50 Cent kicks The Game out of G-Unit

This is not original reporting. All information has been compiled from Rolling Stone Magazine Online, MTV News and The Associated Press.

50 Cent, the founder of rap group Guerilla Unit, found another feud this week from a seemingly unlikely source--his now-former protégé, The Game. Their recent beef escalated following a shooting outside New York radio station Hot 97 on Monday. 50 kicked The Game out of G-Unit, claiming that he has been disloyal during the recent battles with other high-profile rap stars, including fellow New York MCs Nas, Jadakiss and Ja Rule, all of whom are attacked by 50 in his new album, "The Massacre," which is to be released on Thursday.

On Monday night, 50 announced on Hot 97 (call letters WQHT) that he was kicking The Game out of G-Unit for his "disloyalty" in the battles, mainly with Nas. Although full details have not been disclosed at this time, it is believed that The Game and his entourage, who had been on Hot 97 earlier in the evening, attempted to re-enter WQHT's building after hearing the announcement on the air, but were denied access at the station.

At that time, 50 Cent's interview ended abruptly and the rapper was escorted out of the Manhattan building. Those affiliated with The Game apparently quarreled with people trying to leave who were part of 50's camp. A man identified as Kevin Reed, 24, of Compton, Calif., was shot in the leg during the altercation. He was rushed to St. Vincent's Hospital in Midtown, but according to MTV News, is expected to make a full recovery.

It is not yet known if either The Game or 50 were involved in the actual altercation and no charges have been filed. It is also not yet known at this time if Reed was in either camp's entourage or what he was doing at the station.

MTV News reported that 50, accompanied by G-Unit members Lloyd Banks, Tony Yayo and Olivia, told Hot 97 DJ Funkmaster Flex that The Game would be dismissed from the clique for refusing to be part of the feud with Queens rapper Nas. NYPD investigators believe that The Game's crew heard the 50 Cent interview and went to settle the score with him at the station, leading to the fracas outside.

The battle with Nas stems from 50's new song "Piggy Bank," where the G-Unit founder has harsh words for Nas and new wife Kelis. The song was leaked last week on the Internet and on radio to heighten the anticipation of Thursday's "Massacre" release.

The Game upset 50 on Saturday when he told Hot 97 that he wouldn't get involved with the beef with Nas, taking it one step further by telling Flex on the air that he would even consider doing a record with him.

According to The Associated Press, 50 told Funkmaster Flex on Monday that The Game "was gone" from G-Unit. He also said The Game should stop saying "G-Unit." "He thinks he's doing me a favor when he says that," the Guerilla Unit founder added.

The CD is 50's follow-up to "Get Rich or Die Tryin'," which sold over eight million copies and made the Eminem protégé an overnight success in 2003. Between albums, 50 spent his time building G-Unit into an enterprise, signing The Game and established singer Olivia on to the group to expand the corporation's empire. G-Unit also debuted a popular clothing line in 2003.

Beefs have helped 50 Cent establish his star power. His battles with Ja Rule in 2003 helped severely diminish Ja's star power. As "The Massacre" release date approached, 50 also picked fights with Fat Joe and Jadakiss on "Piggy Bank."

Stung by the song that leaked to the Internet last week, MTV News reported last weekend that Fat Joe said he would push back his early March release date for his LP, and rename it "All Or Nothing." Joe said he will come back with a retort to the G-Unit captain.

The Game's debut CD, "The Documentary," was released at No. 1 last winter thanks to the strength of its first single, "How We Do,” which featured 50 on the track.

It will be seen in the coming weeks if this latest feud helps 50 or hurts him, although it will likely add to the anticipation of Thursday's official release of "The Massacre." Still, 50 Cent, with his latest beefs, could be going down a spiral similar to Tupac Shakur, who burned many bridges in his rap career despite being one of the best MCs in history.

The Game was signed to G-Unit in 2004 out of Compton, Calif., and like Manhattan's 50 Cent, used rap as his ticket out of the harsh realities of poverty. Dr. Dre helped find The Game in the Los Angeles underground, based off of his most well-known mixtape ever, "200 Bars and Running," where he freestyles for nearly ten minutes straight. Dre also helped campaign for Game's inclusion in G-Unit last year.

"The Documentary" is currently one of the five best-selling CDs in the country, according to Rolling Stone Magazine and Billboard.