50 Cent's New York Home In 'Suspicious' Fire

Rapper 50 Cent is "eager" to discover the authorities' findings
surrounding the fire that engulfed his New York home, endangering his son and ex-girlfriend.

The Long Island estate - owned by 50 Cent and occupied by his former lover Shaniqua Tompkins and their 10-year-old son Marquise - was set ablaze in what New York cops have called a "highly suspicious" inferno that raged at 5am on  Friday.

The home has been at the centre of a bitter dispute between the hip-hop star - real name Curtis Jackson - and Tompkins since last month's ruling that she and Marquise must leave the rapper's mansion by the end of 2008.

The star's spokesperson says, "Informed this morning while filming a new motion picture on location in Louisiana, Curtis Jackson expressed deep concern over this fire at his property. He is extremely thankful that everyone including his son, Marquise, escaped the burning house safely.

"He is confident that authorities will be conducting a thorough investigation of the incident and is eager to review their findings."

And Tompkins - who split from the rapper in 2003 - has fuelled reports a vengeful party is to blame after revealing she heard "someone" come into the house at 4am, an hour prior to the incident.

Police have sent sniffer dogs to search the rubble for a substance that may have been used as an igniter.

However, the In Da Club hitmaker is not being treated as a suspect, reports TMZ.com.