Updated March 1,2005— Authorities have refuted early reports that a shooting victim at Hot 97 was affiliated with 50 Cent’s G-Unit. Now authorities have stated that the victim is a native of Compton, the hometown of The Game.
At the time of the shooting, 50 Cent was interviewing on Hot 97 and The Game was reportedly trying to gain entrance to Hot 97. A confrontation ensued outside after the Compton-bred rapper and his camp were prevented from getting inside of the facility.
According to sources, the wounded man was a 20-something African American male, but have not positively identified him as a member in The Game’s crew. 50 Cent, G-Unit and Olivia were immediately ushered out of a side exit to the building.
Additionally, the offices of Violator Management were also shot up. Violator is the management home of 50 Cent, Missy Elliot and Busta Rhymes, among others.
The victim was shot in his leg and taken to a Manhattan hospital for examination. Police are currently investigating both shootings and no suspects were available at press time
Yesterday 50 booted Game from his powerhouse rap outfit after the younger rap star appeared on Hot 97 with Funkmaster Flex this past Saturday and Angie Martinez this afternoon and refuted 50’s claim that he had a major hand in assisting Game with his debut, The Documentary.
The Game appeared on Hot 97 at the same time as 50 Cent was on Power 105 and was unaware of the announcement. It wasn’t until a caller phoned in and asked Game his thoughts on 50 Cent dissing him that the California rapper learned the news.
Game carefully avoided answering the question and responded by saying he would continue to make good music.
The next caller, however, challenged the Compton star and told him he wouldn’t be as successful without 50 Cent before Game retorted by telling the female fan to “suck it.”
In a recent interview with VIBE magazine, 50 stated he was brought in by Interscope Records to resurrect Game’s album, which according to 50 was on the verge of being shelved and Game being dropped from the label.
On Saturday, however, The Game told Funkmaster Flex that his status was never uncertain nor was He ever close to being let go by Dr. Dre or Interscope Chairman Jimmy Iovine.
“It was the truth,” an animated 50 Cent told Funkmaster Flex on Hot 97 this evening after his appearance on Power 105. “He was getting dropped. Why else would they let me be a partner on a project that [Interscope] had for two years?
“I’m so disappointed,” 50 continued. “This is crazy.”
Earlier yesterday, The Game repeated his assertions and also noted his displeasure with 50 Cent for publicizing a shoving match the duo had.
The Game compared the situation to the spat between former teammates Shaquille O’Neal and Kobe Bryant, which often took place through the media.
Yet The Game seemed to overlook comments he made during a previous Hot 97 interview when he initially discussed his and 50 butting heads over the direction of his album.
50, however, explained to Funkmaster Flex that there was no physical confrontation of any kind.
“We ain’t never had no pushing and shoving match,” said 50. “That’s entertainment. I was trying to follow up with him and not make him look crazy by saying it didn’t happen. Because he says a lot of things and then turns around and takes it back.”
50 Cent then remarked on Game calling out Jay-Z while in Amsterdam and then quickly dissipating any rumors of beef between him and the Def Jam president once he returned.
He said Game called him from overseas to check on the status of any potential disagreement Jay-Z had. 50 never got in touch with Jay-Z, but received word from sources close to Jay that the emcee was just warning Game.
The Game recently returned from a European promotional tour for The Documentary and was confronted with reports of a growing riff between him and the rest of the G-Unit camp.
Although he downplayed the situation, the rapper revealed jealousy was playing a role in the information floating around between him and his former clique.
“I been hearing mixed things, getting mixed e-mails, getting phone calls, so I don’t know the nature of where this is coming from,” Game told BET’s “106 & Park.” “I just got back from Europe so I haven’t heard a lot of things and at then end of the day, some people are frustrated with the success of my album.”
50, on the other hand, felt just the opposite.
“I think he has a problem with my position,” 50 said. “I think he’d like to be 50 Cent. Like, the head of the situation. To be technical, I make more of his record than he does.”
50 added that he contributed at least six songs on The Documentary, including the chorus for “Church For Thugs.”
He called Game’s album his EP before it was the Cali rapper’s album. “I muted my vocals and gave him records.”
In a moment that perhaps foreshadowed Game’s departure from G-Unit, the rapper revealed on Saturday his intentions of recording with Nas, a nemesis of 50 Cent.
Funkmaster Flex questioned Game for aligning himself with Nas, but the rapper responded: “When I have beef it seems like I’m always by myself.”
50 told listeners Game might as well cut the track with Nas now.
As for the rest of G-Unit, Young Buck apologized to 50 Cent on air while at Power 105 for his lyrics regarding Game on “Let Me In” when he rapped “You ain’t no Blood like Game.”
“He’s just a rapper, he don’t live it, man,” said Buck. The Tennessee native then offered to “take care of him” referring to Game before 50 intervened and told him it wouldn’t be necessary
Lloyd Banks simply said: “He don’t move like we move.”
Meanwhile, Jadakiss and D-Block have confirmed that they are going to respond to 50 Cent’s disses in the song “Piggy Bank.” The Yonkers native called into DJ Clue’s radio show late Monday.
“I got a whole clip loaded up,” Jadakiss said of 50. “Half a dollar is nothing. I’ma destroy this dude.”
Fat Joe, who is named in the “Piggybank” dis record, is also about to reply to 50. Joe called the rapper a “CB4 gangster” and quipped 50 has been beefing with Ja Rule for 4 years and hasn’t even slap boxed him yet.