50 Cent Vows Never To Work With Courtney Kemp Again As 'Power' Creator Responds
Entertainment executive 50 Cent announced he will not collaborate with 'Power' creator Courtney Kemp on future television projects. Kemp responded by challenging his claims regarding production operations and denying that she ever minimized his contributions to the hit franchise.
50 Cent has officially closed the door on future creative collaborations alongside television writer and producer Courtney Kemp, according to reporting from AllHipHop. Speaking in an interview with Variety, the media mogul voiced frustration regarding their creative relationship and confirmed he has no interest in partnering with her down the line. "I don’t look forward to working with her ever again," 50 Cent told the outlet.
According to AllHipHop, 50 Cent claimed that Kemp lost sight of the foundational role he played in marketing and launching the television property. The artist pointed to original music he developed to pitch the series, as well as his promotional efforts to help get the project off the ground during its developmental stages.
Kemp, however, directly disputed his narrative concerning show operations. As detailed by AllHipHop, the creator challenged his statements regarding production budgets and questioned his understanding of how the program was managed day to day. Kemp also firmly denied allegations that she diminished his role in the franchise's trajectory. "I have never once understated his importance in the genesis of ‘Power,'" she stated.
The partnership between the two figures began formally in 2013 when Starz greenlit the crime drama, AllHipHop reported. Kemp developed the concept and took on the responsibilities of showrunner, while 50 Cent served as an executive producer on the initial eight-episode pickup. The series evolved into a major television property, spanning six seasons before wrapping in 2020 and establishing multiple spinoffs.
Music served as a core element of the production from its inception. In April 2014, ahead of the television premiere, 50 Cent released the series theme song "Big Rich Town" featuring singer Joe, which Starz later offered as a bonus feature for the first season, according to AllHipHop.
Their working arrangement shifted in 2021 when Kemp entered an overall deal with Netflix, AllHipHop noted. Before the third season of "Power Book II: Ghost," she transitioned daily showrunning responsibilities to Brett Mahoney while remaining an executive producer alongside 50 Cent. Kemp later teamed with Tani Marole to produce "Nemesis," an eight-part crime series that debuted on Netflix in May and secured a season two renewal in June.
The original catalog created by the duo is also heading to a broader audience. According to AllHipHop, a licensing agreement will bring the original "Power" to Netflix in the United States alongside international streaming rights for its first four series in November. Kemp stated she has moved forward in her career and expressed hope that 50 Cent's work on "Street Fighter" would help him do the same.