50 𝑪𝒆𝒏𝒕 has been a superstar ever since his 2003 debut album Get Rich Or Die Tryin’ sold 872,000 copies in its first four days, but his latest post sees him take things back to before his gargantuan rise to fame.

On Monday (November 6), the rapper took to Instagram to share an old photo of his much-younger self in deep concentration, sitting in front of what appears to be a piece of music equipment.

“This is what it looks like when you have nothing and you fall in love with something,” he wrote. “Music is magic people don’t agree on anything but when the right music comes on they agree to have a good time.”

50 𝑪𝒆𝒏𝒕’s throwback pic got responses from a number of his Hip Hop peers, including Swizz Beatz who commented: “Congrats on everything King you did it,” while DJ Premier added: “Yes indeed.”

Author and entertainment branding specialist Thembisa Mshaka recalled working with a young 50 around the time he was signed to Columbia Records — which the rapper was famously dropped from after getting shot in May 2000.

“I cherish our conversations in my office at Sony. A teenager with the eye of the tiger and lyrics to go. So proud of you, family!” Mshaka wrote.

Uncle Murda, Talib Kweli, Street Soldiers host Lisa Evers, comedian Michael Blackson and more also shared some kind words for the G-Unit mogul.

50 𝑪𝒆𝒏𝒕 has documented his rise to fame several times before. His mid-2000s memoir From Pieces to Weight: Once Upon a Time in Southside Queens, co-written with kris Ex, covered his youth and early career in detail. There was also the fictionalized version of his life story that he shared in the 2005 movie Get Rich or Die Tryin’.

This photo was not the only time 50 𝑪𝒆𝒏𝒕 has been in a nostalgic mood lately. On Sunday (November 5) he took time to celebrate Get Rich or Die Tryin’ (the album) reaching its four billionth Spotify stream.

“See why I be saying take your time make it a classic. Over 4 billion Spotify streams,” he captioned his IG post celebrating the accomplishment.

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