Thug Life Army

The so dubbed ‘rap war’ that exploded in gunfire last week heated up again yesterday when Compton rap artist The Game taunted rival rapper 50 Cent at a concert and dared him to take his best shot.

With cops in riot gear massed outside The Vault 350 in Long Beach, Calif., The Game stripped off his bulletproof vest on the club's stage and threw down a challenge for 50 Cent.

"Come get me, you little bitch!" The Game snarled. "I ain''t scared."

Investigators here have been stymied in their attempts to question The Game about last week's shooting outside the headquarters of the Hot 97 studios in Manhattan.

But the rapper spoke freely about the gunplay that left one member of his entourage wounded, and his inflammatory comments jeopardized any hopes of a truce with 50 Cent.

"He was on the radio hating me. I was outside with my n----s. Rolled up to the station. They didn''t want to let us in," he told the crowd.

"[50 Cent's] security hit my boy, Peanut. They''ll be cowards forever. They envy me."

The Game, a former drug pusher from gang-infested Compton, Calif., whose real name is Jayceon Taylor, ridiculed 50 Cent for staying on the air while the bullets flew.

"We''ve been gangbanging for so long, we know you fight your own battles," he said. "You don''t send security to fight them like a little bitch."

The Game used vulgar terms to mock 50 Cent, his G-Unit crew, his just-released album "The Massacre," his No. 1 single "Candy Shop" - and even New York City.

He also insisted that 50 Cent had not contributed much to his acclaimed debut album "The Documentary" which is No.4 on the Billboard charts and has already gone platinum - and denied he was not thrown out of G-Unit, claiming he quit.

The tough talk turned into a pity party during his last song early yesterday when the 25-year-old started to cry while talking about how people had turned against him.

"I''m not hiding up at the station. I''m real from the streets. I''m a real person," The Game said. "If you don''t like me, then kill me. I ain''t afraid."

Hip-hop rapper 50 Cent, a former drug dealer from Queens named Curtis Jackson who likes to brag about his bullet scars, had no immediate comment on the barrage of insults yesterday.

But in interviews to promote his new album, expected to hit No.1 this week, the 28-year-old has tried to distance himself from the shooting and downplay the threat of more violence.

Fans, meanwhile, have worried the bad blood could escalate into an all-out rap war like the one that put rap icons Tupac Shakur and Notorious B.I.G. in coffins.

The feud between 50 Cent and his ex-protégé has led the NYPD to ratchet up security at hip-hop hot spots around the city to keep the peace between the camps.

The Game and 50 Cent wereclose collaborators, brought together by top producer Dr. Dre, but had a falling out in recent weeks. The Game pooh-poohed 50 Cent's beefs with other big-name rappers, including Nas and Jadakiss, and 50 Cent announced on Hot 97 that he was kicking him out of G-Unit.

While he was still on the air, the confrontation on Hudson St. broke out between his posse and The Game's crew, known as Black Wall Street.

At least two gunmen fired, and one of The Game's flunkies, Kevin Reed, 23, a parolee from Compton, was shot in the buttocks, police said.

The NYPD wants to speak to The Game about the incident, his lawyer said.

"I have been in touch with the police and I have forwarded their concerns and requests to The Game," lawyer Jeffrey Lichtman said.

They''re rap stars with rap sheets

50 Cent, aka Curtis Jackson

Former crack peddler from Jamaica, Queens, is hottest rap star in the country. Though he’s more famous for getting shot, 50 Cent was busted in June 2003 in an armor-plated SUV filled with guns and bulletproof vests. Outcome of case unknown because it was sealed. Also did six months in boot camp on a drug rap in 1994.

Eminem, aka Marshall Mathers

Detroit-based Slim Shady may be the most famous rapper in the world Arrested twice in three days in June 2002, first for threatening his wife with a gun, then for attacking a member of the Insane Clown Posse. Got three years'' probation.

DMX, aka Earl Simmons

Petty thief from Yonkers conquered ''90s hip-hop world as head of the Ruff Ryders crew Rap sheet includes arrests for guns, assault, drugs, driving infractions, animal cruelty and using obscene language in Trinidad. Fined $1,000 in 2001 for throwing a food tray at jail guards. Arrested last June for impersonating an FBI agent and crashing SUV through a gate at Kennedy Airport.

Beanie Sigel, aka Dwight Grant

Rapper from South Philly was touted as heir to Jay-Z Serving year-long sentence on a gun possession charge. Awaiting retrial on attempted-murder charge for shooting outside a bar. Lengthy rap sheet includes earlier arrests for assault and drug possession.

P. Diddy, aka Sean Combs

Bad boy from Mount Vernon is mogul behind music and style empire Acquitted of gun possession charge stemming from 1999 shooting in Manhattan nightclub for which his protege, Shyne, is serving 10 years. Sentenced to anger management class for 1999 beating of record exec Steve Stoute.

Jay-Z, aka Shawn Carter

Former drug pusher from the Marcy Houses is now head of Def Jam and is Beyoncé's boyfriend Put on probation for 1999 stabbing of fellow rap mogul Lance Rivera at the Kit Kat Klub. Also arrested after nightclub brawls in 1999 and 2000, but never charged. A 2001 gun-possession rap was dismissed after his driver took the fall.

Snoop Dogg, aka Calvin Broadus

West Coast rap pioneer, now a movie and X-rated video star Beat a murder-accomplice rap from a 1994 drive-by shooting and a 2000 pot arrest, but spent three years in jail in the 1980s. Got probation for a 2001 pot offense in Ohio.

Mystikal, aka Michael Taylor

Gravel-voiced rapper from Louisiana behind the hit “Shake Ya Ass” Sentenced to six years in prison in January after he and two bodyguards pleaded guilty to sexually assaulting his hairstylist and videotaping it. Had a 1998 arrest for gun and marijuana possession in his home state.

Lil’ Kim, aka Kimberly Jones

Brooklyn native and pint-sized protege of slain rap star Biggie Smalls Currently on trial for allegedly lying to authorities investigating a 2001 shootout involving her posse outside Hot 97. Busted on a marijuana charge in New Jersey in 1996.

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