Rap icons 50 Cent and T.I. are engaged in an online feud, and now the police are getting involved.
According to multiple reports, including Billboard and Complex, the hip-hop giants have been going back and forth on social media after ongoing discussions about the possibility of the two rappers participating in a Verzuz battle.
The ordeal escalated into personal attacks on his family and dissing of his songs.
The South Fulton Police Department, based in metro Atlanta, claimed in a humorous Facebook post earlier this week that it has been receiving calls from people about public altercations.
“We are fully aware that TI and 50 Cent are currently having a verbal disagreement over lyrical proportions,” the agency said. “After conducting a preliminary linguistic analysis of Mr. Harris’ extensive vocabulary, we have determined that this matter is outside the scope of our investigation.”
They also tagged the New York City Police Department in the post and said, “Let’s all just get along this time.” 50 Cent is specifically from Queens, New York, and TI is from Atlanta.
USA TODAY reached out to the South Fulton Police Department on Feb. 26 for more information, but did not immediately receive a response.
TI says of 50 Cent: ‘I don’t respect him’
According to Complex and Billboard, TI and 50 Cent have a history of beef, but their feud reignited in early February. TI appeared on Shannon Sharpe and Chad Ochocinco’s Nightcap podcast to discuss the idea of having a one-shot with 50 Cent at Verzuz, something he’s been calling for for years.
“But he doesn’t want to smoke,” the Southern host said. “He’s ducking smoke. It’s cool.”
As Billboard reported, shortly after, the two exchanged words in an Instagram post, calling each other “rats” (a slang term for a police cooperator or informant). In another recent interview on the “Million Dollarz Worth of Game” podcast, TI expressed that he has changed his mind about battling the “In da Club” rapper.
“I don’t want to be on stage with him,” he told hosts Jilly Da Kid and Wallo. “I don’t respect him.”
TI releases some diss records
Things got better when 50 Cent responded and shared a photo of T.I.’s wife, X-Scape singer Tiny, on Instagram, as well as other now-deleted posts directed at the Georgia rapper’s family.
According to Complex, the move prompted a reaction from T.I.’s son King Harris, who began taking explosive jabs at 50 Cent’s late mother, Sabrina Jackson.
Since then, TI has released several diss tracks, one titled “War” and another titled “Right One,” XXL reported.
In an X post on Wednesday, February 25, TI shared a third song, believed to be “What a Bully,” along with a cover photo of 50 Cent while he lost weight for the 2011 sports film “All Things Fall Apart.”
“I don’t make memes, I make music!!!!,” the caption read. “IDGA (expletive) what you deleted…you keep posting = that’s a problem!!!!”
50 Cent has not responded via diss track to TI, but as of Thursday, February 26th, he has posted about his recent ventures in television and film.
Taylor Eardley is a news reporter for USA TODAY. Contact us at tardrey@usatodayco.com.
