Rapper 50 Cent Sues Ex, "You Signed It, I Own It!" Over Life Story Rights

Rapper 50 Cent is suing his baby mama, Shaniqua Tompkins, for millions of dollars, alleging that she reneged on a business agreement to give him exclusive rights to her life and that he has the right to her money. And, she says in court docs, this isn't just a matter of spilling tea; it's a matter of violating a tight contract she's had with G-Unit Books for almost 20 years.

Tompkins, who has a son, Marquise, whom she shares with the rapper, is accused of helping badmouth her baby daddy on interviews and videos that reveal intimate details of their lives. At the same time, she claimed that she sold those rights to G-Unit Books in 2007 for $80,000, with royalties to follow. That deal, the 50's team says, conveyed her name, likeness, and personal experiences in exclusive, unconditional, and perpetual ways. In summary, her narrative became his property.

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Now 50 Cent, real name Curtis Jackson, is fighting back, claiming Tompkins intentionally stepped over the legal line. In the complaint, obtained, her recent online output has included claims of abuse and dark secrets from their relationship, precisely the sort of stories Jackson was said to have been paying to keep a lid on.

And here's one of the catches: Tompkins cited the actual agreement that she was supposedly violating when she went public with the details of the drama. "She specifically invoked the exact agreement that she was breaching as she was knowingly breaching it," said Jackson's lawyer, Reena Jain, underscoring the willful nature of the alleged breach.

For G-Unit Books, though, the issue is more than money: It's the exclusivity they paid for. When private information is broadcast online, it loses any storytelling value. "Jackson bought those right to make sure that they didn't sell them off and in part because he was worried that Tompkins would try to monetize the history and his name," Jain said. "His worst fears were realised in the end."

According to the suit, Tompkins has drawn the attention of social media users thanks to viral commentary on the Diddy trial, and G-Unit alleges she exploited her newfound five minutes of fame to continue attacking 50 Cent.

The legal team is not screwing around. They're seeking to force her to remove and stop distributing any material about her life story, pay a minimum of $1 million in real and punitive damages, cover their lawyer fees, and accept "such other and further relief the Court may deem just and proper."

To add insult to injury for Tompkins, the original contract included a clause that held her liable to indemnify G-Unit Books for any damages caused by a breach, which could result in additional financial exposure.

Regardless of whether the lawsuit ends in a court battle or a backroom deal, 50 Cent isn't about to walk away from what he thinks he paid for. And in his world, a signed contract is like a signed lyric; once it's down, you have to abide by it.