Eminem, known for his sharp tongue and fearless lyrics, has made a career out of addressing his personal feuds and controversies through music. One long-standing target of his scathing disses has been Sean “Diddy” Combs, the renowned music mogul behind Bad Boy Records. Over the years, Eminem has aimed some of his most controversial lyrics at Diddy, with the earliest shots fired back in 1996. As Diddy’s legal troubles continue to unfold, Eminem’s references to him have only intensified, revealing a complex and multifaceted rivalry. In this article, we’ll take a closer look at the numerous times Eminem has taken aim at Diddy through his music, from playful jabs to more serious accusations.
Eminem vs. Diddy: The First Shots in 1996
The tension between Eminem and Diddy can be traced all the way back to 1996, when the young rapper was still finding his voice in the hip-hop scene. In his track “F***** Crazy,”* Eminem makes a tongue-in-cheek reference to Diddy and fellow rapper Mase. The lyrics, “Original Bad Boy on the case, cover your face. Came in the place blowed, and sprayed Puffy with Mase,” may seem like a casual mention, but it marks the beginning of an ongoing rivalry. At this stage, Eminem was still an emerging artist, but this early diss showed his willingness to challenge big names in the music industry, including Diddy.
The Early 2000s: More Direct Jabs at Diddy
By the time Eminem released “Marshall Mathers” and “I’m Back” in 2000, he was already an established force in rap. It was in these tracks that he took more direct shots at Diddy, a man he saw as part of the mainstream hip-hop establishment. In “Marshall Mathers,” Eminem raps, “You little groupie b***, get off me, go f**k Puffy.”* This was a clear, no-holds-barred attack, showcasing the animosity Eminem had developed for Diddy over the years.
In “I’m Back,” Eminem upped the ante with a more personal and crude diss. He rapped, “Cause 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**k.” Here, Eminem targeted Diddy’s then-relationship with Jennifer Lopez, implying that he could’ve had a romantic encounter with her, but instead was throwing his own version of shade at Diddy. This was not only a jab at Diddy’s public persona but also his relationships, particularly with high-profile women.
A Darker Turn in the 2010s: Killshot and Legal Allegations
As the years went on, the disses between Eminem and Diddy evolved from playful shots to darker, more serious references. In 2018, during the peak of Eminem’s beef with Machine Gun Kelly, he took aim at Diddy in “Killshot” with the line, “Kells, the day you put out a hit is the day Diddy admits that he put the hit out that got Pac killed.” This line alluded to the ongoing rumors and conspiracy theories surrounding the deaths of Tupac Shakur and The Notorious B.I.G., with many speculating about Diddy’s involvement in the East Coast-West Coast hip-hop feud. Although Eminem ended the line by saying, “I’m just playing, Diddy, you know I love you,” it was clear that the line was meant to stir the pot and suggest that Diddy had something to hide regarding the infamous murders.
In this period, Eminem’s disses were no longer just about ego or competition—they began to touch on deeper, darker themes surrounding Diddy’s controversial role in the industry.
The 2020s: References to Diddy’s TV Show and Legal Woes
In 2020, Eminem continued to make references to Diddy, but this time he incorporated some of Diddy’s infamous moments from his career. On “Godzilla,” Eminem rapped, “They call me Diddy because I make bands, and I call getting cheese a cakewalk.” This was a nod to Diddy’s hit MTV reality show, Making the Band, where aspiring artists were tasked with extreme challenges, including the infamous scene where Diddy made contestants walk six miles to get him a slice of cheesecake. Eminem used this reference to poke fun at Diddy’s public image, particularly his often criticized methods of mentorship.
The rapper, real name Marshall Mathers, is not shy about making his feelings clear (Christopher Polk/Billboard via Getty Images)
However, as Diddy’s legal troubles began to surface, Eminem’s disses took on an even more pointed tone. In 2024, Eminem’s track “Fuel” seemed to address Diddy’s ongoing criminal charges, which include accusations of sex trafficking and racketeering. Eminem rapped, “Notorious B.I.G.’s death was the domino effect of Tupac’s murder, like facial tissue, whose clock should I clean next? Puff’s? Til he’s in police handcuffs, guilty, will he step up?” The reference here seemed to suggest that Diddy’s legal troubles were a result of his past actions, and Eminem wasn’t shy about voicing his opinion on the matter.
Antichrist: A Final Blow to Diddy’s Reputation
The final blow came in Eminem’s 2024 track “Antichrist.” Here, Eminem took his diss to an even more personal level, referencing Diddy’s ongoing legal issues and the controversial video involving Cassie, his former partner. Eminem rapped, “Next idiot ask me is getting his ass beat worse than Diddy did — But on the real, though, she probably ran out the room with his f**king dildo.” This was a dark and graphic line that alluded to the sexual assault allegations against Diddy, further cementing the animosity between the two.
Combs has received a number of disses from the rapper (Shareif Ziyadat/Getty Images)
Eminem’s Unapologetic Approach: A Lifelong Rivalry
What sets Eminem apart from many artists is his unapologetic, no-filter approach to his music. His disses toward Diddy have been relentless, spanning decades and addressing everything from personal relationships to legal scandals. Whether it was playful jabs in the early 2000s or serious accusations in the 2020s, Eminem has not hesitated to use his music as a platform to air his grievances with the Bad Boy Records mogul.
Despite Diddy’s status in the industry and the controversies that surround him, Eminem continues to bring his rival to the forefront of his music, ensuring that the public is reminded of the ongoing tension between them. While some may view these disses as part of hip-hop’s competitive spirit, they also reveal the deeper underlying conflicts and issues that have existed between the two artists for decades.
Conclusion: The Ongoing Feud Between Eminem and Diddy
From the early days of Eminem’s career to the latest tracks addressing Diddy’s legal troubles, the rapper has made no secret of his disdain for the music mogul. Whether it’s about personal rivalries, past relationships, or serious legal allegations, Eminem has used his lyrics as a weapon to take aim at Diddy, making him one of the most consistent targets in Eminem’s long list of adversaries. As Diddy continues to face legal challenges, it seems likely that this rivalry will evolve, with more disses to come from the ever-vocal Eminem.
