50 Cent Discusses New Book 'Playground' And School Bullying On Today Show (VIDEO)

Rapper Curtis "50 Cent" Jackson has taken on several entrepreneurial ventures and his latest, a book titled Playground, takes a look at school bullying -- but not from the victim's perspective.

While on the Today show Wednesday, Jackson spoke of his role as a school bully when he was younger. He says that through his book, he hopes to connect with a population of teen bullies that are hard to crack.

"When I present something it's different because of the energy and material I created in my music," Jackson says. "A lot of the times the kids that would actually be a part of the problem are listening. When I offer it, they'll take the time to stop and read it."

The story is written from the perspective of its protagonist, Butterball, an overweight student who is bullying others because he doesn't know how else to deal with his emotions.

"I had more experiences where I was a part of the problem, where I was actually bullying," Jackson says. "To know now from an adult's perspective and be able to write things, I can look back on those actual situations and say, 'That was completely wrong.' But I know what was motivating it now."

50 Cent isn't the only celebrity to join the national campaign against bullying. Most recently, supermodel and TV personality Tyra Banks is calling on fans to join her and the battle against bullying, also noting, like Jackson, that she was doing the bullying as a "mean girl" when she was in school.

Referring to the Stop Bullying: Speak Up campaign that has garnered the support from other celebrities, Banks posted on her Facebook wall that "Being kind is the fiercest move you can make!" and noting in a video post that she's been on "both sides of the fence," becoming a bullying victim later.

Instances of school bullying have driven youth to extreme measures, from plastic surgery to a number of suicides across the country.

Prominent figures like Lady Gaga have called on an end to bullying through legal measures, and popular children's show Sesame Street recently launched its own anti-bullying campaign.

Comments

[SlamofDunk]

06:50 PM on 10/30/2011

Bullying is an idea, haven't we learned anything about fighting ideas?

[Baneblade]

02:55 PM on 10/28/2011

I'm sure he'll out himself as a former crack dealer next, and the media will just be shocked.

[raremar]

07:16 AM on 10/28/2011

As a rule, I'd never comment on anything that has to do with a person that calls himself "50 cents" but since bullying is such a hot topic I will make an exception. It sounds like Mr. Half Dollar has found a new way to make some money while pretending to "help" on the bullying issue. (Oh wow! We can now see it from the bully's perspective! Let's buy the book!) Nonsense. The author has no credibility when his videos & music have feature bullying and violence specially against women. Sorry but Mr. 50 cents ain't getting a dime from me.

[profhdjr]

09:52 PM on 10/27/2011

Well this seems to be pay back time. It is nice to see that former bullies admitting that it is wrong to commit the act of bullying. The message coming from a gangster rapper like Curtis "50 Cent" Jackson should be most effective to kids who idolize him. Bullying is wrong for it causes serious psychosocial problems amongst kids and has driven some into taking their own lives. Best of luck to Curtis "50 Cent" Jackson on his new adventure. I do hope that his book also encourages kids to read.

[rewith85man]

07:54 PM on 10/27/2011

The long lost thuggish cousin of Michael, Janet, Randy, and Samuel L. Jackson is trying to put an end to bullying in a different way.

I like that he is doing that so that bullies can hear his opinions and realize what they are doing to their victims.

[avidreader 01]

08:16 PM on 10/27/2011

a great idea, msg would have been better had he written it into a song... bullies are more likely to pop out a cd than crack open a book

[rewith85man]

07:56 PM on 10/27/2011

He could do a CD inspired by the book and call it "Playground" too. I think that it is a good name for the next album by #50Cent.

[toocoolfoschool1234]

12:53 AM on 10/27/2011

His lyrics are adolescent, violent and overall he just sends a bad message.

[Desolati0n]

08:34 AM on 10/27/2011

He continually uses words that are seen as bullying words, which is incredibly ironic for him to say he doesn't think that anymore. Unless he starts rapping gospel music from this day forward, no word is to be believed in the book.

[QueenOfViolets]

12:18 AM on 10/27/2011

He is just an incredible man. It's normal to come out as a victim of bullying. But to step up and name yourself as a perpetrator, that's unusual honesty for someone in the public eye, or even someone not in the public eye.

[Michael Clanchy]

12:29 AM on 10/27/2011

Not really. It's just another way he thought up to make more money, which he'll spend on guns, pot, and calling women "bitc*es."

[beautsarah]

08:21 PM on 11/01/2011

Wow that comment actually makes you look like the ignorant one

[eehd]

11:44 PM on 10/26/2011

Please, this homophobe continued to bully people, gay people.

[canadaisjustbetterthanu]

04:02 AM on 10/28/2011

There is a really simple fix to that. Don't be gay.

[eehd]

10:52 AM on 10/28/2011

I knew there was a solution to that problem.

[Glenville Johnson Jr]

10:39 PM on 10/26/2011

Good jod Fif,at least you're trying to make a positive difference by pointing out your POV from a first habd experience.

[Tibby Oct31]

10:22 PM on 10/26/2011

This guy is $.50 short of his real worth.

[NotBetterThanYou]

09:50 PM on 10/26/2011

Shutup and gimme your lunch money, 50 Cent!

[Stephen a Fazekas]

08:31 PM on 10/26/2011

Wow the more important thing we should all learn from this is that even if your an illiterate crack dealer you can still sell books

[jimtpat]

09:45 PM on 10/26/2011

Bully!

[Glenville Johnson Jr]

10:36 PM on 10/26/2011

Nooo,the msg you should learn is that he's trying to show and make a difference in this bullying situation kids have been and is now facing.

[dandan1]

08:15 PM on 10/26/2011

22 million? you know that numbers are pumped in various ways by the companies, right? Also he raps about smoking weed but in interviews he says that he has never smoked weed. He lacks integrity, big time.

[beautsarah]

08:26 PM on 11/01/2011

Answer this: what song does he write about smoking weed?

[mayslc]

08:02 PM on 10/26/2011

I wonder if Ja Rule and Rick Ross are going to read 50's book on bullying. Unfortunately, those two were on the receiving end.

[mother10]

08:34 PM on 10/26/2011

and that was not when he was a little kid in school !