Why 50 Cent REALLY HATES Jay-Z 🤯💣: Diddy Drama, Super Bowl Shade & 20 Years of Hidden Beef

For over two decades, the relationship between 50 Cent and Jay-Z has swung between backhanded respect and outright hostility.

And while it might look like just industry competition on the surface, the truth runs much deeper—into boardrooms, onto stages, and into very public beefs that go far beyond rap.

It all began in 1999 when an up-and-coming Curtis Jackson, better known as 50 Cent, released the infamous diss track “How to Rob.

” In it, he named nearly every major rapper in the game, including Jay-Z.

Instead of brushing it off, Hov responded at Summer Jam with a now-famous line: “I’m about a dollar, who the f** is 50 Cent?”* That diss, ironically, gave 50 exactly what he wanted—credibility, attention, and a

seat at the table.

Fast forward a few years: 50 Cent explodes onto the scene with Get Rich or Die Tryin’ in 2003.

He was unstoppable.

Jay-Z, recognizing the threat, reportedly told his Roc-A-Fella artists: “Y’all better put out music now.

50 Cent is coming.” Within months, 50 dominated the charts—and Jay stepped away from music to become Def Jam’s president.

Coincidence? Not to 50.

Despite brief collaborations, including the Rock the Mic Tour and a G-Unit Reebok deal orchestrated by Jay, 50 claims he pushed Hov into temporary retirement.

In his own words: “Where was Jay from 2003 to 2006? I sold 23 million records. He quit.”

The drama didn’t stop there.

In 2007, Ciara brought 50 Cent on stage during a Madison Square Garden performance.

Later, TI introduced Jay-Z as his surprise guest.

But 50 didn’t leave—he came back again, crashing Jay-Z’s big moment.

Cameras caught the tension.

Jay’s forced smile.

The awkward exchange.

Even 50 admitted later: “I was doing too much.”

But the biggest source of tension? The Super Bowl.

In 2022, Eminem demanded that 50 Cent perform at the halftime show—or he wouldn’t do it.

Jay-Z, now an NFL partner and executive producer of the event, allegedly tried to keep 50 off the bill.

According to Fif: “Roc Nation didn’t want me there.

They only added me because Eminem refused to perform without me.” Ouch.

50 posted memes mocking Jay’s silence during the Diddy scandal.

One meme showed Jay’s face on a milk carton, captioned: “Anybody seen Jay? Puff said he ain’t answering his phone.” Another depicted Jay in “hibernation.”  It was relentless—and personal.

When Jay reportedly referred to Eminem as “the white boy” in Super Bowl negotiations, 50 took that as another slight.

Why not call him “the biggest rap artist in the world”? Fif saw it as subtle disrespect—and used it to fuel his ongoing war.

Even Beyoncé wasn’t safe.

In a now-infamous story, 50 described how Beyoncé confronted him in Las Vegas.

“She jumped down off a window sill like she was ready to fight.

I’m like, ‘Yo, I’m talking to Jay.’” He insisted it was between him and Hov, but Bey clearly wasn’t having it.

Then came the Grammy shade.

50 called the award “worthless,” implying Beyoncé’s 32 Grammy wins were part of a rigged system.

“I haven’t seen anyone sell their Grammy for financial help.

It has zero value,” he claimed—clearly aiming at both Carters.

But one of the pettiest moves came during his competition with Kanye West in 2007.

When Curtis and Graduation went head-to-head, Jay-Z, as Def Jam president, backed Kanye.

According to 50, Jay did everything to ensure Kanye would win.

In his book Hustle Harder, Hustle Smarter, 50 wrote: “Jay-Z cared deeply about beating me through Kanye.

He took pride in it.”

He also accused Hov of setting him up at BET when Kanye showed up with Jay while 50 was forced to appear solo after BET banned guests.

In Jay-Z’s own documentary, he cited that exact moment as a “victory.” 50’s response? “How did you beat me if it was Kanye? Oh right, you rigged the game.”

Their indirect jabs continued for years.

Jay claimed, “No one’s scared of 50 Cent” after Kanye snatched a mic from Taylor Swift—a move 50 claimed would never happen if he were on stage.

Fif clapped back: “Why would you say that unless you’re trying to make a point no one asked about?”

Then there’s the whole “you’re only famous in America” insult.

50 claimed Jay was more recognized as “Beyoncé’s husband” than a global artist.

Meanwhile, he flaunted his own international stats: “My first two albums sold 5 million each.

Let them believe there’s competition.

 

America can be bought.

The rest of the world can’t.”

Even when Jay released his mature, critically acclaimed 4:44 album in 2017, 50 mocked it: “That’s golf course music.

Ain’t nobody trying to hear that in the hood.”

The final blow? Fif’s relentless trolling during the Diddy scandal.

Every time Diddy was in the news, 50 would post something dragging Jay into the mess.

In one meme, he edited Jay and Diddy into a New Jack City scene with the caption: “This thing is bigger than Nino Brown.

” Translation? Jay-Z, according to 50, is more involved in Puff’s drama than he wants people to know.

Still, when asked if they have beef, 50 keeps it vague.

In a 2022 Breakfast Club interview, he said: “We got a good relationship.

” But by 2023? He was calling Jay-Z a hater again.

“Jay said the NFL had an issue with me… But I own 11 pro teams through my champagne deals.

What issue?”

So is it business? Is it personal? The answer is probably both.

50 Cent has always been the ultimate disruptor—a marketing genius who turns conflict into clout.

Jay-Z is the ultimate strategist—quiet, powerful, and selective.

In that contrast, lies the friction.

Two titans, two different worlds—and neither willing to fully bow to the other.

Whether it’s petty posts, industry jabs, or “coincidental” Grammy shade, one thing’s clear: the 50 Cent vs.

Jay-Z cold war is still very much alive—and it’s being fought one savage Instagram post at a time.