50 Cent Nixes One Beef, Settles Lawsuit Against Taco Bell

In between promoting books, albums, fragrances and bashing everyone from Fat Joe to Jay-Z, it's almost a miracle that 50 Cent finds time to do much else. But Fif spared some time this week to settle his ongoing court battle with fast food chain Taco Bell. After more than a year of legal trash talking in court, the two parties settled their issues privately on Monday (Nov. 23).

50's beef with the brand originated from a humorous 2008 Taco Bell campaign which challenged the Queens rapper to change his name to "79 Cent," "89 Cent," or "99 Cent," as part of a marketing strategy to promote their budget menu. According to the lawsuit, Taco Bell drafted this proposal in the form of a mock letter to 50, which was then circulated to the press without the rapper's knowledge. An outraged 50 claimed that this was Taco Bell's way of using his name and trademark to gain publicity without having to pay him expensive contractual fees.

Before the private settlement, the G-Unit CEO sought $4 million in damages against Taco Bell, claiming that the Yum Food's brand had also used other celebrities' names during similar marketing tactics in the past. Past victims allegedly included Rihanna, Chris Brown and Paris Hilton. After a court battle that carried on well past 2008, both parties finally settled out of court yesterday for an unknown sum, with both sides agreeing to pay their own legal fees. 50 Cent's lawyer, Peter Raymond, refused to comment on the terms of the settlement, divulging only that both parties had come to a mutual agreement. "As is often the case in these situations, the parties have agreed not to discuss anything about the settlement except to say both sides are satisfied," Raymond said.

50 Cent's fourth studio album, 'Before I Self Destruct,' hit stores on Nov. 9.