Gaspar Yanga was a liberator and one of Mexico’s heroes, enslaved from West Africa. He fought for the abolition of slavery in Mexico. He was known as “America’s First Liberator” or “El Primer Libertador de las Americas.”
The town of Yanga, Mexico is named after him.
THREAD
Curtis Jackson & The 134 All-Stars.
“Boo-Boo,” “50 Cent,” “Raising Kanan.”
South Jamaica, Queens. 1993.
A young 50 Cent pictured sitting on the floor in the middle.
A rare photo of 50 cent during his hustling days in South Jamaica, Queens. The reign of the Supreme Team in the 1980’s left an impression on young black kids on the Southside. A time when getting money was the only option, 50 wanted to be like those he saw with the jewels, cars, money, and women.
Training as a boxer under the legendary AU Hogan, 50 developed his hands in the gym, which later translated to the streets when he had to put in work. 50 came up with some tough dudes such as Sha, Kev-O, Prince (not Supreme Team Prince), Fred Mack, Greg, Bob Charlie, and etc.
50 would famously say “I sold a million gold tops on Guy Brew,” as he was able to take care of himself as a teenager, buying motorcycles and cars before the age of 21. Run-ins with the law in his youth, toughened him up, and he always came back to the Southside sharper. 50 would use these trials and tribulations as inspiration for music, and film, especially now in the 2020’s with the series Raising Kanan on Starz.
50 is also quoted saying and this is just a summarization of it, that if he had to do life over again he wouldn’t have gotten into the street life, as it brought too much pain.
More than half the folks in this photo are no longer alive.