Rapper and entrepreneur Curtis “50 Cent” Jackson has filed an appeal in federal court after a judge blocked his effort to secure more than $1 million in damages from his former partner in a dispute over the rights to her life story.
In the underlying case, Jackson’s publishing imprint, G‑Unit Books, sued Shaniqua Tompkins in 2025, alleging she breached a 2007 contract that granted the company exclusive rights to her life story, name, and likeness.
The company claims Tompkins’ recent online videos and public statements about their past relationship violated that agreement, diminishing the value of the rights it purchased.
G‑Unit Books sought damages and a court order barring further disclosures.
A judge in New York’s federal court refused to grant a default judgment requested by the publisher after Tompkins missed an initial court deadline, finding that she offered a legitimate reason for failing to respond and had defenses worth considering.
That ruling effectively denied 50 Cent’s bid for an early decision in his favor. G‑Unit Books subsequently filed a notice of appeal, challenging the lower court’s decision.
Tompkins, who shares a son with Jackson, has contested the contract’s validity, saying she signed the life‑rights deal under duress and severe financial pressure nearly two decades ago.
In court filings, she says she was “entirely financially dependent” at the time and was warned she would face “severe consequences” if she refused to sign. She also disputes that she received the full amount the agreement called for.
Tompkins’ lawyers argue the agreement was not voluntary. At the same time, G‑Unit Books maintains that the contract was valid and that her disclosures undercut potential commercial projects tied to the life rights.
The appeal now moves the case to a higher court, setting the stage for what legal analysts say could be a protracted legal battle over consent, contract law, and the rights to personal histories in media.
