First, there was a West Coast-East Coast rivalry between rappers. Now it's on the same coast, in the state of New York.
From the wax off their albums to MTV's Video Music Awards, rappers aren't bringing the heat to the streets but to the media.
Curtis "50 Cent" Jackson, of the rap group G-Unit, has been all over the media dissing his new rival Joseph "Fat Joe" Cartagena.
"I had no intentions of going to the VMAs and starting no drama," Fat Joe said of the words exchanged with 50 Cent at the recent award show.
While introducing the acts for a performance, Fat Joe allegedly joked about G-Unit's army of police escorts at the show. 50 Cent retaliated by yelling harsh words at Fat Joe on stage after G-Unit's performance.
Off camera, sources said that 50 Cent jumped on stage after Fat Joe said on camera, "I just want to say how safe I feel in here tonight with all of this police presence courtesy of G-Unit."
Fat Joe said that he was bothered by the constant hand waving the G-Unit camp was directing towards his group (rap group Terror Squad).
"I was trying not to pay them no mind until he jumped on stage," Fat Joe said.
Joe said that he had to defend himself, so he retaliated.
50 Cent has made a video to his song "Piggy Bank" aimed at the rappers Fat Joe, Jadakiss, The Game and Nas.
"Before I put out my record, I knew Fat Joe would respond first," 50 Cent said. "It's Latino pride. You can't escape that."
Joe has responded several times to 50 Cent's songs with songs of his own and his new CD "All or Nothing."
The beef between Fat Joe and 50 Cent started when Joe was featured on 50 Cent enemy Ja Rule's "New York" song.
Tony Yayo of the G-Unit visited Memphis a couple of months ago.
Recently, on Black Entertainment Television's (BET) "106 and Park," Yayo took up for 50 Cent.
Yayo said that 50 Cent went into the stands to embrace his fans, not pick fights with Terror Squad and Fat Joe.
When asked about the new beef between rappers, this is what one Memphis radio personality said:
"I don't even pay attention to it anymore," Power 99 DJ Kavounjay said.
50 Cent has had several other rivals in the media with rappers Lil' Kim, The Game, Shyne, Ja Rule, Cadillac Tah, Irv Gotti, Nas and Jadakiss.
50 Cent will be in his new movie "Get Rich or Die Tryin'" which will be in theaters Nov. 9.
