From Pieces to Weight: Once Upon a Time in Southside Queens

by Kris Ex and 50 Cent

Book Overview

In the New York Times bestseller From Pieces to Weight, rap mogul 50 Cent, a.k.a. Curtis Jackson, lifts the veil on his complicated life, from the murder of his mother when he was twelve, to hustling... This description may be from another edition of this product.

• Format: Hardcover
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0743486447
• ISBN13: 9780743486446
• Release Date: August 2005
• Publisher: MTV Books
• Length: 223 Pages
• Weight: 0.30 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.8" x 6.3" x 8.9"

Customer Reviews

Great book from an honest artist

What I look for in an autobiography is honesty. Of course you can never tell for sure who's straight and who's not, but I got the feeling that he is. It has no rap references till the end, and that's why it doesn't get 5 stars.

50 is just as MISUNDERSTOOD as 2Pac was

All i have to say is either u love him or you dont. He is so misunderstood and i understand him perfectly. He reminds me very much of 2Pac and his life, growing up. Dont be curious about him when he is dead and gone (God Forbid), try as much as possible to understand him now,and for the folks commenting he did not write this book, YES CURTIS '50 CENT' JACKSON WROTE THIS BOOK HIMSELF, NOBODY WROTE IT FOR HIM, DONT UNDERESTIMATE HIS ARTICULATION, GRAMMER, OR VOCABULARY - THE BOOK WAS WRITTEN BY HIMSELF - why are you shocked?. When 50 speaks listen and pay good attention and you will realise he is smarter than u think. This book is an excellent book which gives a 'little' insight to 50 - how he grew up, why he saids/does what he saids/does now. Imagine this, you grow up in the drug infested ghetto, your mom (also a drug dealer) is murdered at your tender age of 8, u dont know your father, you are raised in your nana's household with 10 or more different ppl, no sense of direction. Yes he made some wrong choices but if you have not walk a mile in his shoes dont judge him. Only God can judge him. Also watch the move Get Rich. Like i said either you get it or you dont, if you dont - please move on. I dont condone choices he made in the past, but I am putting myself in 50's shoes (even though i had a different upbringing) and loving 50 like i would my brother, not when he is dead, like they did 2Pac.Love him now. After reading the book, and watching the movie Get Rich Die Trying, I love him even more (not just as an artist but as a person) and wish him the best always and forever. He has been thru it, and God has finally put a smile on his face, let him smile. Excellent read. 10/10

Don't Judge the book by it's cover - It's Excellent

I'm an avid reader of everything from Wilbur Smith to Isabelle Allende. And I also am a huge music and hip hop fan. This book, on its own, is a great read. I picked it up right before I took a flight to Europe and finished it in 3 days. 50's story of his rise from a very young hustler in Queens (11 years old!) to a mega-star rapper is a great story. His life story is compelling and entertaining. You feel his voice and feelings come through the pages. Defintiely worth picking up. I have passed it on to 2 people already who were equally pleased. however you wanna put it, it's tight, it's off the heezy, it's dynamic. Definitely worth the money.

Not a big reader.

But this was a great book, usually I find it hard for books to keep my attention, but not this one. Without a doubt the best book I have ever read. I tells the true story of 50 Cent in his own words. He had a tough life and made it big, you can't hate a man for that. If people miss out on reading this masterpiece then they are surelly missing a great read for anyone, not just fans of Hip-Hop or 50 Cent. Buy this book or check it out at the library. It should win some of those book awards, not sure of the names, but I know they're out there.

It is what it is

50's story is exactly what he says it is, an autobiography of sorts. It gives the reader a glimpse at the circumstances that helped shape the man he is today. What I really enjoyed about this book was his honesty when it came to his emotions. If he was scared he said "I was scared", there was no fronting. He did not try to play the tough guy, he gave you the scenarios he was faced with and left it to the reader to form an opinion. I thought the story was refreshing in it's realness. People watch Scarface over and over again because it's a rush, well imagine if it were a true story and Tony Montana wrote a book, everyone would read it. I happen to have lived in Jamaica Queens and so I guess reading about that part of the "hood" made it even more interesting for me. I think the people that are mad that he is capitalizing off of his fame(especially if you live in America) are not thinking straight. America is the land of capitalization. What do you want him to do, only rap and that's it...why? If there is a demand for his story then it's his job as a business man to supply that demand, end of story. 50 has led an interesting life thus far and he gave us a taste of it. Don't get upset that he is doing well, be happy for him. Be happy that he is not shooting up the streets, be happy that he can make money through his law abiding talents. Anyway, to those interested in buying the book, I thought it was good over all and it felt like watching a movie, action sequences and all. If you want to see the movie when it comes out, buy or borrow the book so that you can get the scoop early and compare it to the movie.

The realest thing he ever wrote

I just finished my copy of From Pieces to Weight and it was incredible. I read the whole book in a day and a half i couldn't stop reading it. It is the core of the hood. In most instantces i could relate to him. Everything he said has to be actually lived out you can't make up stuff like that not even the movies can pin point that. I really hope that who ever reads this book realizes that coming up from the bottom is not the easiet thing to do.50 cent if you read this review this was a great book it felt as if i was up close and personal with you , this book will leave a great impact if people take time out to read it. God bless you and all your endevers and whoever else reads this book should realise his isn't glorifying anything negative it is what it is man .Keep your belief in God 50 and you will truely find out your purpose in life.