Rapper 50 Cent is a hot property. He is idolized by millions of young men. For some teenagers he is the closest thing they have to a father; but what kind of a role model is Fiddy? His gangsta lifestyle with its glorification of violence is well documented, but what does the man himself say about the responsibilities of fatherhood?

For me, without having every word come out of my mouth make me appear to be a positive role model, I’ll always be inspiring. Because I give them the truth. At the same time, I believe people have a little more interest in reading what I’m saying or hearing me speak because they know I ain’t gonna sugarcoat it. — 50 Cent

50 Cent, real name Curtis Jackson III, made his views on parenting known in an interview with London's Metro newspaper. Fiddy's game Bulletproof was banned in Australia because it was so violent, yet he says "My son is nine years old and I play my video game with him. We turn on the music and turn down the volume of the TV because there's a lot of swearing in the game." He continues "My son watches R-rated films all the time with me present so I can explain what he's seeing. He has cable television in his room and he can watch whatever comes on TV. He has a computer in his room and he has Internet access. I came in and he was logged onto an adult site. You've got to understand the kid has access to all these things and his curiosity is there now — keeping him sheltered is putting him in danger." How does 50 Cent view his position as a role model? He feels that people take the responsibilities of a parent and place them on him. As for the effects of his game on young people, he excuses himself by claiming "A person who is influenced by a video game is already so damaged that they are dangerous."

Get Rich or Die Tryin' Movie Poster

The poster for Get Rich or Die Tryin' was criticized by UK advertising watchdogs for glorifying gun culture. The Advertising Standards Authority banned future use of the image which showed 50 Cent holding a baby whilst naked from the waist up with a semi-automatic pistol tucked into his waistband.

Movie director Spike Lee claims 50 Cent is promoting negative values to young people. "I love hip-hop, but there are certain elements that are just problematic, " he says. "50 Cent has made a lot of money. That whole mantra — 'Get Rich or Die Tryin' — for me that's criminal, because young brothers, they took that to heart. They’re like, ’Whatever I got to do to get them rims, get my fly gear, to get my bitches and hoes, I am going to do it. F*** who I got to hurt, who I got to shoot, who I got to kill.’ That’s crazy to me. And his video game, Bulletproof? I'm sorry, I can't get with that."

It is widely recognized that fathers play a major role in the lives of their sons. Weak, ineffective or absent fathers can cause great damage to their upbringing. 'Train up a child in the way he should go: and when he is old, he will not depart from it.' — Proverbs 22:6

Is 50 Cent right in allowing his son to watch R-rated movies and access adult websites? Let us know what you think.

I am glad my daughter won't be dating his son. We have to dig in and help that generation to rise above the likes of 50c. Communities need men willing to mentor lost children. Just because some kids/boys have dads, doesn't mean they’re good role models. But, those kids need one. — Su

I mean yeah, why not? The man can let his son do whatever he wants. If I was him I'm sure I would do the same thing. — Akot

Yeah I think he's right to allow it. If his son isn't embarrassed about it now, then if 50 tells his son everything he needs to know, it will save him from any embarrassment later on. — Kassie

I waited for ages to get that game. I wanted to kill myself coz I was the only one without the game. The whole of Australia feels that way. — Matt

I'm sure everybody watches porn. Who doesn't? I think 50 cent is right by letting his son watch R-rated movies to judge what is right and wrong in life. — Chris

Everybody is free to raise their children how they see fit. If we keep "protecting" them from violence, porn gangsta violence, they are only going to be more intrigued why they cannot watch or do it, making them want to do it twice as much. Let them explore and be children. Fiddy is doing what he thinks is right for his son, and who are we to judge. Let him be. — Chloe

I think that that whole poster controversy surrounding 50 Cent with a gun tucked into his waist is ridiculous and unjustified. Look at all the other movie posters that have guns plastered all over them. For example, let’s take the TV show The Sopranos. The "r" in sopranos is an actual hand gun. What's up with that? How come nobody ever made a big stink about that? It's on the cover of all their DVDs, magazines, TV ads, movie posters. I guess nobody takes notice because it doesn't have a black rapper on the cover or any correlation to hip hop. That's really sad people. When will this end? How about we start by addressing the home-grown domestic issues with our youth rather than blaming mainstream society? — Melissa

It’s his life and his son. Who cares what if he has a gun in his waist. It’s just a picture. He’s a gangsta, that’s why he don’t care what his son watches. — Lenora

Name: Email address: Comments: Privacy Policy

The Dad in the Mirror Who is that guy in the mirror? To your son or daughter, he’s “Dad” — the most important man in the world. Men’s leaders, speakers, and authors Patrick Morley and David Delk share with you the secrets of grace-filled dads who understand that their most important work is to help shape the attitudes and beliefs of the next generation. This book shows you how to father from your heart to your child’s heart. Rather than only seeking the right performance from them, you can move into a dynamic relationship with your children that models what it means to love God and others truly and passionately. Start by asking the right question — not “What is my child doing?” but “Why is my child doing this?” Practical guidelines show you simple ways to help your children thrive, to build a firm foundation of faith for your family, and to empower your children by giving them both roots and wings. Available to buy from amazon.com and amazon.co.uk

The Hair-Raising Joys of Raising Boys An instruction book to raising sons? They should come with a deactivate button! Raising boys is a monumental, multiyear battle, says frazzled dad Dave Meurer. But there's also an industrial-sized dose of laughter, just waiting to escape. The Hair-Raising Joys of Raising Boys explores many meaningful reflections (a.k.a. laugh-out-loud occurrences and been-there-done-that moments) that only dads can truly understand. In this entertaining book you'll discover the secrets of infant male weaponry outsmarting your boys, sound fiscal planning (and other quaint myths), cherished family traditions and other dangers, and much more. Through the hilarious happenings of his own parenting experiences, Dave Meurer will help you learn to value each moment with a little style, grace, and humor. Because sometimes you just need to laugh. Available to buy from amazon.com and amazon.co.uk

Better Dads, Stronger Sons: How Fathers Can Guide Boys to Become Men of Character The relationship between a father and a son is like no other. Dads have a God-given role to protect and provide for their families, always striving to teach their sons the life skills they'll need to grow into honorable men. That may seem like a tall order. But being a good father isn't so much what kind of parent you are as what kind of person you are. Better Dads, Stronger Sons can show you how to talk with your son about important topics such as dating, sexual purity, respect, and self-discipline, understand why male bonding, discipline, and spiritual leadership are vital to your relationship with your son, recognize and avoid the top ten mistakes a father can make. Even if you don't have confidence in your fathering skills, God says you fit the bill perfectly in his plan for your family. This book will help you strive to be the dad God designed you to be — so your son can grow to be everything he is meant to be. Available to buy from amazon.com and amazon.co.uk

There's too much to do and not enough time. You've got school, homework, job, friends, parties, and family on top of everything else. You're totally stressed out. You feel as if your life is out of control. How can teenagers deal with the pressures of every day life? The 7 Habits Of Highly Effective Teenagers

When I bought my new computer I was pleasantly surprised to find that it came with a webcam. The novelty quickly wore off, and it was soon packed away. However, it now appears that webcams are posing a danger to unsuspecting teenagers. Webcam Danger: Who's Watching?

Listen up, dads! Your teen is talking to you! Your teen is depending on you for steady faithfulness, love, and guidance. And because teens often find words elusive and expression difficult, they probably haven’t told you the things they wish you somehow automatically knew. Dad, If You Only Knew...

Most people associate Hill Harper with Hollywood. But he is just as comfortable in a school auditorium, rousing groups of students with his unique style of real-life wisdom. Having addressed thousands of school school students over the years, Hill is ready to take his message to a wider audience. Letters to a Young Brother