Former President Donald Trump narrowly escaped an apparent assassination attempt during a rally on Saturday (July 13), prompting rapper 50 Cent to revisit his debut album “Get Rich or Die Tryin'” in a social media post.
Referencing the track “Many Men (Wish Death)” from his 2003 album, which recounts 50 Cent surviving a shooting incident, the rapper remarked on his trending status following news of Trump’s shooting scare. “Trump gets shot and now I’m trending,” 50 Cent posted alongside an edited album cover depicting Trump’s face superimposed on his own body, accompanied by a shrugging emoji.
Prior to sharing the altered album art, 50 Cent had posted a photo of Trump from the rally in Butler, Pennsylvania, where the former president appeared with a bloodied ear and face, surrounded by Secret Service agents rushing him offstage after gunshots were heard.
A spokesperson for Trump, Steven Cheung, confirmed to The New York Times that Trump was unharmed, while one rally attendee and the suspected shooter were fatally wounded.
The track “Many Men (Wish Death)” remains significant in 50 Cent’s career, despite never being released as an official single. It contributed to the success of “Get Rich or Die Tryin’,” which topped the Billboard 200 albums chart in 2003 and earned a Grammy nomination for Best Rap Album.
Reflecting on the song’s impact, 50 Cent noted in a recent revelation that “Many Men” was his least favorite track from the album due to its slower tempo, contrasting with the high-energy beats prevalent during that era.
In a candid 2013 interview with Howard Stern, 50 Cent discussed the circumstances surrounding his own shooting, attributing it to karma and past conflicts. His remarks resonated on social media, where reactions to Trump’s ordeal ranged from humorous to supportive, with many users drawing parallels to 50 Cent’s lyrics and suggesting Trump use the song for his campaign.
The incident at the rally has sparked widespread discussion online, underscoring the enduring influence of 50 Cent’s music and the cultural resonance of “Get Rich or Die Tryin'” nearly two decades after its release.