50 Cent settles beef with Taco Bell

By Eriq Gardner

Grammatically-challenged rapper 50 Cent has settled a lawsuit with gastronomically-challenged Taco Bell over use of his name in a guerrilla marketing campaign.

Curtis Jackson (50's real name) sued Taco Bell for $4 million after the chain conducted a nationwide “Why Pay More” ad campaign with a mock letter addressed to him. 

In the letter, Taco Bell Corp. President Greg Creed asked the rapper to change his name for one day to 79 Cent, 89 Cent or 99 Cent — the cost of its menu items. In return for the name change, the company said it would make a $10,000 donation to a charity of the rapper's choice. 

Some people thought the idea was stupid fun — see this YouTube video — but not 50 Cent. Represented by Peter Raymond of Reed Smith, the rapper alleged that Taco Bell infringed his trademark, violated his civil rights, falsely implied that he endorses Taco Bell, and unjustly enriched the corporation. 

In an interview with E! Online at the time of the filing, 50 said, "When my legal team is finished with them, Taco Bell is going to have a new corporate slogan: ‘We messed with the bull and got the horns.’”

Terms of the settlement were not released.