Louisiana Congressman Troy Carter, left accompanies Curtis “50 Cent” Jackson and his lawyer Ben Crump outside the U.S. Capitol after meeting with lawmakers about Black entrepreneurship on June 05, 2024, in Washington, D.C. (Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images)
You might know 50 Cent best for his smash hit “In Da Club,” which was all the rage back in 2003. But the rapper, whose real name is Curtis Jackson, has been pursuing other business ventures, including a liquor brand and a film studio in Shreveport.
Those work interests brought Fiddy to Washington, D.C., where he and noted civil rights attorney Ben Crump met Wednesday with members of Congress to discuss the dearth of Black entrepreneurs in the liquor industry, according to The Hill. Sire Spirits, which 50 Cent owns, has been in a dispute with Suntory Global Spirits.
The rapper, actor and entrepreneur has accused the company of embezzlement and is now taking what was a legal fight to the court of public opinion. Ahead of Wednesday’s trip to the Capitol, 50 Cent issued a low-key threat on Instagram to “have the @CongressionalBlackCaucus take a closer look” at his issues with Suntory.
The excursion provided even more social media fodder for 50 Cent, including ample support from the Black Caucus. Rep. Troy Carter, D-New Orleans, was front and center with other members.
No matter what level you make it to there will always be obstacles. @SuntoryGlobal insists on letting this be a on going problem. OK here we go! @bransoncognac @lecheminduroi pic.twitter.com/39lmPEXjtm
— 50cent (@50cent) June 5, 2024
Working both sides of the aisle, 50 Cent posted pictures with Republican Rep. Lauren Boebert of Colorado, to whom he delivered a compliment …
Lauren Boebert, Colorado Republican making the white house look good. pic.twitter.com/GJnb9UnLbE
— 50cent (@50cent) June 5, 2024
… and a potshot in reference to behavior that got Boebert thrown out of a Denver theater.
Wait, wait, guys i took pictures with everyone and all you seem to care about is Lauren what did she do in a dark theater that hasn’t been done, my God ! Hey I don’t have chlamydia by the way. LOL pic.twitter.com/DxBJvqSkuJ
— 50cent (@50cent) June 6, 2024
Besides Carter, other members of the Louisiana delegation connected with 50 Center. They included House Majority Steve Scalise …
Congressman Steve Scalise, Republican Majority Leader, Louisiana. BOOM pic.twitter.com/HtpD3UfzPF
— 50cent (@50cent) June 5, 2024
… and House Speaker Mike Johnson, whose home district will be the site of 50 Cent’s new G-Unit Studios for television and film productions.
Speaker of the house Mike Johnson (R) my fellow Shreveport friend said he is happy to see me making things happen creating lots of jobs. @bransoncognac @lecheminduroi pic.twitter.com/PiBsQb1qs8
— 50cent (@50cent) June 5, 2024
But political photo ops can be fleeting, as 50 Cent found out when a reporter asked him if he had made a decision about who he would support in the upcoming presidential election.
“I haven’t,” the rapper said, with Rep. Carter still at his side outside the U.S. Capitol.
The response elicited a visible grimace from Carter, who peeled away before 50 Cent could answer the next question: What might be the significance of Black men in the election?
“I see them identifying with Trump,” he said.
When asked why, 50 Cent said “‘Cause they got RICO charges.”
50 Cent says black men identify with Trump “because they’ve got RICO charges.”
People in 2016 were in denial about how lower class whites actually liked Trump’s rhetoric on immigrants, etc.
2024 is going to end with them being shocked at what about Trump appeals to blacks. pic.twitter.com/lKelxYPj2F
— Richard Hanania (@RichardHanania) June 5, 2024
Former President Donald Trump has been accused of violating the state Racketeering Influenced and Corrupt Organizations (RICO) Act in Georgia for allegedly conspiring to change the outcome of the 2020 election. Trump and 18 co-defendants aren’t expected to face trial until after the Nov. 3 election, Georgia Recorder reports.
You can’t help but wonder if any congressional clout 50 Cent built among Democrats during his Washington visit vanished as soon as he made those comments. Keep in mind that in 2020, Fiddy backed down from his endorsement of Trump under pressure from his ex-girlfriend, comedian Chelsea Handler.
Before you discount the impact that 50 Cent could have on the upcoming presidential election, remember that our previous and possibly future president emerged from the realm of reality television. What’s next? The first online influencer elected to the White House?
No doubt they’ll want to lock down the Cardi B vote.
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