50 Cent
Music

50 Cent Claims Jay-Z Was Furious During 2003 Reebok Shoot: 'Jay Still Owes Me a Favor'

The G-Unit leader looks back at an early 2000s sneaker dispute on the set of a joint commercial.

By Dee AlvarezPublished Updated 2 min read

50 Cent is never one to let hip-hop history fade quietly. The Queens legend took to social media to resurrect a chaotic moment from two decades ago, recalling an awkward standoff with fellow rap icon Jay-Z on the set of a high-profile commercial shoot. The moment went down back in 2003 when both rap heavyweights partnered with sportswear giant Reebok. The joint promotional campaign was intended to highlight Jay-Z’s expanding fashion empire, specifically his signature S. Carter footwear line. However, according to 50 Cent, an unscripted footwear surprise threw the production completely off course. ## What happened between 50 Cent and Jay-Z on the Reebok set? Reflecting on the shoot in a recent Instagram post, the G-Unit chief shared a video clip from the old "Reebok (Interlude)" ad. He explained that mid-filming, brand executives delivered the very first prototype sample of his own upcoming G-Unit sneaker. Excited by the arrival of his custom kicks, 50 Cent says he demanded to wear his fresh shoe sample on camera during the shoot. That sudden pivot reportedly did not sit well with the Brooklyn rap deity, who expected the advertisement to focus predominantly on his own S. Carter collection. 50 Cent claimed that his insistence on highlighting his new footwear made Jay-Z visibly angry. Looking back on the confrontation with his trademark humor, the rapper declared that the Roc Nation mogul still owes him a huge favor for going along with the production despite the tension. ## Did 50 Cent sell Reebok G-Unit sneakers? Regardless of any backstage drama between the two rap titans, the business deal proved to be a massive financial win for everyone involved. Jay-Z had already made history as one of the first non-athletes to land a major sneaker deal, and 50 Cent quickly replicated that success with his own lineup. The original G-Unit G6 sneaker became an immediate commercial juggernaut for Reebok, selling in massive numbers throughout the early 2000s. The appetite for the throwbacks remains just as intense today. Reebok officially re-released the classic G6 sneaker on August 20 with a $130 price tag, and the nostalgic kicks promptly sold out at retailers nationwide. Jay-Z's team has not publicly responded to 50 Cent's social media post.

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People also ask

Why did 50 Cent make Jay-Z angry during their 2003 commercial?
50 Cent says he demanded to wear his unreleased G-Unit shoe prototype during a Reebok ad that was supposed to focus strictly on Jay-Z's S. Carter sneaker line.
What did 50 Cent say about Jay-Z on Instagram?
50 Cent posted a clip of their vintage Reebok ad and joked that Jay-Z still owes him a favor for how the shoot unfolded.
Are 50 Cent's G-Unit sneakers still available?
Reebok re-released the vintage G-Unit G6 sneaker on August 20 for $130, but the stock quickly sold out nationwide.