Khaberni - The world of hip-hop witnessed one of the longest disputes in its history between Curtis Jackson, known as "50 Cent", and Sean Combs, known as "Diddy", which spanned decades, and turned from professional collaboration and mutual respect beginnings to public enmity inclusive of legal accusations and fiery statements, reaching its peak with a documentary on Netflix that recounts the details of the conflict.
Relationship Beginnings
50 Cent and Khaberni met in the 90s during their rise in the American hip-hop scene, where the duo collaborated to a limited extent, with 50 Cent helping write some of Diddy's song lyrics in 2001, as well as 50 Cent's then-girlfriend, Jennifer Lopez, encouraging work between them.
However, the relationship was more professional than friendship, as 50 Cent later stated that he wasn't used to staying up late or participating in Diddy's parties, considering that the latter focused on the commercial aspect of art while he placed himself in the frame of creativity. They would meet at artistic events and private celebrity parties.
Spark of Enmity
The rivalry became public in 2006 following the release of 50 Cent's track "The Bomb", wherein he accused Diddy of having a hand in the killing of hip-hop stars Tupac Shakur and Notorious B.I.G., which Diddy completely denied, later affirming that he had no connection with either of the incidents.
Commercial Competition and Aggravation of the Dispute
The relationship worsened due to commercial competition for two beverage brands; Diddy became the commercial face of one famous brand since 2007, while 50 Cent entered the market later through a competing brand. Comparisons between the brands began publicly, along with sharp criticisms from 50 Cent, further intensifying the conflict from just an artistic disagreement to an economic and public struggle.
Personal Stances and Ongoing Tension
50 Cent revealed in several interviews that he felt confused about Diddy's behavior in certain situations, such as inviting him to go shopping, which he described as "weird energy" that led him to stay away from participating in his events and parties.
On the other hand, Diddy tried in 2018 to calm the atmosphere, assuring that he harbored respect and "love" for 50 Cent, but he did not succeed in restoring the relationship to its normal state.
Legal Involvement and Escalation of Enmity
The situation significantly deteriorated after multiple accusations were directed at Diddy in 2023 and 2024, including accusations of sexual assault and exploitation.
His homes in Los Angeles and Miami were raided by the U.S. Department of Homeland Security, prompting 50 Cent to publicly speak about these issues on social media, confirming that he had been observing Diddy's suspicious movements for years.
The Documentary: The Culmination of the Conflict
50 Cent capitalized on these tensions to produce a documentary titled Sean Combs: The Reckoning, which was shown on Netflix on December 2, 2025.
The documentary offers exclusive testimonials from relatives and former partners, in addition to scenes from the six days leading up to Diddy's arrest in 2024, and presents the background of the legal accusations he faced.
50 Cent and director Alexandria Stapleton stated that the goal was to give a voice to those affected by the issues and to provide a balanced narration of what happened, without distorting the musical culture of hip-hop.
