The Game is setting the record straight.
During a recent sit-down with Amazon Music’s Bimma Williams, the Compton-bred rapper explained his role in 50 Cent’s “What Up Gangsta”—a standout track from Fif’s 2002 debut album Get Rich or Die Tryin’. At around the 54-minute mark, the host bluntly credited The Game for writing the track; but the former G-Unit artist was quick to offer a correction.
“I didn’t write ‘What Up Gangta’ for 50,” he said about his friend-turned-foe. “I was in there and part of the influence. And if you know — I call it like the way The LOX recorded music. It’s like, [Jadakiss] is, you know, writing his verse, and [Styles P] and [Sheek Louch] is right there and they’re like, ‘Nah, say that,’ and you throw it in there.”
The ghostwriting rumor began picking up steam in 2022, when music manager Wack 100 claimed The Game had written “What Up Gangsta” for 50.
“I’m going to speak on something [The Game] don’t ever speak on,” Wack said during a Clubhouse chat. “‘What up, cuz? What up, blood? What up, gangsta?’ Who you think wrote that? I’m going to leave it alone.”
50 addressed Wack 100’s comments during a 2022 interview on The Breakfast Club, insisting the song was written before The Game entered the picture.
”[The Game] said he wrote ‘What Up Gangsta.’ I’m like, ‘C’mon, bro. You wasn’t even around when we did that,” 50 said. “That was Get Rich or Die Tryin’. We didn’t even know who he was until after. There’s a point when you [reach] desperation and you’ll say anything.”
So how did The Game influence “What Up Gangsta?” Well, he claims he’s responsible for the track’s West Coast energy.
“But obviously, you know, ‘What up, Blood? What up, Cuz? What up, Gangsta?’ is Los Angeles influenced. It’s LA. So it is what is,” he said, referring to the song’s chorus.
The Game went on to say he wasn’t trying to take anything away from 50 and considered him “a great writer.”
“That’s what he do. Especially anything that’s melodic,” he explained to Williams. “So hooks is his specialty, you know what I’m sayin’? And his verses be like his story, so he ain’t cappin’. He really about that life, but so am I. That’s where we bump heads at.”
He continued: “But yeah, I didn’t do no writing for 50, 50 ain’t do no writing for me. 50 is not a better writer than me. Not a better lyricist, you know what I’m sayin’? Better with melodies, hooks — that’s his thing. I’ll give him that. I’m not gonna take nothing away from nobody that’s good at what they good at, but as far as, like, lyricism, he can’t fuck with me on that level. But he know.”
You can check out the full interview below.
