The entertainment business is often changing as artists are constantly thinking of ways to reinvent themselves. It's almost uncommon now to just make music.
Artists are becoming more involved in acting, endorsements, clothing lines, restaurants and more recently writing their own books. Alicia Keys, Jill Scott, T-Boz, Madonna, Eminem and Tupac have all published books. These artists have all discovered new ways to express themselves.
R&B singer Alicia Keys signed with Penguin Group to publish her first book, "Tears for Water," containing poems and lyrics. The book was published in November of 2004 and has already generated $500,000. Keys is expected to debut two other books, "The Songbook" and "The Diary of Alicia Keys."
Singer Madonna has three children's books under her belt which have all appeared on the New York Times Children's Picture Book Best Seller's List. Her three books have sold more than one million copies and her fourth book is expected to increase the sales.
Neo-soul songstress Jill Scott released her book of poetry, "The Moments, The Minutes, The Hours" in April 2005.
T-Boz, a member of the smash group TLC, released her book of inspirational poems and essays in 2000. Rapper 50 Cent can now add his new book line to the rest of his fortunes as well.
Curtis Jackson, better known as 50 Cent, is teaming up with MTV/Pocket books to launch his new series of hip-hop novels. The novels will feature characters from his well-known rap entourage G-Unit.
The stories are created to "tell the truth about the life, the sex, the guns and cash, the brutal highs and short lives of the players in the streets," according to a statement from the publishers at the press release.
The book series is scheduled to make its debut in 2007. The author of "The Glamorous Life and A Hustler's Wife," Nikki Turner will write the first of the hood-enthused novels.
The rapper and his publishers are aiming to reach out to his young fans. According to 50's agent, Marc Gerald, "They see this as an opportunity to try everything and see what they can do to get teenage boys reading".
What more is left for the rapper to accomplish? 50's name has swept the streets, topped the charts and flooded the airways. His well-known rags-to-riches story is known nationwide.
The artist who once earned an income from drug dealing has now sold more than 12 million copies of his two albums, "Get Rich or Die Tryin'" and "The Massacre."
His many other projects include a recently launched G-Unit clothing line, Formula 50 Glaceau Vitamin Water, G-Unit watches through Jacob and Company scheduled to appear in the future, the video game Bulletproof, which released Nov. 22, and a much anticipated semi-autobiographical film, "Get Rich or Die Tryin'," which opened in theaters Nov 9. The film has already grossed $12 million.
His earnings continue to add as his first album earned him $14 million in royalties since 2003. He has earned extra royalties from his G-Unit artists and The G-Unit sneakers designed by Reebok which have sold more than one million pair, bringing the artist $6 million more in royalties.
50 Cent was ranked number thirty-four out of last years Rolling Stones Annual List of Music's Top Fifty Earner's. This year he rose to number nineteen.
What more is left for the rapper to accomplish?
Or better yet will his new book line be as successful as the rest of his empire? His agents and supporter seem to think so. They believe the books will achieve more.
His agent, Gerald also said he said "all of 50's books, even though there might be violence, are all about optimism and getting there. And the opportunity to get young people to talk about books in a meaningful way, which in itself is an achievement."
