Get Rich or Die Tryin'

The cover of Get Rich or Die Tryin' is a single, direct portrait. 50 Cent stands shirtless behind a pane of broken glass, wearing a heavy chain, his body warm-toned against a red background and his stare fixed on the viewer.

The image was photographed by Sacha Waldman and designed by Waldman with Julian Alexander. Its bare torso and cracked glass suggest toughness and survival, themes that run through an album made by a rapper who had famously been shot nine times before he got his major-label deal.

It has been described as among the most recognisable album covers in rap history. Released on 6 February 2003 by Shady, Aftermath and Interscope, the album became one of the biggest-selling debuts of its decade, and the shirtless pose became 50 Cent's signature.