Why did The Game leave G-Unit?
Politics is alive and well in hip-hop, where social dynamics, crime, and a suspicion of wavering loyalty can see groups disperse quicker than a verse from Twista.
That’s exactly what happened in 2005, when 50 Cent told Hot 97 radio listeners that he was kicking The Game out of G-Unit, claiming on air that The Game hadn’t wanted to get involved with the group’s ongoing beefs with Nas, Jadakiss, and Fat Joe, and for Cent, that was a clear sign of betrayal.
The Game later told reporters that he wanted to maintain his artistic independence and not be dragged into every rivalry, and rather than take the news that he had heard over the radio lying down, he travelled to the Hot 97 station to confront 50 Cent. Upon arrival, though, he was stopped by door security and was denied a meeting to speak with his now ex-bandmate.
Very quickly, the situation escalated to a shootout erupting outside the location, with people from both The Game’s and 50 Cent’s crews firing rounds, which saw at least one person left injured as gunfire suddenly filled the streets, leaving the primary instigators unharmed. The incident became infamous for how absurd it was, and The Game discussed how on the day of the shootout, New York City had a big winter storm, and his crew were wearing Converse sneakers, so he watched them slip and slide across the ice while they were firing.
He’s since reflected on the events, believing his actions were comparable to the deaths of Biggie and Tupac, and his response was a reflection of how rap feuds used to be settled, where violence was an unavoidable outcome of the kind of disrespect he was shown. However, his soul searching led him to admit, “I might have done things a little differently, maybe”, commenting that a face-to-face conversation could have been constructive and removed any threat of gun violence.
The fallout of the shooting meant that The Game and 50 Cent were banned from Hot 97, which had a complete overhaul of its interview processes and guest security afterwards. Meanwhile, G-Unit’s record label at the time, Interscope Records, organised and paid both rappers to attend a press conference to publicly reconcile, with The Game reportedly receiving $2million, but when asked if he had truly settled things with 50 Cent, he retorted with a bitter, “Fuck no”.
Despite the lack of reconciliation, The Game has said that he still wants to make “good music” with 50 Cent, acknowledging that for it to happen, the two need to stop hating on each other online and behind closed doors.
Whether the events of his dramatic exit from G-Unit honoured how old school beefs were dealt with, or were simply a chaotic undoing of the band, The Game got his independence, and 50 Cent stayed loyal to his rivalries, at the immense cost of their collaborative energy.