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4/2/05 -50 cent to enter women's underwear?

Rapper 50 Cent is adding women's underwear to his business portfolio that spans music, vitamin drinks and pornography, The Sun reported Saturday. While 50 Cent himself is the ultimate decision maker, the line is largely overseen by singer Olivia, the only female in his G-Unit rap collective.

"I'm coming out with a G-Unit lingerie line," she told Allhiphop.com."I wear the G-Unit women's line, like, all the time."

Describing the raunchy line as "high-end," Olivia said she is the one who decides which patterns and "buttons and stuff" are used.

"It's not a regular line -- we have the best designers put in place, and (50 Cent) always oversees everything," she said.

03/15/05 -50 Cent, Jadakiss, Fat Joe & The Game invited to Fight Klub?

Fight Klub, the underground emcee battle, proposes to amicably end the present beef by organizing a battle between the aforementioned feuding rappers Borrowing a boxing match formula, the contestants would lyrically spar in front of a crowd for a grand prize of $1 million dollars. 50, Jada, Game and Joe have yet to agree to the battle.

03/09/05 -50 Cent and The Game squash beef! The feud is over according to both artists:

Rappers 50 Cent and The Game made nice Wednesday during an appearance at a renowned Harlem charity, signaling a thaw in their headline-grabbing feud.

"We are here to show that people can rise above even the most difficult of circumstances, and together we can put negativity behind us," said 50Cent

"I'm almost ashamed to have participated in the thing that went on in the last couple of weeks," said The Game, whose name is Jayceon Taylor, referring to last week's shooting outside Hot 97 that hurt a member of his posse. "I'm here, and I'm apologetic."

The pair also announced a mutual beef: not giving back to the community.

The rappers held up oversized cardboard checks. 50 Cent, who grew up in Jamaica, Queens, donated $150,000 to the Harlem Boys Choir, while The Game, of Compton, Calif., gave $103,500 to the Compton Unified School District Music Program.

Outside and inside the auditorium, dozens of city police officers and private security guards kept a watchful eye. The truce follows last week's shooting outside Hot 97 in Greenwich Village. Police said a member of The Game's posse was shot three times outside the studio after a confrontation over 50 Cent's decision to kick The Game out of his entourage, G-Unit. The rappers themselves were not involved in the melee.

The rappers' truce also came as 50 Cent's new album, "The Massacre," released days after the shooting, sold an estimated million copies this week.

On Monday, 50 Cent had hinted at a truce, saying during an appearance on Hot 97 that he was "looking to have a conversation" with The Game. "The situation is definitely unfortunate," he added. "It's something we can get past." Yesterday, 50 Cent noted the anniversary of the shooting death of rapper Biggie Smalls, among the high-profile, violent incidents in the hip-hop world.

Also yesterday, an attorney for the owner of 395 Hudson St., which houses the radio station, announced that tenants there "are basically in fear of their lives."

03/06/05 - In today's Sunday update looks like there are rumors that 50 Cent could be leaving Shady/Aftermath. Apparently Eminem and Dr Dre aren't too happy with 50's latest disses towards Jadakiss and Fat Joe.

Heads are saying that Eminem and Dr. Dre are none too happy with all the beef 50 Cent has gotten into lately, in particular, the problems with fellow Aftermath/G-Unit artist Game. Likewise, it seems that 50 may be taking exception to Em's lack of support and a diss track towards Em and Dre may be on the way. 50 has recently complained that Interscope didn't pay enough attention to his project, and he had to put out "Disco Inferno" himself just to get the ball rolling. The rumor mill says the Queens rapper will possibly leave Shady/Aftermath and take his G-Unit clan with him.

Rumors have surfaced that former G-Unit soldier Game has teamed with Queensbridge kingpin Nas, and D-Block's Jadakiss for a diss track aimed at 50 Cent. The rumored collabo is supposed to take place today and be produced by Terror Squad production duo Cool & Dre. Word has it that Riker's Island inmate Shyne will do the intro to the track. However, none of the mentioned parties have confirmed that such a collaboration is indeed in progress.

For full story, visit SOHH!

03/01/05 - The Game gets fired by 50 Cent & one of 50's bodyguards in stable condition after being shot at a Funkmaster Flex interview last night at a lobby. Suspect still unknown.

A 24-year-old man who police have identified as Kevin Reed of Compton, California, was hospitalized after a shooting outside the offices of New York radio station Hot 97 on Monday night. Although police have not confirmed many details, a source close

to the investigation said the incident occurred at around the time 50 Cent was making an appearance at the radio station to announce that the Game had been booted from the G-Unit. Police said Reed is expected to recover.

According to the source, Game, who had been a guest on the station earlier in the evening, apparently returned to Hot 97's offices accompanied by an undisclosed number of men and tried to get into the building. At around the same time, 50 Cent's interview was audibly interrupted, some conferring occurred, and the interview ended abruptly. Game and company were not allowed into the building and subsequently began quarreling with a group of individuals who were leaving Hot 97. The altercation led to Reed being shot at least once in the left leg. He was rushed to St. Vincent's Hospital.

Police have confirmed that Reed was struck just outside the building. However, contrary to some reports that have surfaced, police say the man was probably not a member of 50 Cent's entourage, but they are still investigating. Police reported that 50 himself was not involved in the dispute.

There were also shots fired outside the office of Violator Management — the company that manages 50 Cent, Busta Rhymes, Tweet and Missy Elliott — on Monday night, but no one was injured, according to police. There are no suspects as of yet in either shooting.

On the radio Monday night, 50 — accompanied by G-Unit members Tony Yayo, Lloyd Banks and Olivia — told Funkmaster Flex that the Game was being excommunicated from the G-Unit because he felt the West Coast MC was disloyal.

50 told Flex he was disappointed with comments Game made on the station Saturday night, when Game revealed he would not be getting involved in the beefs 50 is stirring up with "Piggy Bank"

According to Flex, Game even said he was going to do a song with Nas. "He's gone," 50 scoffed. "He might as well make the record."

50 also said Game should stop saying "G-Unit." "He thinks he's doing me a favor when he says that."

During his conversation with Flex, 50 claimed Interscope was going to drop the Game until 50 stepped in and got involved with The Documentary. 50 also insisted that he's making more money off The Documentary than Game is, and that he wrote more choruses than he's credited for.

Game was on Hot 97 earlier in the evening, talking to host Angie Martinez. When listeners called in to ask about his and 50's problems, Game simply said he was going to continue to make "good music." Two nights prior, Game had said on-air that he and 50 did not have to be friends as long as they worked toward that same common goal: making good music.

For weeks there'd been rumors of friction within the G-Unit camp, but they'd always downplayed or outright dismissed the talk, and they even held it together long enough to shoot a joint video for "Hate It or Love It," which debuted Monday on "TRL."

A rep for Interscope had no comment on the implosion.

Source: MTV.COM

02/19/05 - The official 50 Cent "Massacre" Tracklisting (Album to be released: March 8, 2005) is finally here and it seems like the controversial track "Piggy Bank" aimed at Fat Joe and Jadakiss is going to be on the album. Nobody has heard the track yet according to 50Cent, but I'm hearing the song will be leaked a couple of weeks before the album drops.

So here it is, "The Massacre"  track listing:

When The Guns Come Out (Produced By Dr. Dre)
Somebody's Gotta Die Tonight (Produced By Eminem)
Gatman And Robin (Feat. Eminem) (Produced By Eminem)
Rider Music (Produced By Hi Tek)
Get In My Car (Produced By Hi Tek)
This Is 50 (Produced By Sha Money XL)
Disco Inferno (Produced By Dangerous LLC)
In My Hood (Produced By Dangerous LLC)
Position Of Power (Produced By J.R.)
So Amazing (Feat. Olivia) (Produced By J.R.)
Candy Shop (Feat. Olivia) (Produced By Scott Storch)
We Don't Need Them (Produced By Buckwild)
Baltimore Love Thing (Produced By Q Beats)
Piggy Bank (Produced By Needlez)
G-Unit The Gang (Feat. Lloyd Banks, Young Buck & Tony Yayo)

Now ...about the whole 50/Jadakiss/Fat Joe/Ja Rule Beef......

On his new mix tape, G-Unit Radio Part 10: 2050 (Before the Massacre), 50 Cent takes aim again at Murder Inc with a record called "I'm a Animal." There's also the still-unreleased "Piggy Bank," which disses Ja Rule, Nas, Kelis, Jadakiss and Fat Joe. Now, in the next issue of XXL, 50 gives his enemies a serious tongue-lashing. He appears on the cover dressed in a suit and holding a crossbow. In the pages, he spits fire.

"I'm responding to the actions of others," 50 is quoted as saying about the anger he's unleashing on wax. "I'm not actually starting it. When they are in their articles, they say 'F--- 50' off the record. But they won't say it to my face. And the difference between them and me is I don't have a problem saying f--- them in front of them."

During the interview, Jadakiss catches the brunt of 50's verbal barbs. 50 brushes off the D-Block captain as no competition for him.

"When you can't break a million records, and you call yourself going platinum ... I know your numbers is 800 [thousand] and change, and you can't get over that hump?" 50 says. "And you haven't put out a record with your voice on the chorus? He's a great rapper, but he's not a great songwriter. I got artists under me that are better than him."

In the mother of all ironies, one rapper 50 says he wouldn't mind having in the G-Unit fold is arch nemesis Ja Rule.

"I might sign Ja Rule when he's done at Murder Inc.," 50 tells the magazine. "After I destroy him, I'll rebuild him. Because he never was strong enough to individually go against me. He needs the support of everyone else to try to attempt that. And they should have been smart enough to tell him not to directly go against me."

And if you're wondering if 50 has any qualms about beefing because of his mentor Eminem's beef-squashing stance in "Like Toy Soldiers" ("Eminem Hangs Up Beef, Refuses To Be A Pawn"), the Queens native doesn't let on that he's second guessing himself.

"I don't think Em is realistic," 50 tells the magazine. "On certain levels, he's being logical. Anybody, like I said, would want to avoid those type of situations. Em's seeing if it's possible to not have these issues. Why? Because he makes hit records."

A few weeks ago, 50 had a couple of other interview outbursts. Then, it was on New York radio station Hot 97, where he said he felt Fat Joe had been subliminally dissing him for quite some time now and that he felt since Joe and Jadakiss appeared on the song "New York" with Ja Rule, they were co-signing what he perceived as disses toward him on that record.

On Wednesday after "TRL," Ja smirked at 50's actions.

"He's a clown" Ja said in the green room. "He's a baby. Grow up, baby! What, this nigga think the world revolves around him? Let's be serious. He's digging himself a grave."

50's St. Valentine's Day Massacre is due March 8. The March issue of XXL with 50 on the cover comes out the first week of February.

Also...there are rumors going around on the 50 Cent Hand injury, I haven't heard much about that but if you have some details, let me know!

01/17/04 - The Source Attacks Eminem in the 2004 Issue and Puts him on the cover

the extinction agenda

There's something in the way of things. At the end of The Roots' Phrenology, poet Amiri Baraka warned of an in?uential force that no one would name. Hip-Hop is being driven by something but isn't driven by anything. No, it's not just Eminem. That would be giving him too much credit. But he is a symptom of it. A symptom of
our reluctance to take control of what we created instead of being idle participants. That "something" in the way is a jarring emptiness and lack of focus. Turbulence. But in the pages that follow, The Source takes the controls and allows our artists, politicians and readers to finally confront the forces of racism, sexism and denial that are slowly killing our culture.

The real Slim Shady

The Source uncovers the startling truth about
Marshall Mathers and the racist comments
that have Hip-Hop patiently waiting for answers
Words by Kim Osorio

Let's do the math. If Eminem were Black, he would have sold half-or a lot less than half. His story, that of a skilled lyricist born and raised in Detroit, fully immersed in Hip-Hop culture and struggling through lyrical battles until he finally triumphs at the top, has been hyped up as if it were something really special. But in truth, it's really just the same story as many Black rappers'. If you think about it, it could have easily been his boy Proof, a member of D12 known in his community to be an equally skilled MC. But it wasn't.
Today, Marshall Mathers III, a White MC born in St. Joseph, Missouri, is rap's biggest success story. Without a doubt, he is a very skilled rapper-maybe one of the best. After all, his independent work garnered critical acclaim and earned Em a spot in the coveted Unsigned Hype column in this magazine before he was ever signed. In his seven-year career, Eminem has released three major-label albums, sold over 20-million records worldwide, started his own Hip-Hop label, and has been called a genius by Rolling Stone. But his race has earned him privileges. He marched into the MTV Video Music Awards with over 100 clones of himself, something no Black rapper would have been allowed to do.
Arguably, there is a desire on the part of top executives at major media outlets and corporations like MTV, which has had, at best, a shaky history of dealing with Black music, to see a White person in Hip-Hop slide into the top spot. But because Hip-Hop represents the oppressed communities and speaks for the victims of the embedded racist structure that is still prevalent in this country, there is a risk when these tendencies go unchecked. It is, in fact, the duty of these corporations who are involved in Hip-Hop to be sensitive to these issues. And now, the harsh reality is that the people that have laid down the foundation, along with the younger generation for whom it was created, are being forced out of the one thing they have that truly gives them a voice.
Until recently, Eminem has seemed very careful about his place as a White rapper in a predominantly African American and Latino Hip-Hop culture. And in a November 2002 Vibe article, he had this to say about using the word "nigger": "It's not my place to say it. There's some things that I just don't do."
But on an old recording (produced by White beatmakers he no longer works with), which was given to The Source in October of last year, Eminem opposes dating Black women "'cause I don't like that nigger shit." On another song he calls Black people "moon crickets," "spear chuckers" and "porch monkeys."
To put it in perspective, remember this is a White rapper with the ability to influence millions of minds who is saying these things to other White people behind closed doors.
To date, few Hip-Hop players have called Marshall Mathers out on these racist comments, probably because he holds so much power in the game, but there is a growing chorus of dissent among Black leaders outside of the music industry. And many of the people near his beloved 8 Mile, people with whom he collaborated during his rise to superstardom, aren't afraid to speak on it. Understanding Marshall Mathers's past-his life before the Black community accepted him-explains how a rapper of his caliber could have something like the racist recording hidden in his closet. See, during his high school days, he was going back and forth across 8 Mile.

THE D
8 Mile is a major roadway in Detroit that divides the suburbs from the city. If you go toward 7 Mile, you find the 'hood, complete with Coney Island restaurants and oversized liquor stores. That side is predominantly Black. The city of Detroit, as a whole, is actually 83 percent Black, with the third highest number of Blacks of any city in the United States. On the other side of 8 Mile, going north toward 9 Mile, is considered the suburbs. That area is mostly made up of White people.
Historically, Detroit has been a breeding ground for talent, specifically Black talent. The birthplace of Motown Records, Detroit has seen the rise of Stevie Wonder and the Jackson 5, among many others. But where Hip-Hop is concerned, there's a long line of artists whose names have somehow been written out of history. Few have actually achieved mainstream or national recognition, aside from Eminem and Kid Rock.
The first rap artist from Detroit to sign a major recording deal was late-'80s pioneer Awesome Dre. Then came Esham, who sold hundreds of thousands of records independently. Both were hardcore rappers and are cited as pioneers of Detroit Hip-Hop. Eventually, gangsta groups, such as Detroit's Most Wanted and Rap Mafia, became local legends like their predecessors. Their stories are the ones that are rarely told.
But when Hip-Hop began to reflect its more conscious artists in the early '90s, Detroit lyricists such as Proof started emerging. Soon thereafter, clothing entrepreneur Maurice Malone founded the Hip-Hop Shop, a clothing store where local artists showcased their lyrical skills. Eminem was a part of that circuit.
The VH1 specials, articles, MTV shows and especially the film 8 Mile would have you believe that Eminem grew up in one of Detroit's Black neighborhoods. But, actually, Marshall Mathers went to Lincoln High School, a predominantly White school in the Detroit suburb of Warren, Michigan, dubbed War-n-tucky for its reputation as a hotbed of racism. He moved to Warren in his early teens.
From 1988 when Em was 16 until around 1993 when he was 21, Eminem formed a rap collective known as Bassmint Productions. The all-White crew consisted of Eminem (M&M) himself, another MC, Chaos Kid, and a pair of brothers, DJ Buttafingaz and Manix, who did production. Together, they performed at local shows and recorded hundreds of tapes. In 1991, Manix's friend Shortcut, a White Hip-Hop dancer who frequented the clubs back then, met Champtown while dancing for Rob Base in Canada, and Shortcut introduced him to Bassmint Productions. Champtown is an African American rapper and entrepreneur who started rhyming when he was 9. He was raised in the streets of Detroit and was a reputable Hip-Hop head in the community. He had been down with Esham in his earlier years and later started his own label, Straight Jacket Records. He introduced Eminem to his side of 8 Mile. This man, however, has been left out of Eminem's story, and there is much more to it than people know.
Bassmint Productions' two MCs had different styles. "Eminem was a battle rapper, very heroic, very egotistical, while Chaos Kid was very conscious, a Poor Righteous Teachers, Public Enemy, KRS-One type of guy," says Champtown. "[T]hey definitely clashed on the creativity side. They both had skills as far as delivery goes, but their subject matter was different. If they are on a record and one is rapping about himself and what he will do to MCs and then Chaos Kid would rap about how the sun is going to fall and burn us all, it would just be too much of a difference, [so] eventually they decided to go their own separate ways."
Chaos Kid, who is currently promoting a community-focused organization Idle Kids, no longer speaks to Champ-town, but agrees he and Eminem were too different to remain in a group together. "For a while, I did influence him … but I was about Public Enemy and he was Naughty By Nature," Chaos Kid explains.
 

the making of a hip-hop monopoly

This diagram illustrates the magnitude of the current and growing monopolization of Hip-Hop. Corporate control and concentration of radio, retail distribution and major recording artists under one record label has affected the ability of independent artists and labels to compete or succeed. In addition, the only music that is heard and promoted from this conglomerate is highly focused on questionable themes-crime, drugs, murder etc.-while Black and Latino communities are continually victimized by these conditions.

interscope records
Over 20% of all Hip-Hop albums sold in 2003 were released under the Interscope Records umbrella, which includes record labels such as Geffen/A&M and DreamWorks. Interscope is overseen by chairman and CEO Jimmy Iovine and is filtered through their top-selling Hip-Hop acts, Eminem and 50 Cent, who, along with producer Dr. Dre, have label deals of their own (Shady, G-Unit and Aftermath Records). Interscope has created extremely tight-knit relationships with the three critical outlets for control of Hip-Hop: radio, MTV and retail. The creativity of top artists is effectively dictated by the system and is made to fit the new corporate arrangement (uncontroversial, radio-friendly first singles with R&B choruses).

radio
CONGLOMERATES
The concentration of ownership in the radio industry
in the past several years has lead to the majority of the largest and most influential Hip-Hop radio stations being owned by only four radio companies, Clear Channel, Emmis Broadcasting Infinity Broadcasting and Radio One.

Mtv
MTV has a very awkward history with Hip-Hop. Most recently, they created separate categories for "Hip-Hop Video" and "Rap Video" at their annual Video Music Awards, a first step in the effort to redefine the term "Hip-Hop" for their predominately young, White, mainstream audience, and eventually push "Rap" away. (i.e. "Hip-Hop" equals Eminem, Justin Timberlake, Britney Spears etc.; "Rap" is what Black guys do.)

retail
Chain consolidation
80% of all music in the U.S. is sold at retail outlets owned by eight different companies.

o Wal-Mart
o Best Buy
o Target
o Transworld
o Musicland
o Tower Records
o K-Mart
o Circuit City

The strength of the above relationships effectively locks out any independent labels
and artists, many of which are minority-owned, from competing in the market.

Independent record labels
and artists suffer

Articles from The Source, February 2004 Issue

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01/11/04 - P. Diddy Recruits 50 Cent, Eminem and LLoyd Banks

Don't think P. Diddy is going to celebrate Bad Boy's 10th anniversary this year with just one of his usual soirees filled with his millionaire superstar friends. While the Cristal is sure to flow at some point, P.D. is currently gearing up to release a Bad Boy 10th anniversary CD/DVD on March 9, the seven-year anniversary of the Notorious B.I.G.'s tragic death.

The label is keeping a tight clasp on information about the album, but a source close to the project has revealed one bit of blockbuster information. Diddy is working on a remix of his Biggie-featured track "Victory" for the LP, but this new version will feature even more guests — Bad Boy is in the process of securing vocals from Eminem, 50 Cent and Lloyd Banks for the cut. The DVD portion of the project is said to document Bad Boy's historic rise as a company.

The birth of his label isn't the only anniversary Diddy will commemorate in 2004. It's been 20 years since the newest — but most experienced — members of Bad Boy, New Edition, made the jump from the small Warlock Records over to the major MCA and released their self-titled album, which featured the hits "Cool It Now" and "Mr. Telephone Man." New Edition are just about done with their latest LP and in the midst of choosing a leadoff single. Ralph, Johnny, Mike, Ronnie and Ricky are on schedule to have an album on shelves May 11.

Before N.E., Bad Boy is slated to put out Carl Thomas' second LP, Let's Talk About It, on March 23 and new album from 8Ball and MJG on April 27. Bad Boy's Da Band haven't announced a release date yet, but the six-person collective is in the studio working on its sophomore LP. Don't be surprised if you hear whispers about a Mario Winans project sometime soon as well — he's working on his debut, and a song with P. Diddy called "I Don't Wanna Know" is already on some radio stations and mixtapes.


Credit : Shaheem Reid for MTV News
Photo: Bad Boy

12/30/03 - 50 Cent Loves 2003 like he loves cake!

Watch the new 50 Cent Video - Poppin Them Thangs! *

It's a good thing 50 Cent bought that spacious mansion in Connecticut a few months back. The year's best-selling artist is going to need at least one of its 52 rooms to display all the gold and platinum albums he's amassed.

50 Cent's major-label debut LP, Get Rich or Die Tryin', has been certified six-times platinum for sales of more than 6.4 million, according to the Recording Industry Association of America. Although one more week's worth of record sales has yet to be counted by SoundScan, Get Rich or Die Tryin', which dropped in February, stands to be the top-selling album of 2003.

Include the plaques he earned for his work with the G-Unit, whose debut, Beg for Mercy, was certified double platinum, and 50 beats out the act next in line, Outkast, as far as RIAA certifications go.

Although Speakerboxxx/ The Love Below has sold 2.7 million copies since September, its six-times platinum certification stems from the fact that it's a double album, and the RIAA counts units, not whole albums, as the criteria for gold (500,000 units shipped) and platinum (1 million shipped) certifications.

While both can boast three-times platinum status, it looks like Linkin Park will edge out Evanescence for 2003's best-selling rock act. Meteora, which has sold more than 3.3 million since March, gives Linkin Park a perfect platinum streak through their first three releases. Reanimation, their 2002 remix album, was certified platinum, and their 2000 debut, Hybrid Theory, earned an eight-times platinum plaque.

Evanescence, averaging sales of 100,000 copies per week in December compared to Meteora's 70,000, is poised to have the best-selling debut by a group with their album, Fallen. Since March, the disc has sold more than 3.2 million copies.

Five female artists are tied for having double-platinum albums, though Beyoncé's Dangerously in Love, which sold more than 2.3 million copies, will likely be the best-selling album by a woman. Hilary Duff's Metamorphosis, with more than 2.1 million sold, will rank next, followed by Kelly Clarkson's Thankful, Celine Dion's One Heart and Britney Spears' In the Zone.

"American Idol" did not limit its dividends to Clarkson. Second-season runner-up Clay Aiken will have the honor of being the second-best-selling solo artist of 2003. Aiken's Measure of a Man sold more than 1.9 million copies since October, for a double-platinum certification. Aiken also came up big in the singles department, chalking up sales of more than 945,000 copies for "Bridge Over Troubled Water," for the only certified platinum single of the year.

Metallica earned their 10th multiplatinum album with St. Anger, which was certified double platinum, as was R. Kelly's Chocolate Factory, Josh Groban's Closer and the soundtrack to "Tupac: Resurrection."

In all, the RIAA certified 271 gold, 130 platinum and 136 multiplatinum albums in 2003.

While those certified artists have reason to celebrate, the rest of the music industry continues to suffer sales-wise. Once again overall music sales are down, though the good news is that the decline isn't as steep as it had been in years before.

Overall sales, including digital downloads, are down just 2.2 percent from 2002. Since sales from online record stores like iTunes, Napster and Buymusic only began to be calculated in July, no direct 2002 correlation can be made. However, music sales excluding digital tracks are down just 4.7 percent, compared with 12.9 percent in 2002.

That's what the sales of 17.5 million digital tracks can do to year-end figures.

As digital tracks rise, sales of cassettes continue to plummet, dropping 40.2 percent compared to last year.

The most striking statistic of 2003 comes from the sale of commercial singles. Singles have been going south for years, and the trend held true for 2003, though not by much. Thanks to massive success on the singles chart by Clay Aiken and the second-season "American Idol" winner, Ruben Studdard, single sales dropped only 4.5 percent, compared to the 61.4 percent dive they took in 2002.

12/25/03 - 50 Cent Gets sued by an actor

50 Cent has been slapped with a lawsuit by an actor who claims he was attacked by the hip-hop star's bodyguards during a music video shoot.

Music video actor Jamarr Isom alleges the In Da Club rapper's bodyguards struck him in the face with their fists while he was at Raleigh Studios in Manhattan Beach, California, to make a 50 Cent video.

He says, "The guy just rushes me, and tackles me, and all five, six guys just come just on top of me. Just stomping me, kicking me in my head. Just punching me; I couldn't do anything."

Isom says it happened after he was told to go to wardrobe to "thug up" for a part in the video. He says he was waiting for his costume with several other extras when 50 Cent bodyguards told them to stand back, implying 50 Cent was in wardrobe and they were too close. Isom insists they politely complied, but says guards chose to attack him moments later anyway.

The suit demands that 50 Cent pays the medical bills Jamarr says he's amassed since his attack.

He adds, "I've worked with a lot of people. I've never had a problem."

Jamarr also claims the beating has left him with lingering pain and has ruined his career - as he finds himself being shut out of the music video business.

He adds, "They've blackballed me from the business and I'm just the innocent guy here."

-Teen Music

12/22/03 - 50 Cent tops Billboard 2003 Charts!

The rapper and Eminem protegé topped the US R&B/hip hop artist, album and albums artist charts, selling a record 872,000 albums in the US in February.

R Kelly came second in the three categories, writing and producing 30 chart hits in 2003. Destiny's Child star Beyonce Knowles emerged as top new R&B/hip hop artist after releasing her first solo album.

Last year Ashanti, Nelly and Eminem were the ruling elite. R Kelly had a prodigious 2003, producing hits for a diverse lineup of acts from Syleena Johnson to B2K, Michael Jackson and the Big Tymers. Aaliyah's popularity continues to transcend her untimely death. The singer took the number one spot in the female R&B and hip hop category. She finished second in that category last year to Ashanti.

-BBC News

12/17/03 - According to MTV.COM, 50 Cent and the G Unit are shooting a video for the Dr Dre & Scott Storch produced record "Poppin' Them Thangs' off the 'Beg For Mercy' album. One of the hottest tracks on the album! Catch the debut on TRL Thursday, G G G UNIT!

 - Full Article -

50 Cent obviously has no problem gaining fan support, but unfortunately, the MC who once rapped, "Nobody likes me, but that's OK/ I don't like y'all anyway," has a problem making friends — especially when money and turf are involved.

In the G-Unit's new video for "Poppin' Them Thangs," the Queens MC shakes down underworld figures from various crime organizations. "Basically they got all the bosses and they're bringing them from all over in planes," G-Unit's Lloyd Banks explained on the aircraft-hangar set of the clip, which was shot earlier this month in Los Angeles by Little X. "The Triad boss, Italian mob boss ... Then here we come, the neighborhood bad guys. The [bosses] are gonna sit there and basically tell us the problems they have with us. We're not cooperating, we don't give a f---. We got all the 'hood gangstas with us."
"Basically, we're in California, keeping it on that gangsta level," Young Buck added. "You gonna see a lot of black bandanas, black gear. A lot of 'hood things. Big thangs going on."

For the G-Unit, keeping it gangsta in "Poppin' Them Thangs" meant keeping it gangster. They drew inspiration for the video's plot by going back to old mobster flicks.

"It's kinda like pulling together all your gangster movies that you seen and enjoyed before," Little X explained. "We had fun with it and made a little mini film. The influences are things like 'Godfather,' 'Untouchables.'

"There's nothing that's really violent about the scene," X continued. "We play it like it's big Hollywood. We're just having fun. It's not really that deep. Anybody that sees it will know that we're just enjoying ourselves. 50 is really good. They're all really good, but it's 50's monologue."

And what is 50 talking about in the clip? He's just politely telling everyone what he wants.

"The sanitation contracts in Chicago, I want in ... Corporate takeover in Japan, I want in ... Anytime, anywhere, I want in!"

"Poppin' Them Thangs" will debut on "TRL" on Thursday.

12/15/03 - I was watching the Howard Stern Show couple nights ago and Howard had G Unit on.  Most of the interview was about Vivica A Fox. Howard asked important questions such as whether 50 hit it from behind. 50 Mentioned that the reason for the breakup was because he felt that Vivica's staff was taking the advantage of the situation. He announced the breakup on several radio stations saying:

-Paul

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