Why 50 Cent Has Beef With Irv Gotti: A Quick Refresher

The beef between 50 Cent and Irv Gotti is deeper than just rap. For over two decades, the two Queens, N.Y. natives have been at odds, embroiled in disputes that have ranged from violent brawls to accusations of snitching, diss tracks, and social media attacks. The origin of their feud has multiple layers.

It all began back in 1999 with an infamous robbery involving one of 50 Cent’s associates in Southside Jamaica, Queens. Ja Rule, the flagship artist on Irv Gotti’s Murder Inc. label, was the victim. At the time, 50 Cent was just beginning his career as an MC, leading to inevitable tension. By October, 50 released “Your Life’s on the Line,” a track dissing Ja Rule and Murder Inc.

In the following year, things escalated when 50 Cent and Ja Rule clashed at a nightclub in Atlanta, resulting in a fight. In March 2000, another notorious fight broke out at the Hit Factory studio in New York between the G-Unit and Murder Inc. crews. During this brawl, 50 Cent was stabbed, an act that Murder Inc. rapper Black Child later claimed responsibility for. Irv Gotti and Ja Rule also vehemently insisted that 50 Cent filed a protective order against them due to the incident, although this claim has since been largely debunked.

The feud took another dark turn in May 2000 when 50 Cent was shot nine times while sitting in front of his grandmother’s house in Queens. A federal investigation later revealed that Queens drug lord Kenneth “Supreme” McGriff and members of Murder Inc. had plotted to kill 50 in response to him mentioning McGriff in his song “Ghetto Qu’ran.”

Interestingly, Irv Gotti and McGriff are good friends. In 2003, Irv Gotti and his brother were indicted by the Feds, accused of laundering money for McGriff. They were acquitted of these charges in 2005. However, in 2007, McGriff was sentenced to life in prison for murder conspiracy and drug trafficking, although neither he nor anyone associated with Murder Inc. has been charged with 50 Cent’s shooting.

The tension between 50 Cent and Irv Gotti remains thick. Over the years, their rivalry has produced no shortage of viral moments. In 2017, 50 threatened to slap Irv. That same year, they exchanged heated words over their competing BET shows. In 2021, 50 called out Irv for commenting on DMX’s death. Most recently, in August 2024, 50 Cent mocked Irv after it was revealed that Irv had suffered a stroke and was walking with a cane.

“Damn homie, in high school you was the man homie, WTF happened to you?” 50 Cent echoed a line from his 2002 song “Wanksta.” “I want Irv to get well, so he can have to watch my next wave,” he added, showing no sign of mercy.

No mercy.