NEWS
50 Cent's efforts to secure a $1 million default judgment against ex Shaniqua Tompkins is not going well. In fact, things are effectively at a stalemate despite the latter missing deadlines to respond to it. If you didn't know this is tied to a life rights agreement she signed in 2007 with G-Unit Books.
A Manhattan commercial court has come to the conclusion that the entity has yet to show enough proof to secure said judgment. This comes to light exclusively through Grouchy Greg Watkins of AllHipHop.
While 50 Cent's team claims the life rights agreement was okay for both sides, Tompkins has argued recently that's not so true. In late January, she claimed she was forced into signing it. Allegedly, 50 Cent's former manager Chris Lighty, tracked her down and threatened her. "During this encounter, Mr. Lighty told me that I would suffer severe consequences if I did not sign the agreement."
While this ruling is certainly not ideal from the rapper's point of view, it's not totally over yet. However, it does signify that 50 Cent will need to try and find more evidence to support his case.
The G-Unit mogul sued his longtime ex last year, accusing her of "wrecking" the agreement she signed those years ago. He says she did by speaking about their relationship in interviews and in social media posts.
50 alleged all of this information she spilled should've exclusively belonged to him and nullified the agreement. Speaking of, it allegedly gave G-Unit Books broad, exclusive, and continuous control over Tompkins' life story, name, and likeness.
To compensate for such stipulations, Tompkins received an $80,000 advance and the promise of future royalties from a planned book.
Sharleen Spiteri joined BBC Radio 2’s The Sara Cox Breakfast Show ahead of Texas taking the stage to launch the main live music programme at Radio 2 in the Park in Stirling.
Checking in from rehearsals, the Texas frontwoman spoke about getting ready for the band’s opening performance at City Park. Radio 2’s annual flagship festival takes place there from 11 to 13 September 2026. "I’m match fit because I’ve had a couple of days’ rehearsals," Spiteri said. "We’re kicking the whole weekend off, which we’re very much looking forward to, so everybody’s got to get ready to party."
Before the live acts take over, Friday’s DJ Pre-Party gets the weekend started with Radio 2 favourites Sara Cox, DJ Spoony, Gary Davies, Michelle Visage, and Rylan behind the decks.
Jo Whiley helped set the mood with a special programme from Stirling’s Tolbooth venue. Working with BBC Introducing Scotland, the broadcast put the spotlight on Scotland’s emerging music scene through performances and conversations with Fright Years, Alice Faye, and James Emmanuel.
Fright Years, a four member band from Edinburgh, played "Never Been Wrong" and offered their take on Simple Minds’ "Waterfront." Glasgow singer and songwriter Alice Faye, the BBC Introducing in Scotland 2026 winner, paired "Some Brief Encounter" with a rendition of Lulu’s arrangement of "I Started a Joke." James Emmanuel, who was born in Nigeria and now lives in Edinburgh, sang "Brothers & Sisters" before taking on Chaka Khan’s "I’m Every Woman."
"We’re all about celebrating BBC Introducing and all the music that’s come out of Scotland," Whiley told listeners. "It's about celebrating the local music scene and the incredibly important work that BBC Introducing does to support independent, up-and-coming artists."
Joining the conversation were Stephanie Cheape, presenter of BBC Introducing in Scotland, Tara McLoughlin, venue manager for Stirling Council, and student radio presenters representing the University of Stirling’s Air3 Radio.
Listeners can catch the complete interviews and live performances from the weekend’s programmes on BBC Sounds.
