50 Cent
50 Reasons to be happy: Fiddy is to host his own TV variety series on A&E Janette Pellegrini/Getty Images for Cantor Fitzgerald

Rapper, 50 Cent has been signed up to host his own variety show, 50 Cent Presents, on A&E. The In Da Club hitmaker's new series for A&E will include sketches, stand-up, reality experiments, music, magic and dance – and he'll even invite his celebrity squad along for extra appeal. Christmas has come early. 50 Cent, real name Curtis James Jackson III, will host, star and act as executive producer on the show, which is currently in development.

Talking of his new TV venture, he said: "I grew up watching variety shows and am excited to put my own spin on the format. I hope everyone is ready to bring their talent forward - I want to show the world the best of the best."

50 Cent
50 Cent will invite his celebrity friends onto the new TV show, according to reports REUTERS/Brendan McDermid

A&E's Frontain Bryant said: "Leaning into A&E's legacy in showcasing the arts, we're setting out to redefine the traditional variety show," The Hollywood Reporter reports.

"50 Cent is the perfect partner to refresh this classic format. He is a true tastemaker across industries and we are excited to see his impressive showcase of talent," he added.

Despite marking his first TV presenting debut, 50 Cent, aka, 'Fiddy,' has been an executive producer for a while as well as acting, most recently appearing in Southpaw, alongside Jake Gyllenhaal, Forest Whitaker and Rachel McAdams.

The rapper is from humble beginnings having been born in the South Jamaica neighbourhood of the borough of Queens, where he began selling drugs at the age of 12 during the 1980s crack epidemic. He quit drug-dealing to pursue a musical career but was involved in a shooting where he was struck by nine bullets in 2000. He was later discovered by Eminem and signed by Shady Records, Aftermath Entertainment and Interscope Records.

Jackson has since sold over 30 million records worldwide and won an array of awards including a Grammy, thirteen Billboard Music Awards and six World Music Awards.