Curtis ’50 Cent’ Jackson is a complex, multifaceted hombre that does it all – and pitching aside – does it well. Now he brings that complexity to “Power,” the new Starz television series he executive produces. Along with creator and executive producer Courtney Kemp Agboh, they have crafted a contemporary series that blends part of 50’s myth/reality, with Kemp Agboh father’s inspiration, with ‘the story of many different kinds of people who have grown up without money and fought hard to make it’ – by any means necessary. Central character, James “Ghost” St. Patrick (played by newcomer Omari Hardwick)  is the hero/ villain of this exciting must-see drama premiering Saturday June 7 on Starz.

Click image to see “Power” Trailer

The visionary crime drama is set in two different worlds, the glamorous New York club scene and the brutal drug trade. Ghost has it all: a beautiful wife, a gorgeous Manhattan penthouse, and the hottest, new nightclub in the city. As its success grows, so do Ghost’s plans to build an empire. However, Truth is a front for a lucrative drug network. The continuous conflict between morality and decadence is central to the story,  intertwined with clashing romances, hard hitting action, and beautiful locations. The question becomes, can you ever get out?

Born in Queens, New York, Curtis James Jackson III has become one of the most successful personalities in entertainment; he’s a rapper, actor, producer, entrepreneur and investor. After his 2003 debut CD Get Rich or Die Tryin’ sold more than 8 million copies he has gone on to sell more than 30 million records worldwide and win numerous awards including a Grammy, 13 Billboard Music Awards, six World Music Awards, three American Music Awards and four BET Awards. 50 Cent’s fifth studio release, Animal Ambition, went on sale June 3, 2014. Street King Immortal will follow in Fall 2014.

What began as music chart dominance quickly transformed to success in corporate America as a multi-tiered business mogul. His portfolio has included Vitamin Water, SK Energy Drinks and  SMS Headphones. The broad spectrum of businesses includes artist management, film production, footwear and apparel, fragrance, video games, publishing, and health drinks and supplements.

As an actor he has appeared in more than 21 films including  Escape Plan starring Sylvester Stallone and Arnold Schwarzenegger, the recently wrapped The Prince with Bruce Willis and John Cusack is next, and he is currently filming Spy with Melissa McCarthy and Jude Law.

“Power” is Jackson’s first foray into scripted television and his role is multi-tiered. He appears on screen as recurring character named Kanan, he’s integral in the musical aspect of the show, including creating the main title theme song, and was the driving force behind the series getting off the ground. He has been involved in every step of the creative process, including  being instrumental in developing the character of James “Ghost” St. Patrick.

Curtis ’50 Cent’ Jackson with Courtney Kemp Agboh producers of Starz new series Power

Executive Producer Mark Canton brought the “Power” team together. He connected Jackson, his long-time collaborator with Kemp Agboh. Both found synergy discussing themes that pertained to shared interests and began to construct the show together based on Jackson’s experiences in his early life infused with ideas that inspired Kemp Agboh. The story of “Power” is not based on Jackson’s life although some events and characters within the storyline are inspired by situations he has witnessed and people he has met.

HOMBRE: What can you tell us about your Executive Producer role on “Power”?
Curtis ’50 Cent’ Jackson: This project is a completely different from the process of an Executive Producer on a film. There you have a longer list of people connected to the executive production, there may be 6 or 7 names and 2 people are actually working. Here there’s a lot of the day to day things that take place.

H: Courtney mentioned her father used to say, ‘Perception is reality. What people see about you is what you are,’ what are your feelings on that philosophy?
50: She told me that in the very beginning, and it’s why I’ve had the success I had with Vitamin Water. I remember I was walking down the aisle of a supermarket and I saw a gallon of spring water for $2.69 and I saw a gallon for .59 cents, and if you pour them in a clear glass I wouldn’t be able to tell the difference. But because Poland Spring tells me Poland Spring is better we’ll pay $2.69, we’re conditioned for it, to think it’s better. And as she said that I think of how it relates to my life, and how it makes her father’s statement more profound.

H: How are your experiences connected to “Power”?
50: All television shows and all stories that imitate life are about choices. Sometimes circumstances lead two people into spaces that are completely different. You have some brothers who stand on the corner and enjoy the aggressive, the violent part of the experience, and then you have some brothers that are standing there because they don’t see Burger King or McDonalds as a sufficient option. Their goal is to earn enough to not have to be a part of it anymore because the cycle is consistent with sending you to jail or sending you to a grave. Ghost’s character has been blessed to reach the top of what his journey is and his business savvy had him develop an organization that is transparent. It’s not build for them to go to war, it’s built for them to actually make money. Along the way they invest in laundromats. These are the things that you see consistent in lower income areas. They’ll go and immediately invest in barber shops, beauty salons, laundromats; they understand the importance of their appearance. The theory is that when you look good you feel good. Everything we are not supposed to see we’ll see in lower income environments. That belt buckle, they’ll sacrifice two weeks of work for it. They’ll make sure they have the new Nike shoes that are out, the specifics.

H: What drives the main character?
50: For Ghost is instinct. There’s a more sophisticated thing going on within him of ‘I could have done that a different way.’ And his relationship with Angela (childhood friend/Assistant DA played by Lela Loren) is a representation of that.

Omari Hardwick plays James “Ghost” St. Patrick in Starz’ Power

H: How involved were you in the casting process, specifically Omari Hardwick as the lead?
50: Courtney had created a list that had names of who she wanted and he was the first person on the list. You can pick people who you recognize and then their job is to make (viewers) forget everything they’ve done in the past and just see them as a Ghost character. Or we can pick someone that they have no idea who this person is and he becomes who we say he is immediately. I knew Omari  from the beginning and knew it would be a huge transition for him. This is his breakout. I’ve seen his work, but I know this is the project that takes him over the top and transforms him into a leading man.

H: Were there discussions of you being the lead?
50: I spent a period of time as Ghost. I was like, f*** it, I’m going to play the lead. (In the end it was too difficult because of the ’50 juggernaut,’ he opted to remain Executive Producer and have a recurring role.) I do it because I love it. I’ve been there from the beginning. This sh** isn’t like I got the hookup. They hadn’t actually created that high quality program, from scratch. It’s Courtney’s baby, but I was there when she made it. I was there throughout the whole process.

H: Is it hard to create television opportunities?
50. I almost can’t see the obstacles anymore. I’m so far from where I actually come from. I told Courtney, they’re gonna pick this show up as soon as we walk through the door. And Courtney’s like, ‘Here comes the rapper sh** because he doesn’t really know the process.’ In my mind even if you tell me no, it’s definitely going to happen. I’ll just take it across the street.

H: It seems there is a spiritual journey that’s part of the show.
50: There are circumstances that put people where they don’t necessarily belong. It could have been, ‘stay where you’re at and figure it out,’ instead of making a decision and do with what’s available at the moment. There’s no requirements. My character (Kanan, introduced in episode 3) is everything Ghost is not. There is such a thing as saying you don’t give a f***, and not giving a f***.

H: Why is Ghost such an appealing character?
50: You see people rooting for the bad guy because we all have a streak of the rebel in us, but his gets wider and wider the longer he lives not following anyone else’s rules. Every day you have 40. dollars worth of product you commit a felony, so if you commit a felony for God knows how many years you become fearless.

HOMBRE Magazine’s Francisco Romeo with Curtis ’50 Cent’ Jackson