January 19, 2005, 11:32:27 Eminem and 50 Cent have made an unknown homeless British singer the first signing to their new record label.
The two rappers have made Grant Harvey - who is one half of R'n'B duo Tilda - their latest prodigy and are grooming him for pop success.
Harvey was first spotted by Eminem's aides singing on the streets of Los Angeles, where he was sleeping rough and desperately trying to raise money, and was invited to perform for the two hip hop stars at their studio.
When 50 Cent and Eminem saw Harvey, and singing partner Daniel Booker, perform they were offered a contract on the duo's new label, G-Unit Soul, on the spot.
Harvey said: "We met up in London and moved to LA to try to make it. We were even homeless for a while and at one time were living with a pimp.
We were close to quitting but now things are happening thanks to 50 and Em."
The label, which will focus on finding new R'n'B talent rather than rap, is Eminem's latest side project - he was responsible for turning the 'In Da Club' singer into a worldwide star.
Eminem and 50 are so excited by their new act they are both tipping Harvey to become the first British artist to break into the multi-million dollar US urban market.
Inside peanut butter; outside jelly,
Seven days of the week; seven different Chevys,
Black SS with the top blowed off,
Messing with them boys getcha top blowed off.
A British singer has confessed to hoaxing the media into believing his R&B act had been signed by superstars Eminem and 50 Cent.
Tabloid newspaper The Sun Thursday claimed Tilda -- Grant Harvey and Daniel Booker -- were spotted by the hip-hop stars busking on a Los Angeles street and offered a deal with their G-Unit Soul record label, and the news was quickly picked up around the world.
But Harvey has admitted the whole story was a lie and purely a publicity stunt.
He reveals, "We scammed them for the publicity. I can't believe how easy it was. To think we would be signed up by Eminem is absurd, but they fell for it."
I believe the story. Em and 50 probably voided the contract once they realized how super gay that was.
Inside peanut butter; outside jelly,
Seven days of the week; seven different Chevys,
Black SS with the top blowed off,
Messing with them boys getcha top blowed off.
Everyone wants to comparisons to Pac, X and me. Yall wanna see Pac come come back, yall wanna see this, it's here, it's here. And I'm taking it to the streets, to the mic, any where yall like it - Ja Rule