Sometimes it takes tragedy to link up two friends who have fallen out.

That might be the case between 50 Cent and Floyd Mayweather Jr. after the death of their mutual friend Earl Hayes, who reportedly shot and killed his wife, Stephanie Moseley, before killing himself in a shocking murder-suicide on Monday.

50 had good reason to message Mayweather via Instagram on Monday night upon learning of the news. Despite their recent fallout, it came as no surprise that Mayweather almost immediately re-posted 50’s message in the wake of the horrifying incident, which the undefeated boxing champion reportedly witnessed during a FaceTime session with Hayes. 

After a New York City screening of TAPIA, the HBO documentary, about late boxer Johnny Tapia, that 50 executive-produced, Fif told BET.com that he actually met Mayweather and Hayes at the same time more than a decade ago and that the boxer introduced him to the budding rapper.

“Me and Floyd have been really good friends since 2002. I met Earl, Earl Hayes, in 2002, the Mixshow Power Summitt,” Fif said Wednesday night. “I met him in Puerto Rico, Floyd brought him out there. Yeah [Hayes was our mutual friend]."

After their initial meeting, 50 and Hayes became cool, collaborating on several tracks through the years, after Hayes grinded out co-signs from the likes of Dr. Dre, Timbaland and Busta Rhymes. Dre and Timbaland even worked on his intro mixtape together. Hayes was also a former MC on Mayweather's Philthy Rich Records.

So, when 50 messaged Mayweather on Monday night, “Don't you ever do nothing to yourself no matter what champ” and “We can fall out and fight or whatever, but I don't want to see you go out like that,” he was being genuine. Although he hasn’t spoken with Mayweather about the shocking death of their friend, 50 is up for the conversation.

“I haven’t had a chance to get on the phone with him. I spoke to Fanny, his baby sister, I spoke to [Mayweather's ex] Miss Jackson, a few other people have called me directly for us to talk. I’ve been running around, so I didn’t expect to [speak with Mayweather].

“Look, Floyd is like my little brother,” 50 added. “I’ve always said it from the very beginning — I love him like a brother. If he does something and he does it, I respond the way he understands me to respond, so I’ll get angry and do something back. It don’t mean that we don’t love each other. He’s my patna, that’s my brother.”

50 and Hayes collaborated on tracks like "Double Up" and "Business Mind."

Hayes's tragic death continues to draw reaction in hip hop with 50, Tony Yayo, Busta and Timbaland all tweeting messages of disbelief and sorrow since Monday. Hayes was 34 years old. 

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(Photos from left: Jamie McCarthy/Getty Images, Astrid Stawiarz/Getty Images, Johnny Nunez/BET/WireImage)