MC says he won't tweet until September 6 to work on The Return of the Heartless Monster.
By Mawuse Ziegbe

50 Cent
Photo: MTV News

50 Cent's Twitter followers are going to have to find other ways to amuse themselves this weekend. The MC says he's giving up tweeting to pen his next effort, The Return of the Heartless Monster.

"Ok ladies and [gentlemen] I'm writing my new album. I will not be on twitter again till Sept 6," Fif wrote Wednesday (September 1). "This album will be a classic," added the MC, who announced the album title on Twitter.

50 has been putting in work on his new material. Swizz Beatz recently told MTV News that he has been in the studio with the G-Unit boss, after 50 reportedly shelved much of the dance-music-friendly sound he originally envisioned for his upcoming music.

While the arrival of Kanye West and his multifaceted musings on the micro-blogging website has sparked major fanfare from fans and the media, 50's missives have ramped up in both frequency and ridiculousness over the past few weeks. Some days, Fif has been introspective and candid, sharing the inner-workings of his subconscious with followers.

"Just woke up I had a dream I put stars On my head like baby [of Cash Money]. then I was at church they told me take my hat off I said I just wanta pray lol," 50 typed Sunday. "That'$ crazy why wa$ baby on my mind. oh I wa$ looking at old xxl magazine$ la$t night. anyway$hout out to baby I know that [hurt]."

Other times, the Queens MC has added his voice to the public discourse about the state of the economy, and even doled out advice to our increasingly embattled president.

"Obamas ratings are down cause he didn't include pimpin and hoein in stimulus package. Good hoes would boost male moral and fix the recession," 50 asserted Saturday. The "Baby by Me" rapper later added, "Sh-- I should run america. first thing I'd do is cut my taxes then tell yal chill the f--- out ima get to the rest of the problems. You know me and george bush was born on the same day july6. Speaking of birthdays everybody on twitter should send me just 1 dollar cool?"

The Before I Self Destruct rapper has even mused about his tough childhood. "My aunt sylvia didnt like me growin up cause she was the baby till I came," 50 also wrote Saturday. "We had roaches so she put roach spray in a bowl and kill my dog."

Of course, it wouldn't be 50's Twitter page if he didn't take a swipe at the competition. "I just looked at kanye page what the f--- kind a spaced out tweets are those," the MC typed earlier in the day. "F--- that I aint never looking at that sh-- again."

Although 50 has built an empire on his super-tough persona, the MC has conceded that his words may be a wee bit harsh for his Twitter fans. "Look man I'm sorry I've been cursing," 50 said. "But f--- that sh-- I gotta express myself, bitch."

Will you miss 50 on Twitter? What are you looking forward to on his next album? Chat in the comments below!

• 50 Cent

'He's working on some amazing material,' Swizzy says on MTV's 'RapFix Live.'
By Mawuse Ziegbe

Swizz Beatz
Photo: Sohyung Kang/ MTV News

Super-producer Swizz Beatz has been keeping super busy in the studio these days.

Swizzy has jumped on Kanye West's all-star "Power" remix and has been updating his Twitter followers about his recent late-night sessions with everyone from N.E.R.D. to Mary J. Blige. During his Thursday (August 26) interview on "RapFix Live," the rapper/producer revealed that he's also been in the lab with 50 Cent.

"I met up with him earlier in the day," Swizz explained about slotting studio time with Fif, Mary and Busta Rhymes on Wednesday. "He's working on some amazing material that we're possibly collaborating on." For the most part, Swizz kept the details of his collabo with 50 on the low: "I don't want to talk too soon or too early, but it's crazy."

50 has been going back and forth about the direction of his next album after reportedly scrapping plans to work in some dance rhythms on his Black Magic LP. Swizzy, who hit the studio with 50 to craft material for the Queens MC's 2007 album Curtis, said the only advice he has for Fif is to maintain a winner's attitude.

"Triumphant. That's it. Everything just would have to be triumphant," Swizzy advised. But the producer said he's encouraging all the stars he works with, including the Queen of Hip-Hop Soul, to unleash a crazy amount of swagger in the booth.

"That's my approach on every artist I'm working with right now. Even with Mary, you're gonna be able to hear this week, probably Friday, her sound that's triumphant," Swizz said. "For me to have that blueprint and to want to be able to share it with everybody that's of talent, it's like, 'Wow, this is what I get to do for work?' It's fun."

What do you think an upcoming Swizz Beatz and 50 Cent collabo would sound like? Sound off in the comments below!

• 'RapFix Live' With Swizz Beatz

• Swizz Beatz
• 50 Cent

The MC tells 'RapFix Live' that a finished G-Unit mixtape is also in the vaults.
By Mawuse Ziegbe, with reporting by Sway Calloway

Lloyd Banks on RapFix Live on August 13
Photo: Jonathan Goldner/ MTV News

50 Cent has backed away from the dance music sound he originally envisioned for his album Black Magic. Although Fif may not be putting a trance or deep-house spin on his gritty street records, Lloyd Banks says that the mercurial 50 doesn't dispose of his music — even if it's never released.

"[50's] mind runs all day. I go to sleep about 7 a.m. from being up writing all that time, and he's getting up at that time, thinkin'. He might come to my room three times [a] day like, 'I got this idea,' or 'I got that idea,' " Banks said while appearing on "RapFix Live" on Friday (August 13). "He changes up a lot. [The] material never goes anywhere though."

Banks said that even though 50 stays on the move, the G-Unit boss has been working constantly on his upcoming album. "I heard a bunch of material for that project," Banks said. "All of it [was made while] traveling and being around. He made most of it in a ... studio-truck type of thing."

The "Any Girl" MC even revealed that the Unit has recorded a mixtape that's ready to hit the streets. "We got material," Banks said. "We got a whole 'nother mixtape done in the studio, chillin.' " Banks added that when the 'tape will see the light of day is up to 50. "Whenever he feel like he want to pull that trigger," Banks said.

50 has been staying busy with his Hollywood hustle and, of course, keeping up his time-honored tradition of beefing with fellow hip-hop stars like Fat Joe and Shyne. However, his last two albums, Curtis and Before I Self Destruct, didn't move the same jaw-dropping numbers as his previous efforts and the core G-Unit team has been whittled down to just Banks, Tony Yayo and 50.

Banks said that the Queens mogul plans to rule the rap game once again, and when asked about the recent criticism the G-Unit honcho has endured, he revealed that 50's response is "I'ma get 'em."

"He'll just come out of nowhere. I be having to tell him, 'You ain't gotta tell me n---a, I know. I already know what's there 'cause I hear it,' " said Banks. "That fire ... it ain't gonna go nowhere."

Banks insisted that the whole Unit is ready to prove themselves on their upcoming projects. "[50's] material's gonna be crazy, man. All I can say is just wait and see," Banks assured fans. "What I'm doing right now, [there's] nothing more he wants to see than that. That just gets everybody hyped up again. [Tony] Yayo will call me like, 'Yo, it's on!' That's like the energy that's around the unit right now."

What do you think 50 Cent's Black Magic album sounds like? What do you think is on the unreleased G-Unit mixtape? Let us know in the comments below!

• 'RapFix Live' With Lloyd Banks

• Lloyd Banks
• 50 Cent

'He didn't call up saying he's Curtis Jackson,' the Belize MC says in response to Fif impersonating a DJ to disrupt live phone chat.
By Shaheem Reid

Shyne
Photo: Gangland

Belize-born MC Shyne led a Def Jam-sponsored conference call on Wednesday that was broadcast live on XXL magazine's Ustream. The call was supposed to have included DJs and journalists, but one of Shyne's musical nemeses, 50 Cent, decided to crash the proceedings.

In a video posted Thursday (August 12) on ThisIs50.com, 50 is seen on the phone claiming to be a radio personality: "Shawn from Radio One." Fif then poses the question, "What's your real issue with 50 Cent?"

50's call was quickly disconnected and he was blocked from calling back. Later on in the video, though, 50 is seen yelling into the phone, pretending to talk to Shyne, spitting Mel Gibson-eque obscenities and declaring "you're on an island. You can't go to war on an island."

On Thursday, Shyne, deported last year to his native Belize, responded in a Skype interview with MTV News.

"Wow. That's like an all-time low," Shyne said. "I didn't know he was so desperate. He's gone from confidential informant, witness-protection program dude, getting order [of protection] on muthaf---as. Now he's a stalker. I was in shock. He called up saying he was 'Jamal from Harlem.' He didn't call up saying he's Curtis Jackson, Hawaii 5-0. He's a busta. I can't believe it. I can't believe he would stoop to that low. Then again, a guy in the witness-protection program, he has no shame."

Shyne said he wasn't aware that it was 50 who had called in until after he'd finished his interviews.

"You know how it is. When you do these things, you always gotta expect a muthaf---a to call and he might be disgruntled. We took it as another disgruntled person. 'Cause you know, I don't know what his voice sounds like. I don't listen to nothing he do. If we on the yard, and they put his video on, they change the TV in the yard," Shyne explained, referring to his recently completed prison stint. "I don't jack that dude on no level. I don't know what his voice sound like. But somebody at Def Jam caught him. He's been reaching out to one of my generals in the street begging for peace. He caught his voice too. It was after the fact.

"I thought it was somebody who was having a bad day, who wanted to know the situation. It wasn't until after everything was finished, muthaf---as at Def Jam was like, 'That was Boo-Boo. That was Hawaii 5-0.' I was like, 'No. No.' Then he put the [video] out, like he was talking reckless. He's a creep. Any of my comments have been honest comments. These dudes do anything, I don't give a f---. It never bothered me. The fact that he's sitting in New York, selling his Vitamin Water, listening to my Ustream. What the f---? You're stalking me. Go take some steroids. Find something to do."

50 Cent could not be reached for comment.

What do you think of the situation between 50 Cent and Shyne? Tell us in the comments.

• Shyne
• 50 Cent

'Gossip Girl' star cites 'True Romance' as one of his 'favorite movies of all time.'
By Jocelyn Vena

Chace Crawford
Photo: MTV News

In their new drama "Twelve," out this weekend, Chace Crawford and 50 Cent both play New York City drug dealers. The two duo had plenty of inspiration to fuel their own work in the film.

Al Pacino's legendary performance as Tony Montana in "Scarface" was cited by several of the "Twelve" castmembers — including Curtis "50 Cent" Jackson and Billy Magnussen — as a favorite. But Rory Culkin called out his co-stars for making such an obvious choice. "Movie drug dealer? Everyone's gonna say 'Scarface!' " he said. " 'The Wackness's Josh Peck was a pretty badass little pot dealer. I dug it."

There was one other flick that came out on top. "One of my favorite movies of all time is 'True Romance,' " Chace Crawford said. "Brad Pitt obviously plays a hilarious character in that. He's funny. Gary Oldman is awesome. That's probably, as far as that goes, my favorite."

Like Crawford, director Joel Schumacher also named the 1993 Tony Scott film, which was written by Quentin Tarantino. "My favorite drug dealer in a movie would be Gary Oldman in 'True Romance.' The lovely red-headed woman [Zoë Lund] who shot Harvey Keitel up in 'Bad Lieutenant.' And there's one more ... Vincent D'Onofrio in 'The Salton Sea,' " he said.

Nico Tortorella added that it was a difficult toss-up between two legendary films. "Oh, favorite movie drug dealer of all time? Johnny Depp in 'Blow.' I mean, that's easy," he said, adding, "I don't know, Ray Liotta's 'Goodfellas' [character] is pretty up there too. I would say Ray Liotta."

Check out everything we've got on "Twelve."

For breaking news, celebrity columns, humor and more — updated around the clock — visit MTVMoviesBlog.com.

• 'Gossip Girl' Cast Supports Chace Crawford At New York Premiere Of 'Twelve'

• 50 Cent

'I would love to be in an airport ... we go in the men's room, best man wins, that's it,' Joe says on MTV's 'RapFix Live.'
By Mawuse Ziegbe, with reporting by Sway Calloway

Fat Joe
Photo: MTV News

Fat Joe and 50 Cent have been throwing jabs at each other on records and in the press for more than five years. Even though half a decade has passed since their beef first erupted, it appears that when it comes to the NYC MCs, some things never change.

Earlier this week, the ever-combative 50 Cent sent out a viral video crackin' on the album sales of Joey Crack's recent release, The Darkside, Vol. 1. When a Fat Joe fan broached the subject via Twitter during the Bronx rapper's appearance on "RapFix Live" on Friday (August 6), Joe responded that 50's swipes were way off the mark.

"There's nothing I really believe about 50 Cent," Joe told MTV News' Sway. The Terror Squad MC said 50's infamous claims about Joe's lack of influence on the international hip-hop scene were untrue.

"When he did that first interview dissing Fat Joe with you [Sway], with the candlelights and all that, he lied," Joe said. "When he said no one knows Fat Joe in Africa, I saw that interview from Africa and I had 70,000 people out there. There isn't a country I ain't touch in Africa. I just came back from South of France, I toured China, Japan, wherever you name, 60,000 people come out to see Fat Joe."

Fat Joe, who has been making noise as a respected MC since the '90s, said 50 should focus on sustaining a long-term hip-hop career. "I been in the game 16 years. He gotta try having longevity in this game," Joe said, adding that 50's once-robust album numbers have fallen off in recent years.

"You talk about album sales — he went from selling 10 million albums to not even going gold this last album. So, he lost nine-and-a-half-million fans in four years. I don't really trip off him," Joe said.

Crack dubbed himself "an ambassador for peace" in hip-hop, a title earned he said as a result of his amicable relationships with many MCs and typically beef-averse approach to making records. 50, on the other hand, goes after anyone who does it big in NYC rap, Joe said.

"The latest one he's going at: Puff Daddy. He has beef with Jadakiss, he has beef with Cam'ron. Anybody we consider dope in New York, he has went at them. There ain't nobody he ain't touch," Joe said. "Fat Joe ain't out here trying to battle-rap everybody in the world. That's not what I'm about. What I am is a man, and when you disrespect my family and you disrespect me like that, there's gotta be answers to the questions."

Joe admitted that while he's all about keeping the peace, he's open to deading the years-long drama between him and Fif — with a man-to-man confrontation.

"The day 50 Cent want to lock up with me in a bathroom and do this like men, we can hug each other and keep it moving the day after that," Joe said. The MC later mused, "I would love to be in an airport, we bump into each other, we go in the men's room, best man wins, that's it."

Joey also cleared up rumors about some unrelated drama that recently went down in the NYC hip-hop scene. The night before his "RapFix Live" appearance, Joe hit the stage at legendary spinner Funkmaster Flex's bash at Manhattan's Webster Hall, where he brought underground MC French Montana onstage. Later, video of what appeared to be Harlem's Jim Jones and his crew throwing ice at French, hit the Web. Hip-hop fans have been rumbling about the footage, which suggests that Jones was taking out his anger toward former Dipset associate Max B on French, who is cool with the jailed rapper.

"They was throwing it at each other, be clear on that. Once again, Fat Joe, ambassador for peace in hip-hop. This kid French Montana is killing the streets; all the young boys love him to death. French is like, 'Yo, Joe, let me come out, introduce me.' So I introduce him, the crowd is going crazy and then they start throwing stuff at each other. I understand Jimmy's point of view. French used to be cool with Max B and they disrespected [Jim Jones'] wife and family," Joe said. "I tried to bring peace towards that but who knows where that'll go."

Do you think 50 and Fat Joe should bring an end to their beef once and for all? Share your thoughts in the comments.

• 'RapFix Live' With Fat Joe

• Fat Joe
• 50 Cent

'It's about to get real, real interesting,' he says of G-Unit Records issues.
By Shaheem Reid

Young Buck
Photo: MTV News

Young Buck says he didn't keep an eye on his business with the Internal Revenue Service, thus his outstanding 0,000 debt to Uncle Sam. But when it comes to his contractual obligation to 50 Cent and G-Unit Records, the Cashville, Tennessee, native says he won't drop the ball: He's focused on getting off the label.

"It's on the way," Buck said about his next official album when we caught up with him recently in Houston. "The music speaks for itself. I'm everywhere when it comes to online — I throw music out. People are already aware of my situation ... the whole fight with the contract thing. It's about to get real, real interesting, people. I will say that much.

"If you ain't focused on Buck, now is the time to get focused on Buck," he continued. "With this whole contract situation, we really gonna see what this was really about. Y'all mark my words: I'll be back to MTV to finish this when it all ends. At the end of the day, I appreciate the people that's sticking right there through the fight I'm going through as far as my contract situation."

If and when Buck is successful in dissolving business ties with 50 Cent remains to be seen. In the meantime, the Southern spitter is working the mixtape circuit.

"As far as the mixtapes, Back on My Buck Sh-- (Part 2) is on the way," he revealed. "It's produced by Drumma Boy, all the way through. I got records everywhere. I got one of the hottest mixtapes that's in the streets right now, 601 to the 615, CTE and Cashville. I'm just staying out here until I get this monkey off my back with the contract."

On Tuesday, Buck's home was raided by the IRS, reportedly because he has about 0,000 in unpaid taxes.

"The worst part of this isn't the material stuff — that will all be replaced," Buck said in a statement. "It's what it does to the people around me. They took my kids' PlayStation, my assistants' computers, and baby's mothers' jewelry. They took my home studio so I can't even record.

"I have a new team in place, but I am also paying full attention now," he added. "Nothing like this will ever happen again. This is a huge wake-up call for all entertainers to stay on top of your own trusted employees and team members, and replace anyone that was put in place by your record label if the situation you have goes sour. This IRS situation came about because I trusted accountants, lawyers and managers to handle my business for me while I focused on making music. From now on, I am going to stay on top of my own business."

What do you think of Young Buck's label woes with 50 Cent? Share your thoughts in the comments.

• Young Buck
• 50 Cent

'He's a bear. He's good. He's an interesting guy,' Crawford says of his co-star.
By Jocelyn Vena

Chace Crawford and 50 Cent
Photo: Stephen Lovekin/ Getty Images

Chace Crawford and 50 Cent are teaming up. No, the "Gossip Girl" star isn't kickstarting his hip-hop career by collaborating with the rapper. Rather, the MC is continuing his Hollywood takeover in Crawford's latest film, the gritty New York drug drama "Twelve."

"Twelve," which also stars Kiefer Sutherland, Emma Roberts and Ellen Barkin, is based on Nick McDonell's 2002 debut novel. The book is about a high school dropout named White Mike (Crawford) who deals pot and an ecstasy-like upper called "Twelve" to Manhattan's young and rich. Mike avoids touching the stuff, preferring instead to observe his privileged customers. But his easy profits go sour when his dealer's cousin is brutally murdered and his best friend is arrested for the crime.

The characters played by 50 and Crawford bond over illegal activities in the flick, which opens August 6. But in real life, Crawford says, the pair bonded over their shared love of acting in between takes. "I got to work with him a bit," Crawford told MTV News at the premiere. "He's a bear. He's good. He's an interesting guy."

What surprised Crawford most about 50 — or, as he's known in Hollywood circles, Curtis Jackson — was his devotion to the acting game. "I thought he might have some sort of persona he was trying to project, but he's easygoing," Crawford said of his co-star. "He's not trying to create some character. He wants to be a serious actor. I respect it. He was getting his tattoos lasered off while we were shooting and we had some good talks. I mean, he's cool. He lives in Connecticut and he's a super nice guy. Very intellectual."

Last May, 50 revealed that he had watched an episode or two of Crawford's TV show, and said that he really enjoyed the shooting "Twelve" in New York. "It's cool just to be in the presence of talented artists," said 50.

Are you excited to see Chace Crawford in such a gritty movie? Tell us in the comments!

• 50 Cent

'I read De Niro's interviews during 'Raging Bull,' Christian Bale's during 'The Machinist,' the rapper reveals on 'The View' of preparing for movie role.
By Jayson Rodriguez

50 Cent appears on "The View" on Wednesday
Photo: ABC

Much was made about 50 Cent's dramatic weight loss earlier this year for an acting role that required the muscle-bound rap star to lose more than 50 pounds. But there's been little information about how the fit G-Unit head managed to put the weight back on.

Fif sat down with the women of "The View" on Tuesday and revealed to the hosts what his very first meal was post-production.

"I remember specifically what the first thing was, because I was starving," he laughed. "I had a steak. It was 12 ounces, but I got about four ounces in before I started getting sleepy."

The rapper shocked his fans and followers when Us Weekly got a hold of a still image from the upcoming movie "Things Fall Apart," featuring 50 Cent, Mario Van Peebles, Lynn Whitfield and Ray Liotta. Fif appeared gaunt and sickly in the picture. On the chat show, he drew comparisons to famous method actors who embraced almost tortuous acts to delve deeper into character.

The rapper also revealed he'd studied interviews of actors who attempted similar transformations. "I read [Robert] De Niro's interviews during 'Raging Bull,' Christian Bale's during 'The Machinist,' and Tom Hanks with 'Philadelphia,' " 50 said.

Earlier this year, 50 told a Cleveland newspaper why he went to the lengths he did for the part and movie.

"It's a project that I wrote, produced and financed myself," he said of the film. "It's about a Heisman hopeful who could possibly be going to the league and everyone is assuming he's gonna make it, and then he's hit with an illness. I had a friend of mine who actually experienced cancer, and it's what motivated me to write this screenplay. You don't have to make everything personal, but that project was. That's why I committed to playing a role where I lost 54 pounds. I had to discipline myself enough until I achieved it but ... I got it."

Do you think you could go to the same extremes 50 Cent did to get what you want? Talk about it in the comments.

• 50 Cent

'I am not sure it will be my next album,' rapper says.
By Kyle Anderson

50 Cent
Photo: Jorge Rosenberg/ Getty Images

Since the release of his 2009 album Before I Self Destruct, 50 Cent has been traveling the world, playing shows and taking in new musical ideas. Along the way, he has been putting together music for an album called Black Magic, which was going to find 50 pulling in a number of different genres and influences (most notably from dance and rock music). But according to a recent interview, that entire project may be put on the back burner in favor of a more traditional hip-hop album.

"I've written an album that's called Black Magic, but I am not sure it will be my next album," 50 told the Brazilian edition of Rolling Stone. (Portions of the interview appeared on YouTube.) "Black Magic had a different style to it, a different vibe. I was playing with different song structures, music from different genres like rock music. I did some things that were a little dance-inspired, the tempo was higher. Just playing with a lot of things. Since I've made it back to America, I started writing different material that [doesn't] quite fit that concept."

50 told the magazine that much of Black Magic was recorded while he was on the road in Europe, but now that he is back in the United States, he has been offered a cache of excellent music from a number of different beatmakers. "So many producers were accumulating material to send me new ideas, so when I got back I was kind of bombarded with a whole lot of new production."

The Queens-bred star noted that his situation is not unlike Eminem's, who shelved Relapse 2 in favor of the chart-topping Recovery. "That album is still on his computer, but just not for the general public," 50 noted.

Still, the rapper said it's possible that people will be able to hear the music he has been working on. "[Black Magic] may come out shortly after this album that I'm launching," he said. "There are some pieces that are really exciting to me, so I want to put them out as soon as possible. But the whole body of work, the whole concept of that actual album, it may not be my next album."

• 50 Cent

Rihanna, Lady Gaga, Taylor Swift, More At The VEVO Launch Party

• Rihanna
• Lady Gaga
• Taylor Swift
• Adam Lambert
• 50 Cent

50 Cent And Beanie Sigel Shake Up New York

• 50 Cent
• Beanie Sigel

Rihanna, Shakira, Kris Allen, Adam Lambert At The 2009 American Music Awards Red Carpet

• Shakira
• Selena Gomez
• Kris Allen & Southern Thunder
• Mary J. Blige
• 50 Cent

The Evolution Of: 50 Cent

• 50 Cent

50 Cent Promotes His New Fragrance "Power"

• 50 Cent

Snoop Dogg, 50 Cent, Calle 13, More At Los Premios MTV

• 50 Cent
• Snoop Dogg
• Calle 13

50 Cent, The Diplomats, The LOX And More At Governor's Island, New York, 10.03.09

• 50 Cent
• The Diplomats
• Jim Jones
• Juelz Santana

50 Cent's 40 Day Community Celebration In Queens, New York

• 50 Cent
• Tony Yayo
• Lloyd Banks
• G-Unit

50 Cent's "Family Day" At Great Adventure Amusement Park In NJ

• 50 Cent

Soulja Boy's Tour Bus From 50 Cent

• Soulja Boy Tell'em
• 50 Cent