50 CENT A TARGET IN MURDA INC. PLOT

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Authorities and 50 believe that McGriff planned the 2000 shooting, in which the Queens rapper was hit nine times. A 2003 search warrant affidavit for Murder Inc.'s Manhattan offices claimed that McGriff was plotting to kill 50 and that he "communicates with Murder, Inc. employees concerning the target." In a document, IRS agent Francis Mace wrote, "McGriff is tracking 50 Cent's whereabouts through his network of associates."

Apparently McGriff's associates sent him surveillance reports to pager provided to him by Murder Inc. the label later changed its name to The Inc. One report sent by Chris Lorenzo, said that 50 was in his old Queens neighborhood. "50 is in the hood Guy R. Brewer!" Reports say McGriff based his criminal operations near Guy R. Brewer Boulevard. The affidavit written by agent Mace also cites 50 as refusing to discuss his own shooting, but agreeing to be questioned about the October 2002 murder of Jason "Jam Master Jay" Mizell of Run-D.M.C. Investigators were probing whether the legendary DJ was murdered for opposing the "blacklist" of his former protégé 50 Cent, which was reportedly set up by McGriff after he was exposed in 50's single, "Ghetto Qua Ran," off his shelved 1999 album, Power of a Dollar.

The affidavit doesn't reveal what 50 said regarding Jam Master Jay's killing, but it helped fuel rumors that the rapper was a "snitch." In the affidavit, agent Mace wrote that McGriff described 50 as "a talking dry snitcher" in one text message. McGriff is also charged with ordering the 2001 murder of aspiring rapper Eric "E Money Bags" Smith. Footage featuring the late rapper surfaced as evidence for McGriff's trial. The footage was taken on the day E Money Baggs was murdered and was edited to give it a "G" rating by officials at Brooklyn's Metropolitan Detention Center. The two tapes are presently on file at the federal lockup in Sunset Park, Brooklyn. The defendants, McGriff, Dennis Crosby, and Nicole Brown, charged in the 2001 killing are set to view the edited version in preparation for their trial.