The bitter and long-running feud between hip-hop moguls Sean "Diddy" Combs and Curtis "50 Cent" Jackson has spanned a quarter of a century, outlasting musical trends and escalating amidst serious legal battles. Their conflict, which began with professional disagreements, has evolved into a very public war of words, playing out in diss tracks, social media spats, and now, a high-profile Netflix documentary.
From Early Collaborations to Public Disrespect
The roots of their strained relationship trace back to the early 2000s. In April 2001, a then-unknown 50 Cent allegedly ghostwrote a verse for Diddy's appearance on G. Dep's track "Let's Get It." Jackson later referenced this on his 2003 song "U Not Like Me," marking the first recorded mention of the other.
Public tensions first erupted in August 2006 when Jackson released the diss track "The Bomb." The song contained incendiary lyrics implying Combs was involved in the murder of The Notorious B.I.G. (Biggie Smalls). The bad blood was reportedly ignited after Combs blocked rapper Mase from leaving Bad Boy Records to sign with Jackson's G-Unit, demanding a $2 million buyout Jackson refused to pay.
Vodka Wars and Personal Attacks
The rivalry was reignited in April 2015 when both moguls promoted competing vodka brands—Combs with Ciroc and Jackson with Effen. Jackson launched a series of mocking social media posts, leading to a war of words he refused to de-escalate, famously writing: "I'm different, I don't respect suckers."
The conflict turned deeply personal in January 2018. Jackson repeatedly used social media and radio interviews to make homophobic insinuations about Combs, recalling an incident where Combs offered to take him shopping. Combs later downplayed the feud in an interview, smilingly stating, "He loves me."
Feud Intensifies Amid Legal Scandals
The dynamic shifted as Combs faced a cascade of serious legal allegations. When Cassie Ventura's lawsuit against Combs was settled in November 2023, Jackson was quick to mock him online, writing: "He paid that money real quick."
Jackson's commentary intensified as the legal net tightened. In March 2024, he reacted to federal raids on Combs's homes, posting "S*** just got real." In May 2024, he publicly shared the CCTV footage showing Combs attacking Ventura in a hotel hallway, sarcastically commenting on Combs's subsequent apology video: "This is not going to work."
The Netflix Reckoning and Ongoing Barbs
In September 2024, Jackson announced he was executive producing a four-part Netflix docuseries about Combs, titled Sean Combs: The Reckoning. He insisted the project was "not personal," despite their history. The series was released on 2 December 2025. Hours before its debut, Combs's team condemned it as a "shameful hit piece" using "stolen footage."
Throughout Combs's 2025 sex trafficking trial, Jackson continued his taunts. In May 2025, after testimony claimed Combs once threatened him with guns, Jackson posted AI-generated images of himself looking frightened. In June 2025, he vowed to intervene with then-President Donald Trump to stop any potential pardon for Combs.
Despite moments of détente, such as Jackson sending condolences after the death of Combs's ex-partner Kim Porter in November 2018, the overarching narrative remains one of enduring animosity. Their 25-year saga, from ghostwriting to federal trials, stands as one of the music industry's most protracted and public conflicts.
