50 Cent Wraps Up Custody Deal

There'll be no more kidding around for 50 Cent. At least, not in court.

The rapper and his former girlfriend, Shaniqua Tompkins, have reached a settlement in their ongoing and bitter custody dispute over 11-year-old son Marquise, announcing this morning they have managed to broker a visitation schedule outside of court, thus avoiding the burden of a high-profile trial.

"I'm happy it's actually done with," Fiddy told reporters outside the Suffolk Family Court of the deal, despite the fact that it grants him less visitation time with the boy than he originally sought.

During this morning's five-minute hearing, in which both the rapper and Thompson were present, but avoided eye or any other contact, lawyers disclosed that 50 Cent will see his son one weekend per month, one month in the summer and spend half his winter and spring breaks in his father's custody.

50 CENT TO ATTEND COURT FOR CHILD CUSTODY

50 Cent is to appear in court next month, to try and win custody of his 11-year-old son Marquis.
The rapper has been battling for custody against his former girlfriend Shaniqua Tompkins for the last few months. Now a hearing will be held on October 22 at the New York Family Court.
During their legal battle, Tompkins suggested 50 Cent - real name Curtis Jackson - was involved with a fire that damaged her home back in May. The rap star has denied having anything to do with it.
Until the court date, Jackson has been granted weekend visitation rights - allowing him to see Marquis every other weekend until the trial starts.

50 CENT DEFENDS LIMITED CUSTODY REQUESTS

Rapper 50 Cent has defended his child custody requests, insisting he only wants visitation ever other weekend because he wants minimum disruption to his son's education.

The 'In Da Club' hitmaker has been embroiled in a legal battle with his ex-girlfriend Shaniqua Tompkins over custody of 11-year-old Marquise for months, and now the former couple's legal spat will go before a judge on Monday.

50 Cent - real name Curtis Jackson - was reunited with Marquise last month after he accused Tompkins of "kidnapping" their son following a devastating fire at her New York home in May.

The star, who lives in Connecticut, has since been criticised for his request to spend just two weekends a month with Marquise - but the rapper insists he's simply taking his kid's schooling seriously.