50 Cent Says JAŸ-Z Still Owes Him A Favor

Sep 4, 2026 10:00 AM

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MIAMI, FLORIDA – JANUARY 31: 50 Cent performs at E11EVEN Miami’s 12th Anniversary Party on January 31, 2026 in Miami, Florida. (Photo by Alexander Tamargo/Getty Images for E11EVEN)

More than two decades after their Reebok collab, hip-hop mogul 50 Cent is still collecting favors from hip-hop billionaire Jay-Z, now JAŸ-Z.

The Queens rapper and entertainment mogul revisited a 2003 Reebok commercial Thursday, recalling a behind-the-scenes clash over the first G-Unit sneaker. According to 50 Cent, JAŸ-Z was furious when he decided to wear his own shoes during the campaign.

50 Cent said the first G-Unit sneaker sample arrived while the pair filmed the Reebok spot. Rather than wear the footwear provided for the commercial, he chose the unreleased G-Unit model.

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That reportedly created tension with JAŸ-Z, whose business partner John McNeilly allegedly worried his reaction could cost him his job.

“See Jay still owe me a favor for doing this shit,” 50 Cent wrote on Instagram. “They brought me the first G-Unit sample while we was recording this.”

“I said I’m wearing my shoe in this,” he continued. “Jay got so mad John McNeilly said I’m gonna get fired. LOL. True story!”

Hip-Hop Mogul 50 Cent Remembers Jay-Z (Now JAŸ-Z) Still Owes Him A Favor After Reebok Commercial

The anecdote resurfaced as Reebok revived the red, white and blue G-Unit G6 in 2026. The reissue reportedly sold out within two hours, underscoring the sneaker’s enduring place in hip-hop history.

50 Cent celebrated the demand while taking another jab at longtime rival Rick Ross, who had mocked the G6’s return.

“Sold out, fat boy,” 50 Cent wrote.

For 50 Cent, the G6 represented more than merchandise. It helped establish a blueprint for rappers seeking influence beyond music.

“Reebok took a chance on me early, and it paid off in a big way for us both,” he recently told Complex.

“The G6 created a whole new category in sneaker culture and opened up new opportunities in the music space,” he said. “It gave hip-hop artists a platform to go beyond being just artists. It wasn’t the norm back then.”

The sneaker’s revival now gives 50 Cent another opportunity to revisit a moment when hip-hop, fashion and corporate culture were becoming inseparable.