Inside the Beef Between The Game and 50 Cent

The feud between The Game and 50 Cent is one of hip hop’s most infamous rivalries, filled with diss tracks, public confrontations, and years of on-and-off tension. What started as a promising partnership between two rap heavyweights eventually spiraled into a bitter and long-lasting conflict that has spanned nearly two decades.

Origins: From Collaborators to Competitors

Back in the early 2000s, The Game was brought into the spotlight under the wing of Dr. Dre’s Aftermath Entertainment and was soon paired with 50 Cent’s G-Unit label to boost his career. The result was The Documentary (2005), The Game’s debut album, which included several major hits like “How We Do” and “Hate It or Love It” — both featuring 50 Cent.

Despite the success, tensions behind the scenes were brewing. According to 50 Cent, he played a significant role in writing several tracks on The Documentary, a claim The Game has long denied. As creative differences grew, The Game began distancing himself from G-Unit, refusing to get involved in the group’s beefs and questioning 50 Cent’s leadership.

The Fallout

By early 2005, things exploded. 50 Cent publicly announced that The Game was no longer part of G-Unit, prompting a response from The Game that involved a live press conference where he called for unity in hip hop — a short-lived olive branch. Not long after, a shooting outside Hot 97’s New York studios following a radio appearance involving both artists intensified the feud.

The beef then went full throttle, with both rappers dropping diss tracks and mixtapes aimed at each other. The Game’s “300 Bars and Runnin’” became one of the most notable diss tracks of the decade, while 50 continued to take jabs on records and during interviews.

Years of Jabs and Failed Reconciliations

Over the years, there were multiple moments where reconciliation seemed possible. In 2016, The Game posted a photo with Lloyd Banks, sparking rumors of peace. However, 50 Cent quickly shot down any hopes of a full reunion, saying he had no plans to make amends with The Game.

The back-and-forth continued into the 2020s. In interviews, The Game maintained that he was never properly credited for his work and that 50 Cent exaggerated his role in The Documentary. Meanwhile, 50 continued to troll The Game on social media and in interviews, often mocking his career moves and questioning his relevance.

Super Bowl Tensions and More Recent Drama

The feud reignited in 2022 after The Game was noticeably left out of the Super Bowl halftime show, which featured Dr. Dre, Eminem, Snoop Dogg, 50 Cent, Kendrick Lamar, and Mary J. Blige. The Game openly expressed frustration, suggesting his influence and legacy had been overlooked, and hinted that 50 Cent’s inclusion was part of the politics at play.

Later that year, The Game released the track “The Black Slim Shady,” a nearly 10-minute diss aimed at Eminem, but also filled with indirect shots at 50 Cent and the Aftermath camp. The move stirred buzz but also renewed criticism.

Will It Ever End?

While both artists have evolved and branched into new ventures — 50 Cent becoming a TV mogul and The Game continuing to release music — the tension between them still lingers. For many fans, the beef represents more than just personal animosity; it’s a chapter in hip hop history that shaped the careers of two prominent artists and exposed the fragile dynamics within the industry.

Whether they ever find common ground remains uncertain, but one thing is clear: the 50 Cent vs. The Game saga remains one of the genre’s most unforgettable rivalries.