(AllHipHop News) While 50 Cent was proclaiming the new Fox series Empire borrowed marketing strategies from his own Starz program Power, another Queens native was seeing 50’s show as a ripoff as well. Curtis “The Snake Charmer” Scoon jumped on Twitter to claim that the G-Unit boss stole the Power concept from a show he had been developing since 2008.
[ALSO READ: 50 Cent Accuses Fox’s “Empire” Of Copying The Marketing Strategy Of “Power”]
Scoon accuses 50 and producer James Dubose of taking the idea for Power from a script he developed for a potential project titled Dangerous. Scoon says Dubose originally wanted Brooklyn rapper Maino for the lead role, but eventually 50 cent was also brought into the process.
“Dubose informed his staff and [screenwriter] Byron, 50 Cent was interested in Dangerous and would be coming to his office for a meeting. I have the email,” wrote Scoon. “Sure enough Maino and 50 came to the office a few weeks later. I have sworn affidavits from people who were there.”
From there Scoon alleges 50 was hesitant about being involved with the project because of the past issues between the two. While never arrested, Scoon faced rumors (which he denied) of being involved in the death of 50 Cent’s mentor Jam Master Jay.
Scoon has also been connected to Kenneth “Supreme” McGriff. The convicted Queens drug lord clashed with 50 for what he saw as the rapper revealing too much street information on the song “Ghetto Qu’ran” as well as Supreme’s support of 50’s rap rivals Murder Inc.
“I believe once 50 heard my name he wasn’t going to do the project in its original form. I’m smarter, more talented and much more authentic,” Scoon added. He later posted, “I don’t really care about 50 like that. He’s like a speck of filth on the bottom of my shoe. I focus on the ‘man.'”
This is not the first time 50 has been accused of taking an idea from someone else for his own product. Sleek Audio recently won a $16 million lawsuit against 50 for wrongfully using the headphone company’s product design and confidential private client information for SMS Audio.
[ALSO READ: 50 Cent Loses $16 Million Court Case To Sleek Audio]
Read Curtis Scoon’s tweets below.
I think I'm gonna breakdown my imminent lawsuit this morning for all to see this morning. Even my mom told me I have to file.
— Curtis Scoon (@CurtisScoon) January 19, 2015
Back in '08 I got some press in the NY Post PAGE SIX section for my script 10-13 (Officer Down). The true story of the Edward Byrne killing.
— Curtis Scoon (@CurtisScoon) January 19, 2015
That's the same project 50 Cent referred to on 5/30/14 during his Breakfast Club interview. He mentioned me by name and the project at 41:00
— Curtis Scoon (@CurtisScoon) January 19, 2015
PAGE SIX is where you go when you want people get on the industry radar. Dani Weinstein reached out and Aaron Shuster did as well.
— Curtis Scoon (@CurtisScoon) January 19, 2015
Dani I believe is related to Harvey Weinstein but I'm not sure. Aaron Shuster has a production credit on the film "Bank Job."
— Curtis Scoon (@CurtisScoon) January 19, 2015
I sent Shuster the script and after reading it he thought it would be better if we fictionalized the story and went the TV route.
— Curtis Scoon (@CurtisScoon) January 19, 2015
The only problem is I wasn't going to write again unless I was getting paid. I got no time with all this free work blacks do in show biz.
— Curtis Scoon (@CurtisScoon) January 19, 2015
Ja Rule's manager Ron "Gutta" Robinson connected me to a writer named Byron. I put Byron with Aaron and we proceeded to develop the idea.
— Curtis Scoon (@CurtisScoon) January 19, 2015
I saw value in Aaron because he's Jewish, lives in LA and has film credits. Jews run that industry so you better have one on the team.
— Curtis Scoon (@CurtisScoon) January 19, 2015
Byron read my script and Queens Reigns Supreme. He immersed himself in Queens and he and I spoke all day every day via phone.
— Curtis Scoon (@CurtisScoon) January 19, 2015
My experiences and some of the things I share on here to a writer is like striking it rich. They dream about this level of content.
— Curtis Scoon (@CurtisScoon) January 19, 2015
And in the case of people like 50 they will steal it, plagiarize it or try to diminish it as a matter of survival.
— Curtis Scoon (@CurtisScoon) January 19, 2015
Arron wanted to call the project Dangerous. Seemed corny to me but I went with it because I needed him to get me in the room.
— Curtis Scoon (@CurtisScoon) January 19, 2015
We started shopping it and Aaron got us meetings everywhere. I was hopeful. Nancy Cotton over at Fox, Randy Runkle at Showtime, HBO, etc.
— Curtis Scoon (@CurtisScoon) January 19, 2015
I believe all of the execs Arron got us meetings with were Jewish. You can't be mad at people for looking out for each other. We should too.
— Curtis Scoon (@CurtisScoon) January 19, 2015
I banked on Arron heavily and when it didn't pan out I was dismayed. I left LA in August 2009 and told myself I'd return with my paper right
— Curtis Scoon (@CurtisScoon) January 19, 2015
I went into mental health but Arron and Byron kept pushing. Hollywood is their dream and life. Me? Not so much.
— Curtis Scoon (@CurtisScoon) January 19, 2015
Byron sent the script to James Dubose as a writing sample. My name isn't on the script but it's mine. It's rife with my ideas and words.
— Curtis Scoon (@CurtisScoon) January 19, 2015
Dubose read the script and thought it was so good he wanted to develop it. Byron made him aware of Aaron's and my own involvement.
— Curtis Scoon (@CurtisScoon) January 19, 2015
Dubose, who's black reached out to me for clarity on my role. I made it clear Aaron and I had to be producers on the project to move forward
— Curtis Scoon (@CurtisScoon) January 19, 2015
Dubose wanted to recruit Maino the rapper to play the lead. Problem with that is neither has a strong enough brand to impress the "man."
— Curtis Scoon (@CurtisScoon) January 19, 2015
Enter 50 Cent. Maino has a relationship with 50 of some sort. I believe 50 had a hand in some situation at Atlantic.
— Curtis Scoon (@CurtisScoon) January 19, 2015
Dubose informed his staff and Byron 50 Cent was interested in Dangerous and would be coming to his office for a meeting. I have the email.
— Curtis Scoon (@CurtisScoon) January 19, 2015
Sure enough Maino AND 50 came to the office a few weeks later. I have sworn affidavits from people who were there.
— Curtis Scoon (@CurtisScoon) January 19, 2015
50 tells Starz he doesn't recall meeting at Dubose's office. I'm going to help his memory.
— Curtis Scoon (@CurtisScoon) January 19, 2015
I believe once 50 heard my name he wasn't going to do the project in it's original form. I'm smarter, more talented and much more authentic.
— Curtis Scoon (@CurtisScoon) January 19, 2015
What that means is if I'm in the same room I get the attention he covets.
— Curtis Scoon (@CurtisScoon) January 19, 2015
I understand all of this. He's known for getting shot. I'm known for other things.
— Curtis Scoon (@CurtisScoon) January 19, 2015
The irony is James Dubose had the BMF project as well. That's 2 Dubose projects 50 somehow ends up with. Seems fishy doesn't it?
— Curtis Scoon (@CurtisScoon) January 19, 2015
Back in 2013 Arron Shuster pitched Dangerous at Relativity and was told, "Isn't this the same project 50 Cent has at Starz?"
— Curtis Scoon (@CurtisScoon) January 19, 2015
When Aaron told me this I dismissed it as typical Hollywood lack of understanding and appreciation of urban content. Little did I know.
— Curtis Scoon (@CurtisScoon) January 19, 2015
When I first saw the trailer for Power I knew it was mine. I called Byron immediately and told him to check the credits.
— Curtis Scoon (@CurtisScoon) January 19, 2015
I really don't like to be on front street. I do my best work in the dark. Read into that what you will.
— Curtis Scoon (@CurtisScoon) January 19, 2015
I don't really care about 50 like that. He's like a speck of filth on the bottom of my shoe. I focus on the "man." Beat him your own risk.
— Curtis Scoon (@CurtisScoon) January 19, 2015
The good thing is I was built for this. I know what it is.
— Curtis Scoon (@CurtisScoon) January 19, 2015