Naturi Naughton is not hearing what 50 Cent is trying to say about Omari Hardwick.
In case you missed it, 50 Cent and Omari Hardwick, once close collaborators on the STARZ series Power, appear to be at odds over Hardwick’s recent remarks regarding his compensation for the show.
In an interview with The Breakfast Club, Curtis “50 Cent” Jackson expressed frustration, saying he believes Hardwick “overvalues” himself, especially since the actor hasn’t been part of any notable projects since Power concluded in 2020.
“I think he overvalues himself,” 50 Cent told the show hosts. “Because… it’s been a long time since he’s been in Power, why are we not excited about the new projects?”
Charlamagne Tha God, seeming puzzled, asked, “What new projects? I didn’t know…”
“See, that’s what I’m talking about,” 50 replied. “If there was noise going on, if he was that big of a draw, then we would see noise, we would see new things happening. We’d see you out where you’re actively in a place where they’re looking for you.”
When asked if they still have a good relationship, 50 responded bluntly: “No, because you leave it like it’s me not giving you the money.”
“That’s insane to me,” Naturi Naughton said to TMZ in response to 50’s statements. “Omari is literally the epitome of Power. Omari Hardwick started this amazing journey and I don’t know all of what happened with 50 and O. But I’ll say this: I love Omari Hardwick. He’s an amazingly talented human and he’s also a good person. But there would be no Power without Ghost.”
If you don’t know the why of it all, the tension traces back to a June 2022 episode of The Pivot podcast, where Hardwick shared that he earned $150,000 per episode on Power, a figure he felt was too low given his role as “the face of the network.” Hardwick revealed, “I still haven’t made what I should have made. I still never made the money—no, the money, I never made what I should have made. Never. Period. It’s happening now, finally.” He added that he had to borrow money from 50 Cent to support his family during production breaks and was proud to have repaid it. Hardwick suggested that 50 and series producer Courtney Kemp knew he was being underpaid, although he primarily blamed STARZ.
As for 50 Cent, even a minor mention of his name alongside Hardwick’s compensation issues was reason to take offense. “If you’re saying, ‘Courtney and 50 know,’ you’re saying that, but they don’t know who Courtney is—I introduced people to her. They don’t know who she is, so you’re leaving it as, ‘50 didn’t make sure I got paid.’ Mary [J. Blige] will tell you, she got paid a lot of money on the show the whole time. I made sure that sh*t was right.”
For fans of the Power television universe, they might be sad to see a conflict between one of its main stars and one of its key behind-the-scenes players. Moreover, Omari Hardwick and 50 Cent are currently at odds over claims from the latter that he wasn’t paid enough as the lead actor on the show. The G-Unit mogul recently spoke on The Breakfast Club about how they’re still not cool with each other, and expressed his belief that the entertainer overvalues himself. Now, one of Hardwick and Fif’s Power collaborators, the former’s costar Naturi Naugthon, threw her hat into the ring via a TMZ interview on Wednesday (October 30).
“That’s insane to me,” Naturi Naughton told the outlet concerning 50 Cent’s criticism of Omari Hardwick. “Omari is literally the epitome of Power. Omari Hardwick started this amazing journey and I don’t know all of what happened with 50 and O. But I’ll say this: I love Omari Hardwick. He’s an amazingly talented human and he’s also a good person. But there would be no Power without Ghost.” “I hope that they can find love and peace between each other,” she expressed in addition.
Naturi Naughton Speaks On 50 Cent & Omari Hardwick
All the way back in 2022, Omari Hardwick claimed that he only received a payment of $150K per episode for his Power stint, and claimed to have borrowed money from 50 Cent in order to account for this. In response this year, the Queens rapper posited that there would be more demand for him if he was such a star, and questioned why he hasn’t supported the new Power projects if this passion is true. For those unaware, Hardwick also took issue with how his character’s story turned out, which is another part of his frustration. At the end of the day, 50 maintained that they paid him more for nightclub appearances than for the show itself, so this shouldn’t be as much of a complaint as it is.
Like Naturi Naughton said, hopefully they can work everything out between themselves. Elsewhere during 50 Cent’s Breakfast Club interview, he discussed ghostwriting for Diddy with Jay-Z and a whole lot of other curious topics.
50 Cent recently reflected on the making of his hit Starz series, Power, during an interview with Steve Stoute at UnitedMasters’ SelectConNYC event. In doing so, he revealed that the network only paid him $17,000 per episode of the hit show.
“In the Power series, I was receiving $17,000 to be an executive producer, to be a reoccurring character, to be almost a music supervisor, to create the theme song for the show,” 50 Cent said, as caught by AllHipHop. “$17,000 per episode — I get paid more to go to the nightclub and wave.” From there, he discussed how he remained motivated to continue working on Power despite the low paychecks. “I just wanted them [STARZ] to get pregnant with the idea that we have to have this baby,” he said. “I wanted to make the show. No one in our culture has made any television and produced what they wanted to make.”
NEW YORK, NY – JUNE 28: Curtis “50 cent” Jackson performs onstage during the Starz “Power” The Fifth Season NYC Red Carpet Premiere Event & After Party on June 28, 2018 in New York City. (Photo by Jamie McCarthy/Getty Images for Starz Entertainment LLC)
Power ended up being extremely successful for Starz and has launched multiple spin-off shows including Power Book II: Ghost, Power Book III: Raising Kanan, and Power Book IV: Force. When United Masters shared 50’s comments on Instagram, fans of the show praised the legendary rapper for sticking with the idea. “SOMETIMES it makes sense when it doesn’t make cents,” one user wrote. Another added: “The things we do, when you believe in yourself!!! The didn’t believe!”
50 Cent Explains His Passion For “Power”
Check out the full comments on the early seasons of Power below. They come as 50 has begun working on his next project, a documentary for Netflix centered around the allegations Diddy has faced over the last year. Authorities arrested the Bad Boy mogul for charges of alleged sex trafficking and racketeering, last month. He’s already pleaded not guilty. Be on the lookout for further updates on 50 Cent on HotNewHipHop.
There are very few television shows that have captured the hearts of hip-hop heads like Power. The 50 Cent-led production has become more of a universe at this point with three spin-offs that have continued to keep fans at the edge of their seats. Most recently, the Power universe brought an end to Power Book II: Ghost, which included a cameo from Lil Durk, who made his acting debut. However, he’s far from the last musical artist to appear on the show. Throughout the original series and its spin-off, 50 Cent and Courtney Kemp have been selective with the star cameos from hip-hop’s elite. Of course, we’ve seen lyrical heavyweights like Joey Bada$$ and Method Man grace the screen in prominent roles, along with R&B icons like Mary J. Blige and Jeremih. Below, we’ve done a round-up of every hip-hop and R&B star to appear in the Power universe.
50 Cent – Kanan Stark (Power, Power Book III: Raising Kanan)
NEW YORK, NEW YORK – AUGUST 20: Curtis “50 Cent” Jackson attends the “Power” Final Season World Premiere at The Hulu Theater at Madison Square Garden on August 20, 2019 in New York City. (Photo by Mike Coppola/Getty Images)
Without 50 Cent, Power would not be as successful as it is. As a showrunner, he’s played a significant role alongside Courtney Kemp in bringing this story to life. However, he also played one of the best roles of his acting career as Kanan Stark. He served as Ghost’s and Tommy’s former mentor-turned-rival in the original Power series. However, his story was explored even further in the spin-off series, Power Book III: Raising Kanan,though Fif primarily appeared in flashbacks.
NEW YORK, NEW YORK – JULY 15: Joey Bada$$ attends the “Power Book III: Raising Kanan” New York premiere at the Hammerstein Ballroom on July 15, 2021 in New York City. (Photo by John Lamparski/FilmMagic)
A revered MC in his own right, Bada$$ delved into acting in the years that led to his role in Power Book III: Raising Kanan. In the show, he took on the role of Unique, who initially served as the primary antagonist and later, became an anti-hero. He was a streetwise kingpin who inherited a drug empire from his incarcerated brother. The role came for Bada$$ after he already won an Oscar for Two Distant Strangers and appeared as Rebel/Inspectah Deck in Wu Tang: An American Saga.
ATLANTA, GEORGIA – MAY 12: Method Man performs onstage during the Strength of a Woman’s MJB “Celebrating Hip Hop 50” Concert in Partnership with Mary J. Blige, Pepsi, and Live Nation Urban at State Farm Arena on May 12, 2023 in Atlanta, Georgia. (Photo by Paras Griffin/Getty Images for Strength Of A Woman Festival & Summit)
Meth took on the role of the suave criminal defense attorney Davis MacLean. In the first two seasons of the spinoff, he serves as Tariq St. Patrick’s defense attorney while also aiding Tasha before forming a professional bond with Cooper Saxe. Though Meth has undoubtedly built a strong resumé as an actor, his appearance as MacLean will undoubtedly serve as one of the most notable roles in his career.
Mary J Blige – Monet Stewart Tejada (Power Book II: Ghost)
ATLANTA, GEORGIA – MAY 14: Mary J Blige as Special Guest Judge for Strength of a Woman’s “Purpose Ball: Bridging the Gap” in Partnership with Mary J. Blige, Pepsi, and Live Nation Urban at The Bank on May 14, 2023 in Atlanta, Georgia. (Photo by Derek White/Getty Images for Strength Of A Woman Festival & Summit)
In the first spin-off in the Power universe, Mary J. Blige takes on the role of Monet Steward Tejada–the second-in-command in the Tejada cartel. As Lorenzo Tejada’s husband, she serves as the queenpin of the organization, recruiting her three children, Dru, Cane, and Diana, to keep the family business afloat. Mary J. Blige’s portrayal has earned her great acclaim on screen and two NAACP Image Awards for Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Drama Series.
Kendrick Lamar – Laces (Power)
INGLEWOOD, CALIFORNIA – FEBRUARY 13: Kendrick Lamar performs in the Pepsi Halftime Show during the NFL Super Bowl LVI football game between the Cincinnati Bengals and the Los Angeles Rams at SoFi Stadium on February 13, 2022 in Inglewood, California. (Photo by Cooper Neill/Getty Images)
Perhaps, one of the most surprising rapper cameos in a television series, Kendrick Lamar stepped onto the TV screen as Laces, a neighborhood “crackhead” that helps Kanan track down a few henchmen. It was truly a shocking and splendid display of his acting chops, which was a selling point for Courtney Kemp. In fact, she admitted to rejecting several rappers who hoped to appear on Power.
“He wanted to play something crazy,” Kemp told EW. “You would never put in Kendrick as a gangster anyway; he’s not really that guy. He wanted to come in and play a part and really act. Most people don’t really wanna act. They wanna, like, ‘Yeah, I wanna be in that s—. I wanna have a gun, I wanna…’ and they don’t wanna act. Kendrick wanted the challenge. He wanted the next level of his artistry and his creativity to be challenged. He really wanted us to give him something.”
NEW YORK, NEW YORK – MAY 11: Redman attends DJ Cassidy’s Pass The Mic Live! at Prudential Center on May 11, 2024 in Newark, New Jersey. (Photo by Shareif Ziyadat/Getty Images)
Redman appeared as Theo Rollins, MacLean’s incarcerated brother. It was an interesting dynamic, considering it marked one of the first times since Method & Red that the Blackout! Collaborators appeared together on TV. Unfortunately, Redman’s appearance on the show lasted one season. Method Man later revealed they had to recast Rollins’ role because Redman refused to get the COVID-19 jab.
WEST HOLLYWOOD, CALIFORNIA – MARCH 23: Freddie Gibbs attends the Spotify and Hulu “RapCaviar Presents” Premiere Celebration at Ysabel on March 23, 2023 in West Hollywood, California. (Photo by Kayla Oaddams/Getty Images)
Just as Freddie Gibbs began getting his feet wet in the acting world with films like Down With The King and a supporting role in Peacock’s Bust Down, he returned as Cousin Buddy in Power Book IV: Force. In the show, he portrayed the cousin of Marshall Cranon, a cross-eyed kingpin in Gary, IN who links up with Jenard Sampson to further expand his operation.
Jeremih – Elijah Linden (Power Book IV: Force)
NEW YORK, NEW YORK – JANUARY 28: Jeremih attends “Power Book IV Force” Dinner at on January 28, 2022 in New York City. (Photo by Johnny Nunez/WireImage)
A high-ranking member of the CBI organization, Elijah Linden serves as a street-smart ally to the Sampson brothers who eventually meet his demise. Jeremih hasn’t necessarily built a strong filmography over his career but it was still an impressive outting. No doubt that his long-standing relationship with 50 Cent played a major role.
MC Lyte – Jelani Otombe (Power)
NEW YORK, NEW YORK – AUGUST 07: MC Lyte visits SiriusXM Studios on August 07, 2024 in New York City. (Photo by Santiago Felipe/Getty Images)
The legendary MC delivered an impeccable but brief performance in the season 5 finale of Power as Jelani Otombe.
Rotimi – Andre Coleman (Power)
NEW YORK, NEW YORK – AUGUST 19: Actor Rotimi visits BuzzFeed’s “AM To DM” on August 19, 2019 in New York City. (Photo by Mike Coppola/Getty Images)
Serving as part of the main cast from the second season onward, Rotimi portrayed Andre “Dre” Coleman. Though once a close affiliate to Ghost and Kanan, he eventually begins to try and make a mark for himself. However, his efforts ultimately lead to his own death.
LeToya Luckett – Kenya Pierce (Power Book III: Raising Kanan)
LAS VEGAS, NEVADA – NOVEMBER 13: LeToya Luckett attends the 2022 Soul Train Awards presented by BET at the Orleans Arena on November 13, 2022 in Las Vegas, Nevada. (Photo by Paras Griffin/Getty Images for BET)
LeToya Luckett plays Kenya Pierce in Power Book III: Raising Kanan. Kenya is introduced as the long-lost mother of Jukebox (portrayed by Hailey Kilgore), who abandoned her as a child. After years away, Kenya re-enters her daughter’s life, attempting to form a relationship with her. The former Destiny Child star crushed her role as Kenya.
Lil Durk – Bronze (Power Book II: Ghost)
NEW YORK, NEW YORK – SEPTEMBER 09: Lil Durk attends PrettyLittleThing: Teyana Taylor Collection II New York Fashion Week on September 09, 2021 in New York City. (Photo by Gonzalo Marroquin/Getty Images for PrettyLittleThing )
In his acting debut, Lil Durk took on the role of Bronze who portrays a cousin of the Tejada family. It’s a full circle moment for Durk, who previously contributed to the “Power Powder Respect” theme song alongside 50 Cent and Jeremih. Durk didn’t necessarily receive a standing ovation for his efforts. However, he deserves his flowers for proving that drill has no limits.
LightSkinKeisha – Brushaundria Carmichael (Power Book II: Ghost)
LightSkinKeisha at the season 4 premiere of “Power Book II: Ghost” held at The Hammerstein Ballroom on June 6, 2024 in New York City. (Photo by John Nacion/Variety via Getty Images)
Expanding her filmography further, LightSkinKeisha takes on the role of Brushaundria Carmichael, a classmate of Tariq.
Yung Bleu – Stokely (Power Book II: Ghost)
NEWARK, NEW JERSEY – SEPTEMBER 12: Yung Bleu attends the 2023 MTV Video Music Awards at the Prudential Center on September 12, 2023 in Newark, New Jersey. (Photo by Dia Dipasupil/FilmMagic)
The Mobile, AL star took on a small role in the latest season of Power Book II: Ghost.
Lil Durk is going viral after his appearance in the series finale of Starz’s hit series Power Book II: Ghost. The Chicago rapper made his acting debut during the previous week’s episode, which was the ninth of the season. Social media users had some fun with stills from the latest episode, with a number of viral tweets stemming from jokes made at Durk’s expense.
“This is the stance of a man who don’t do the s**t he rap about,” one person wrote. “I spit my drink out when I seen dat man legs like dat [crying emojis],” said another. Another tweet blew up that took shots at the show and others like it. “You know that the show has reached an irreparable level of trash when they start tossing random rappers in the cast,” a third user said. Rappers making appearances on TV shows is not a new phenomenon, of course. Offset was on an episode of NCIS: Los Angeles in 2020. In 2023, Yung Miami of the City Girls made an appearance on Starz’s BMF, another 50 Cent-produced crime drama (like the shows in the Power universe). The disgraced mogul Diddy has multiple acting credits to his name, including episodes of CSI: Miami and the Hawaii Five-O reboot.
The jokes didn’t slow down Lil Durk’s album rollout. In fact, he referenced his Power Book II appearance in the caption to a post promoting his latest single. “We getting back for Monet @ midnight,” Durk wrote. “We dropping for the streets @ midnight, stay woke.” At midnight, he unveiled the cover art for his upcoming album Deep Thoughts, along with a new single. “Monitoring Me” is the name of the new track, which he dropped with an accompanying music video.
Earlier this week, a tracklist purporting to be the one for Lil Durk’s next release made its way online. However, its authenticity came into question when names like Sabrina Carpenter, Kai Cenat, and iShowSpeed were listed as features. As the alleged tracklist is only 12 songs (the upcoming Deep Thoughts is 20 songs, per Apple Music) and not under the same name as the one Durk announced (nor does it have the same album artwork), it is likely illegitimate. Deep Thoughts releases on October 18, though Durk announced that fans can pre-save the album beginning today.
Lil Durk is joining some exclusive company this week, as he’s going to be the third rapper to appear in Power. The 50 Cent executive produced show has seen talents such as Method Man and Joey Bada$$ guest star in the Starz series, particularly in the spin-offs. The Wu-Tang band mate was in Power Book II: Ghost, while Joey popped up throughout Power Book III: Raising Kanan. The Chicago drill artist will be lending his on-screen talents to Book II and his TV debut is coming sooner than later.
According to AllHipHop, Durk’s first appearance will be on Thursday’s episode, but sadly, some people online were spoiling the fun. Some of the episodes were leaked, leading to Durk’s co-star, Gianni Paolo, to come clean. He shared a mini collage of pictures and videos from their time on set together with the caption, “We kept it a secret for a year and a half and they wanna leak it two days before the mf episode.. Cats out of the bag now big bros TV debut Thursday at midnight @lildurk Can’t wait for y’all to see”.
As to be expected, some fans weren’t too happy about the Durk selection. He seems to be always getting clowned online no matter what the deal is. “The Streets Want Ghost Not Durk. Y’all Adding Unnecessary People ” one IG user writes. “Cool. I just don’t understand why they keep bringing in new characters at the end lol”. Regardless of the noise, a congratulations is in order for Lil Durk. We wish the rapper good luck as he explores his acting journey.
What are your thoughts on Lil Durk getting ready to appear on 50 Cent’s Power Book II: Ghost? Do you think this will impede the progress of his new album at all? Are you going to tune in this Thursday? We would like to hear what you have to say, so leave your thoughts in the comments. Additionally, always keep it locked in with HNHH for all of the latest news surrounding Lil Durk. Finally, stay with us for everything else going on in the worlds of music and pop culture.
50 Cent discussed his relationship with Power star Omari Hardwick and his controversial comments about working on the show during a recent interview with Gillie Da Kid. 50 began by explaining that Hardwick’s comments about feeling underpaid weren’t directed at him. He revealed that the actor hit him up in the DMs after the story broke, claiming that his quotes were misleading. He continued: “At the end of the day, Ghost was supposed to die when I died. I extended it… The problem with working with 50 Cent is, it’s 50 Cent’s show.”
When The Neighborhood Talk shared 50’s comments on Instagram, fans jumped in the comments section to share their opinions on the situation. “I hate how slow yall are. He not saying he didn’t wanna pay him clearly Starz didn’t & instead of killing him off when they initially wanted to, he extended until Season 5. Simple,” one user wrote. Another had a different take, writing: “But he was the FACEEEEEEEEEEEEEE of the show and network. That’s different than being some regular character. When you thought of the show you automatically pictured him!”
50 Cent & Omari Hardwick Attend “Power” Season 5 Premiere
NEW YORK, NY – JUNE 28: Omari Hardwick (L) and Curtis “50 Cent” Jackson attend the “Power” Season 5 Premiere at Radio City Music Hall on June 28, 2018 in New York City. (Photo by Mark Sagliocco/FilmMagic)
As for Hardwick’s criticism, he complained about the finale of Power while speaking at a panel during the TriBeca Film Festival. “I’m with y’all in this sense, I’m with you in the sense that the way the story was sold and told to me is not befitting of the way it ended, guys. So y’all have every right to be like, ‘It didn’t end right,’” he said. “And because we don’t honor our fans enough, and I know me, Matt, and Trey are different. We honor y’all, we honor our fans, man. We often forget that the fans are being sold and told a story that has a genesis, and that it has to end the way that it was sold.”
50 Cent Speaks On Omari Hardwick
50 previously addressed Hardwick’s complaints in a post on X (formerly Twitter). “This [ninja emoji] is a strange bird,” 50 said at the time. “The f*ck is he talking about? I never done nothing but look out for him. If he needed something I gave it to him. I understand now, that shit didn’t matter at all.” Check out his latest remarks below. Be on the lookout for further updates on 50 Cent and Omari Hardwick on HotNewHipHop.
(WARNING: Spoilers for Power Book II: Ghost season 4 will be found below.)
In just a few weeks, Power Book II: Ghostseason four will return to air the last episodes in what will be the series’ final season. This season of Power Book II: Ghost is lining up to be its most dramatic yet, as big surprises like Diana being pregnant and Tariq being the father, Cane and Noma’s new partnership, Detective Carter’s threatening presence thanks to his work in the NYPD, Tariq’s new romance with Anya, Noma’s daughter, and much more. Though Power Book II: Ghost season four, part one was a dramatic one, the crew can definitely up the ante in the next five episodes.
With a little less than a month to go until Power Book II: Ghost returns, here’s everything you need to know ahead of the new episodes.
Release Date
The second half of Power Book II: Ghost season 4 will premiere on September 6 with the sixth episode of the season debuting on the STARZ app and website at midnight EST/PST. The episode will later make its on-air debut on the STARZ TV channel on Friday at 8pm ET/PT. This will conclude a two-month mid-season break that Power Book II: Ghost began back in July for its highly anticipated final season.
Cast
Season four, part one of Power Book II: Ghost a pair of fairly major deaths. Obi was shot and killed by Noma after she learned that he lied to her about how he got green cards for his family, which Tariq helped facilitate. Salim was also sot and killed by Tariq during a struggle in the latter’s home after Tariq arrived to inquire about Diana’s whereabouts.
Aside from those two, the list of major characters is expected to remain the same as we head into the second half of the season. This includes new season four additions like Golden Brooks as Janet (Monet’s cousin), Michael Ealy as Detective Don Carter, Aaron Dean Eisenberg as Detective Nico Calder, Alison Luff as Detective Felicia Lewis, Talia Robinson as Elle (Brayden’s new love interest), and Sydney Winbush as Anya Covington (Noma’s daughter).
Here’s the full list of confirmed and expected cast members for Power Book II: Ghost season four, part two:
Aaron Dean Eisenberg as Detective Nico Calder (new)
Alison Luff as Detective Felicia Lewis (new)
Talia Robinson as Elle (new)
Recurring:
Larenz Tate as Councilman Rashad Tate
Naturi Naughton as Tasha St. Patrick
Stephanie Suganami as Perla Tanaka
Elizabeth Rodriguez as Paz Valdes
Cory Jeacoma as Trace Weston
Michael J. Ferguson as 2-Bit
Jeff Aeur as Robert Weston
Pha’rez Lass as Zion
Wesley Han as Pinky
Plot
STARZ shared an official synopsis for the season half of Power Book II: Ghost season 4 earlier this month. You can read it below:
Tariq finds himself in an eerily similar situation, just like his late father, Ghost, stuck between a rock and a hard place, with the choice to leave the game or take over. Entrapped by Detective Carter, the Tejada family realizes their safety is not guaranteed. Monet fiercely fights for her family to become whole again, but is it too late? Noma is working her way to the top of the food chain. Meanwhile, her daughter, Anya, gets too close to the game, forcing Noma to think twice about her actions.
Trailer
STARZ shared an official trailer for the final Power Book II: Ghost season 4 episodes earlier this month, you can watch that below.
Power Book II: Ghost Season 4, Part 2 Schedule
Here is the expected release schedule for the final five episodes in Power Book II: Ghost season 4.
September 6: Episode 6
September 13: Episode 7
September 20: Episode 8
September 27: Episode 9
October 4: Episode 10
How To Watch Power Book II: Ghost Season 4
New episodes in Power Book II: Ghost season 4, part 2 will be available weekly on the STARZ app on Fridays at 12am ET/PT. The new episodes will also air weekly on-air on the STARZ TV channel on Fridays at 8pm ET/PT.
Power Book II: Ghost’ season four, part two premieres on September 6. Seasons 1-4, part one are available to stream now on STARZ.
50 Cent has emerged victorious in a $1 billion lawsuit filed by an ex-drug kingpin who claimed the entertainment mogul stole his life story to create the hit series Power, All Hip Hop reports. The legal battle began in 2021 when Cory “Ghost” Holland filed a lawsuit against 50 Cent, Courtney Kemp, Starz, and Lionsgate. Furthermore, Holland asserted that the show’s character Ghost, played by Omari Hardwick, closely mirrored his own experiences. He also claimed that 50 and the show’s creators used his story without his consent for profit. However, the court has now ruled in favor of 50 Cent, dismissing all claims against him.
In 2021, Cory “Ghost” Holland initiated a billion-dollar lawsuit against 50 Cent, Courtney Kemp, Starz, and Lionsgate. Holland alleged that the character “Ghost” in the series Power unlawfully reflected his life without his consent. He detailed his life story in a 2007 CD titled Blasphemy, which he claimed to have sent to the father of series co-creator Courtney Kemp as a plea for help to exit the drug trade legitimately. Additionally, Holland accused 50 and the show’s creators of exploiting his story for profit without his permission.
Court’s Ruling On Defamation Claims
(Photo by Frederick M. Brown/Getty Images)
50 Cent denied all allegations. Judge Analisa Torres sided with 50 and dismissed the claims in each case. In the first case, it was decided that the character “Ghost” in the show Power did not directly refer to Holland, which is necessary for a defamation claim. Despite similarities in family structure, the court found these to be mere coincidences.
Holland’s second lawsuit accused 50 Cent of sending goons to harass and threaten him. He specifically alleged that 50 Cent showed up in his neighborhood with an entourage in a fleet of vans and SUVs, looking for a man named “Ghost.” In another incident, people associated with the rapper allegedly played a threatening song near his house, which Holland felt was an attempt to send a clear message to him. The legal battle took a treacherous turn when Holland threatened violence against 50 and his legal team. In a letter obtained by AllHipHop, Holland warned of potentially fatal consequences if 50 Cent or anyone associated with him confronted him again.
Dismissal Of Claims & Conclusion
Judge Torres dismissed the harassment claims against 50 Cent, citing that one of Holland’s claims was past the statute of limitations and that the assertion about the threatening song didn’t hold up in court. “There is no indication that this conduct constituted a threat, much less an ‘imminent threat of harmful contact’ as required for an assault claim,” Judge Torres explained. Holland’s third lawsuit claimed Lionsgate should pay $300 million for not controlling the G-Unit boss since the movie studio produces the Power franchise. However, the negligent supervision claim against Lionsgate and Starz was dismissed as Holland failed to demonstrate a duty of care owed to him by the companies. The cases have been closed, and judgment has been entered in favor of 50 Cent, bringing an end to the legal battle.
As you can imagine, 50 Cent didn’t hesitate to flaunt his victory online. Sharing a screenshot of a HotNewHipHop article to his Instagram page, he wrote, “Fool thought he was GHOST da fvck wrong wit these [ninja emoji]’s man LOL.” We’ll keep you posted on anymore updates surrounding 50 Cent and Power.
50 Cent’s reputation as hip-hop’s Teflon Don in the courtroom lives on. While the musician-turned-mogul is supposedly involved in several ongoing cases (allegedly including a defamation lawsuit against his youngest son’s mother), the weight from one massive legal matter has reportedly been removed from his back.
In the report, the outlet claimed that the preceding judge declared the similarities of the show’s characters and plot, Cory “Ghost” Holland argued were from his life, did not amount to anything beyond “mere coincidences.”
Yesterday (August 3), 50 Cent wasted no time boasting about the victory in court. On Instagram, 50 Cent posted a screenshot of HotNewHipHop‘s coverage captioned: “Fool thought he was GHOST da f*ck wrong with these n****s man LOL.”
50 Cent wasn’t the only party named in the lawsuit, originally filled in 2021. Power‘s co-creator Courtney Kemp, the Starz network, and Lionsgate were also named in the case. Although the likeness lawsuit has seemingly been dismissed, 50 Cent isn’t done fighting with Cory “Ghost” Holland in court.
Holland has also filed a $300 million lawsuit where he accused 50 Cent of intentionally inflicted emotional distress upon him and allegedly attempting to have him physically assaulted. Holland also claimed Lionsgate Entertainment didn’t make any effort to stop the harassment. This case is still pending.
(@iamjessicarosee) 
.. Cats out of the bag now big bros TV debut Thursday at midnight @lildurk 
Can’t wait for y’all to see”. 
” one IG user writes. “Cool. I just don’t understand why they keep bringing in new characters at the end lol”. Regardless of the noise, a congratulations is in order for Lil Durk. We wish the rapper good luck as he explores his acting journey. 
da fvck wrong wit these [ninja emoji]’s man LOL.” We’ll keep you posted on anymore updates surrounding 50 Cent and Power. 
LOL.”