50 Cent and Universal sued for pushing "gangsta" life
 

NEW YORK (Reuters) - Hip hop mogul 50 Cent, Universal Music Group and several of its record labels were sued on Wednesday for promoting a "gangsta lifestyle" by a 14-year-old boy who says friends of the rapper assaulted him.

The lawsuit filed by James Rosemond and his mother, Cynthia Reed, says Universal Music Group -- owned by Vivendi SA -- and its labels Interscope Records, G-Unit Records and Shady Records, bear responsibility for the assault because they encourage artists to pursue violent, criminal lifestyles.

The lawsuit also names 50 Cent -- whose real name is Curtis Jackson -- Violator Management, Violator CEO Chris Lighty, Tony Yayo, a rapper and a member of 50 Cent's G-Unit hip hop group, and Lowell Fletcher, an employee of Yayo.

All defendants declined to comment.

Rosemond says he was assaulted on a Manhattan sidewalk in March 2007 by four men including Yayo and Fletcher.

The lawsuit claims Rosemond was targeted because he was wearing a T-shirt by Czar Entertainment, a management company that represents The Game. The Game is a former G-Unit rapper who fell out with the group and had become a rival rapper.

In February, Yayo, whose real name is Marvin Bernard, pleaded guilty to harassment and was sentenced to ten days of community service. Fletcher pleaded guilty to endangering the welfare of a child and was sentenced to 9 months in jail.

"The members of G-Unit, including defendants Yayo and 50 Cent, encouraged, sanctioned, approved and condoned its members threatening violence, and or engaging in violent acts in furtherance of its business," the lawsuit said.

The attack on Rosemond was intended to "promote and maintain Yayo and 50 Cent's 'gangsta' image," which was "promoted, marketed and advertised" by record labels.

(Editing by Michelle Nichols and Todd Eastham)

Let's see how this one plays out; metal detectors optional:2 cents:

it could get interesting

Another dumb lawsuit

If they have already been convicted in the assault charged against them, then its not so dumb after all, Medical bills and other damages should be paid.

although, I will say going after the record labels and others not involved is pushing it a bit far

so much money, so fuckin stupid

Especially mental distress because this young man will never hold a job so there got be millions just for that.:helpme

I can't believe grown men would be stupid enough to harass a 14 year old boy for the T-shirt he was wearing. Did their brains stop developing in public school?

thats just stupid,lol

Absolutely! :2 cents:

Yeah no kidding...

guess the race?

Not a matter of Race,; matter of lack of education/parenting:helpme Imho...

It's more retarded than middle school drama.

Gosh you cant even slap kids on the face on the sidewalk anymore?

Obviously. They promote violence and criminal lifestyle to little kids.

I hope they get those fucktards for every penny they have.

They should sue 50 cent for being ugly!

What about the kid, for promoting a violent gangster lifestyle by wearing a THE GAME t-shirt?

http://cache.umusic.com/images/local...0ea972131c.jpg

I would sue them for the irreversible mental damage to their listeners and I would sue the media for a damage to those, who actually use to listen to music and were involuntarily exposed to their black skunk pseudo gangsta rap.

hahaha exactly its a load of crap

this kid is the son of Jimmy Henchman the game's manager . . :1orglaugh

i hope the boy ass rapes them for millions.

the site of such ignorant looking clowns and the shit that spews from their gold plated mouth makes me sick to my stomach. its a shame more of them don't get shot dead.

Exactamundo.


50 Cent & G Unit are shit and an embarrassment to hip hop.

What happened to all groove oriented Rap, Tribe, De la , and all dat. I'm sure theres some smoothed out shit available, but the kids only seem to crave violence w/ a healthy dash of Ignorance. Nothing cool about getting shot.....

But what do you really think? :upsidedow, don't sugar coat it now!LOL

Jesus. "Dude, he's so hard core he beats up fans of other rappers!" Imagine if Madonna's friends started beating up random Britney fans. Ok.. that might actually be entertaining....

Man, kinda funny you're a racist bastard selling Interracial stuff in your sig.. ;)

There is lots of it still, more than there ever was. Just the media only talks about it when something bad happens, like anything else.

Some great new artists (and some old) you'd presumably like if you like de la etc:

- Simplexity
- Living Legends
- The Grouch (part of LL)
- Yesterdays New Quintet
- Blu and Exile
- Masta Ace
- EMC (Stricklin, Masta Ace, Wordsworth) - great new album out
- Cunninlynguists
- Pumpkinhead
- Peanut Butter Wolf
- MF Doom
- Talib Kweli has a few new LP's out last few years
- Ed OG

Might even like Guilty Simpson stuff, and Devin the Dude

LOLz!!!!

I guess in this case that's nothing against race, that's just an allergy to morons.

The most incredible musicians that were changing the evolution in music were all black.

So why to defend one simple minded pseudogagsta blockhead that someone picked to be the ideal addition to the rest of the shitparade that's called MTV?

Saying rap music is bad because of the subjects they talk about is a ridiculous argument to me. It's music, and music is an art. Should artists stop painting certain things because it might offend someone? As long as they aren't breaking the law, what's the big deal? Thank god we've advanced to the point where people can say what they want, and the prudes of the world have to "deal with it" instead of constantly complaining and campaigning for the fantasy world they want us to live in. May I remind you, the same people who fight against rap music hate porn too.

What about The Sopranos? Aren't they promoting violence too? Don't they swear too? What's the difference?

If you believe everything rappers say, you're pretty gullible too :)

I really miss the days when that was considered hip hop. They should name puffy as a co-defendant.

Racist? :1orglaugh

First of all, I hate everyone equally including my own race.

Secondly, I don't care what color these clowns are. They are ignorant thugs polluting the world with violence while glorifying drugs, murder, gang life and other illegal activity. Kids around the world from all races eat this shit up and it's not a positive thing. Then these losers can't stay out of trouble so it just builds them up as true gangstas, and the kids eat it up even more.

I don't know where things when sideways and it became harmful for a kid to see a titty but it's ok to let them listen to this shit and fill their heads with violent thoughts and imagery.

More bullets I say.

Um are there not cd labeling requirements to keep them from kids? Are not the on air versions censored?

Damn what could they say about us, and I am fairly certain none of us target nor want kids either.

I'm glad I live nowhere near the ghetto.

Thats a dope list. BLAOUW!!!

I'm feeling The Grouch at the moment, hes getting a bit of airplay on TrueHipHop FM.

I've met Pumpkinhead in London W00P! BK AC MOTHER FUCKER.

But yeah, there's tons of decent shit out there. Fuck the kids they can listen to their own music.

You heard of Chuggo?

50cent sucks anyway... :2 cents: