Last month, Taco Bell tried to launch what they thought was a funny, low-cost ad campaign:

50 Cent has been asked to change his name to 79 Cent by a fast food chain.

The ‘In Da Club’ rapper was challenged by Taco Bell to consider calling himself 79, 89 or 99 Cent to promote the restaurant’s new value menu. Taco Bell have promised to donate $10,000 to a charity of the rapper’s choice if he also agrees to stop at one of their outlets and rap his order at the drive-thru…

Taco Bell President and CEO Greg Creed said in a letter to the singer: “We know that you adopted the name 50 Cent years ago as a metaphor for change. We at Taco Bell are also huge advocates for change. We encourage you to ‘Think Outside the Bun’ and hope you accept our offer.”

Okay, maybe the boss of Taco Bell isn’t as funny as he thinks he is. So sue him! Whoops, that’s exactly what’s happening. The roided-out rapper is taking the chain’s chalupa-chucking butts to court:

50 Cent, whose real name is Curtis Jackson, accuses the Mexican-style fast food chain of “diluting the value of his good name” and employing a guerrilla advertising campaign to fool consumers into thinking he had endorsed the chain, said the lawsuit, filed in Manhattan federal court.

“Without seeking or obtaining Jackson’s authorization, defendant Taco Bell made him the star and focus of its nation-wide advertising campaign by using his name, persona and trademark to promote Taco Bell’s business and products,” court papers said.

I guess he’s in the right, but he’s got a lot of nerve complaining that they’re besmirching his “good name.” The former crack dealer who first became noted in the music industry for his uncanny ability to withstand gunshot wounds is worried about a fast-food joint making him look bad? Yeah, the steroid allegations, the lyrics about bitches and hoes, and the complete lack of flow really impressed me, but then I heard Fitty might be shilling for Taco Bell…

Compare and contrast this to a similar stunt Dr. Pepper pulled last March. They offered to give out a free can to everybody in the U.S. on the day Guns N’ Roses long-awaited Chinese Democracy album finally comes out. Everybody in the U.S., that is, except former GNR guitarists Slash and Buckethead. Funny idea, right? It’s probably what inspired Taco Bell’s attempt. And this was Axl’s response:

“We are surprised and very happy to have the support of Dr. Pepper with our album Chinese Democracy, as for us, this came totally out of the blue. If there is any involvement with this promotion by our record company or others, we are unaware of such at this time. And as some of Buckethead’s performances are on our album, I’ll share my Dr. Pepper with him.”

Dear 50 Cent: When you’re more litigious and self-serious than Axl freaking Rose…