US rapper 50 Cent has spoken for the first time about the ongoing custody battle with his former girlfriend Shaniqua Tompkins.

The rapper currently has restricted access to their 11-year-old son, Marquis, after Tompkins took out a temporary restraining order against him last month.

She claimed that the rapper had been involved in a fire at the home she inhabited in Long Island, which is owned by 50 Cent. The rapper denied the accusation.

Speaking to MTV, 50 Cent described the separation from his son as the “toughest” thing he had ever gone through.

"I'd like to be able to just see my baby,” he said.

The rapper said his relationship was changing because “he and his mom aren't friends anymore."

"There's different channels I have to go through. He has lawyers appointed to him through the court. So I have to talk to his lawyer to get things situated for me to for me to actually get him.”

50 Cent continued: "I think he doesn't want his mom to feel like he's a traitor. The time I spent away is the time he developed this thing he's afraid to break with her.

“There's nothing you can do about that. This is the toughest [thing I've had to face], because he's my motivation."

Amongst the conditions of the restraining order, 50 Cent is required to surrender all firearms and refrain from being on the same property as Tompkins.

(by Jason Gregory)