In 2015, 50 Cent sued his longtime rival Rick Ross for $2 million for using "In Da Club" on his mixtape Renzel Remixes. It was an odd move, given Fif clearly understands how mixtapes work. Fif tried to legally justify the move by arguing that Ross was specifically using the remix to promote his retail album Black Market.
A judge dismissed the suit without merit last year. Not because he rejected Fif's suspect argument, but because Fif does not own the copyright or master recordings for "In Da Club" -- Shady/Aftermath Records does -- so the judge ruled he had no right to sue in the first place.
50 Cent recently appealed that ruling, continuing to argue that Ross illegally exploited Fif's name and voice by including his hook on the remix.
"Mr. Roberts explicit advertisement for Black Market clearly constitutes commercial speech, notwithstanding the fact that Mr. Roberts chose the vehicle of a song to deliver the repeated sales pitch 'only on the Black Market...December 4th...the album is out..." reads the new filings from 50's lawyer Frederick A. Braunstein. "Mr. Jackson does not challenge the unauthorized use of his voice in a purely entertainment work. He challenges the unauthorized use of his voice as part of an advertisement for a collateral product, Black Market, for which he has no connection to whatsoever."
50, who doesn't appear to address the master recording issue in the filing, wants the court to reverse the previous ruling by issuing a summary judgment in his favor for liability, and to send the dispute back to state court.
Do you think 50 has a case? Or is this just legal harassment?
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