Mumbai: Rapper 50 Cent shared that long before he became known by his iconic stage name, he had a rather unexpected nickname.

During an appearance on The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon, the “In Da Club” rapper shared that his first nickname was “Boo Boo. 

Fallon asked the rapper: “Do I call you 50 Cent or do I call you Curtis?”

To which, 50 Cent replied: “50's fine, you know. 50's fine, yeah.”

Fallon asked if there was any other names in the running when he “started out”.

50 cent replied: “It wouldn't work well. My first nickname was Boo Boo.”

Fallon quickly agreed was probably better left in the past.

“No, you don't want to be Boo Boo,” said Fallon.

The rapper said: “No, no.”

Talking about the rapper, during a shooting in May 2000, 50 Cent was struck by nine bullets, causing its release to be canceled and Jackson to be dropped from the label. His 2002 mixtape Guess Who's Back? was discovered by Detroit rapper Eminem, who signed Jackson to his label Shady Records that year.

He has sold over 30 million albums worldwide and earned several accolades, including a Grammy Award, a Primetime Emmy Award, 13 Billboard Music Awards, 6 World Music Awards, 3 American Music Awards, and 4 BET Awards.

He starred in the semi-autobiographical film Get Rich or Die Tryin', which was critically panned. He also appeared in the war film Home of the Brave and the crime thriller Righteous Kill.

Jackson's debut studio album, Get Rich or Die Tryin', was released to critical acclaim and commercial success. Peaking atop the Billboard 200, it spawned the Billboard Hot 100-number one singles "In da Club" and "21 Questions", and received multiple platinum certifications by the Recording Industry Association of America. (IANS)