Rapper 50 CENT is going straight to the bank – he’s reportedly received a massive $400 million paycheque after The Coca-Cola Company bought the firm behind his energy drink Formula 50 last week.
Drinks makers Glaceau, which produces the Vitamin Water range inspired by the Candy Shop star, was acquired by The Coca-Cola Company for $4.1 billion last Friday.
And as 50 Cent – real name Curtis Jackson – owns a 10 per cent share of Glaceau, he also made a huge profit from the takeover, according to AllHipHop.com.
As previously reported, the rapper will show off his classical skills in a new TV advertisement for the energy drink, when he conducts a symphony orchestra through a rendition of his breakthrough hit, In Da Club.
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Fans of 50 CENT will have to wait over two months for the rapper’s new album, CURTIS, after record label bosses stalled the project’s release.
The album was set to hit stores on June 26, but, following poor reviews for the rapper’s new singles, industry bigwigs have reportedly decided to rework the marketing campaign surrounding the release.
Curtis will now hit stores at the beginning of September.
As previously reported, the album will feature guests such as Eminem, Timbaland, Akon and Justin Timberlake.
(c) 2007 WORLD ENTERTAINMENT NEWS NETWORK LTD. All global rights reserved. No unauthorized copying or re-distributing permitted.
Rap newcomer MIMS has denied reports he issued a challenge to 50 CENT, insisting the statements are “false.”
The star, whose debut single This Is Why I’m Hot reached number one in the U.S., was last week alleged to have called 50 Cent “jealous” and insisted he “should be worried” about his new chart rival’s success.
But the rapper, born Shawn Mims, is adamant his comments were misconstrued, because he has always “spoken highly” of the In Da Club hitmaker.
He tells SOHH.com, “It has come to my attention that rumors of me making certain statements about 50 Cent are circulating the internet throughout the U.S. Basically, without getting into details these statements are false.
“Every interview I’ve been in I (sic) actually spoken highly of 50 Cent. I’ve made remarks saying I respect his work and his ambition and also his business methods. I also made a comment saying that I believe his next album is going to be his best one yet.
“I don’t know 50 Cent personally, nor do I know what his worries are. So it isn’t my business to comment on that. I’m not sure where certain statements come from… but simply not from my mouth.”
(c) 2007 WORLD ENTERTAINMENT NEWS NETWORK LTD. All global rights reserved. No unauthorized copying or re-distributing permitted.
Rapper 50 CENT has launched his own investigation into the alleged assault of a teenager by fellow G-UNIT member TONY YAYO last month.
Yayo was arrested and charged with assault in New York on March 24 for reportedly attacking JAMES ROSEMOND – the teenage son of JIMMY ‘HENCHMEN’ ROSEMOND, whose rival firm represents former G-Unit rapper THE GAME.
50 Cent – born CURTIS JACKSON – has denied reports placing him at the scene of the alleged crime, and is now looking into the matter himself.
He tells Allhiphop.com, “As CEO of G-Unit Records, I take allegations swirling in the media regarding the alleged altercation against a teenage boy on Tuesday 20 March in Manhattan very seriously.
“I have authorized an independent investigation of the incident to determine whether anyone associated with G-Unit Records was involved in the confrontation. I must state for the record, that I was at my home in Farmington, Connecticut the entire day completing songs for my new album.
“A word of caution to anyone attempting to link me personally to this unfortunate incident for their own selfish motivations: I will vigorously pursue all legal remedies available to me to protect my professional reputation.”
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Rapper 50 CENT is threatening to sue over allegations he was involved in the street beating of a 14-year-old boy last week, claiming he wasn’t even in the vicinity of the incident.
Teenager JAMES ROSEMOND, son of Czar Entertainment head JIMMY ‘HENCHMAN’ ROSEMOND, claims he was attacked by 50 Cent’s G-UNIT bandmate TONY YAYO as he walked down a Manhattan, New York City street last Tuesday.
Jimmy Rosemond is reportedly a rival of 50 Cent and his G-Unit posse since he signed their former bandmember THE GAME to his management company in late 2004.
Tony Yayo, real name MARVIN BERNARD, was arrested on Saturday and charged with misdemeanour assault and endangering the welfare of a minor.
James’ furious mother CYNTHIA REED claimed 50 Cent witnessed and encouraged the alleged attack. However, the IN DA CLUB star says he wasn’t even in the state of New York on the day in question.
His lawyer BENJAMIN BRAFMAN tells the New York Post, “I am outraged, as is my client, by the statement from JEFFREY LICHTMAN (The Rosemonds’ lawyer).
“We can prove beyond question that 50 was not even in New York state at the time of the incident. And unless there is a complete retraction and apology from Mr Lichtman, it is our intention to sue him for defamation.”
In response, the family’s attorney says, “I retract nothing. I believe, in good faith that the statement about 50 Cent’s involvement is credible and accurate and will be fully vindicated at trial. If Brafman and his client want to sue me, I say bring it on.”
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Rapper 50 CENT reportedly fears for his life after rival KENNETH ‘SUPREME’ McGRIFF was spared a death sentence for his role in the murder of two men.
The hip hop superstar – real name CURTIS JACKSON – is thought to have worked as a drug dealer for McGriff before finding fame.
He is now convinced McGriff will seek revenge on him for spilling secrets about his activities in his music.
McGriff is famous for heading New York’s Supreme Team drug gang that reaped a fortune during the 1980s. He is also believed to have financed the Murder Inc rap label.
Investigators suspect McGriff was linked to gun attack on 50 Cent in 2000 and Inland Revenue Service special agent FRANCIS MAC claimed in 2003 to have uncovered another plot by McGriff to kill him.
50 Cent mobilized an extensive team of minders at the time, and is now preparing to protect himself, following the life sentence handed out to McGriff for financing the killings of rapper ERIC ‘E-MONEYBAGS’ SMITH and his friend TROY SINGLETON.
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50 CENT producer DAVID ‘DISCO D’ SHAYMAN committed suicide on Tuesday morning. He was 27.
Shayman, who collaborated with 50 Cent on the rapper’s THE MASSACRE album, was found in his New York home.
He had reportedly been suffering from manic depression and was diagnosed as bipolar.
Shayman’s break came when a CD of his beats was passed to G-UNIT’s SHA MONEY XL, who handed it to 50 Cent. His music formed the backbone of 50 Cent’s SKI MASK WAY track, writes MTV.
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Rapper 50 CENT has hit out at critics of hip-hop legend SHAWN ‘JAY-Z’ CARTER’s new album – insisting it is every bit as good as his previous efforts.
Jay-Z’s comeback LP KINGDOM COME has been unfavourably compared to his former successes.
But 50 Cent says negative criticism was inevitable, telling MTV, “In Jay-Z’s case, he just ran into Jay-Z. The critics are comparing him to the old Jay-Z saying, ‘His stuff wasn’t as good as the older stuff, he looks too relaxed.’
“I saw (someone say) on a TV show recently, ‘He looks like he belongs in the office.’ They say all kinda things about him.
“This is them weighing what his new work is to his old work. The Jay-Z record is a great record, the critics are gonna dawg it. They are just gonna say, ‘He is not as good as he was’.”
(c) 2007 WORLD ENTERTAINMENT NEWS NETWORK LTD. All global rights reserved. No unauthorized copying or re-distributing permitted.
Here’s an unlikely cop duo: Robert De Niro and 50 Cent.
De Niro and the Rapper Who Has Been Shot Nine Times have been cast as narcotics cops who partner up in the upcoming thriller “New Orleans,” about the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina.
De Niro and Fiddy’s characters will investigate corruption amongst the police force following the suspicious murder of another officer. Tim Hunter (River’s Edge) will direct the film, which is scheduled to begin shooting in New Orleans this February.
But fans of De Niro can see him sooner than that when he stars opposite Matt Damon and Angelina Jolie in another thriller, The Good Shepherd, which De Niro also directed. Its theatrical release is set for next month.
Meanwhile, 50 Cent’s latest film credit will be as a soldier in the war drama Home of the Brave, which will hit theatres after the new year.
50 Cent’s no song thief, says U.S. District Judge Paul C. Huck, who dimissed a copyright infringement lawsuit against the rapper on Friday.
50 was accused of stealing the opening line from his hit song “In Da Club” from a song by Luther Campbell, formerly of 2 Live Crew.
The suit, filed in Miami federal court in January, charged 50 Cent of changing only one word from the opening line of Campbell’s 1994 song “It’s Your Birthday,” which featured the words “Go Sheila, it’s your birthday.” On “In Da Club,” 50 raps “Go shorty, it’s your birthday.”
Huck found that the phrase was a “common, unoriginal, and noncopyrightable element of the song” and was thus not protected by copyright.
He continued that there are almost no other similarities between the two songs and the opening phrase constituted a mere eleven seconds of the entire song. The two songs, he said, would not be confused by the average person.
New York City’s finest didn’t let 50 Cent off with just a warning when he was pulled over in Manhattan on Friday.
The rapper (real name: Curtis Jackson) had his silver, open-top Lamborghini flagged down by police after he allegedly made an unsafe lane change, according to Reuters. That led police to discover he was driving without insurance, a valid permit, and vehicle registration.
The arrest attracted a crowd of on-lookers who cheered Jackson and booed the arresting officers.
“He just got out of the car and put his hands on the car and they put the cuffs on him,” said tourist Ian Parvess, who videotaped the incident, noting that Jackson initially refused to get out of his car and instead made a phone call.
After being taken to a police station, the rapper was soon released. He faces up to $220 in fines and fees.
Rapper 50 Cent is being sued for three counts of assault and battery by two female fans, which claim he assaulted them at a concert in 2004.
The incident took place when 50 cent, 31, was doing a concert in Hippodrome in Springfield. He was hit with a water bottle, which provoked him to jump into the crowd and try to find the culprits. Along the way, Donna DeJesus, 25, claimed she got punched in the face by the rapper and Taneka Nesbitt, 27, got pushed down by him. Nesbitt fell to the ground, which caused her to injury her knee. She had to go for surgery to fix the injury, reports AllHipHop.
Officers and security took 50 Cent back to the stage. Once on stage, 50 Cent was able to finish his performance. Even though he couldn’t find them, the two people responsible for the water stunt were arrested and charged.
The women are asking for $25,000 or more each in the suit. They claim hospital expenses of more than $3,000, more than $4,000 in physical therapy costs, $3,000 for MRI scans and other tests, and $800 in doctor bills, reports MTV.
In 2005, 50 Cent agreed to an agreement, which involved probation, drug testing for two years, anger management program, and anti-violence public service announcement, to remain out of jail.
Ice Cube is the third rapper to make public his beef with talk show Queen Oprah Winfrey, the Associated Press reports.
Ice Cube follows Ludacris and 50 Cent who have also made public their distaste for Oprah.
“I’ve been involved in three projects pitched to her, but I’ve never been asked to participate,” he said to FHM magazine, citing movies like ?Barber Shop? where other actors in the movie were invited on Oprah?s show, but he was not.
Last month, 50 Cent complained Oprah rarely has rappers on her show, while Ludacris claimed Oprah was ?unfair? to him when he appeared on a show of hers with the fellow starts of his film ?Crash.?
Oprah has defended herself from the rappers? claims.
“I listen to some hip-hop. You know, I’ve been accused of not liking hip-hop and that’s just not true. I got a little 50 (Cent) on my iPod. I really do. Love ‘In Da Club.’ … Love that, and you know, love Jay-Z, love Kanye (West), love Mary J. (Blige),” she said in an interview on a New York City radio station earlier this month.
50 Cent is in final negotiations to star in Home of the Brave, a dramatic wartime film concerning the conflict in Iraq.
Samuel L. Jackson, Jessica Biel, Christina Ricci and Brian Presley have already signed on to star in the project, which follows three soldiers and the difficult adjustments they must make upon their return home from the battlefield.
The independently financed film will begin shooting next month in Morocco with a budget of U.S.$12 million. When production moves to Spokane, Washington, producers will then approach studios for a distribution deal.
The opening lines of 50 Cent?s In Da Club were stolen from a song by former 2 Live Crew member Luther Campbell, alleges a lawyer in a lawsuit.
Richard C. Wolfe filed the suit on behalf Lil? Joe Wein Music against Curtis Jackson, aka 50 Cent, in Miami federal court last week.
The suit claims that the beginning of In Da Club, in which Jackson raps, “Go, go, go go/Go, go, go Shorty/It’s your birthday/We’re gonna party like it’s yo birthday,” was stolen from the 1994 ditty It?s Your Birthday, where Campbell shouts, “Go Derrick, it’s your birthday/Go Derrick, it’s your birthday/Go Freddie, go, go, go/Go Freddie, go, go, go/It’s your birthday.”
Campbell?s song was released on his 1994 solo effort, Still a Freak for Life.
Because Campbell filed for bankruptcy that same year and gave control of his music catalogue to Lil? Joe Wein Music owner Joseph Weinberger, he is not a party to the lawsuit.
But Campbell did tell Florida?s Sun-Sentinel newspaper that In Da Club and It?s Your Birthday share “the same tone, same pitch, same melody” and sections containing “virtually the same lyrics.”
Jackson has refused to comment on the suit.
As the end of 2005 nears, two of music’s biggest artists are in a tight race for highest selling album of the year.
Mariah Carey is closing in on 50 Cent, who has sold 4.8 million records since the release of his album, The Massacre, in March, according to Nielsen Soundscan.
Carey trails slightly with 4.6 million records sold since the release of her album, The Emancipation of Mimi, in April.
If sales of Carey’s album were to continue at their current rate of almost 200,000 per week, she should be album to pass 50 who sold just 21,000 copies of his album last week.
The success Carey is having this year comes as a shock to many, because her pervious album, Charmbracelet, failed to capture her past success.
Sales of CDs and digital downloads for the year are down 8% when compared to last years numbers. However, single digital downloads are up 150 per cent over the last year, according to Nielsen Soundscan.
Advertisements for 50 Cent’s upcoming movie, “Get Rich Or Die Tryin’,” have community leaders of Los Angeles fueling because he is holding a gun.
50 Cent is pictured in the billboards armed with a handgun in his left hand and a microphone in his right hand.
“We’re calling upon Paramount Pictures to remove these billboards out of our neighborhood and from this city,” organizer Najee Ali said Tuesday at a press conference condemning the ad campaign, reports E!.
Ali said, “Gun violence is one of the leading causes of death for young black males in south central Los Angeles and across urban America. It’s irresponsible for Paramount Pictures to promote and market a movie that glorifies carrying guns. Guns are weapons of mass destruction that are used to kill people. We demand that Paramount Pictures remove these negative images of death and destruction, images that our young children are influenced by,” reports Ireland Online.
There was no comment from Paramount Pictures.
“Get Rich Or Die Tryin’” is set to be released on Nov. 9.
Did 50 Cent forget to come by your city on his Anger Management tour? Were you out of town when he did come? Well, pick up your chin, there?s still a way to catch Fiddy in concert. The finale to the rapper?s European tour, which wrapped up Sunday night at London?s Wembley Arena Pavilion, is now streaming online on broadband channels MTV Overdrive and VH1?s Vspot.
The entire concert, along with a behind-the-scenes look at 50 Cent?s upcoming biographic movie, ?Get Rich or Die Tryin,?? and preview tracks from the film?s soundtrack, will be available online until Nov. 16.
The G-Unit star will also talk about working on the movie, due out Nov. 9, in new interviews offered on the two channels. Music From and Inspired by the Motion Picture “Get Rich or Die Tryin’,” is set to drop Nov. 8. The soundtrack will feature new music from 50 Cent, Mase, Nate Dogg, Mobb Deep and M.O.P.
No comments have been made in the arrests of Lloyd Banks(Chris Lloyde) and Young Buck (David Brown), two members of 50 Cent’s G-Unit rap group.
Both were charged with gun possession after performing in Manhattan this week.
It was reported that both rappers were caught by police after allegedly running a red light about 11:30 p.m. on Monday inside a van, which carried at least 10 other men.
Authorities said one of the men had a loaded hand gun and another weapon had been found on the floor of the vehicle.
All occupants were charged. Llyode, 23, and Brown, 24, were released without bail; but at what cost to their “Anger Management 3″ tour?
50 Cent will re-release his latest album, The Massacre, on Sept. 6. The album will include bonus videos and a new unreleased track.
The original release of The Massacre sold more than 6 million copies worldwide and landed 50 four singles on the Billboard Hot 100, something no other artist had accomplished since The Beatles did in 1964.
The re-released album will include a video for all 21 songs on the album, while the new track will be a remixed version of 50′s Outta Control, featuring his latest G-Unit singing, Mobb Deep. The song is already being played on radio stations nationwide.
“I’m the king of originality,” states 50 Cent. “No artist has ever done this before. The videos allow consumers to see exactly what I was thinking about when I made the music.”
