50 Cent mourns death of rapper

50 Cent has paid tribute to a former G-Unit rapper who has died aged 42.

Mazaradi Fox was shot dead on Friday (03Jan13) in Queens, New York, according to the New York Daily News.

The In Da Club hitmaker has since taken to Twitter.com to share his grief over the death of his former colleague, writing,

"Saddened by the news of Mazaradi's tragic passing my thoughts and prayers go out to his family and friends."

Fox signed to the label in 2007, but never released an album and subsequently left G-Unit in 2008.