Gaming News
50 Cent Explains Balrog Role and Music Choices in Street Fighter
Developing
Photo: Senior Airman Nia Jacobs (public domain), via Wikimedia Commons All clips and posts below are embedded from their original sources.
By the numbers: this timeline documents 3 events from Oct 12, 2026 to Oct 15, 2026, drawn from 4 sources.
“But I went home with a hat on. That hairline was crazy,”
via allhiphop.com
Background
Curtis Jackson, known as 50 Cent, is a Grammy Award-winning rapper who plays Balrog, a boxer character from Capcom's Street Fighter video game series, in the upcoming live-action film. The movie, directed by Kitao Sakurai, is set in 1993 and stars Noah Centineo as Ken Masters, Andrew Koji as Ryu, and Jason Momoa as Blanka.
50 Cent has a long-standing connection to boxing, having trained from age 12 through his teens. For the role, he returned to the sport with a demanding routine that included working with a professional coach in Australia, lifting weights, and using cryotherapy.
He also has a musical link to the film's promotion, which used a previously unreleased version of 'Ambitionz Az a Ridah' created by Tupac Shakur for Mike Tyson in the 1990s.
The timeline
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DiscussingFilm shared 50 Cent's comments on song placement
DiscussingFilm shared a video on X in which 50 Cent reportedly revealed that the film's director suggested using one of his famous songs during a Balrog scene. He reportedly explained that in a production of this scale, he does not have the leverage to decide when his own music appears in the film.[2]
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50 Cent links Street Fighter music to Tupac's Tyson recording
At the film's Los Angeles premiere, 50 Cent told Extra that he wrote a version of 'Ambitionz Az a Ridah' after hearing Tupac Shakur's boxing-inspired track made for Mike Tyson. He noted that Tupac's estate approved the use of the unreleased material, rejecting claims that the vocals were generated by artificial intelligence.[4]
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50 Cent reflects on bringing realism to Balrog
In an interview with Complex, 50 Cent reportedly discussed how his background in boxing helped him understand a fighter's mindset. He reportedly stated that he brought the confidence, intimidation, and aggression he observed in real fighters into his portrayal of Balrog, praising the film for capturing the early-1990s arcade energy.[1]
Our read of the evidence
Partly documented. The three statements about 50 Cent’s comments come from separate reports published by primetimer.com, allhiphop.com and insider‑gaming.com, with no primary source confirming them directly. Each report is dated consecutively from October 12 to October 15, 2026, forming a timeline of the claims. Because the information rests solely on secondary reports and lacks direct verification, the evidence is only partly documented.
Our rating counts evidence, not opinions about anyone: events confirmed by a primary source (the person's own post, their official site, a court or government record) weigh most, then how many independent outlets report the story.
Who is involved
American rapper and actor (born 1975) Tupac Amaru Shakur
American rapper and actor (1971–1996) Michael Gerard Tyson
American boxer and media personality (born 1966)
Frequently asked
What is the current status of the Street Fighter movie?
As of October 15, 2026, per insider-gaming.com, the film is sitting at just over 40% on Rotten Tomatoes.
Why did 50 Cent not choose his own song for the film?
50 Cent explained that he does not have enough leverage in a major production to place his own music whenever he wants. He stated that the director suggested using one of his well-known tracks during a Balrog scene.
How did 50 Cent prepare physically for the role of Balrog?
According to AllHipHop, 50 Cent trained with a professional boxing coach in Australia and worked out three times a day. He also used massage, cryotherapy, and added late-night cardio to his routine.
What is the connection between Tupac Shakur and the Street Fighter music?
The film's promotion used a previously unreleased version of 'Ambitionz Az a Ridah' that Tupac Shakur created for Mike Tyson in the 1990s. 50 Cent confirmed that Tupac's estate approved the use of this material for the film.
More related drama (4)
Sources (4)
- insider-gaming.com, 50 Cent Brings Fighter Mindset to Balrog in Street Fighter, Oct 15, 2026.
- primetimer.com, 50 Cent’s iconic song is coming to ‘Street Fighter’ in Balrog scene, but the rapper reveals a surprising twist, Oct 13, 2026.
- Twitter (original post).
- allhiphop.com, 50 Cent Explains How Tupac’s Mike Tyson Recording Shaped His "Street Fighter" Music, Oct 13, 2026.
Cite this timeline
This timeline compiles 3 dated events from 4 sources. If it helped your reporting, cite it:
GenZHype. “50 Cent Explains Balrog Role and Music Choices in Street Fighter.”
GenZHype, 17 October 2026,
https://genzhype.com/gaming/50-cent-explains-balrog-role-and-music-choices-in-street-fighter/.