50 Cent and Cam’ron‘s Reconciliation Culminates in “Paid In Full” Performance, Draws Criticism From Dame Dash
LAS VEGAS – Rappers 50 Cent and Cam’ron, once embroiled in a decade-long feud, have publicly reconciled and performed together on stage in Las Vegas, marking a significant moment for fans of both artists and the legacy of the 2002 film Paid in Full. The performance follows years of escalating tensions and intermittent attempts at peace, culminating in a joint appearance that has sparked both celebration and controversy.
The collaboration arrives amidst renewed interest in paid in Full, a film loosely based on the lives of Harlem drug figures Azie Faison, Rich Porter, and Alpo Martinez. The movie, starring Cam’ron as Rico, Wood Harris as Ace, and Mekhi Phifer as Mitch, achieved cult status and continues too resonate with audiences. However, Cam’ron’s role in the film brought real-life consequences, including a shooting in washington, D.C. years after filming a line disparaging the city’s hustlers.Their on-again, off-again rivalry officially began in 2007 following a heated radio exchange, escalating with diss tracks like Cam’s “Curtis” and 50’s “Funeral Music.” A truce was initially called in 2017, but tensions briefly resurfaced after 50 Cent mocked Dipset’s 2021 Verzuz performance. The latest reconciliation appears more solid, with the two artists sharing the stage in Las Vegas in 2024.
however, the renewed partnership has drawn a sharp rebuke from Dame Dash, a key producer of Paid in Full through Roc-A-Fella Films. Dash responded to the collaboration via an Instagram video, stating, “I want to congratulate him for making 50 his new boss. So, congratulations, Cam, 50 is now your new boss, and you’re proud of it.” The comment highlights a continuing rift between Dash and Cam’ron,who have been engaged in public conflict recently,with Cam’ron labeling Dash “emotional” and posting mocking social media clips featuring the Roc-A-Fella co-founder.
the real-life figures who inspired Paid in Full experienced tragic fates. Azie Faison, the basis for the character Ace, survived a near-fatal robbery in 1987. Rich porter, connected to Mitch, was murdered in 1990, and Alpo Martinez, fictionalized as Rico, was shot and killed in Harlem in 2021 after being released from prison following a conviction for multiple murders and subsequent cooperation with federal authorities.
