Eminem and Snoop Dogg are two of the biggest names in rap music. With decades-long careers filled with classic albums and timeless hits, they have firmly cemented their places in hip hop history. However, despite their legendary statuses, in recent years tensions have flared between the two rap icons, culminating in an ongoing feud.
The Origins of the Beef
Eminem and Snoop Dogg’s beef appears to originate from comments Snoop made about Eminem during a July 2020 interview on The Breakfast Club radio show. When asked about his top 10 rappers of all time, Snoop did not include Eminem, saying:
“[Dr. Dre] has probably put Eminem in the position to where he could be like labeled as one of Top 10 rappers ever. I don’t think so, but the game feels like he’s Top 10 lyricist and all that comes with it but that’s just because he’s with Dr. Dre and Dr. Dre helped him find the best Eminem he could find.”
Snoop went on to name rappers from the 80s and 90s like Rakim, Big Daddy Kane, and Ice Cube who he felt Eminem could not compete with.
While Snoop maintained his comments were not meant as disrespect, Eminem took offense. On his December 2020 track “Zeus,” Eminem directly addressed Snoop:
“And, as far as squashing beef, I’m used to people knocking me/But, just not in my camp/And diplomatic as I’m tryna be/Last thing I need is Snoop dogging me/Man, Dogg, you was like a (Yeah) damn God to me/Nah, not really (Haha)/I had ‘dog’ backwards”
Eminem later explained that he was particularly bothered by Snoop saying he could “live without” Eminem’s music.
Snoop Fires Back
In response to “Zeus,” Snoop posted a cryptic laughing emoji and wrote online “Pray I don’t answer that soft ass shit.” He also previewed a track aimed at Eminem, referencing Eminem songs “Kamikaze” and “Superman.”
During a Clubhouse conversation, Snoop’s collaborator Daz Dillinger shed more light on the feud. Daz claimed Eminem had previously declined to collaborate with Snoop on a track after “Bitch Please II,” leading to hurt feelings on Snoop’s part.
Two Rap Gods Trading Shots
The verbal sparring between the rap titans continued to escalate. In April 2021, Snoop explained in an interview why he felt Eminem had fallen off:
“Eminem don’t do nothing no more. He found his way, he’s well respected in the game, probably the most lyrical lyricist to ever bless the mic, but he don’t do nothing no more.”
Snoop suggested younger rappers were trying to goad Eminem into responding on tracks.
“Them young boys want a part of him, they trying to wake the beast up.”
Eminem has not taken kindly to Snoop’s verbal jabs and accusations of falling off. In September 2021, he referenced the feud directly:
“I was really bothered by the whole Snoop sh*t…I had a problem with that.”
Neither rapper seems ready to relent or turn down the heat in their war of words. Their rivalry stands out as a rare case of high-profile veteran rappers trading public disses late in already storied careers.
Attempts to Make Peace
However, there have been some attempts to deescalate tensions. After Dr. Dre suffered a brain aneurysm in early 2021, Eminem and Snoop agreed to put their feud aside temporarily out of respect for their mutual friend and mentor.
Eminem explained in an interview:
“When Dre had that brain aneurysm thing happen, it was, ‘We’ve just got to let this go.’ You know what I’m saying? Like, life’s too short.”
The two artists also collaborated on music after Dre’s health scare, appearing together on tracks like “The Adventures Of Moon Man & Slim Shady” with Kid Cudi. For a while it seemed the beef might fade away.
Reigniting the Feud
But the rivalry was rekindled again in 2022. Snoop criticized Eminem’s Super Bowl halftime show performance, saying he didn’t understand the decision to have Eminem “kneel” during the set.
Eminem snapped back by leaking private DMs between the two, where Snoop had reached out to collaborate following their brief truce after Dre’s aneurysm. Snoop had written:
“Feels like we need to talk, my bad mane, was just in my feelings about some sh*t but all G.”
Eminem bluntly captioned the post:
“Me too @snoopdogg, here’s a taste.”
Snoop clapped back by accusing Eminem of using ghostwriters at this stage in his career. The latest salvos have shown neither side is ready to truly bury the hatchet.
Why This Beef Matters
It’s rare to see such prominent rap figures – both considered all-time greats and key figures in hip hop history – engaging in such a public war of words this late into their careers.
Both have millions of die-hard fans who vigorously defend their side, while many longtime hip hop fans are divided and conflicted.
Eminem and Snoop Dogg’s beef forces the hip hop community to reckon with questions about legacy, longevity, generational divides, and evolving perspectives on the greatest rap artists over time.
Their beef also represents deeper divides and debates, like:
- Regional differences (West Coast vs Midwest)
- Race and culture (Eminem as a white rapper in a predominantly Black genre)
- Old school vs new school perspectives on hip hop music and culture
This context gives their rivalry added weight and significance. Hip hop is impacted when two of its most revered figures are locked in such an explosive clash.
What’s Next?
It’s unclear if or when Eminem and Snoop Dogg will settle their score. Neither seems willing to take a definitive step back first.
A decisive victory on a diss track from either artist could tip the scales. But as long as they both stay active musically, they will likely continue to take verbal shots at each other.
Eminem shows no signs of slowing down, while Snoop Dogg seems more prolific than ever. With their pride and legacies at stake, the two rap gods may let their beef simmer on low heat indefinitely.
Many fans still hope for a reconciliation, especially given their contributions to hip hop and shared roots with Dr. Dre. Perhaps a meaningful gesture of peace from one side could open the door.
But for now their beef continues with no end in sight, leaving hip hop to speculate about when and how this clash of rap titans will finally be resolved. Their face-off will likely go down as one of the defining rap conflicts of the modern era.