RAP BEEF TIMELINE · 1999–2024
Eminem vs. Limp Bizkit
TRL betrayal, “Girls,” and a twenty-three-year apology
They began as MTV-era friends and video collaborators. A planned Everlast diss, a last-minute pullout, and DJ Lethal’s TRL comment left Eminem feeling abandoned; “Girls” was his answer. Limp Bizkit never put out a response, and Eminem finally apologized on “Guilty Conscience 2.”
THE RECORD
The moments
Performance
The friendship is an MTV fact
Eminem turns up in Limp Bizkit’s “Break Stuff” video alongside Dr. Dre, Snoop Dogg, Jonathan Davis, and other MTV-era fixtures. The two camps also record together during this period, making the later split feel especially abrupt.
▶ Watch “Break Stuff”Performance
The Real Slim Shady still gives Fred a shout
Eminem includes Fred Durst in a jokey “The Real Slim Shady” bar, while Durst appears in the video and joins Eminem on the 2000 MTV VMAs stage. The public record still looks friendly.
“So you can sit me next to Carson Daly and Fred Durst.”Eminem, “The Real Slim Shady”
▶ Watch “The Real Slim Shady”Read the receipt ↗Interview · disputed account
Everlast exposes the fault line
Limp Bizkit offers to help Eminem on “Quitter,” his Everlast diss, but Fred Durst pulls out and DJ Lethal says he is uncomfortable attacking a former House of Pain bandmate. Then, on TRL, Lethal says Eminem is the better MC but that Everlast would win a fight. Eminem sees it as a public betrayal.
“In a fight, Everlast would whip his ass.”DJ Lethal, TRL
Read the receipt ↗Diss track
“Girls” turns the disappointment nuclear
Eminem takes over D12’s hidden track “Girls” for a full-length answer to Fred Durst and DJ Lethal. Limp Bizkit does not issue a counter-diss; Durst instead says he still has love for Eminem’s talent in later interviews.
“Yo, fuck Limp Bizkit, man!”Eminem, “Girls”
▶ Listen to “Girls”Reconciliation
Eminem finally says sorry
On “Guilty Conscience 2,” Eminem revisits old Slim Shady targets and directly apologizes to Fred Durst and DJ Lethal. It is a rare, explicit end-credit apology for a feud that Limp Bizkit never answered on record.
“Yeah, sorry Fred / Didn't mean to drag your name through the mud / Or yours, DJ Lethal.”Eminem, “Guilty Conscience 2”
▶ Listen to “Guilty Conscience 2”
THE RECEIPTS
Sources and listening
Limp Bizkit — “Break Stuff” official video ↗Eminem / D12 — “Girls” ↗Eminem — “Guilty Conscience 2” ↗ARTIST LENSES