Bang ‘Em Smurf offers Ja Rule an apology, 23 years later, and says he was dealing with the real “Wanksta,” referring to 50 Cent [VIDEO]

Twenty Years Later, a Former G-Unit Soldier Asks Forgiveness

Bang Em Smurf has apologized to Ja Rule. In a recent interview clip from Cam Capone News, the former G-Unit associate looked directly at the camera and asked for pardon. “I was dealing with an official wankster, 50 Cent,” he said, explaining why he once stood against the Murder Inc. rapper.

Smurf, now 45, said he regrets his role in the early 2000s feud. He described 50 Cent as a bully, not a true gangster, and claimed that misplaced loyalty drove his actions. Black Child, a former Murder Inc. affiliate, had previously told Cam Capone that Smurf “kept 50 alive” during the war – a statement Smurf did not dispute.

Reassessing a Rap Feud Decades Later

The G-Unit versus Murder Inc. feud dominated hip-hop from approximately 2000 to 2005. 50 Cent rose after surviving nine gunshot wounds, signing with Eminem and Dr. Dre, and releasing Get Rich or Die Tryin.’ Ja Rule was already a multiplatinum artist. The two Queens natives clashed over disrespect, credibility, and industry positioning. Diss tracks like “Back Down” and “Many Men” became anthems.

Bang Em Smurf was present during the formation of G-Unit. In earlier interviews, he described rushing stages, engaging in street-level dynamics, and supporting 50 Cent’s ascent. He also claimed 50 Cent owed him money, left him in jail, and used associates as pawns. Black Child’s observation that Smurf “kept 50 alive” referred to Smurf’s role in maintaining 50’s street credibility during early conflicts.

The apology builds on Smurf’s previous criticisms. Wearing a dark hoodie and speaking directly to the camera, he said he felt bad about how he and others treated Ja Rule. Then came the key line: “Pardon me, I was dealing with an official wanksta, 50 Cent.” The term “wanksta” – a blend of “wannabe” and “gangster” – is a pointed insult implying inauthenticity.

Loyalty, Regret, and the ‘Official Wanksta’ Label

Smurf described 50 Cent as a “bully” rather than a genuine street figure. He argued that 50’s jealousy of Ja Rule drove the conflict more than any authentic grievance. “50 ain’t no different than Irv Gotti,” Smurf said. “He calling them soft. What did 50 do to make them tough? Sell drugs. Everybody sells drugs. You don’t have to be a gangster to sell drugs in New York City.”

The apology was not a blanket retraction. Smurf did not deny the beef happened or that he participated. Instead, he repositioned his involvement as a mistake born of following the wrong person. He also referenced the recent plane incident where Tony Yayo and Uncle Murda got into an altercation with Ja Rule. In Smurf’s telling, Ja Rule remained calm and solid while Yayo and Murda “faked” toughness. He used that contrast to justify his apology, stating that Ja Rule had always been the bigger man.

Smurf also praised Black Child for honesty. Cam Capone reminded Smurf that Black Child had said Smurf “kept 50 alive.” Smurf agreed, acknowledging his role in propping up 50’s street credibility. That acknowledgment – from a former adversary – added weight to Smurf’s own apology.

The Infamous 50 Cent Shooting, Through Smurf’s Eyes

Smurf recounted the night 50 Cent was shot in 2000. He said he was on his block on 134th Street, selling heroin. He heard the shots and the neighborhood erupt, but he did not go to the hospital. He went to Woodhull. “I was on the block, bro. I was on 134. I’m always on 134 24/7, I sleep on the benches. I was that kind of hustler. I sell heroin at that time,” Smurf said. “We heard them shots. When the whole hood started going crazy like, ‘Yo, that was Boo Boo who just got shot.'”

The distance between his memory and the mythology of 50 Cent’s shooting encapsulates his current stance: he was there, but he was never a true believer. Smurf’s willingness to share these details – including his own drug sales and his lack of loyalty after the shooting – reinforces his credibility with audiences who value street authenticity. He is not sanitizing his past. He is reinterpreting it through the lens of a 45-year-old man.

Social Media Reacts to a Surprising Mea Culpa

The video generated immediate discussion on X and YouTube. Comments split between respect for Smurf’s honesty and skepticism about his motives. “This is what growth looks like,” one user wrote. “Smurf owned up to his part and apologized. That’s more than most ever do.” Others focused on the “wankster” label, agreeing that 50 Cent’s persona has always been carefully crafted.

Skeptics questioned Smurf’s timing. “He waited 20 years and now he’s apologizing? What’s the angle?” one reply read. Others noted that Smurf has been critical of 50 Cent for years, and this apology is an extension of that pattern. A few dismissed Smurf as irrelevant, arguing his opinion carries little weight in 2026.

Ja Rule has not responded publicly. 50 Cent, known for his social media jabs, has also remained silent. Whether either will address Smurf’s comments is unclear. For now, the apology stands as a solo statement – a former soldier laying down his arms and asking for forgiveness from an old enemy.

A 45-Year-Old Man Looking Back With Wisdom

Near the end of the clip, Smurf explained why he felt compelled to speak now. He is 45 years old and wants to clear his conscience before it is too late. “God forbid I die before a time release,” he said, “at least I know I let certain shit off my chest that I really did feel bad about.” He reflected that he and his associates had caused most of the problems themselves. Ja Rule and Murder Inc., he concluded, had not really done anything to him.

The apology extended to the youths watching. Smurf urged young people to have self-respect and not follow negative entertainers. He said he had once worked for “the oppressors” by feeding into low-frequency negativity. Now, he advocates for love, unity, and self-awareness. “Love is the highest frequency,” he said. “If we as a culture learn to live with love, that alone would take our oppressors out.”

The message was broader than hip-hop. Smurf addressed all races, saying division is a tool used by those in power. But the core of the interview remained the apology to Ja Rule – a man Smurf once helped antagonize, now asking for pardon. Black Child had said Smurf kept 50 alive. Now Smurf is trying to keep himself alive in a different way: by speaking his truth, even if it means burning old bridges.

Conclusion

Bang Em Smurf spent years helping 50 Cent build a reputation. He was on the block when the shots rang out in 2000. He kept the brand alive in the streets, according to Black Child. He stood against Ja Rule and Murder Inc. without personal grievance, simply because that was the side he had chosen. Now, at 45, he has chosen a different side: his own conscience.

The apology to Ja Rule is not about rewriting history. It is about owning his part in it. Smurf cannot undo the damage of a decades-old beef. He can only speak his truth, ask for pardon, and hope that the next generation learns to follow love instead of loyalty to the wrong leader.

Whether Ja Rule accepts the apology matters less than the fact that Smurf finally gave one. In hip-hop, where pride rarely bends, that alone is remarkable.

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