Rap Rivalry Shootings Are Hard to Follow

Okay, Gothamist admits it: The whole 50 Cent-The Game feud that
may or may not have caused the shooting of an associate of The Game totally confuses us. First, the media reported that one of 50's crew was shot in the lobby of Hot 97 where 50 Cent was on the air dissing The Game (photo left, AP). But then the victim, who was shot in the upper leg-groin (ouchie), turned out to be a friend of The Game's. Or something like that. Though police aren't sure if the shooting was related to the 50 Cent-The Game beef (The Game claims 50 didn't help him that much with his No. 1 album; 50 Cent says he wrote at least half the material), last night shots were fired into the building where 50's management company is located on West 25th Street. The NYPD is working with the LAPD to see if there's a connection between these shootings and an L.A. incident. And rapper Fabolous wants the rappers to make peace, which makes us wonder who can broker the peace process? Dr. Dre?

Is this a new rap war brewing? (Everyone hopes not.) Or is this a ploy to ensure that 50 Cent's new album, out tomorrow, sells many more albums? (Very possibly, but, really, if it is, that's sick.) Hip Hop Music has audio of 50 Cent's Hot 97 appearance. MTV asks if their collaboration was doomed from the beginning. The NY Times had a detailed story about the shooting and rivalries, with this 50 Cent quote: "You have a higher chance of getting shot because you're talking to me than if you never met me. See, my lifestyle's different from what you'd consider the norm, because I come from an environment where the price of life is cheap." And Gothamist tried to find a website for The Game, but mostly found video games links or this listing for the Michael Douglas-Sean Penn movie, The Game.

Contact the author of this article or email tips@gothamist.com with further questions, comments or tips.

By Jen Chung in Arts and Events, News on March 2, 2005 10:00 AM

Comments [rss]

Rman

This crap is just stupid. How anyone can call these illiterate ghetto trash talented is beyond unbelievable. They have NO musical ability at all, most of their hooks are stolen as is alot of the music itself. Why? Because they CAN'T write music. Most hooks are the result of someone writing at least dozens of songs to get ONE hook, these pieces of garbage have no talent or work ethic so the just steal something someone else wrote, and babble over the top with a few words, tired phrases and subject matters, of course "uhh", and assorted foul language. That's like joining the NFL as a defensive player with no ability and just shooting a running back because you're too lazy to learn to play, get in shape, and get off your ass and tackle him. Rap was once relevant, back in the days of Grandmaster Flash, he spoke of problems and WORKING toward solutions, not pimpin' ho's and cappin' mf's. These idiots have no place in the world, let alone music. I see people being shot at hip hop events all the time, this doesn't happen in rock. Why is that?

They and their followers live like stupid pieces of garbage and die the same way.

Zombie Lab

Wow, DaMmU where to start. First off you're not a blood and you're probably a skinny white kid that still wets the bed. Then should I comment on your spelling or grammar?

DaMmU

yo BBBBRRRRAAAATT!!!!..fir5t off blood luv 2 mah nigga game...dat5 wut5 BraCKin...none of yall nigga5 kno bout di5 gang Bangin 5hyt...not even fifty cKent..dat nigga5 gonna get rode on 5one enough...if game5 nigga5 dont do it mah nigga5 will..5o till da tyme fo' dat C311K, fifty cKent sleep wit cha ve5t...662-out..cKhillin

Robert Kyle

It's a shame that a lot of these talented rappers are in love with guns and violence. If they like that life so much they should send them to Iraq. I'm all for a draft that will start with Criminals who are behind bars and superstar THUGS, who exhibit and glorify criminal behavior. After they come back (if they make it back) I gurantee they will no longer glorify violence.

Shanice

You know what...I really like 50 Cent and he's a really good rapper...Nothing is worth my life...Just leave it at that!

J-Get

First of all: for someone to judge who society is better off with or without is a little to "godly" for anyone.

2nd of all: this is not 50's "best album', that stopped years ago w/ "How to Rob".

3rd: Where you at is bangin', but that's how we do (don't sleep bitches) in the M.W.

4th: Ken is just funny type; he said "a tbs Classic".

5th: Jay Smooth- don't talk savoirfaire son, you can't even spell, and I used that name back in junior high! But you're right, it is often times the entourage that becomes the downfall.

6th: toyochin=$!.

7th: stupid, braggin about gettin shot 9 times is nothing like bragging about being hit by a bus! Worst analogy ever!

8th: Jada Kiss is going to murder 50! Lyricaly, 50 can't touch anyone from D-Block, Y-O!

NUFF SAID!

gerrard00

Here's his posse's site:

http://www.theblackwallstreet.com/

Ugh, did I just write the word posse?

KeithS

The hilarious thing about this clown is that he boasts about being shot nine times. To me, that's akin to boasting about being hit by a bus multiple times. Just shows that you're a very, very slow learner.

toyochin

I was okay with Fiddy back when he was unsigned and appearing on mixtapes. His major label stuff has been bland, overproduced crap, and isn't using gun play for a publicity stunt tad bit predictable for a guy who has been shot 9 times?

Couldn't he have his Sidekick or PC hacked like Paris and Fred? Appeared in a BK commercial as a singing cowboy? Anything but more shooting. That's like Dubya misspeaking - after a while, it's not even news any more.

Jay Smooth

Ha, yeah Game was not very google-savvy with his choice of name. One of many types of savvy that he lacks, it would seem.

Sad cuz he seemed like a really good kid when I interviewed him.. hee's just still immature and lacking judgement, and surrounded by a lot of people who pull him in the wrong direction. Sometimes the biggest problem in hip-hop is the *entourage*.

ken

four quick comments

(1) give guns to adults who act like kids, this is what you get...

(2) isn't the game connected with stephon marbury's business venture in compton?

(3) both can't rhyme. you can't rhyme everything with "uhh!" 50 was only good when he came out with "how to rob".

(4) man, "the game" the movie was great, a tbs classic.

Adam

Oooh. I didn't realize until this morning that The Game is the L.A. dude in that Boost Mobile commericial with Kanye and Luda. "Where You At?" That song is so good, even though The Game's verses are the weakest of the three.

Kojak

I downloaded . . . I mean . . . 'acquired' 50 Cent's new Album coming out tomorrow,'Massacre'. I think its gonna be his best album yet.

With 50 Cent trouble just follows him everywhere. He has beef with everybody and everybody has beef with him. He could very well end up like Two-Pac or Biggie. Thats life.

j

I don't mind if there's another rap war brewing. Society is better off without these guys, both musically and otherwise.

For someone who must spend a lot of time online, you really shouldn't have much trouble finding info on The Game (I found plenty, and I'd never heard of him before this shooting). Here:

The Game

Brian Van Nieuwenhoven

Here's a good question: Would you take a non-life-threatening bullet in exchange for $100,000 (or some similarly gaudy bribe) from a top-selling rap artist, as part of a spectacle generated to promote said rapper's new album?

Just asking.

Right now I'd take a bullet for that kind of money.