50 Cent Still Gets Money, Defeats "Curtis" Lawsuit

G-Unit leader, 50 Cent, has reportedly won a court case in which the claimant accused him of illegally using the "I Get Money" instrumental five years ago.

According to court documents and news reports, the lawsuit was officially dismissed last week.

That rapper, Tyrone Simmons, said that he paid $600 to songwriter and producer William C. Stanberry for an "exclusive license" for the beats and rhythms titled "I Get Money Instrumental." But Simmons said the beats remained on Stanberry's website and eventually caught the attention of hip-hop producer Scott Muso, who sent them to 50 Cent. On June 27, 2007, Stanberry allegedly sent Simmons an apologetic email telling him to "pick any other beat you want but the 'I Get Money' [beat] is being used [by] 50 cent for his next single[.] [I] know I'm sorry man but this is good news [be]cause [you] can always get a track from an official producer. [A] lot of things about to change man, I hope you understand this is a once in a lifetime opportunity[.]" (Opposing Views)

After declining an offer to let the "I Get Money" instrumental go to Fif, Simmons later sought legal action.

By that time, 50 Cent had sold more than two million copies of "I Get Money (Straight to the Bank Pt. 2)," and the clock had run out on the three-year statute of limitations for a copyright suit, according to an 11-page order released on Friday. U.S. District Judge Dora Irizarry dismissed all counts against 50 Cent, UMG Recordings, Interscope Records, Aftermath Records, Shady Recors and G-Unit Records. The judge has not yet ruled on the claims against Stanberry. Lawyers for Simmons could not immediately be reached by phone. (Opposing Views)

Details of Simmons' lawsuit hit the Internet around mid-December 2010.

Tyrone Simmons, a/k/a "Young Caliber," an aspiring 28-year-old rap artist from Atlanta, Ga., has filed suit in the United States District Court, Eastern District of New York seeking damages for copyright infringement and other claims. Specifically, Simmons alleges that he purchased an exclusive license for all of the rights to use, record, publish, re-produce, perform and/or sell the "I Get Money" instrumental beat, from which the song is titled, from its producer William Stanberry, a/k/a Apex, and that Stanberry and others, including 50 Cent, knowingly infringed upon his rights. The named defendants in the lawsuit include Stanberry, his company Apex Productions, LLC, 50 Cent, Universal Music Group, Inc., Interscope Records and certain of its subsidiaries, Aftermath Entertainment (founded by popular rap artist Dr. Dre), G-Unit Records and Shady Records (co-owned by rap artist Eminem). (PR Newswire)

Recently, 50 Cent spoke about staying in his lane as an emcee and not venturing into producing.

Recently, Fif talked about the album being his best work to date and the tremendous amount of his heart and soul going into the creation of his "comeback" project. But he did hold back in one area of the album's recording process. 50 told VIBE he wouldn't try his hand at producing like many of today's new rap stars, such as J. Cole and Big K.R.I.T. "No, I don't want to get producer's ears," 50 told VIBE. "What I mean by that is [when] the producer hears his snare, his kick, and what he think his keys should be on the actual records and sometimes they can't hear something that's hot, that someone else [did.]" He added, "A hit is a marriage between the production and the actual lyrics and tone." (VIBE)