What Does 50 Cent Have Up His Sleeve?

When 50’s video for “Flight 187″ (below) hit the net last week, it was hard not to roll your eyes at 50’s attempt to draw yet another rapper into battle, this time Jay-Z. In the past two years alone, we’ve seen the jabs at Kanye after losing the well-documented sales battle, the constant Wayne-baiting, and of course, his forays as porno-narrating Pimpin’ Curly in his attempts to discredit Rick Ross.

As Wendy Williams stated recently, “people don’t care anymore” about 50’s new album. It’s certainly hard to argue against Wendy, with  failed single after single from Before I Self Destruct, from “Get Up” to “I Get It In” to “OK, You’re Right.” Outside of those cuts, the majority of 50’s recent output-a return to “aggressive content” as Curtis said repeatedly-has been some of the best music in years from the Queens rapper, beginning with 2008’s “Return of the Body Snatchers” mixtape and most recently his “Forever King” tape. Yet with the standoffish bully image he’s carved over the years, the only attention paid to his music has been centered on whom he’s dissing.

The timing of 50’s diss came at a time when the buzz surrounding BP3 was at its zenith (in other words, when it leaked). Coincidentally, it also comes at a time when a common enemy has also been taking shots at Jay: The Game. Early in the summer, The Game first came with the super-disrespectful “I’m So Wavy,” stepping up his efforts to get Hov’s attention by jumping on a track with longtime Jay-Z foe, Jaz-O. But as Jay says numerous times on his latest effort, he has no time for anyone still throwin’ rocks at the throne. It might get a little hard to ignore, though, if both 50 and Game could conceivably reconcile for a united attack. Stranger things have happened in this here hip-hop (i.e. Mase’s entire career).

50 almost needs to elicit a response from Jay-empty shots from Fif could only serve to heighten the growing sense that he’s becoming increasingly relevant. And at this point, Before I Self Destruct needs some serious traction before that title figures itself redundant. Another “I Get Money” could definitely work-but perhaps another “Takeover” would be best.