By Tai Saint Louis
Rapper 50 Cent has announced a surprising collaboration for his forthcoming fourth LP, Before I Self-Destruct.
According to several UK websites, the G-Unit leader plans on working with British pop star Robbie Williams, with whom he had a falling out back in 2005.
According to the reports, the collaboration is two years in the making.
Williams, who remains the top selling British solo artist in history with 55 million records sold worldwide.
He has a well documented history of alcohol and drug addition, which he addresses in his popular biography Feel, written by friend and journalist Chris Heath.
The rehab stint 50 alludes to took place in February 2007, seven months before the release of Curtis.
In October 2005, the two megastars clashed during a stay at the Ritz-Carlton hotel in Germany.
According to Williams, the trouble started when, upon arriving at the hotel, 50 was greeted to chants of “Robbie, Robbie” by fans of the Brit.
The situation got worse when the rapper and his entourage returned to the hotel around 4am, keeping the hotel’s bar open and requesting to play Hip-Hop music in the lobby.
Williams reportedly complained to the hotel manager, who proceeded to ask the G-Unit crew to tone it down, to no avail.
The pop star stated he was attempting to rest up for early rehearsals the next day.
50, on the other hand, claimed that Williams only complained after being humiliated by the rapper’s unavailability to meet him.
Before I Self Destruct is currently scheduled for a March release.
A current tentative tracklist reveals collaborations with Nate Dogg, Eminem, Swizz Beats, Dr. Dre and G-Unit.
Production credits include contributions by Red Spyda, Dre, Hi-Tek, Play-n-Skillz, Don Cannon, and Sha Money XL, as well as Scott Storch, who crafted the album’s first single “Get Up.”