50 Cent

Pras To Sue 50 Cent, Kyrie Irving Over Informant Claims

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As Pras stares down a maximum sentence of 20 years in prison, he appears to be taking legal action against 50 Cent, Kyrie Irving, and Rolling Stone for labeling him a federal informant. According to the Los Angeles Times, Pras’ attorney sent legal notifications to the three parties for the defamation suit on claims that a Rolling Stone article called him an “FBI informant.” However, Pras also claims that 50 Cent and Kyrie Irving echoed these claims online, as well.

A jury found Pras guilty of 10 counts last month, earning a widespread reaction from the hip-hop community following testimony that he cooperated with authorities. Fif took to Instagram with a headline that deemed Pras an “FBI informant.” “I knew this fool was a rat! I’m glad I never fvck with this guy,” 50 Cent wrote. Shortly after, Irving tweeted, “A whole FBI Informant was in the Fugees for that long??” Meanwhile, Rolling Stone published an article where they said he is “an informal FBI informant,” which was later changed to claim that he “voluntarily met with FBI agents.”

Pras’ Attorney’s Letter To Rolling Stone

(Photo by Kevin Dietsch/Getty Images)

Jonathan Noah Schwartz, the representative for Pras’, said that these claims led to the loss of business deals, which ultimately impacted his ability to generate income. “Labeling a Hip Hop artist such as Michel, the reputation of whom is dependent upon ‘street credibility’ and not being a ‘snitch,’ a ‘government informant’ most certainly tends to subject said Hip Hop artist to hatred, distrust, ridicule, contempt and/or disgrace, along with injury in their trade or profession,” the letter reads.

In addition to Schwartz, David Kenner, Pras’ attorney, also plans to take legal action against Rolling Stone. Kenner’s attorney, Erica Dumas, said that the publication led to viral stories that “harmed the business interests, reputations of Pras and attorney Kenner,” Dumas told the Los Angeles Times. Dumas added that 50 Cent and Kyrie Irving put the lives of Pras and Kenner “at risk” because of their claims online. We’ll keep you posted on any more updates surrounding the lawsuit. Share your thoughts in the comment section below. 

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50 Cent Admitted His Upside Down Stunt For The Super Bowl LVI Halftime Show Was ‘A Mistake’

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50 Cent super bowl LVI
Getty Image

Last week, 50 Cent announced The Final Lap Tour, a global trek celebrating 20 years since Get Rich Or Die Tryin’, with Busta Rhymes and Jeremih in tow. “In Da Club” was the lead single off of Get Rich Or Die Tryin’, so it stands to reason that it will be featured prominently on the setlist, but don’t expect him to tribute the “In Da Club” video as he did for the Super Bowl LVI Halftime Show in February 2022.

“I think that was a mistake for the Super Bowl,” 50 Cent told USA Today in an interview published Wednesday, May 10, referring to his surprise appearance, during which he hung upside down to recreate the song’s video. “Everybody else walked in regular. The songs still went over, and they got a trophy, too. They all won an Emmy. They got the same thing I got, and I had to put myself upside down.”

The Super Bowl LVI Halftime Show was headlined by Dr. Dre, Mary J. Blige, Eminem, Kendrick Lamar, and Snoop Dogg. The performance snagged three Creative Arts Emmys, including Outstanding Variety Special (Live).

At the time, 50 Cent was a good sport about his meme-inducing, upside-down appearance and shrugged off fat-shaming directed his way.

In his chat with USA Today, 50 Cent also said it “would be good” to collaborate with Drake but identified his “dream male collaborator” as Elon Musk. He added, “I’ll do something with Eminem again. We’ll do something again at some point.” As for what fans can expect from The Final Lap Tour, he said, “It’s gonna be a whole new show.”

Mary J. Blige is a Warner Music artist. Uproxx is an independent subsidiary of Warner Music Group.

50 Cent Brings Out BIA At Lovers and Friends Festival

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During Usher’s Lovers and Friends Festival, 50 Cent brought out BIA as a special guest. Despite the drama leading up to the festival between Chris Brown and festival organizer Usher, there were many wholesome link-ups. During Fif’s set at the nostalgic Hip-Hop festival, he showed love to the new school by bringing out BIA so she could play a few songs. Attendees captured the moment of the Get Rich or Die Tryin’ mogul embracing the “Best On Earth” rapper. 50 Cent was hyping up the Boston native as she slapped the crowd with all her hits.

Furthermore, it’s nice to see 50 show love to the up-and-coming artists now and again. However, that wasn’t the only wholesome connection Fif made while at the Lovers and Friends Festival. 50 Cent, N.O.R.E., and Nelly all were scheduled to perform at the festival. N.O.R.E.’s had a quick set on the Crunk Stage. Nelly was scheduled to be on the Friends Stage in the afternoon. Meanwhile, 50 was kicking his set off on the Lovers Stage evening slot.

50 Cent Shows Love To BIA

Moreover, while it was a more than busy day for all three rap icons, they still made time to link. The three joked about their early beginnings for a minute. However, N.O.R.E. had to let them both know jokingly that he felt he was the first one that put them on causing laughter amongst the group. Furthermore, aside from playing festivals with his contemporaries, 50 Cent has been busy with new business ventures. Recently, the POWER creator has teamed up with Shaq and Kenya Barris to buy BET. The bids for the network have been flooding in viciously. One of the highest bidders, Tyler Perry, set to buy as much of BET as he could.

However, the power trio set to purchase the entire television network in a joint venture. Reportedly the bid is being financed by investment firm CVC. Not only that, the bid has now become the frontrunner to buy BET. Sources told TMZ that it wasn’t a done deal just yet, however, they’re deep in the process. What do you think about all the moves 50 Cent is making right now? Let us know in the comments below. Follow HNHH for the latest music news.

How 50 Cent’s “Get Rich Or Die Tryin” Defined An Era Of Hip Hop

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This year marks the 20th anniversary of 50 Cent’s landmark debut album, Get Rich Or Die Tryin. Released on February 6, 2003, Get Rich Or Die Tryin is considered among the greatest hip-hop albums of all time. To celebrate the album’s anniversary, 50 has announced his massive “Final Lap” world tour with Busta Rhymes and Jeremih opening. He will headline amphitheaters and arenas across North America and Europe. 

Get Rich Or Die Tryin is a classic album full of legendary songs that withstood the test of time. Here is a breakdown of how 50 Cent’s debut album Get Rich Or Die Tryin defined an era. 

A Groundbreaking Debut

The story leading up to Get Rich Or Die Tryin and how it propelled 50 Cent to the top of the rap game is quite remarkable. In 2000, a gunman shot 50 Cent nine times, although he miraculously survived. Following his near-death experience, he got dropped ahead of his debut album by Columbia Records, the label he signed to in 1999. He shares a first-hand account of the attempt on his life on the iconic “Many Men (Wish Death).” After the shooting, 50 Cent regained his buzz by releasing a series of mixtapes with his G-Unit crew. These now-classic mixtapes, specifically Guess Who’s Back? and 50 Cent is the Future, helped 50 rebuild his reputation. They landed him a deal with Eminem and Dr. Dre. 

50 Cent’s success story is so unbelievable that it made for a movie, also titled Get Rich Or Die Tryin, released in 2005. He also helped pioneer the trend of releasing a mixtape before the major label album — a blueprint that many rappers utilize to this day. 

A Stacked Tracklist

Get Rich Or Die Tryin was released under Shady Records, Aftermath Entertainment, Interscope, and 50’s own G-Unit Records. It was 50 Cent’s earth-shattering debut and remains one of the biggest debut albums in hip hop. Major cosigns from Dr. Dre and Eminem immediately launched 50 Cent into success. The album was full of hits, ranging from street anthems like “If I Can’t” and “What Up Gangsta” to softer love songs like “21 Questions.” It featured moments of pain like “Many Men” and the hardcore “Heat.” The inclusion of the Ja Rule diss record “Wanksta” as a bonus track, as well as the ruthless “Back Down” showed 50 Cent’s fearlessness. It is impossible to discuss Get Rich Or Die Tryin without mentioning “In Da Club,” an irresistible classic and one of Dr. Dre’s best beats.  

The Emergence Of A Rap Superstar

On “In Da Club,” 50 Cent raps about putting “the rap game in a chokehold,” and he did just that with the Get Rich Or Die Tryin. He took hip-hop to new heights because he became a superstar with his debut. His unfaltering authenticity fueled the gritty street raps but his commercial records, like the aforementioned “In Da Club,” turned him into a household name. Around the same time, he declared victory in his beef with Ja Rule. 50 Cent forceful entrance into the music industry reinvigorated the New York sound and carried the evolution of gangsta rap into the mid-aughts. More importantly, Get Rich Or Die Tryin became the launching pad for 50 Cent’s entrepreneurial ventures, as he built G-Unit as a group and expanded the brand into a label, clothing company, and film company.

Get Rich Or Die Tryin’s Legacy

Get Rich Or Die Tryin is undoubtedly 50 Cent’s best work and is often regarded as such. Consisting of 50’s biggest hits, it marked a point in hip-hop history that further elevated street raps towards mainstream success. 50’s tough persona was not one-dimensional as showcased his vulnerability, sense of humor, and charisma. With the announcement of the album’s anniversary tour, it’s safe to say that Get Rich Or Die Tryin defined an era of hip hop.

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50 Cent, Shaquille O’Neal & Kenya Barris Join Bid To Buy BET Networks

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Diddy

A new bid to acquire the Black Entertainment Television (BET) network has emerged, as 50 Cent, Shaquille O’Neal, and Kenya Barris have joined forces with Group Black, CVC Capital Partners, and Authentic Brands Groups. They are now competing against Tyler Perry, Diddy, and Byron Allen in the race to acquire BET. Updated By: Chris Samuel […]

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N.O.R.E. Links Up With 50 Cent And Nelly At Lovers & Friends

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There has been a lot written about Usher’s Lovers & Friends festival in Las Vegas. However, most of those articles have focused on the fallout of an alleged fight between Chris Brown and Usher. Usher reportedly suffered a beatdown at the hands of Brown and his entourage outside the roller rink hosting Brown’s 34th birthday. It just so happened that the party was happening on the eve of the Usher-organized Lovers & Friends Festival.

Usher had reportedly been telling Brown to back off from Teyana Taylor, who Brown had been verbally assaulting inside. The incident allegedly left Usher with a bloody nose and bruised ribs. However, both he and Brown performed their sets at the festival. Furthermore, no further drama has emerged between the two of them. Lovers & Friends was awash with big-name talent, hailing itself as a hub of nostalgic hip hop. But away from the Brown-Usher drama, there were so many more wholesome link-ups going down.

N.O.R.E. Seen With Nelly And 50 Cent

N.O.R.E., 50 Cent, and Nelly were all scheduled to perform at Lovers & Friends. N.O.R.E. had a small set on the Crunk Stage. Nelly was the late afternoon anchor for the Friends Stage. Meanwhile, 50 Cent was locked into the Lovers Stage evening slot. They were just three of the 49 total articles that played the noon to midnight schedule. The festival closed out with sets from Missy Elliott and PartyNextDoor on the Lovers and Crunk Stages respectively. The day had opened with a set from Lil Mo on the Crunk Stage. Overall, the Crunk Stage was the busiest, with 18 acts performing between 12:00pm and 10:45pm.

However, despite their busy schedules, that didn’t stop the three music legends from meeting up. N.O.R.E. is overjoyed to see 50 and Nelly, yelling at them excitedly, “Imma be honest, I kinda feel like I put both you n****s out”. The three artists joked around for a few minutes before N.O.R.E. announced that he was leaving, going to embrace 50. Despite the drama earlier in the day, the festival appears to have gone off successfully without incident. Follow HotNewHipHop for all the latest music and festival news.

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50 Cent Announces Retirement & Final International Tour To Celebrate 20th Anniversary Of “Get Rich Or Die Tryin’”

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50 Cent

After dominating the music industry for two decades, 50 Cent has announced his retirement from music, including his final tour, The Final Lap Tour. This tour, featuring Busta Rhymes and Jeremih, will celebrate the 20th anniversary of his iconic 2003 album, Get Rich Or Die Tryin’. 50 Cent’s Final Tour  The Final Lap Tour will […]

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50 Cent, Shaq, Kenya Barris Team Up To Buy BET

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The race to buy the BET Network has been fast and fierce. Last month, Tyler Perry said to buy as much of the network as he could. Meanwhile, other prominent bids have been submitted by Byron Allen, the Travis Montaque-led Group Black, and Diddy. However, Perry and Allen had risen to the forefront of the bidding war. Perry has worked with the BET Network for many years now.

The BET Network was founded in 1980 by Robert L. Johnson, a former cable lobbyist. The aim was to create a television network that catered to the blossoming Black television consumer base. In 2001, Viacom purchased BET Network. At the time, the network was sold for $3 billion. The BET Network has become the foremost network for Black-centric content, both scripted and unscripted.

New Bid For BET

LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA – JANUARY 17: Kenya Barris attends the Los Angeles premiere of Netflix’s “You People” at Regency Village Theatre on January 17, 2023 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Robin L Marshall/WireImage)

However, a new bid has reportedly emerged to buy the network. 50 Cent, Shaq, and television mogul Kenya Barris have reportedly launched a joint bid. This was seemingly confirmed by TMZ spotting the trio outside of Paramount headquarters this week. The bid is reportedly being financed by investment firm CVC. What’s more, the bid is allegedly now the frontrunner to buy the network. “It’s not a done deal, but they’re deep in it,” a source told TMZ. They could threaten the bids of Perry and Allen. Perry especially seemed like a prominent bidder, especially given his long-standing relationship with the network herself.

The three figureheads of the bid are all having something of a renaissance. 50 Cent recently announced a global tour to celebrate the 20th anniversary of “Get Rich Or Die Trying”. Shaq is making music again. Meanwhile, Barris directed the Netflix comedy You People and penned the remake of White Men Can’t Jump on Hulu. They have not officially announced their bid, nor has Paramount made a statement. Despite this, it would still fulfill Perry’s desire to see the BET Network retain Black ownership. However, any updates on the situation will be here on HotNewHipHop.

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50 Cent Announces ‘The Final Lap Tour’ in Celebration of 20th Anniversary of ‘Get Rich or Die Tryin’

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In honor of the 20th anniversary of his groundbreaking debut album Get Rich or Die Tryin’, 50 Cent has planned a world tour. The Final Lap Tour, which is organized by Live Nation and sponsored by Sire Spirits, will make numerous stops in cities such as Toronto, Brooklyn, Atlanta, Houston, Amsterdam, Oslo, Paris, and many more around North America and Europe. Soon, more markets will be revealed.

The rap legend will play a variety of fan favorites and number-one singles on The Final Lap Tour, as well as a few songs that haven’t been performed live in decades. Additionally, Busta Rhymes, a special guest and longtime friend, will provide support on all dates of the tour, and Jeremih will provide support on all dates in North America. Additional special guests will be announced.

The North American portion of the tour will begin on Friday, July 21 at Salt Lake City, Utah’s Maverik Center, and the European leg will get underway on Thursday, September 28 at Amsterdam, Netherlands’ Ziggo Dome. There will be further announcements regarding dates in Australia, New Zealand, Asia, and Europe.

North American Tickets: Verified Fan will be used for The Final Lap Tour to ensure more tickets get into the hands of fans. Fans in North America can register now through Sunday, May 7th at 11:59 PM ET for the Verified Fan presale CLICK HERE. Fans who are selected to receive an access code will be able to participate in the Verified Fan presale starting Wednesday, May 10th. Limited tickets will be sold during a general on sale starting Friday, May 12th at 10am local time at Ticketmaster.com while supplies last.

VIP Tickets: Fans can also access VIP Packages which may include premium tickets, VIP parking and exclusive access to a pre-show lounge, special entry, Sire Spirits bottle signings, access to afterparty events, and more. For VIP Package information, visit vipnation.com and for all other tour and ticket information, visit livenation.com.

European Tickets: Tickets will be available starting with local presales on Wednesday, May 10th at 10am local time and available to the general public on Friday, May 12th at 10am local time on 50Cent.com.

The full run of tour dates are available below.

THE FINAL LAP TOUR 2023 – NORTH AMERICAN TOUR DATES:

Fri Jul 21 – Salt Lake City, UT – Maverik Center

Sun Jul 23 – Denver, CO – Ball Arena

Tue Jul 25 – St. Louis, MO – Hollywood Casino Amphitheatre – STL

Thu Jul 27 – Noblesville, IN – Ruoff Music Center

Fri Jul 28 – Nashville, TN – Bridgestone Arena

Sat Jul 29 – Cincinnati, OH – Riverbend Music Center

Mon Jul 31 – Toronto, ON – Budweiser Stage

Wed Aug 02 – Montreal, QC – Bell Centre

Thu Aug 03 – Mansfield, MA – Xfinity Center

Sat Aug 05 – Darien Center, NY – Darien Lake Amphitheater

Sun Aug 06 – Cleveland, OH – Blossom Music Center

Tue Aug 08 – Bristow, VA – Jiffy Lube Live

Wed Aug 09 – Brooklyn, NY – Barclays Center

Fri Aug 11 – Hartford, CT – XFINITY Theatre

Sat Aug 12 – Camden, NJ – Freedom Mortgage Pavilion

Sun Aug 13 – Virginia Beach, VA – Veterans United Home Loans Amphitheater at Virginia Beach

Tue Aug 15 – Raleigh, NC – Coastal Credit Union Music Park at Walnut Creek

Wed Aug 16 – Charlotte, NC – PNC Music Pavilion

Thu Aug 17 – Atlanta, GA – Lakewood Amphitheatre

Sat Aug 19 – Tampa, FL – MIDFLORIDA Credit Union Amphitheatre

Sun Aug 20 – West Palm Beach, FL – iTHINK Financial Amphitheatre

Tue Aug 22 – Tuscaloosa, AL – Tuscaloosa Amphitheater

Thu Aug 24 – Houston, TX – Toyota Center

Fri Aug 25 – Dallas, TX – Dos Equis Pavilion

Sun Aug 27 – Albuquerque, NM – Isleta Amphitheater

Tue Aug 29 – Phoenix, AZ – Talking Stick Resort Amphitheatre

Wed Aug 30 – Los Angeles, CA – Crypto.com Arena

Thu Aug 31 – Chula Vista, CA – North Island Credit Union Amphitheatre

Sat Sep 02 – Mountain View, CA – Shoreline Amphitheatre

Mon Sep 04 – Sacramento, CA – Golden 1 Center

Wed Sep 06 – Ridgefield, WA – RV Inn Style Resorts Amphitheater

Thu Sep 07 – Seattle, WA – Climate Pledge Arena

Fri Sep 08 – Vancouver, BC – Rogers Arena

Sun Sep 10 – Calgary, AB – Scotiabank Saddledome

Mon Sep 11 – Edmonton, AB – Rogers Place

Wed Sep 13 – Winnipeg, MB – Canada Life Centre

Fri Sep 15 – St. Paul, MN – Xcel Energy Center

Sat Sep 16 – Chicago, IL – United Center

Sun Sep 17 – Detroit, MI – Pine Knob Music Theatre

THE FINAL LAP TOUR 2023 – EUROPEAN TOUR DATES:

Thu Sep 28 – Amsterdam, Netherlands – Ziggo Dome

Fri Sep 29 – Hamburg, Germany – Barclays Arena

Sat Sep 30 – Copenhagen, Denmark – Royal Arena

Wed Oct 4 – Oslo, Norway – Spektrum*

Thu Oct 5 – Trondheim, Norway – Spektrum*

Sat Oct 07 – Stockholm, Sweden – Avicii Arena

Mon Oct 09 – Riga, Latvia – Arena Riga*

Wed Oct 11 – Lodz Poland – Atlas Arena

Sat Oct 14 – Berlin, Germany – Mercedes-Benz Arena

Sun Oct 15 – Oberhausen, Germany – Rudolf-Weber-Arena

Fri Oct 20 – Zurich, Switzerland – Hallenstadion

Sat Oct 21 – Nice, France – Palais Nikaia

Sun Oct 22 – Milan, Italy – Mediolanum Forum

Tue Oct 24 – Munich, Germany – Olympiahalle

Wed Oct 25 – Mannheim, Germany – SAP Arena

Thu Oct 26 – Brussels, Belgium – Forest National

Sat Oct 28 – Prague, Czech Republic – O2 Arena

Tue Oct 31 – Strasbourg, France – Zenith

Thu Nov 02 – Nantes, France – Zenith

Fri Nov 03 – Paris, France – La Defense Arena

Mon Nov 06 – Dublin, Ireland – 3Arena

Thu Nov 09 – Glasgow, Scotland – OVO Hydro

Fri Nov 10 – Manchester, England – AO Arena

Sat Nov 11 – London, England – The O2

Sun Nov 12 – Birmingham, England – Resorts World Arena

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