As of December 30, 2025, the hip-hop community is still buzzing about one of the pettiest and most effective moves in rap beef history: Curtis “50 Cent” Jackson’s calculated alliance with Tia Kemp, the mother of Rick Ross’ son. Back in 2009, at the height of their explosive feud, 50 Cent didn’t just drop diss tracks—he went personal, flying Kemp to New York, interviewing her on his platform, and treating her to lavish shopping sprees, all while exposing Ross’ alleged financial neglect and fraudulent image. It was a brutal blindsider that derailed Ross’ “untouchable boss” persona, proving 50 fights dirty outside the booth. Fans thought that chapter was closed, but recent resurfaced clips and 50’s ongoing trolling have reignited the drama—and whispers of an even more shocking next move are circulating.
The 50 Cent vs. Rick Ross beef ignited in late 2008 when Ross took shots at 50 on “Mafia Music,” mocking his declining sales and street credibility. 50, never one to back down, responded with “Officer Ricky,” exposing Ross’ past as a correctional officer—a massive taboo in gangsta rap. But 50 didn’t stop at music. He dug deeper, connecting with Tiallondra “Tia” Kemp, Ross’ ex and mother of his son William Roberts III (born 2007). Kemp was embroiled in a bitter child support battle, claiming Ross neglected their child despite his flashy “biggest boss” lifestyle.
In February 2009, 50 posted a bombshell video on his site ThisIs50.com: an intimate interview with Kemp. She spilled everything—confirming Ross’ CO past, alleging he lied about his job, repossessed a Range Rover he’d gifted her (leaving her and their son stranded), and failed to provide consistent support. “He anticipated this,” Kemp said of Ross’ reaction, but the public exposure humiliated him. 50 egged her on, turning the clip into viral gold. Then came the knockout: the second half showed 50 taking Kemp on a high-end shopping spree in NYC, buying her furs, shoes, and luxury items on his dime. “We’re gonna have a good time,” 50 teased slyly to the camera.
The move stunned the industry. Ross, portraying himself as a wealthy drug kingpin-turned-mogul, was suddenly painted as a deadbeat who couldn’t care for his own. Fans and critics alike called it genius-level pettiness. “50 turned her into a weapon,” one longtime hip-hop observer told XXL in a retrospective. Kemp even released a tell-all book that year, *Tia’s Diary: Deeper Than Rap*, timed to clash with Ross’ album *Deeper Than Rap*. Rumors swirled that 50 helped fund or promote it, further eroding Ross’ credibility.
Ross fired back with tracks like “Valley of Death” and lawsuits (including one over the CO photo), but the damage was done. The shopping spree video amassed millions of views, memes flooded forums, and Ross’ image of untouchable wealth cracked. Insiders say it forced him to settle child support quietly and rethink his public persona. 50 escalated further: He flew Kemp and her son to Vegas to visit Floyd Mayweather’s mansion, posted family photos of Ross’ mom (calling her “Nutty Professor”), and even released “Tia Told Me,” a diss incorporating her revelations.
Lil Wayne, loosely aligned with Ross via features, got dragged in peripherally—50 had mocked Wayne earlier for his rock album pivot—but the Tia alliance was purely anti-Ross warfare. Wayne thought his Young Money empire made him untouchable, but 50’s street-smart tactics showed beef could hit home literally.
Fast-forward to 2025: The feud never died. 50 and Ross trade subliminals regularly—Ross mocking 50’s bankruptcy era, 50 clowning Ross’ wingstop empire or health scares. Tia Kemp remains a fiery online personality, going viral for rants and dragging Ross over co-parenting. In June 2025, 50 hyped her again, posting a clip of her denying “cougar” rumors and captioning, “Yo I like Tia, I think she should replace Wendy Williams. LETS MAKE A DEAL!” tagging his TV network. It sparked talk of a potential talk show, amplifying her platform while needling Ross.
But that’s not all—sources close to 50 hint his “next move” could be even more shocking. With G-Unit Studios expanding and 50 producing hits like the Diddy doc, whispers suggest unreleased 2009 footage or a new project featuring Kemp could drop soon. “50 holds grudges like treasures,” one insider said. “He’s patient; when he strikes, it’s calculated.” Ross has stayed relatively quiet lately, focusing on business, but fans speculate a response is brewing.
This saga underscores 50’s blueprint for modern beef: Go beyond bars—hit wallets, families, and images. It blindsided Ross, forcing him to evolve into a more entrepreneurial figure. Kemp, once a footnote, became a recurring player, proving 50’s weaponization changed the game. As one Reddit thread sums it: “50 didn’t just win the beef; he rewrote the rules.”
In hip-hop, where image is everything, 50 proved no one is untouchable. And with teases of more to come, this 16-year war shows no signs of ending.
