Rapper 50 cent is setting his sights on "the top of the literary world" - and hopes his new series of street fiction will wow critics.

The star is combining his G-Unit brand with MTV's Pocket Books to create gritty and true-to-life new stories told as hip-hop novellas.

Cent - real name Curtis Jackson - hopes the books will ape the success of his previous foray into the literary world.

Speaking to AllHipHop.com, he says: "Last year, my memoirs, From Pieces to Weight marked the beginning. Now, I'm rounding up some of the top writers, same way I rounded up some of the top rappers in the game, to form G-Unit and take this series to the top of the literary world.

"The stories in the G-Unit (are) about our life on the streets and no on knows it better than us.

"Not to mention, when it comes to delivering authentic, gritty urban stories of the high and low life, our audience expects the best."