic details of his mother’s death, which left his family shocked.
"Someone put something in her drink and turned the gas on,” 50 said (per Contact Music). "After that, every time something went wrong I'd think, 'If my mother was here it wouldn't be like that.'"
50 was only 8 years old at the time, and the death had a major impact on his childhood. After Sabrina’s murder in 1983, 50 moved in with his grandparents, where he shared a small house with eight other relatives.
50 Cent was raised by his grandmother.
Sabrina Jackson was a single parent and played a vital role in the 50 Cent’s life.
"She was my mom and my dad and she was tough so I didn’t know when it was OK to be emotional and when it wasn’t,” 50 told Page Six. “She would look at me on the floor [when he was upset] and say, ‘Get up — what you over there crying for acting like a little girl [for].’”
50 went on to reveal that his mother was a tough woman, who balanced being nurturing and “firm.”
After Sabrina's death, 50 moved in with his grandmother in South Jamaica, Queens. He soon became drawn to the streets, and by the age of 12, he started dealing drugs.
He has openly discussed this path in interviews and his music. 50 has admitted that his formative years were filled with bad choices, including arrests, fights, and involvement in drug dealing.
Meanwhile, 50’s grandmother was a steady figure in his life.
"I was aggressive enough to get by on the street – but then I’d go home and be my grandmother’s baby,” the rapper told Big Issue. “I was outside hustling but I still had to talk my grandmother into letting me walk home from school myself.”
