March 10th: MUSIC SYNC, PUBLISHING & PARTNERSHIP HISTORY
2003: 50 Cent’s Get Rich or Die Tryin’ debuts at No. 1 on the Billboard 200
2003: 50 Cent’s Get Rich or Die Tryin’ debuts at No. 1 on the Billboard 200
cementing 50’s arrival as a global superstar and reshaping hip-hop’s relationship with licensing and brand partnerships. With tracks blending raw street narratives, infectious hooks, and club-ready production (largely courtesy of Dr. Dre and Eminem), the album’s music became a licensing powerhouse across sports broadcasts, film soundtracks, video games, and high-energy advertising campaigns.
Licensing & Visual Media Placement Highlights
"In Da Club"
Film: The Interview (2014) — featured prominently in a comedic scene
Film: Get Rich or Die Tryin’ (2005 biopic starring 50 Cent himself) — serves as both a narrative and sync centerpiece
TV: Entourage (Season 1, Episode 6) — played during a nightclub scene, one of the first major syncs for the track
Video Games: Def Jam: Icon (2007) — playable in-game track
Advertising: Licensed for multiple sports promos, including NFL broadcasts, NBA Finals commercials, and a Reebok campaign tied to 50 Cent’s G-Unit sneaker line.
"Many Men (Wish Death)"
Film: Southpaw (2015) — used in fight training montage
TV: Power (2014)— (produced by 50 Cent), this track became a cultural reference point throughout the series’ run.
Documentary: 30 for 30 - Broke (2012) — licensed for its gritty, reflective tone in a segment about athletes losing fortunes.
Video Games: Grand Theft Auto IV (2008) — unofficially referenced in fan mods, but heavily tied to the game’s cultural aura.
"P.I.M.P."
Film: Hustlers (2019) — part of the film’s playlist celebrating early-2000s club culture.
TV: MTV Cribs (various episodes) — played in the background during multiple celeb house tours in the mid-2000s.
Advertising: Licensed for Beats by Dre campaign targeting urban lifestyle audiences (2013).
Reality TV: Used in America’s Next Top Model for a modeling challenge soundtrack (2004).
"21 Questions"
Film: Think Like a Man (2012) — romantic montage scene.
TV: The Sopranos (Season 5, Episode 4 — “All Happy Families”) — played briefly in a nightclub scene.
Advertising: Not heavily licensed commercially due to its more intimate subject matter, but its cultural footprint made it a popular social sync for influencer content during the rise of Vine and early Instagram (2013-2015).
Streaming Data (as of early 2025)
Chart Performance and Sales Data
Billboard 200: Get Rich or Die Tryin’ debuted at #1, selling 872,000 copies in its first week — at the time, one of the biggest first-week sales for a debut album.
Billboard Hot 100 Highlights:
"In Da Club" — #1 for 9 weeks
"21 Questions" — #1 for 4 weeks
"P.I.M.P." — Peaked at #3
Album Sales: Over 12 million copies sold worldwide.
RIAA Certification: 9x Platinum (U.S.)
UK Certification: 3x Platinum
Why This Matters in Sync & Licensing History
Get Rich or Die Tryin’ was a watershed moment for hip-hop licensing. While rap music had often struggled with brand adoption due to concerns over lyrical content, 50 Cent — through his G-Unit clothing line, Reebok deal, and film crossovers — helped bridge the gap between street credibility and mainstream marketability. His music became a sonic calling card for sports montages, action trailers, and urban lifestyle branding.
Notably, "In Da Club" is now one of the most-licensed hip-hop songs of all time, demonstrating that cultural ubiquity can drive long-tail sync revenue.
Want to see how hip-hop legends turn street anthems into licensing gold? Subscribe to American Music + Media and follow our ‘This Day in Music Sync History’ series to explore the business behind the beats.
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Disclaimer: The information provided in this post is based on publicly available sources and internet research. While we strive for accuracy, some dates, streaming numbers, chart positions, and licensing placements may vary or be incomplete. This content is intended to give a general overview of each project’s historical impact and licensing footprint to date.






