RAP BEEF TIMELINE · 2011–2021
Eminem vs. Joe Budden
Slaughterhouse, “Fall,” and the podcast counterattack
Joe Budden’s Shady Records history with Slaughterhouse adds weight to his 2017 Revival criticism and the stalled Glass House fallout. Eminem answers on “Fall”; Budden makes the counterattack a long podcast argument. A later “Trader Joe” jab is an aftershock, but neither man sustains the campaign.
THE RECORD
The moments
Music industry
Slaughterhouse’s Shady era supplies the history
Joe Budden, Royce da 5’9”, Joell Ortiz, and Kxng Crooked join Shady Records as Slaughterhouse. Welcome to: Our House arrives in 2012, while delays around the unreleased Glass House later become part of the group’s frustration with the label relationship.
Read the receipt ↗Interview
Budden’s Everyday Struggle critiques become public friction
On Everyday Struggle, Budden repeatedly critiques Eminem’s late-2017 rollout, including the anti-Trump BET Cypher, “Untouchable,” and Revival. His stance turns a former label relationship into an open professional divide.
“Eminem, I love you... but that tracklist is trash.”Joe Budden, Everyday Struggle
▶ Watch Budden discuss Eminem’s 2017 rolloutMusic industry · disputed account
Slaughterhouse breaks apart amid the Glass House frustration
By spring 2018, Slaughterhouse has effectively disbanded. The unreleased second Shady project, Glass House, and Budden’s shift into podcasting sit behind the public frustration between former label partners.
Read the receipt ↗Diss track
Eminem names Budden on “Fall”
On the surprise album Kamikaze, Eminem turns his frustration toward Budden directly. The track makes a private label-era disappointment into a public lyrical exchange.
“Somebody tell Budden before I snap.”Eminem, “Fall”
▶ Watch Eminem’s “Fall”Interview
Budden turns the reply into a podcast counterattack
On Episode 177 of The Joe Budden Podcast, Budden spends an extended segment responding to “Fall.” He frames the conflict as a label boss attacking a former artist, and chooses not to release a conventional diss record.
“I've been better than you this entire fucking decade!... You popping off at somebody who was under your umbrella.”Joe Budden, The Joe Budden Podcast, Episode 177
▶ Read Budden’s “Fall” responseInterview
Eminem explains the personal disappointment to Sway
In his Kamikaze interview, Eminem says the criticism hurt because it came from an artist he had supported. He argues that Budden publicly dismissed an album into which he had put extensive work.
“To sit there and trash my album... I worked on this album for a year and a half, and you didn't even listen to it.”Eminem × Sway interview, Part 2
▶ Watch Eminem’s Sway interviewDiss track
“Trader Joe” is a final small aftershock
On “Lock It Up” from Music to Be Murdered By, Eminem uses “Trader Joe” as a brief Budden reference. The jab does not produce a new full-scale response, and the dispute soon settles into dormancy.
▶ Listen to “Lock It Up”
THE RECEIPTS
Sources and listening
Everyday Struggle — Joe Budden critiques Eminem’s 2017 rollout ↗Eminem — “Fall” official video ↗Okayplayer — Joe Budden answers Eminem’s “Fall” ↗Eminem × Sway — Kamikaze interview, Part 2 ↗Eminem feat. Anderson .Paak — “Lock It Up” ↗ARTIST LENSES