The long-standing animosity between hip-hop moguls 50 Cent and Sean "Diddy" Combs has escalated with the release of a new Netflix docuseries. Titled "Sean Combs: The Reckoning," the four-part series, produced by Curtis "50 Cent" Jackson, explores the serious allegations surrounding Combs.
Key Takeaways
- 50 Cent produces a new Netflix docuseries, "Sean Combs: The Reckoning."
- The series explores allegations against Sean Combs, including those from Cassie Ventura.
- The feud between 50 Cent and Diddy dates back to a 2006 diss track.
- 50 Cent has consistently trolled Diddy on social media for years.
- Diddy's son, Christian Combs, released a song defending his father and criticizing 50 Cent.
New Docuseries Focuses on Allegations Against Combs
The Netflix docuseries, which premiered on Tuesday, delves into the various allegations made against Sean Combs. Director Alexandria Stapleton stated that the project was partly inspired by Cassie Ventura. Ventura, a recording artist, filed a civil lawsuit against Combs in November 2023, alleging rape and abuse over more than a decade. The lawsuit was settled shortly after it was filed.
Stapleton highlighted the cultural significance of Ventura's actions. "Being a woman in the industry, and going through the #MeToo movement — watching giants in music and film go on trial, and to know what their outcomes were… When Cassie dropped her lawsuit, I just thought this could go a million different directions," Stapleton explained. She viewed Ventura's decision as a critical test of societal progress in addressing such accusations fairly.
Docuseries Details
- Title: Sean Combs: The Reckoning
- Producer: Curtis "50 Cent" Jackson
- Director: Alexandria Stapleton
- Platform: Netflix
- Episodes: Four parts
The Roots of a Rivalry: A Look Back
The animosity between 50 Cent and Diddy is not new; it spans nearly two decades. The feud gained public attention in 2006 when 50 Cent released a diss track titled "The Bomb." This track included sound effects of gunfire and accusations regarding Combs' knowledge of the killer of rapper The Notorious B.I.G., also known as Christopher Wallace.
Wallace, a protégé and close friend of Combs, was tragically shot and killed in Los Angeles in March 1997. He was traveling in a different vehicle than Combs at the time of the shooting. No one has ever been charged in connection with Wallace's murder.
Historical Context
In his 2006 diss track, 50 Cent rapped, "I guess this means I won’t be invited to the white parties in the Hamptons." This line directly referenced Combs' well-known extravagant parties held in the upscale New York community. 50 Cent has also publicly suggested that Combs is connected to the 1996 murder of rapper Tupac Shakur. Combs has consistently dismissed these allegations as "nonsense" and has never faced charges in either case.
Consistent Social Media Trolling
50 Cent, known for his sharp wit and frequent use of social media, has made Combs a regular target. His online posts have criticized everything from Combs' music to his age. For a period, some observers believed the ongoing jabs were primarily a marketing tactic, especially given the two moguls' similar career paths and their competition in the vodka market—50 Cent with Effen Vodka and Combs with Ciroc.
However, 50 Cent's commentary intensified after the civil lawsuit filed by Cassie Ventura in November 2023. After federal investigators conducted searches at Combs' residences in Miami and Los Angeles in March, 50 Cent posted on X, stating, "Now it’s not Diddy do it, it’s Diddy done. They don’t come like that unless they got a case."
"I wondered how she had the confidence to go out there against a mogul like Sean Combs. As a filmmaker, I instantly knew it was a stress test of whether we’ve changed as a culture, as far as being able to process allegations like this in a fair way."
— Alexandria Stapleton, Director of "Sean Combs: The Reckoning"
Combs' Perspective on the Feud
Despite 50 Cent's persistent public attacks, Sean Combs has often downplayed the animosity. During a 2018 appearance on "The Breakfast Club" radio show, Combs addressed the tension directly. "I don’t have no beef with Fif. He loves me," Combs stated. "Y’all can’t see that he loves me? You really think that’s hate? … You know he loves me."
Combs indicated that he did not take 50 Cent's comments personally, viewing them as humorous. "When he does that it’s like funny to me," Combs explained. "I don’t really take it personal. I know he has a different sense of humor, and he’s just not in my life. We don’t have to never cross paths, and I will never say nothing negative about him, you know, because that’s just not me."
A Son's Defense: Christian Combs Steps In
The ongoing public dispute saw a new development in May 2024 when Christian Combs, Sean Combs' 27-year-old son, released a song titled "Pick a Side." Performing under the name King Combs, he used the track to support his father and criticize figures like 50 Cent.
Christian and his brother, Justin, were briefly handcuffed and detained by authorities during the March 2024 searches of their father's homes. Neither son was arrested or charged. Their father's attorney, Aaron Dyer, issued a statement at the time, alleging a "gross overuse of military-level force" and criticizing the treatment of Combs' children and employees.
In his song, King Combs appeared to declare his father's innocence. He took a direct swipe at 50 Cent with lyrics such as, "All that gossip sh*t is whack when all they had was 50 Cent / Who put this city on the map? / Stop lying."
50 Cent quickly responded to King Combs' track with a sarcastic post on social media. According to Billboard, he wrote in a now-deleted Instagram post, "I feel so threatened by the things Christian is saying on his record. I’m afraid for my life, please don’t hurt me guys." The exchange highlights the deeply personal nature of the ongoing feud, which now involves the next generation.