(L) 50 Cent in 2015. Photo by TechCrunch via Wikimedia Commons. (R) Amy Lee performs in 2009. Photo by Alexandre Cardoso via Wikimedia Commons
50 Cent is a beef champion. He’s come out on top of verbal altercations with boxing champions, many rappers, and at least one star of the film Drumline. You can now add nu-metal band Evanescence to his burn book, according to the group’s lead singer Amy Lee, who discussed Fif’s long-running resentment of the band in a new interview with the Daily Beast.
The whole thing stems from the 2004 Grammy Awards, where Amy Lee’s band won the Best New Artist award over 50 Cent. Both artists were coming off of banner years, but 50 was widely expected to win, even by members of Evanescence and especially 50 himself, who walked across the stage during the band’s acceptance speech.
“50 Cent hates my guts,” Lee told the Beast, adding that 50’s storming of the stage “wasn’t that bad.” “He just sort of like, made an appearance. It was like Zoolander when he thought he won.”
The two have never discussed the incident with each other, Lee says, but 50 hasn’t been shy about making his feelings known publicly. As he received a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame in 2020, 50 took some time from the ceremony to trash Lee’s band.
“You got the largest debut hip hop album [but] you don’t got no Best New Artist trophy,” 50 said. “The Best New Artist, they gave that shit to Evanescence… Can you find fucking Evanescence? I ain’t seen Evanescence since that night. Since that night they gave them the trophy.”
Still, Lee stressed that she doesn’t want the smoke: “I don’t want to start a beef with him.” While that’s a wise move, it’s a bit sad that we’ll be deprived of another classic 50 Cent flame war. Below, watch footage of Evanescence accepting the 2004 Best New Artist Grammy.
