50 Cent tweets up stock to 45 cents

H&H Imports Inc., a Clearwater-based marketing company, spent a wild few days on the penny stock market after getting a ringing — or rather tweeting — endorsement from a rap artist.

Curtis Jackson, better known as 50 Cent, appeared to be pushing his fans via Twitter to invest in H&H, which trades on the over-the-counter bulletin board (ticker HNHI). He promised “BIG MONEY” in capital letters and urged fans to “get what you can afford,” adding: “Watch how this company blows up.”

The result? HNHI shares skyrocketed to 45 cents a share from just four pennies in a matter of days, with volume normally in the thousands hitting nearly 9 million shares Jan. 10. Those shares fell back over the following week, closing Tuesday at 28 cents.

TV Goods Inc., an H&H subsidiary, signed Jackson to a marketing contract for a new line of Sleek by 50 Cent headphones and earbuds a few days before his tweet barrage. Apparently someone whispered (or maybe shouted) in 50 Cent's ear shortly thereafter, since he quickly halted tweeting about the stock and told fans to consult a financial advisor before erasing his previous posts.

Speculation abounds as to whether this was a classic pump-and-dump scheme or plain old exuberance by a famous rapper. In any case, the Securities and Exchange Commission isn't saying whether it will investigate, and Kevin Harrington, H&H chairman and a star investor on ABC's “Shark Tank,” hasn't commented on the matter.

It's possible 50 Cent would be better flexing pecks and spitting rhymes.