50 Cent was reportedly involved in an altercation with a local rapper's crew in a Lagos, Nigeria airport this weekend.

The G-Unit honcho was in Africa this weekend to perform at the annual Star Mega Jam tour. In addition to Lagos, the tour also includes stops in Port Harcourt, Abuja and Benin.

According to reports, the incident started when 50, who arrived to the airport two hours late, was stopped from taking his first class seat by Nigerian rapper, Eedris Abdulkareem who was seated in the G-Unit soldier's seat. Minutes into the dispute, one of Abdulkareem's bodyguards reportedly waved a bottle and sparked the altercation.

Officials from ADC Airline and airport security intervened and forced every passenger to leave the plane. According to the Nigerian newspaper, This Day, 50 flew back to the United States after the scuffle.

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In other 50 news, rumors are spreading that 50 Cent has recorded a song dissin Fat Joe and Jadakiss for his upcoming LP. The track apparently stems from Joey Crack and Jada's guest spots on his nemesis Ja Rule's "New York, New York." This comes as a surprise as 50 praised Jada's D-Block crew on the Murder Inc. diss track, "Backdown" from his debut Get Rich Or Die Trying, spitting, "I'm the hardest from New York / my flow is bonkers / all the other hard ni99as / they come from Yonkers." Should it leak, the track is sure to spark another wave of battles through the new year.

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The streets are buzzing about Nas' recent declaration that he has buried the hatchet and is now willing to work with Hova. During an on-air interview with Hot 97's Angie Martinez earlier this week, Nas revealed that he would be open to collaborate with former rival Jay-Z. Nas has definitely appeared to be extending an olive branch to Jiggaman in the past few months. During his Central Park show this summer, God's Son told the audience he had love for Jay when they requested that he perform the Jay-Z diss track, "Ether." Many have speculated the Nas vs Jay-Z battle originated because the Queens emcee often snubbed the Brooklynite when courted to appear on his songs.

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Underground rapper Jean Grae may finally get her shine with the help of Little Brother production prodigy, 9th Wonder. 9th rose to fame last year when he produced the "Threat" track for Jay-Z's Black Album. The 12 track collaboration is called Jeanius but it is not known when or how it will be released.

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After two collective releases, the 5 remaining members of D12 are set to drop solo mixtapes before the year's end and are preparing their solo full lengths for next year. Following his Miz Jamz From The Hood mixtape, Bizarre is the first member scheduled to drop solo in 2005's second quarter. The CD has yet to be titled and will be released through Sanctuary/BMG. Right behind Bizarre, Proof is preparing his long delayed solo debut Searching For Jerry Garcia through his own Iron Fist/Shady Records imprint. In the meantime, Proof will star in various projects, including mixtapes and a team effort with Detroit emcee Dogmatic. Also, Kuniva and Kon Artis have regrouped to form the duo, Runyon. Reports say they're presently nine cuts deep into their Mr. Porter/Shady Records debut. Finally, Swift will be last to drop a solo set next year. He's also been working with his own group, Raw Collection and is expected to drop a mixtape in the next month.

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Common says he still enjoys old school hip-hop, which plays a significant role in his upcoming album, expected in 2005. "I usually go back and listen to a lot of old hip-hop to inspire me, whether it be Nas' Illmatic or Only Built for Cuban Links by Raekwon,” Common told MTV. And of the notion that hip-hop is dead, a phrase that has been brought up frequently, Common said, “That ain't what it is. It's still some good hip-hop out there." To illustrate, Common named his top songs of the year, including Kanye West’s’ “Jesus Walks” and Jadakiss’ “Why.”


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The Geto Boys trio, consisting of Bushwick Bill, Scarface and Willie D, is set to release their ninth album War and Peace onJan. 25, 2005. According to the group, fans will get a dose of classic Geto Boys on this record. “It’s definitely not a departure from the old Geto Boys shit,” said Willie D, who rejoined the group on their reunion album Resurrection. “The only thing that is really different about the album is the beats are more up-tempo. But our energy level is still the same and our subject matter is still the same. We’re still championing the cause of the underserved. We’re still Geto Boys for life.” The group’s preceding album was The Good, the Bad, the Ugly, excluding Bushwick Bill.

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Following the release of Beautiful Struggle, Talib Kweli has issued The Beautiful Mixtape Volume 2: The Struggle Continues, featuring 15 new songs, including some leaked from an incomplete version of Kweli’s album, The Beautiful Struggle. Making appearances on the mixtape are Snoop Dogg, the Game, Ghostface, Ludacris, Saigon, David Banner and Common.

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Mississippi rapper David Banner has apparently been crafting his stage skills for the last few months by taking acting lessons in Los Angeles. "I'm studying this form of talent," Banner told The Associated Press in an interview. "I've had opportunities to be in several major movies, but I don't want to just jump in." While acting appealed to Banner as a youngster, the AP reported, the rapper said he never knew how to get started. "Those opportunities are not readily available, coming from urban situations where you don't know much.” Banner benefits from his training in more ways than one, though. “Acting actually teaches you to be more patient with society," Banner said. "As an actor, you're able to break down the psyche of people." Banner is also working on a new album, projected to release next year.

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In a rare public outburst, Stevie Wonder has blasted Eminem for ridiculing Michael Jackson in a video, and suggested the rapper was hypocritical because he owed his success to poor and black people.
Jackson himself has already lambasted Eminem's video for the song "Just Lose It," which makes light of child molestation charges against the self-styled "King of Pop."

Wonder joined the fray by telling Billboard magazine that he was "really disappointed" in Eminem.

"Kicking someone when he's down is not a good thing," Wonder was quoted as telling the music industry trade publication. "I have much respect for his work, though I don't think he's as good as (late rapper) 2Pac. But I was disappointed that he would let himself go to such a level."

Added Wonder, "He has succeeded on the backs of people predominantly in that lower pay bracket, people of color. So for him to come out like that is bull----."

A spokesman for Eminem was not available for comment. The song, hailed by the Los Angeles Times as a "playful look at celebrity voyeurism," is expected to be among the nominees when contenders for the annual Grammy Awards are unveiled on Tuesday.

(Hey Stevie - see my article)