50 Cent vs Rick Ross

Rick Ross and 50 Cent were competitors rather than former friends or collaborators. Later accounts linked their tension to the 2008 BET Hip Hop Awards, but no reliable public account established a specific confrontation there. The first documented public move came through music.

On January 24, 2009, Ross released “Mafia Music,” naming Curtis Jackson and referring to Jackson’s dispute with Shaniqua Tompkins and the fire at the Long Island home where she lived with their son. Five days later, 50 Cent answered with “Officer Ricky,” using Ross’s previous work as a correctional officer to question the image he presented in his music.

Ross dismissed “Officer Ricky” and gave 50 Cent 48 hours to make a stronger response. 50 Cent then released “Warning Shot,” said he would ruin Ross’s life “for fun” and launched recurring “Officer Ricky” cartoons.

50 Cent also published an interview with Tia Kemp, the mother of one of Ross’s children, about Ross’s correctional-officer past and family disputes. In “A Psychic Told Me,” he told DJ Khaled that he knew where Khaled’s mother lived and worked and showed footage of a woman identified as her at work. Khaled was a close Ross collaborator.

In March 2009, 50 Cent promoted an edited private sexual video featuring Lastonia Leviston, the mother of one of Ross’s children. He narrated it as his “Pimpin’ Curly” character while taunting Ross. Ross answered with the “In Cold Blood” video, which depicted a mock funeral for 50 Cent.

Leviston sued 50 Cent in February 2010, alleging that he distributed her private video without permission and caused severe emotional distress. In July 2015, a jury awarded her $5 million in compensatory damages and $2 million in punitive damages. Her claim was later handled through 50 Cent’s bankruptcy proceedings.

In September 2012, Ross associate Gunplay fought members of G-Unit’s security outside the BET Hip Hop Awards and lost an MMG chain. Contemporary reports said 50 Cent was not involved in the fight.

A separate case began after Ross used 50 Cent’s recorded voice and stage name on a free 2015 remix of “In Da Club.” 50 Cent sued Ross under Connecticut publicity law. In August 2020, the Second Circuit upheld dismissal because federal copyright law preempted the state claim.

The rappers continued making intermittent public comments, but a clear direct exchange returned in December 2023. 50 Cent mocked the reported first-week sales of Ross and Meek Mill’s Too Good to Be True. Ross answered by attacking 50 Cent’s finances and business standing.

In February 2025, 50 Cent posted a rat image after Ross appeared with Demetrius “Big Meech” Flenory to promote a concert. Ross responded with a video imitating 50 Cent crying over the photo.

In July 2026, 50 Cent mocked early chart projections for Ross’s Set in Stone, told him to “pack it up” and attacked his ticket sales and businesses. Ross defended the album and accused 50 Cent of taking local money in Shreveport and failing to secure loans for his studio plans. Neither rapper has announced a reconciliation, and their continuing direct exchanges support an active status.