Today in 2002, 50 Cent released Guess Who’s Back?, his first official mixtape following the Power of the Dollar LP on the Full Clip Records indie imprint.
It was this offering that would catapult Curtis Jackson into the public eye. Eventually, the project would gain the attention of Eminem via his attorney/manager Paul Rosenberg and Shady would ultimately sign 50 Cent to Shady Records/Interscope and a new Hip Hop icon would be born.
Guess Who’s Back features production from Trackmasters, Clark Kent, Sha Money Xl, and featured street anthems like, “Your Life’s On The Line”. It also had the controversial song, “Ghetto Qu’ran” which allegedly led to his almost deadly shooting in 2000.
The album charted on Billboard setting up the G-Unit era and a lengthy career that continues today. 50 Cent would go on to release his mega Interscope debut, “Get Rich Or Die Tryin’” and become a top charting and live show sellout artist.
Salute to Fif for this timeless and necessary piece of Hip Hop history!
Eminem has been awfully quiet in the 2020s. The rapper who dominated pop culture in the 2000s and the pop charts in the 2010s hasn’t dropped an album in four years. The wait for new music is finally over, though. Eminem made a seemingly random appearance at the start of the NFL Draft on April 25, but the pieces fell into play when Em uploaded a video teaser to YouTube. It seems like the appearance was a way to drum up excitement for the rapper’s upcoming album, The Death of Slim Shady.
Eminem modeled the teaser after crime shows like Unsolved Mysteries. A man in a trenchcoat details the enemies that “Slim Shady” has made over the years due to his “tongue-twisting rhymes.” 50 Cent, Em’s longtime collaborator, then appears to voice his concern for the rapper’s alter ego. “He’s not a friend,” 50 says fearfully. “He’s a psychopath.” The teaser incorporates clips from classic Eminem videos like “Without Me” and “The Real Slim Shady.” The premise of the new album really comes focus, however, when the narrator reveals that Shady was killed. “The same rude and controversial lyrics may have ultimately led to [Shady’s] demise,” he theorizes.
The teaser confirms that Eminem’s new album, The Death of Slim Shady, will be released in summer 2024. The best part of the announcement comes at the very end, though when a pixelated Eminem moves to the side and accidentally reveals his true identity. The album boasts the subtitle “Coup de Grace,” which means “a final blow or shot given to kill a wounded person or animal.” Eminem created Slim Shady as a means of voicing his discontent when he was starting out. “When I started rapping as that character,” he told Fact Magazine. “It was a way for me to vent all my frustrations and just blame it on him. If anybody got mad about it, it was him that said it.”
The rapper has periodically returned to his alter ego over the years. He distanced himself from Slim Shady on Recovery (2010) and Revival (2017), but dove into the character’s zany antics on The Marshall Mathers LP 2 (2014). Eminem’s recent albums have also tried to reckon with the skeletons of his past, whether it be addiction or family drama, so it makes sense he would close the book on his Slim in dramatic fashion.
If you’ve been following along with the ongoing Diddy drama, you’re likely already aware of the name Daphne Joy. What you may not know, however, is that Daphne Joy shares an eleven-year-old son named Sire with her famous ex, Curtis “50 Cent” Jackson. Given her ties to Sean Combs and impending legal issues, 50 Cent has set a custody battle in motion to get full parental guardianship over their underage son, Sire. With a lot of bizarre information surrounding the actress, model, and alleged sex worker, according to Lil Rod, let’s not waste any time unpacking what we know about Daphne Joy.
Long before she became named in the Diddysexual assault lawsuit, Daphne Joy was born in 1987 in the Philippines. Since immigrating to the United States, she has received work as an actor and model, appearing in films such as Setup, Frankenhood, and Pirates of the Caribbean: On Stranger Tides, according to her IMDb. Joy has also launched a self-titled swimwear line, offering bold and breathable designs that accent the beautiful feminine curves of her patrons. The latest clothing drop is currently on pace to premiere on April 26, per Daphne’s Instagram.
Daphne Joy has also worked as a model and frequently appears in the advertising material for her swimwear collection. Her social media showcases a wide array of collaborators, including photographers and luxury brands. According to a write-up in Page Six, she also produces OnlyFans content, which can be accessed by the public for $24.99 per month.
Association With Diddy
#Diddy‘s ex-girlfriend, #DaphneJoy, is leaning into the spotlight after she was named as an alleged “sex worker” in a lawsuit and amid a federal investigation into sex trafficking claims.
While Daphne Joy’s true relationship to Diddy remains unknown, the pair have not shied away from showing each other love online. In 2022, Joy referred to Diddy as her “favorite person” in an Instagram post wishing the controversial producer a happy birthday. The pair have also been spotted together at numerous social events. According to a recent lawsuit brought against Diddy by producer Rodney “Lil Rod” Jones, Daphne Joy has been on Diddy’s payroll as an alleged sex worker. Jones claims that Joy is one of several women whom Diddy paid a monthly stipend for sex work as part of an ongoing legal case regarding sexual assault.
Lil Rod also claims that he was responsible for choosing sex workers to bring onto Diddy’s yacht for a January 2023 trip to the U.S. Virgin Islands and that Diddy forced Rod to engage in sex acts with these escorts against his will. It is unclear at this time if Daphne Joy is one of the alleged sex workers present on that trip.
As expected, 50 Cent has been viciously trolling his one-time baby mama along with Diddy on social media, poking fun at the sex work allegations and seeking sole custody of his son from Daphne Joy’s care. After repeatedly posting about Joy’s predicament on social media, Joy snapped back at 50 with a lengthy post accusing him of abuse and assault. She also accused 50 Cent of being a bad father, suggesting that she moved herself and their son Sire within a mile of 50’s residence in New York, only for 50 to visit ten times in the span of 2 years.
While it remains unclear if there is any validity to these claims, Joy also posted a response to Lil Rod’s sex work accusations on the same day, writing, “I am deeply hurt by the lies in Rodney Jones’ lawsuit. The claim that I am a sex worker is 100% false and character assassination. I am retaining an attorney to explore all legal remedies against both Rodney and his attorney.”
50 Cent is not letting up. The rapper has been the propagator of the phrase “No Diddy” on social media, as a means of clowning disgraced mogul Sean “Diddy” Combs. He’s used it on during interviews and IG captions, but the phrase reached new levels of attention on April 24 when Gucci Mane dropped the song “TakeDat.” Gucci goes at the Bad Boy founder for four minutes straight by saying “No Diddy” after every line, and 50 absolutely loved it. He was such a fan of Gucci’s diss, in fact, that he reposted it on his own Instagram profile with an endorsement.
“Oh sh*t,” 50 wrote in the caption. “Wop took dat hit. This Diddy POPPED.” Nobody has been more openly critical of Diddy than 50, especially once the criminal allegations started to roll in. He posted pics from the raid on Diddy’s house in March, and even found time to praise a woman holding a “No Diddy” sign during a ceremony in Shreveport. The “21 Questions” rapper added insult to injury by talking to Diddy directly in the caption. “That’s what you get f*cking wit me,” he added. Fans flocked to the comment section, suggesting that 50 hop on the “TakeDat” remix.
50 Cent and Gucci Mane have historically been on the same. 50 supported the Atlanta legend when he dropped a diss track against Jeezy titled “Rumors” in 2022. The track had a bar referencing the “ghost of Pookie,” and 50 hopped on Instagram Live to rap along while doing his best Gucci Mane impression. 50 had previously had beef with Young Jeezy himself, so there was no love lost between rivals. 50 and Gucci, who have often been compared to one another, also collaborated on the 2013 song “Recently.”
The G-Unit mogul is continuing his anti-Diddy campaign behind the scenes. In December, he announced plans to release a documentary focusing on Diddy’s various sexual crimes. “The Diddy documentary is in development through G-Unit Film and Television with 50 serving as executive producer,” a rep said. The proceeds from the documentary will be donated to victims of sexual assault and rape. A release date has not yet been announced.
Rappers really want beef in 2024. The first quarter of the year has been dominated by diss records and social media digs, and it’s trickling down to previous generations. Drake and Kendrick Lamar’s ongoing battle led Ja Rule to draw comparisons to his 2000s saga with 50 Cent. Fans clowned Ja Rule, as is the usual, but he dropped some previously unknown information that turned heads. The rapper claimed that 50 Cent filed an order of protection against him, despite his tough talk in the media.
The tweet that initiated the revelatory exchange was posted April 20. Ja Rule took note of the rappers who were teaming up to diss Drake, and made light of the situation by writing: “20 v 1 I can relate.” The tweet led one user to question Ja’s math. “They said 50 Cent had Ja Rule seeing 20,” the user posted. This is where things got interesting. On April 22, Ja responded to the tweet by dropping some major information about his feud with 50. He accused the entire G-Unit crew of filing an order of protection against him. An order of protection is similar to a restraining order. Barnes Jewish Hospital defines it as “a document issued by a court and signed by a judge to help protect you from harassment or abuse.”
Gunit literally had an ORDER OF PROTECTION against murder Inc… can you imagine if one of the camps in this beef right now put an order of protection on the other… #CWWTSThttps://t.co/xh7GTs9eSB
Basically, 50 Cent and company took legal action to ensure that Ja Rule could not harm them. 50 Cent mocked Ja for being a fake gangster, but the latter allegedly prohibited Ja from ever coming near him. The latter highlighted the irony of the situation in his tweet. He also claimed Drake and Kendrick Lamar would get roasted by fans if either of them attempted to file an order of protection. “Gunit literally had an order of protection against Murder Inc,” he wrote. “Can you imagine if one of the camps in this beef right now put an order of protection on the other…”
Ja Rule’s beef experiences came to define his legacy as a rapper. It subsequently makes sense that he’s urging the current generation to set their differences aside and focus on music. “Hip hop is a family… and no one wins when the family feuds,” he wrote in a separate tweet. “Don’t let that go over your head… #hiphopvseverybody.” It’s a nice sentiment, even if Drake and Lamar decide to ignore it.
In an unexpected fashion that seemed harder than most rappers’ recent diss tracks, Chris Brown dropped a scathing diss track aimed at Migos’ front man Quavo entitled “Weakest Link” and now the number one online antagonizer is pressuring Quavo to return fire at Breezy or he can count this battle as a loss.
50 Cent seemed to give CB his props for the Weakest Link, posting the song’s cover art, which shows Quavo chomping on a glizzy, along with a snippet of the song.
“Oh my God i just heard this, if Quavo don’t come with some heat it’s a wrap. First the Fatboys break up now this!” he wrote.
Released on Friday (April 19), “Weakest Link” finds Chris Brown taking his feud with the former Migos member to another level.
Breezy addressed Quavo allegedly sleeping with Brown’s ex, Karreuche Tran, rapping, “You fucked my ex-ho, that’s cool, I don’t give no fuck, lil n-gga/ ‘Cause I fucked yo ex when you were still with her, bitch, I’m up, lil n-gga.”
Brown also takes a stab using the death of Quavo’s late nephew and Migos member TakeOff for some vicious get back. “R.I.P. TakeOff, he the only real one, I got true respect/ Crazy how when he died, everybody really wished it was you instead.”
Previously, Quavo had taken shots at Breezy on his song “Tender”, taunting him over his ex Karrueche Tran, history of violence against women and alleged drug habit. “You did the bitch wrong and now the bitch gone, she posted with a thug/ Call the bitch phone, she won’t come home, don’t beat her up/ It must be the drugs, need to cross out your plug,” rapped Quavo.
The beef between these two date all the way back to 2017, where the Brown and Quavo allegedly got into a physical altercation at the BET Awards Afterparty.
Drake is getting 50 Cent’s stamp of approval for beef. Following the release of “Taylor Made Freestyle,” 50 suggested the world should leave Drake alone.
“Ok in my professional expert opinion on this matter, leave this man alone. I’ve seen this movie before, it will not end well. you disagree ok, then where is your shit at boy@bransoncognac @lecheminduroi,” 50 wrote on Instagram.
50 Cent has become a business mogul first and a rapper second. He’s excelled in every business venture he’s embarked on, and his dealings with Shreveport have not been any different. 50 recently opened up G-Unit Film & TV Studios in the Louisiana town, and citizens responded by giving the rapper his own holiday. 50 was awarded a ceremonial key to the city by Mayor Tom Arceneaux on April 18, in an event that was attended by over 1,000 Shreveport citizens. The rapper assured the crowd that he will be giving back to the city, and projects will start production as soon as July.
50 had nothing but kind things to say about Shreveport, yet he remained focused on his business plan during his acceptance speech. “As someone who’s always believed in the transformative power of music, film and television,” he told the crowd. “I’m really excited to show you the expansion of film and television through G-Unit Studios right here in Shreveport.” The arrival of G-Unit Film & TV Studios could not have come at a better time for the city. The production company will attract talent to the area, create jobs for locals, and spark economic growth. 50 took questions from the crowd after the ceremony, and assured everyone that it will not take long for these positive changes to occur.
The rapper claimed it would take less than five years for Shreveport to benefit. “It won’t take ten years, maybe like three,” he asserted. “I’ve experienced in other opportunities that people will be attracted and get involved and do other things around it. So you’ll see it move a lot faster. Not everything is going to be me but it’ll happen because they saw something and ask[ed].” These figures may seem ambitious, but 50 knows what he’s doing. G-Unit Film & TV Studios has become the second biggest black-owned production company in the world.
50 kept it professional, yet he couldn’t help but poke fun at Diddy on Instagram after the ceremony. He posted a photo of a woman carrying a sign that read: “Ratchet City but no Diddy!” and claimed it made him love Shreveport even more. “Shreveport is the vibe,” he wrote in the caption. “Louisiana state of mind.” Don’t worry, thought, 50 Cent the rapper is still active. He wished Dr. Dre a happy birthday on Instagram in February, and confirmed that the two of them are working on new music.
One thing’s for sure: Shreveport is going to be playing that new 50 at full volume when it drops.
50 Cent is no stranger to rap beefs but his constant trolling often stings more than anything he’s said on wax. Take his beef with Meek Mill for example, where 50 Cent uploaded creative photos on Instagram to troll the Dream Chasers rapper instead of releasing diss tracks. In fact, it’s become a part of his brand now to laugh at whoever he’s publicly squabbling with. Nonetheless, the two made up a few years ago, but some recent Fif trolling might be looking to threaten their peace treaty.
50 Cent has recently been trolling Meek Mill regarding Lil Rod’s lawsuit against Diddy that alleged the Philadelphia rapper had sexual relations with the Bad Boy mogul. And while these allegations have circulated, Fif has warned Meek that he has bigger issues to be worried about, specifically the rumors that Meek might have been caught on tape at Diddy’s homes. Meek seems to be taking the high road, but it may be only a matter of time before he speaks out. Either way, let’s revisit the beef between the two rappers.
A clip of 50 Cent playfully manhandling Tony Yayo, a fellow G-Unit member, started the beef with Meek Mill. Meek was one of many people to comment on the clip. He reposted the video on his Instagram with the caption, “Yayo getting dumped in the bushes by 50,” with multiple crying emojis. This led to 50 Cent leaving a sharp comment saying, “That’s us playing, but you do be around some niggas I would put on their head. No bullshit.”
November 2015: 50 Cent Laughs At Meek Mill Amidst Drake Beef
During one of his concerts in Sweden, 50 Cent decided to bring the smoke. He took shots at other members of Maybach Music Group, amidst his beef with their leader, Rick Ross. Specifically, he praised Drake’s diss track against Meek, “Back To Back.” Furthermore, he compared the two to kids fighting in the schoolyard, saying that Drake “slapped the shit” out of Meek.
Jan 16, 2016: Meek Drops “Gave ‘Em Hope’”
In 2016, Meek Mill released the EP 4/4 which featured the track “Gave ‘Em Hope.” The song included some targeted lines that called out 50 Cent for associating himself with “rats,” possibly referencing a photo of 50 Cent and Rick Ross’ groundskeeper who accused the MMG boss of kidnapping him. Meek Mill also took jabs at 50 Cent for filing for bankruptcy. Finally, he called back to the rumors that 50 Cent was gay.
Shortly after, 50 Cent took to Instagram to share his thoughts on Meek Mill’s song. In true Fif fashion, he clowned the “Gave ‘Em Hope” rapper. He shared memes with captions, such as, “You better focus on getting Nikki pregnant so you can at least get child support girl.” He also called Meek, “Hip Hop’s first r***rded MC,” among many others.
50 Cent didn’t stop there though. He also posted some creative edits of Meek Mill, such as putting his face on a troll magazine cover, posting a picture of the alphabet, and replacing the letter “L” with Meek’s face. As if that wasn’t enough, Fif also uploaded a picture of the poop emoji, covered with little pictures of Meek. Much to the excitement of onlookers, the Insta trolling wasn’t one-sided.
Meek doubled down with an Instagram post, sharing a picture of himself holding stacks of money with a loaded caption. He spoke on 50 Cent’s beef with Rick Ross and how Ross’ baby mama sued him. Meek also took shots at Fif’s relationship with his son. To top it off, he insulted his liquor brand and clowned him for being on the internet all day. He then signed out as “Instafingers,” referring to the nickname Drake had given him during their beef — “Twitter fingers.”
January 18-29, 2016: The Flint Water Crisis And “F*ck Meek Mill”
Amidst their Instagram squabbles, some fans pointed out that both rappers could better spend their time, specifically by helping out the Flint, MI water crisis. Meek Mill, who is no stranger to charitable donations, pledged $50,000 to the cause. He also used the opportunity to challenge Fif to match his donation. Instead, 50 Cent only responded publicly with more memes, claiming that Meek Mill only engaged in charity work for the tax write-offs. A few weeks later, 50 Cent got the crowd to chant “Fuck Meek Mill” with him at his performance at B.B. Kings.
July 2017: 50 Cent And Meek Mill Squash Their Beef
Meek Mill released his next album, Wins & Losses a year later, but instead of more 50 Cent disses, Meek revealed during the album’s press run that the two had made amends. In an interview on The Angie Martinez Show, Meek revealed that he and 50 had bumped into each other nearly a year ago and finally had a conversation. He shared that the two, “went to the side like men and had a good conversation.” Therefore, the beef quietly ended behind the scenes.
Despite Meek Mill’s words, many fans didn’t believe that the two rappers had truly put their differences behind them. That is why when it came out that they would both be in Vegas for the Mayweather vs. McGregor fight, many thought that this would lead to a public altercation. Instead, the two shared the stage at the nightclub Drai’s, performing one of Meek’s biggest hits, “Dreams & Nightmares.” They also posed for pictures together.
While 50 Cent and Meek Mill haven’t exactly been engaging one another, 2024 is looking different. In December 2023, Fif laughed at Rick Ross and Meek’s first week sales for their collab album, Too Good To Be True. However, that didn’t stir the pot enough to warrant another social media back-and-forth. Fast forward to March 2024, and 50 Cent has publicly reposted jokes and insults targeted at Meek Mill. So while he’s not the originator of these jokes, he’s enjoying being an instigator.
Amidst the ongoing Diddy scandal, allegations that the mogul and Meek Mill were engaged in a sexual relationship haven’t stopped making the rounds. Fif shared a video of someone in a red dress, with the caption, “Meek Mill leaving Diddy’s house.” Although the post has since been deleted, 50 Cent remarked, “Who did this?” at the video.
Moreover, following Andrew Schulz’s comedy set where he laughed at Meek Mill’s alleged sexuality, 50 Cent also reposted the video to his platform. It’s unclear whether Fif is just trolling as usual or there’s been a reignited beef. Either way, Meek hasn’t responded to the trolls directly.
As Meek Mill continues to insist he’s straight, 50 Cent says the rapper has more to worry about. In fact, Fif has told Meek to leave the gay rumors alone and focus on the gossip surrounding an alleged tape involving Diddy. Meek earlier shared that his son was confused at the rumors surrounding his sexuality. Fif subsequently reposted one of these headlines regarding Meek’s statement to Instagram and captioned it, saying: “Got Damn it. People don’t think you are gay @meekmillnews they think you on them tapes. Old boy was filming every room even the toilets.” So maybe Fif does have Meek’s back after all.
Diddy POPPED.” Nobody has been more openly critical of Diddy than 50, especially once the criminal allegations started to roll in. He posted pics from the raid on Diddy’s house in March, and even found time to praise a woman holding a “No Diddy” sign during a ceremony in Shreveport. The “21 Questions” rapper added insult to injury by talking to Diddy directly in the caption. “That’s what you get f*cking wit me,” he added. Fans flocked to the comment section, suggesting that 50 hop on the “TakeDat” remix.
Gunit literally had an ORDER OF PROTECTION against murder Inc… can you imagine if one of the camps in this beef right now put an order of protection on the other… 
Ok in my professional expert opinion on this matter, leave this man alone. I’ve seen this 
movie before, it will not end well. 
you disagree ok, 
then where is your shit at boy
@bransoncognac @lecheminduroi,” 50 wrote on Instagram.