Comedian Alex Thomas recently reflected on his unexpected role in one of hip-hop’s biggest feuds. Back in the early 2000s, Thomas became part of 50 Cent’s legendary track “Back Down,” where he voiced the flamboyant caller who mocked Ja Rule. The skit closed out the diss record that helped solidify 50’s dominance during his battle with Murder Inc. and marked a major moment leading up to his debut album Get Rich or Die Tryin’.

Thomas explained that the opportunity came through Dr. Dre, who had already worked with him on the 2001 film The Wash. After filming wrapped, Dre approached him about doing something new in the studio. He played Thomas an audio clip of a man calling into a radio station asking for Ja Rule, which became the inspiration for the skit. “I didn’t know who 50 Cent was,” Thomas admitted, recalling that he had no idea how serious the feud between 50 and Ja Rule really was at the time.

He recorded the bit on the spot, finishing the job in about thirty minutes and earning ten thousand dollars for his time. Dre later surprised him with a pool table as a gift. However, Thomas’ name was purposely left out of the credits to make the prank sound real and keep fans guessing. “They wanted people to think it was an actual call,” he said.

Over time, the moment grew into a piece of hip-hop history, though it caused some tension between Thomas and Ja Rule. The comedian insists there was no personal malice behind the performance, saying it was just business and part of the creative process. Looking back, he calls it a wild but unforgettable experience that connected comedy and rap in an unexpected way.