Though backing posses had become de rigueur for commercially successful rappers by the early 2000s, 50 Cent\'s posse, G Unit, is somewhat exceptional, as showcased on its album debut, Beg for Mercy. Following 50\'s unsuccessful stint with Columbia Records during the late \'90s, he returned to the streets and willfully assembled a backing posse, with himself as the superstar and his cohorts as his street-level representatives, thereby ensuring himself future street credibility and enough firepower for entire mixtapes. The plan paid off in spades as G Unit worked the mixtape circuit, releasing one after another, while 50 in turn blew up in 2003 with his solo debut, Get Rich or Die Tryin\', yet maintained his street cred with his well-bred posse, touring extensively and releasing still more m...
