Update on 50 Cent's G-Unity Foundation

When I first heard about the G-Unity Foundation I laughed at the corny cross marketed name and 50 Cent's transparent reach for positive publicity after the Game shooting.  However, being the diligent blogger that I am, I decided to keep an eye on the project to see if it did any good once the cameras were off.

After over of year of the non-profit's existence, here's the money they've given out, according to the official website:

• Boys Choir of Harlem - $150,000
• Compton Unified School District - $100,000
• Queensborough Community College – $31,000
• Jam Master Jay Foundation - $25,000
• Teach for America - $100,000
• National Alliance for Public Education - $25,000

All together that's $431,000. The areas that the donations cover (Nashville, Compton, Queens) makes me guess that this is a funnel for the charity money of all of G-Unit, not just 50.

Does this seem like a generous amount of money from 4 platinum artists? I don't know. However, just to put it into perspective, that total couldn't buy one Phantom. You would have to settle for a tricked out Maybach.

And I'm surprised there's no Hurricane Katrina related charity on the list. But oh yeah, I forgot- that was an act of God and the government did the best they could. Why interfere with that?

Perhaps Chris Lighty can shed some light on all of this?

By the way- does anyone have any stats on Nelly's PIMP Scholarship?

Comments

[StussyD]

"...Positive Intellectual Motivated Producer (P.I.M.P) Scholarship seeks to allow students from all disciplines... to compete to produce the best Pimp Juice or PJ Tight video commercial that best captures the essence of the energized, successful hip hop lifestyle promoted by our products.

The Pimp Juice scholarship looks a whole lot more like a good way to get cheap advertising than a scholarship foundation.

[Model Minority]

Hashim...good looking out on the financial accountability jawn...an on that note I need to get down with you re: some negro media accountability 'ish I am working on for '06..

[WJC]

Unless you've donated $431,000 lately, you should pipe the fuck down. And Katrina? Who are you to judge to whom they donate their funds?

$431,000 is a lot of money, and, regardless, the impact of any foundation shouldn't be judged solely on the contributions distributed.

[Hashim]

C'mon, WJC. That's like saying I can't critique a rap album unless I know how to rhyme better.

[WJC]

I see your point, but I don't think one should critique philanthrophy the same way s/he critiques a rap album. It's not really the same thing.

Besides, it's all arbitrary, anyway. Who cares if they donated to Katrina or not? Does Katrina deserve some sort of special attention? Natural disasters are a dime a dozen.

It appears as though they donated to charities in their respective backyards. They're giving back to the communities in which they were raised, and I think that's pretty noble... and you're going to criticize that? C'mon, Hashim, you're smarter than that. I'd expect that sort of nonsense from Bol, not you.

[Hashim]

WJC, there's a difference between hitting your tax write off limit, and giving generously to charity.

[WJC]

If you give a hungry person a piece of bread, that person's stomach doesn't give a fuck what your motivation was.

[catalyst]

while i agree that giving back tt communities from which you came is great...hurricane Katrina was not just some natural disaster our people can or will easily overlook...

especially since dead bodies were being discovered up to two weeks ago.and the original community can't really return to their homes since it'll basically be a disneyland for rich folks.

also..shit like this - http://rawstory.com/news/2005/FEMA_outsources_Katrina_body_count_to_firm_implicated_in_bodydumping_scan_0913.html
is not a dime a dozen.

anyhow, what was the exact figure that Dr. Dre donated to the relief efforts? i heard some mention of it back the day..but it was pretty substantial.

[thatchic]

The problem with our race is, we never recognize the positive and if we do, we have to throw something negative in there. The foundation deserves to be commended, let's leave it there. Haters never see things for what they are.

[Hashim]

Thatchic, let's not lower the bar for Black people. We can do better than this.

[Model Minority]

Dude...would we ever make it over the bar, (unless it involved dancing for food, rapping for cars or cooning in movies) if the bar was not lowered?

Come on, you know WE don't belive in self esteem Hashim.

[Bird]

I am on the fence about 50. I don't know if I like him yet, which is better than a few months ago when I was sure I didn't like him, but I can't throw dirt on his good deeds and I don't know why anyone would. Say that is 5% of what he made in take home pay last year. Now you look at your check for the year and figure out 5%. Have you contributed that amount to charity. If now you really sound like a fool putting a microscope to 50s contribution.

[Hashim]

"Now you look at your check for the year and figure out 5%. Have you contributed that amount to charity."

I didn't want to get into this, but yes I do give more than 5%.

[thatchic]

Hashim, cmon we are rarely in the position to do much monetarily, this guy helps and all you want to do is look at the negative. "Talking about why didnt he give more." How dare someone who probably gave nothing try to judge someone who did give. Where is your proof brotha? We know Gunity gave, what did you give?

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[Phil]

I gotta go with Hashim on this one. Yeah... 431,000 is a lot of money, but you gotta look at it proportionately.

Between all of their artists, endorsements, and royalties, that label is at minimum making at least 25 million a year (and I may seriously be low on that figure).

Percentage wise, 431,000 dollars is barely 1% of their income. So while he didn't have to give shit, if you do give, make the shit worthwhile and not some chump change (proportionately).

Hell, Mase gave more than 431,000 dollars to that white lady for her ring in the "Window Shopper" video.

[thatchic]

Phil, How dare you fix your lips to comment on the amount of money someone gave. Stop counting other peoples money, and get some of your own! Who gives you the right to designate an amount of money someone should give to charity. U guys have got nerve. How about attacking the rappers, athletes, business people, etc. in our community that dont have charitable organizations set up, who suck money out of our community but dont give back. People who dont do much are always have time to comment on the next man.

[R.H.S.]

This post is pretty misguided. The amount of money, and especially the choice of charities, should be commended. It is absurd to me to think that this would actually attract bad press.

[GGGGUNIT]

Go 50 Cent, best rapper in da world thx for hlping New Orleans GGUNTI

[Owen AKA Rey Gamberro Salvador]

G-Unity? What happened to the good old dayz, when the phrase 'G-Unity' meant nothing to me but shitty prop music? But nope, those are disappeared into the world of five minutes ago.

[Aaliyah]

Hey! I think dat fifty is doin a gud thing and yall all hatin on him cuz he is tryna help ppl in need! yall should give credit!! not say he aint givin enough!!

[NYC]

if the nigga wasn't giving no money ya'll would be mad!!
the nigga is giving back money and you people are still mad at the mother fucka.......
--------------------------------------------
how much miney do you give out of your weekly paycheck to a charity? huh?
don't say your not making as much as him...
cause i know u can afford to give $10 out of ur fucking check to a charity!!!
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thats the matter wit you people No matter wat the fuck a nigga do its never good enough...always bashing somone......
pat Da nigga on his back telling him Good Fucking job and telling him don't stop..wat he's doing that will make the nigga want to give more.......Wen da nigga was out in da streets...selling crack and getting show up none of u fuck was giving him shyt then!!...
-------------------------------------------
how many other rappers That all you fuckers follow don't do shyt for their community....worse them so call underground niggas that ya'll love so much, wat the fuck they give back?
other than talking about how fucked up life is?

[Coop]

I think that what 50 is doing in honorable. He made his money and he doesn't have to give anything away if he doesn't want to. However, he is giving back to communities to improve the quality of life for generations to come. It appears to me that in the media the guy can't win. He's going to get criticized no matter what. He is relatively new to the rap game and has given a great deal more money than the ones who have had it to give. As soon as he started to see a cash flow, he started to give back. If it is contrived, wow! The media total appears to be about 1/2 million. Other sources I have bolster nearly 2.5 million. 50 and I share a similar background, and I ended up getting blessed to "earn" a college degree from a highly ranked private school, after being a high school drop, street hustler, etc., I hope that when I give back a little more than I do already, that my past does not over shadow what my real heart is. It is obvious that the guy is trying to do some good. I'll end my little rant by saying, his brand is strong, so there is no need for him to spend 2.5 million on positive publicity. None of his products lines are suffering and his business is thriving! He could sit on his a** for the rest of his days and live off of the interest at this point. For all those that have something negative to say, go get 2.5 million to give away in the name of charity and then start talking.

[Angie]

The person who wrote this article is just mad because no one is giving them any money. My name is Angie and I am one of the Scholars from the G-unity Foundation G-G-G-G-G-G-UNIT. Don't hate cause you are not getting any of the goods, regardless if you need them or not. All i know is that if it were not for my G-UNIT family I probably would not be in college right now.They have blessed me way beyond anything I have ever known. 50 has given us full tution paid off,including a $300.00 stipend for books.I am entirely greatful and you should be too he is helping out the community not just because of publicity but because he wants and I know that he does not have to do it. He also has envited us to a free concertout in Jones Beach Long Island equpped with backstage passes, we got to meet the whole crew and other artists as well. How much have you done for the community? hmmm think about that!

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[Zeno Izen]

Let's put it this way:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fbM9EP2G0LM

50 Cent: "I'll die tryin' to spend this shit."
50 Cent: "Get Rich or Die Tryin'"

50 Cent glorifies an impossible lifestyle, encouraging impoverished American youth to aspire to unreachable opulence by any means necessary. Meanwhile, he gloats over his abundant wealth, sharing only the most meager portions with his fan base in the inner cities.

What is the 2007 NOLA murder rate so far? How many of the killers/victims are 50 Cent fans? What does this man think he's doing?

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