Orville Hall and Phillip Price finally get recognized by Shreveport for creating Hip-Hop’s most sampled beat while Hall builds 50 Cent’s empire.
Orville Hall and Phillip Price just got their flowers from Shreveport City Council, and the timing couldn’t be more interesting given everything happening with 50 Cent’s empire in Louisiana right now.
The two legendary producers behind The Showboys were officially recognized on July 29 for creating one of Hip-Hop’s most foundational beats back in 1986.
That “Drag Rap” track didn’t just become a classic; it became the blueprint for an entire sound that would define Southern rap for decades to come.
The numbers tell you everything you need to know about how massive this beat became. Over 160 times, artists like Cardi B, Drake, Chris Brown, Young Thug, Juvenile, David Banner, T.I., and Lil Wayne all tapped into that same drum loop and made it their own.
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Hall and Price watched their creation get sampled across bounce records, trap beats, and everything in between without getting paid for most of it.
That’s why their $1 million settlement with Universal Music Group in 2026 matters so much.
According to the Shreveport Times, the council’s recognition came right after they finally got what they deserved.
Here’s where it gets interesting, though. Hall isn’t just a legendary producer anymore.
He’s G-Unit’s Director of Growth, which means he’s been working directly with 50 Cent to expand the entertainment company’s footprint all across Shreveport.
50 Cent invested $124 million into G-Unit Studios with state backing, and Hall’s been instrumental in making that vision happen on the ground level.
The groundbreaking for the G-Dome happened back in June, and everything seemed to be moving forward until 50 Cent posted some cryptic messages on Instagram mid-July about potentially pulling back from the Red River District project.
Mayor Tom Arceneaux claimed his representatives had been in contact with 50 Cent’s team, but 50 quickly disputed that on social media, saying his lawyers hadn’t heard anything.
The tension between the city and the rapper created real uncertainty about whether the whole deal was still happening.
But Hall’s recognition by the city council, combined with his continued presence and commitment to Shreveport, suggests things might be stabilizing.
Hall told the council he loves the city and looks forward to a long relationship with them, which is a strong signal that 50 Cent’s production studios aren’t going anywhere.
50 Cent’s Shreveport investment represents one of the biggest entertainment bets in Louisiana history, and having Hall as the bridge between the rapper’s vision and the city’s needs could be exactly what keeps everything on track.
Council Chair Tabatha Taylor specifically mentioned Hall’s connection to 50 Cent and G-Unit during the recognition, making it clear the city understands how important this partnership is to their future.
The G-Unit Studios project is expected to generate $18.8 billion in economic impact over the next 20 years and support around 6,000 jobs across Louisiana.
