Could rapper 50 Cent and comedian Chelsea Handler really be a hot-and-heavy item?

The two were spotted canoodling at a New Orleans restaurant on Sunday. But the nature of their togetherness remains a bit of a mystery.

If you believe the report by Us magazine, their relationship is about booty-call convenience, not true romance. "It's more of a hookup thing -- whenever they are in the same town," Us' source explains.

E's source says nothing has happened in the hookup department -- yet. "They haven't hooked up, but she's open to it," the "inside source" dishes.

TMZ.com has a photo of their cozy rendezvous in the Crescent City:

http://www.tmz.com/2010/10/04/chelsea-handler-and-50-cent-dating-photo-new-orleans-date-picture/10/

Handler has made her rocky love life the butt of jokes on her show. So it's not surprising that her rep is telling media that she is "saving" her comments for "Chelsea Lately."