The story of Sabrina Jackson: 50 Cent's mother's life and tragic death
50 Cent is known as one of hip-hop’s toughest OGs. The rap legend has survived life-changing hardships. Despite 50 Cent’s tough-guy persona, his mother, Sabrina Jackson, was the fiercest person he knew.
Source: Getty Images
TABLE OF CONTENTS
Key takeaway
- 50 Cent’s mother gave birth to him when she was reportedly 15 years old.
- His mother passed away under mysterious circumstances in 1983, with some people claiming foul play.
Profile summary
Full name | Curtis James Jackson III |
Nickname | 50 Cent, Fif, Boo Boo, Fiddy |
Gender | Male |
Date of birth | July 6, 1975 |
Age | 50 years old (in 2025) |
Place of birth | South Jamaica, Queens, New York City, USA |
Current residence | Farmington, Connecticut, USA |
Nationality | American |
Ethnicity | African-American |
Mother | Sabrina Jackson |
Marital status | Single |
Baby mama | Shaniqua Tompkins, Daphne Joy |
Children | 2 |
Education | Andrew Jackson High School (dropout) |
Profession | Rapper, actor, businessman and television producer |
Net worth | $60 million |
Social media |
Sabrina Jackson was the only parent Curtis knew growing up
50 Cent's mom, Sabrina Jackson (born 1958), was only in his life until he was eight years old. She raised him with tough love. She could be affectionate or strict, depending on the moment.
The wealthy rapper attributed this to the fact that his father was never around. Curtis Jackson's mother was both mother and father to him. He told Page Six:
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. She would look at me on the floor and say, ‘Get up. What you don't over there cryin' and actin' like a little girl.' She'd get mad...So, she's balancing when she should be soft and when she should be firm with you.
Source: Original
50 Cent's mother was a leader on the South Jamaica streets
Sabrina Jackson was a young mother who had to provide for her son. She was also proud and refused to beg for help. In an interview with Spin documented in Google Books, her son, 50 Cent, said:
She didn't see welfare or Burger King as a real option. She did what she thought she had to do to take care of me.
To make ends meet, Sabrina sold controlled substances on Old South Road, South Jamaica, Queens. She became a prominent figure in her illicit trade. 50’s mom was feared on the streets, even though few women were involved in that line of work.
Her business brought her into contact with wealthy clients
Sabrina’s business on the street meant that she also related with wealthy associates and clients. In an interview with The Guardian, 50 Cent said:
The only people I saw coming round who had nice things were from my mom’s life. They had Cadillacs, expensive jewellery, everything that symbolised financial freedom.
Source: Getty Images
Sabrina Jackson was bisexual
Although she gave birth to Curtis Jackson at 15, Sabrina identified as bisexual. According to The Pink News, 50 Cent told Perez Hilton the following in an interview:
My mom was a lesbian. Yeah, she liked women. My whole childhood was like that. It’s two different things, too – from a female perspective, when you see two females together, you think, oh, they’re just girlfriends, they’re close. But with my mom, the male was missing.
50’s mom passed away in 1983
According to The Margins, Sabrina’s involvement in the sales of illegal substances caught up with her. She reportedly passed away in 1983 under suspicious circumstances.
His mother was found unresponsive in her apartment, which had caught fire. 50 Cent believed that a street rival caused Sabrina Jackson's death. He said her killer allegedly laced her drink, turned on the gas, and set the house on fire.
The death of 50 Cent's mother happened when the rapper was eight years old. He revealed how he felt at the time to The Big Issue and said:
I think shock is the best way to describe how I felt when my mother died. I didn't understand it. To have a single parent as your guardian — they're your whole life.
Source: Getty Images
She influenced the businessman who 50 Cent became
50 Cent refused to wallow in self-pity and instead vowed to "get rich or die tryin." His grandmother had adopted him, and they lived with several relatives.
As a 12-year-old, he began to sell illegal substances like his mother. Curtis Jackson eventually was everything his late mother was and more. Per Hot New Hip Hop, 50 Cent said the following about his mother while talking about his character in Power Book III: Raising Kanan:
There's a point where things that you are afraid of, that I got bumped around a lot in the park, but I was more afraid of my mom than the people I got bumped around by, because I could not escape her. Being a single mom at that point, she was everything.
Source: Getty Images
Frequently asked questions
- What happened to 50's mom? Sabrina Jackson's involvement in dealing illegal substances was linked to her demise in 1983.
- Who raised 50 after his mom died? His grandmother raised him after his mother passed away. He grew up with several relatives in a small house.
- Who is 50 Cent’s first son? Marquise Jackson, born in 1996, is Curtis Jackson’s firstborn.
- Is 50 Cent a granddad? 50’s son, Marquise, became a father in 2025, making him a grandfather.
Conclusion
Sabrina Jackson was just 23 when she passed away, but she remains a legend in her son Curtis’ eyes. She did all she could to raise her son right, though some of her choices ultimately cost them both.
READ MORE: Marquise Jackson's biography: Everything to know about 50 Cent's son
As Briefly.co.za published, 50 Cent has two children with two different women. His first is Marquise Jackson, whom he had with Shaniqua Hopkins. He had his second son, Sire Jackson, with Daphne Joy.
Marquise was born in California, the United States. His nationality is American, and he is of African-American ethnicity. He has emulated his father by pursuing careers as an actor and rapper.
Source: Briefly News
