Let’s face it, drama has always been the lifeblood of hip-hop, so when two legends like P. Diddy and Eminem start slinging barbs, you can always expect an amazing ride. Although these two rap heavyweights have been quietly feuding for decades, their rivalry has never been as public or intense as some of the other great rap feuds that have occurred. Imagine it more as a gradual burn that has been simmering under the surface, interspersed with poetic jabs and blows. Although it may not garner as much media attention as, say, the Tupac vs. Biggie drama, the P. Diddy vs. Eminem dispute is still quite spicy.

Now, what makes this beef so interesting is its blend of subtlety and aggression. Unlike other feuds where diss tracks are thrown around like candy, the P. Diddy vs Eminem feud has been more like a chess match. Eminem has fired off clever, biting disses in his tracks over the years, while Diddy (for the most part) has been quiet on the sidelines, choosing not to clap back. But don’t get it twisted — just because there’s no public brawl doesn’t mean the drama isn’t real.

From the very first shots fired in the late 90s to the more recent lyrical jabs that reference Diddy’s legal battles, this feud has evolved with the times. It’s been shaped by everything from personal jabs to larger industry power dynamics. And while most of the drama is hidden between the lines of their songs, the tension between them has become iconic in its own way.

So buckle up, because we’re about to unpack all the messy details behind the P. Diddy vs Eminem feud — from shady lyrics to industry power plays, and why it may be one of the most intriguing feuds in hip-hop history.

Everything you need to know about the P.Diddy vs Eminem feud

The beginning of P. Diddy vs Eminem

The origins of the P. Diddy vs Eminem feud can be traced back to the mid-1990s, when both artists were still carving out their place in the music world. Diddy, then known as Puff Daddy, had already established himself as a major player, thanks to Bad Boy Records and his association with artists like The Notorious B.I.G. At the same time, Eminem was still an underground figure, hungry to break into the mainstream.

In 1996, Eminem fired his first shot on the track “F–cking Crazy,” where he dropped the following diss:

“Original Bad Boy on the case, cover your face
Came in the place blowed, and sprayed Puffy with Mase.”

This marked the beginning of the P. Diddy vs Eminem beef, as Em took aim at Diddy’s “Bad Boy” persona and his close association with the rapper Mase. It was a subtle, early indication that Eminem wasn’t afraid to take on industry giants.

A breakdown of Eminem’s disses directed towards Diddy

Over the years, Eminem has fired multiple lyrical shots at Diddy. Some were playful jabs, while others struck much deeper. Here’s a breakdown of the most notable moments when the P. Diddy vs Eminem feud took centre stage:

“Marshall Mathers” (2000):
Eminem unapologetically calls out Diddy in this fiery track:
“You little groupie b–itch, get off me, go f–ck Puffy.”
“I’m Back” (2000):
Eminem continued the tension in this track with another sly dig, referencing Diddy’s high-profile relationship with Jennifer Lopez:
“If I ever stuck it to any singer in showbiz / It’d be Jennifer Lopez and Puffy, you know this. I’m sorry, Puff, but I don’t give a f–ck.”
“Killshot” (2018):
This track, aimed at Machine Gun Kelly, features one of the most explosive disses in the P. Diddy vs Eminem feud:
“Kells, the day you put out a hit is the day Diddy admits / That he put the hit out that got Pac killed.”
Despite quickly adding, “I’m just playing, Diddy, you know I love you,” the line sparked a media frenzy. It brought long-standing conspiracy theories about Diddy’s involvement in Tupac’s death back into the spotlight, and fans couldn’t help but wonder if there was more to Eminem’s words than just provocative lyricism.
“Godzilla” (2020):
Eminem references Diddy’s infamous reality show Making The Band in this more subtle diss:
“They call me Diddy ‘cause I make bands, and I call getting cheese a cakewalk.”
This clever reference recalls the moment when Diddy forced contestants to walk miles for a slice of cheesecake, a cultural touchstone of Diddy’s demanding nature.
“Fuel” (2024):
Eminem’s 2024 album The Death of Slim Shady (Coup de Grâce) includes the latest dig in the P. Diddy vs Eminem feud. In “Fuel,” Eminem references the mounting sexual misconduct allegations against Diddy:

“I’m like a R-A-P-E-R. Got so many S-As (huh) / Wait, he didn’t just spell the word ‘rapper’ and leave out a P, did he?”

Diddy’s legal troubles

While Eminem’s disses have often seemed playful, the real-world events surrounding Diddy have added a darker tone to the P. Diddy vs Eminem feud. In 2024, Diddy’s legal troubles exploded into the mainstream, with multiple allegations of abuse, coercion, and other misconduct coming to light. As of October 2024, Diddy has been denied bail and is awaiting trial, a turn of events that has shifted the public perception of him.

In light of these legal battles, Eminem’s past disses, especially the line from “Killshot” about Diddy being involved in Tupac’s murder, now seem more pointed. Fans have begun to look back at old tracks, re-evaluating what was once considered merely provocative. Eminem, known for his sharp cultural commentary, appears eerily prescient in some of his past lyrics.

Adding even more fuel to the fire, 50 Cent — a frequent collaborator of Eminem and another figure who has beefed with Diddy — announced a Netflix docuseries in 2024 that will explore Diddy’s alleged misconduct. This move has only increased the media spotlight on Diddy, while leaving fans wondering whether Eminem will once again take the opportunity to throw another punch in the ongoing P. Diddy vs Eminem rivalry.

The impact of the P. Diddy vs Eminem feud on hip-hop culture

(Image: L. Cohen/WireImage/Getty Images)

Unlike other high-profile feuds in hip-hop, such as Tupac vs Biggie or Nas vs Jay-Z, the P. Diddy vs Eminem beef has never boiled over into full-blown diss tracks or public altercations. Instead, it has simmered quietly beneath the surface of the rap world, manifesting through well-placed lyrics and moments that fly under the radar until fans piece them together.

For Eminem, a rapper known for his willingness to challenge powerful figures in the industry, the beef with Diddy represents more than just a personal grudge. It reflects a deeper cultural tension in hip-hop, where respect, power, and influence are often negotiated through diss tracks and rivalries. The P. Diddy vs Eminem saga is unique in that it intertwines personal shots with broader critiques of industry power dynamics. Eminem’s willingness to openly call out Diddy early in his career showed that he wasn’t afraid to disrupt the established hierarchy, even when it meant taking on a mogul like Diddy.

In contrast, Diddy’s silence on the matter has been interpreted in various ways. On one hand, some see his lack of response as a sign of power — that he doesn’t need to engage with Eminem’s jabs because his influence in the industry speaks for itself. On the other hand, some argue that Diddy’s silence reflects recognition that battling a lyricist as skilled as Eminem would be a losing game.

Where does the P. Diddy vs Eminem feud stand now?

With Diddy’s ongoing legal issues and Eminem’s recent releases continuing to reference him, it’s clear that the P. Diddy vs Eminem feud is far from over. Fans are eagerly watching to see whether Eminem will continue to capitalise on Diddy’s fall from grace or if the beef will fade into hip-hop history. Either way, this feud has already left its mark, providing some of the most memorable moments in hip-hop’s rich history of rivalries.

(Main Image: Michael Caulfield/Getty Images; Featured Image: Frank Micelotta/Getty Images)

This article was first published in Prestige Singapore