50 Cent doesn’t handle separation like most people. So when G-Unit took to the Nokia Theater last night in Manhattan, Fifty made sure to take the opportunity to remind everyone where Young Buck stands in the pecking order now. “I wanna do Buck,” he said to the crowd, before impersonating the former G-Unit member. “‘Shawty Wanna Cry With Me,’ y’all wanna hear that?” 50 was joined on stage by Lloyd Banks and Tony Yayo. LL Cool J also made a surprise appearance, spittin’ his verse to the remix of G-Unit’s “Straight Outta Southside. It looks like 50 in the end will win the beef between him and Buck. Money always wins and Buck is broke as hell.

For Hip hop to survive the next era, the independent market must become a valid, bankable option for all artists, not just those who are local and lesser known. With major record labels like Def Jam and Interscope seeing less than stellar returns on their projects, more and more artists are being put on the back burner.These major labels will probaly go bankrupt very soon or restructure to ringtone releases only. Artists like the Lox, Beanie Siegel, Freeway, Wu Tang Clan and all of its members, G-Unit and all of its members, anyone who has been foolhardy enough to sign to Bad Boy, and a host of others are being dropped and/or traded between labels like rookie NBA picks. There is little to no stability in the industry. The best bet for artists, whether known or unknown, is to build local support from their area of origin, and then fly out on their own independently.There is no guarantee for artists on major labels, which are not in the business of making careers, as much as they are for making hit records. Recently, the growing success of individuals who choose to go independent is starting to become a temptation for artists starving in the majors. The independent route isn’t a new road. Many artists such as 50 Cent and Soulja Boy have taken to handling their own business to create a buzz. But now, what individuals would do to get the attention of major labels, they may have to do as a final result. Ice Cube for example, independently released his album “Laugh Now, Cry Later” to incredible sells, moving approximately 144,000 copies in its first week.Okay, Papoose is a bust, Saigon is apparently throwing a temper tantrum, ring tone rap is dying down, southern rap and all of its sub genres are losing steam; there is no one else. If you are a fan then support independent artists do not buy 1 single cd from a major label. Find a indie artist and support him. Play his music and share it with your friends. Music sharing and free music is a reality that will not go away. The major labels realized this to late, the major labels are finished. Independent Hip Hop is the future.  

 With rumors and disses swirling, and Young Buck joining Lil’ Wayne on stage, and recording a song together, a Lil’ Wayne and 50 Cent was seemed to be on the horizon.”People thought I had problems with Lil Wayne,” 50 said recently. “I don’t have problems with that little n—a. I like him. I like his music.Wayne also squashed the beef talk.”That n—a’s crazy, Wayne laughed. “I ain’t f—ing with 50. He’s too high up there. That’s my n—a, though. I respect that my name even came out the homie’s mouth. I just took it as a compliment. I would never go back at 50; he’s a trillionaire. I’m trying to get there, homie. I’m smart. I ain’t dumb.

A judge this week ruled that 50 Cent has to pay a New York Post photographer an undisclosed amount of money after a settling a 2003 lawsuit, the Post is reporting.Jim Alcorn, who was a Post photographer at the time, was knocked over by security for 50 outside of a jewelry store after he attempted to take photos of the rapper, who had just purchased an $18,000 watch.Alcorn was taken to the hospital to treat neck and jaw injuries.“A settlement was reached and all parties are satisfied,” said Alcorn’s lawyer, Sanford Rubenstein.“It’s a legal issue that’s been settled,” said a rep for 50.

Curtis “50 Cent” Jackson’s pockets will remain a little fatter this year after a judge ruled in his favor for a child support dispute with his ex-girlfriend Shaniqua Tomkins. 50 took Tomkins to court after refusing to agree to her requests for more money to help cover the living expenses of their 10-year-old son Marquis.Tomkins previously asked for $50,000 per month but was granted just half of that sum - $25,000 per month when the court viewed her and Marquis’ expenses.That figure was then further reduced earlier this week (February 11), and Tomkinswill now only receive $6,700 per month from 50 according to the New York Post.