Will 50 Cent Go To Heaven?
“50 turns fifty, 50 gotta do bigger things”
Curtis James Jackson III, a rapper better known as 50 Cent, has sold over 30 million albums worldwide. He wants to affect more than just the youth culture, he said before a Shreveport city council meeting March 25, 2025. He dawned a necklace with a very large cross hanging from it, expressing his faith as he has done throughout his career.
He’s also turning 50 this year and feels called to do a lot more. That’s why he showed up in Shreveport, to get final approval from the City Council and Mayor to lease StageWorks, a film studio formed after Katrina hit. The goal is to do what Tyler Perry did for Atlanta and bring the film industry to Shreveport. “50 turns fifty, 50 gotta do bigger things,” he said. (See the article and video story here.)
But will 50 Cent go to heaven? He doesn’t belong to a specific Christian denomination. He recognizes God and wears the cross, so he knows about Jesus. It’s a question that came to me as I learned about a section in the Catechism of the Catholic Church known as “Outside the Church there is no salvation.” This encompasses Sections 846 - 848. It starts by saying that the only way to heaven is through the Church (sorry 50!).
But wait, section 847 has a caveat, it says that anyone, who no fault of their own, do not know Christ and his church but “seek God with a sincere heart, and, moved by grace, try in their action to do his will as they know it through the dictates of their conscience—those too may achieve eternal salvation.”
Yes, he’s in!
Oh no! 50 wears a cross. He knows about Christ (again, he wears a cross!). Does this mean that the back door is closed? 50 won’t get into heaven? I need to think this through more and will get back to you. Likewise, if you have any thoughts, comment below or just hit reply from your inbox.
What I do know is that I’ve hardly ever listened to rap music. I find it hard listening to angry people, cursing about violence. But I’ve come to realize the true purpose of the music. Also, some rappers do not curse. Either way, rap music is their escape from cities that have trapped them. Their music talks about their experiences, which includes stories about that violence and injustices thrust upon them by local government. No one is coming to save them from the local government. There is no alternative offered. They are trapped and have been for generations. Music and the money it brings, is their escape tunnel.
Out of this horrible situation, people like 50 Cent emerge with music that doesn’t connect with people like me. I cannot relate to the culture. But they are sharing their talent to tell us what is happening. They are using their God given gifts to show us their reality.
Here’s what he said about this:
“I wouldn't have anything to write about if I didn't use my own experiences. You're being unfair if you tell me to come up with rhymes and not use what I came from, to put no part of me or anything that I've been through in the music. If I don't write about what's going on with me or what's taking place in the 'hood, I ain't got nothing to say. The day 50 can't be real, that's the day I say, "Thank you for all your support, it's been a pleasure"-and I leave.”
Now 50 Cent is using his notoriety and money to build and grow the film industry in Shreveport. Something that could help people for generations. I don’t know if Mr. Jackson will get to heaven, but maybe he’ll want to join the Catholic church just to be safe. We would be blessed to have him and he could keep wearing his big cross necklaces—we love those too.
Peace.