Queens, New York's Curtis Jackson overcame a tough childhood to become one of the world's leading rap artists, 50 Cent. The most famous person in show business to be shot nine times was born on July 6, 1975, under the sign of Cancer. This water sign is known for its sensitivity and, frequently, its desire to pull up its shell and avoid conflict. 50 clearly is not one of those Crabs. He didn't survive the mean streets of New York City by being a softie. Astrology's two toughest planets are connected to his Cancer Sun, giving him an uncharacteristic force of will and capacity to take a shot (or nine) and keep moving forward. Saturn conjoined with 50's otherwise cuddly Cancer Sun adds concentration, commitment and ambition to his personality. Pluto's tense 90-degree square brings persistence and the power to overcome even the toughest obstacles and transform a loss into a gain. Instead of being brought down by life on the street, 50 turned his story into rap, catapulting him to fame and fortune. It's also likely that the pressure of Saturn and Pluto on his Sun makes him demand more of himself than anyone else ever will.

50 is well-suited to be a rapper with Mercury -- the communication planet -- strongly placed in its highly verbal home sign of Gemini. This position in a birth chart generally describes quick and clever thinkers who know how to summarize complex issues in a few pithy words. Uranus -- the planet of inventiveness -- forms a harmonious 120-degree trine to Mercury that adds another dimension to his thinking. This combination is a symbol of originality and intelligence that often comes from intuition and instinct rather than formal education. 50's Moon is also in Gemini, which makes him comfortable living in more than one world at a time. The earth's satellite symbolizes emotions and habits. Those born with the Moon here find it easy to adapt to changing environments and are often more at ease talking about feelings than actually showing them.

50 is, of course, a showman, a person who has been able to take his ideas and present them in a package that's attractive to audiences. Venus, the planet of love, was in Leo when he was born. This bold, outgoing sign is excellent for those who strut their stuff in the spotlight. Venus is also associated with self-worth, which is why its presence in heroic Leo can seem so confident. A favorable trine from lucky Jupiter to 50's Venus adds good fortune and a degree of boldness uncommon to most Cancers. He knows that he has what it takes to make a powerful impact on people, and is smart enough to cash in on it while he can.