Rap superstar 50 CENT is on the verge of signing a new branding deal with media mogul RUPERT MURDOCH’s company – worth a cool $300 million (£150 million).

The In Da Club hitmaker is in final negotiations with Murdoch’s News Corp firm – which owns social networking site MySpace – for a large stake in all aspects of the 50 Cent brand, including music, concerts, books and his label G-Unit Records. If the agreement goes ahead, G-Unit Records and its roster of artists will move under News Corp’s MySpace Records umbrella.

According to reports, half of the $300 million deal will be in stock, potentially making 50 Cent – real name Curtis Jackson – one of the biggest News Corp shareholders. However, the deal is not expected to be finalised until next year (09) – allowing the star to fulfil all of his contractual obligations with his current label, Interscope Records.