HUSTLE HARDER HUSTLE SMARTER
by Curtis Jackson
The successful rap artist and media mogul reflects on surviving the streets of Queens, New York, blowing up in the 2000s hip-hop scene, and now thriving in the executive boardroom. “I’ve managed to make it to the top twice,” writes Jackson, popularly known as 50 Cent, who distinguishes himself from the gangster persona he adopted “in order to help deal with the chaos and insanity that I saw all around me growing up.” After semiretiring from a generation-defining hip-hop career (more than 30 million albums sold worldwide), his transition into Hollywood with the hit drama series Power landed him one of the biggest deals in premium cable history. Jackson’s previous book, The 50th Law, co-written by 48 Laws of Power author Robert Greene, was a bestseller; here, the author emphasizes the maturity and growth, as well as the ruthlessness, that come with “moving in corporate America.” Through nine interrelated principles—fans will know he survived being shot nine times—Jackson lays out a key framework for improving one’s personal and professional lives. While the Machiavellian-esque advice (see “how to influence others,” “maintain control”) may read a little rehearsed and rehashed, what promises to keep readers intrigued are the scintillating short stories that reveal the advice’s utility. The author has consistently made headlines through the detailed advertising of the behind-the-scenes lives of celebrities. Indeed, that is one of the lessons: “How To Control the Conversation.” Just like his rhyming, Jackson is adept at delivering a big punchline, such as his call to embrace honesty: “Whether you’re the boss, a partner, or just a worker, you have to create an environment where people can be honest about their character with you. Otherwise, you’re going to build unsustainable situations. That’s what ruined Ja Rule’s career.” Savor the celebrity gossip and push through to the lessons of one of hip-hop’s most successful businessmen ever.