50 Cent is apparently no fonder of fake shooting than he is of the real deal.
The Massacre rapper filed a $1 million lawsuit against Internet advertising company Traffix Inc. Friday, claiming that the Pearl River, New York, outfit pilfered his image for a banner ad that invites would-be consumers to “Shoot the Rapper” and “win $5,000 or five free ring tones GUARANTEED”—meaning, “Click here, and end up on one of our client’s Websites.”
If one’s mouse aim is on target, a misty spray of blood appears on the screen before the new Website opens.
The ad does not namecheck 50 Cent but, according to the complaint filed in New York State Court, the cartoon rapper on the screen is obviously supposed to be the 32-year-old hip-hop star.
The “vile, tasteless and despicable” depiction of 50 Cent, whose real name is Curtis Jackson, was “completely unauthorized” and “literally calls for violence against him,” states the lawsuit.
Before he hit it super-big with “In Da Club,” 50 Cent was shot nine times in a drive-by outside his grandmother’s house in Queens in May 2000. He inked a short-lived deal with Columbia Records from his hospital bed, later moving on to Universal Music Group’s Interscope after Eminem hooked him up with Dr. Dre and included the tune “Wanksta” on the 8 Mile soundtrack.
Traffix Inc.’s lawyer, Ezio Scaldaferri, told reporters that he had not yet seen the suit and couldn’t comment.
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Tags: G-Unit · 50 Cent
Rapper 50 Cent has struck a friendship with Duchess of York, Sarah Ferguson, after the latter impressed him with her dance skills.
Recently, the In Da Club star noticed the royal’s graceful dance moves during a recent gig and the rapper extended an invitation to her to meet him after the show.
He said that Fergie really knows how to dance, and that she is really ‘cool’.
“She’s great. I changed my set to a more soulful vibe for that night and she really danced. She knows how to get down and came backstage to hang out. She’s cool,’ Contactmusic quoted him, as saying.
Meanwhile, the 48-year-old, who is one of the producers of ‘Young Victoria’, is said to be using her sway to bag the right to shoot in royal palaces.
Tags: 50 Cent
50 Cent’s new album, “Curtis,” has been pushed back another week, from September 4 to September 11, according to Interscope, which declined to give a reason for the move.
“Curtis” originally was slated for a June 26 release but was pushed back in late May.
Two singles from the project have met with little success on radio. “Amusement Park” peaked at No. 36 on Billboard’s Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs chart and is No. 57 in its ninth week there, while “Straight to the Bank” peaked at No. 30 and has since fallen off the chart.
Another new song, “I Get Money,” debuted in early July at No. 75.
“Curtis,” which is the follow-up to 2005’s “The Massacre,” features production from Dr. Dre, Eminem and Timbaland, plus guest turns by Eminem, Akon, Justin Timberlake, Mary J. Blige, Robin Thicke and Nicole Scherzinger from the Pussycat Dolls.
Tags: 50 Cent