50 Cent has hit back at Jay-Z after the rapper appeared to poke fun at poor sales of his new album, 'Before I Self Destruct'.

Jay-Z made the comment - “Men lie, women lie - numbers don't” - during an acceptance speech at the American Music Awards on Sunday.

His remark appeared to be in reference to reports that 50 Cent's new album was on course to sell just 150,000 copies in its first week.

The rapper's three previous efforts have all sold over 500,000 copies in their opening seven days.

Speaking about Jay-Z's remark on US radio station Sirius Satellite, 50 Cent said: “He's said that before. I didn't really take that as disrespect.

“If you wanna be disrespectful, just be disrespectful. Once we start I'm not gonna stop.”

He added: “I'll make you aware of that, 'cause I'm not the type of guy that goes away. So if that's the kind of energy we getting ready to go into, then let's do it!"

50 Cent had previously baited Jay-Z on a new track entitled 'I Go Off', on which he claims the rapper has neglected his roots.

(by Jason Gregory)