The long-running feud between Eminem and Mariah Carey has spanned over two decades, with lyrical jabs, public denials, diss tracks, and an unexpected third participant: Nick Cannon. It all began in the early 2000s, when Eminem claimed in an interview that he had a romantic relationship with Mariah shortly after her split from music executive Tommy Mottola. Mariah swiftly denied this, stating they merely talked and hung out a few times.

This denial wounded Eminem’s pride, and being no stranger to controversy, he struck back with what he knew best: music. His 2002 album The Eminem Show included the track “Superman,” filled with subtle but pointed references to Mariah. Though he didn’t name her directly, lyrics like “What you, Mariah? Fly through twice” left little room for doubt.

Mariah initially stayed silent, but in 2003 she dropped “Clown” on her Charmbracelet album, denying intimacy with Eminem and mocking his version of events. The feud simmered publicly for a few years until Eminem reignited it during live performances. He even played voicemails allegedly from Mariah on stage, suggesting a deeper relationship than she admitted, and followed it up with disrespectful antics-like pretending to vomit onstage at the thought of her-before launching into his song “Puke.”

Still, Mariah stayed composed, refusing to react. That is, until she dropped “Obsessed” in 2009, a lead single from Memoirs of an Imperfect Angel. In the music video, she dressed as a stalker wearing a hoodie and goatee, clearly mocking Eminem. Though she never named him, fans and critics quickly connected the dots.

Eminem responded with full force. He released The Warning, a brutal diss track loaded with alleged voicemails and personal messages from Mariah, claiming he had proof of their relationship. It wasn’t just music anymore; it was veering into legal territory. Mariah’s team reportedly threatened legal action if Eminem released any of those private recordings.

This was when Nick Cannon, Mariah’s husband at the time, entered the ring. At first, he wrote a blog post defending his wife and criticizing Eminem. But soon, he escalated the feud with interviews and tweets, eventually releasing diss tracks like I’m a Slick Rick and The Invitation.

Despite Cannon’s efforts, Eminem didn’t respond directly. His silence was louder than any diss. Fans saw Cannon as reaching, trying to stir controversy and stay relevant. Eminem’s followers flooded Cannon’s posts with memes and mockery, calling his tracks weak and unnecessary.

Over the years, Cannon continued to mention Eminem in interviews and on social media, even inviting him to appear on Wild ‘N Out for a live rap battle. Eminem never accepted. The contrast between Eminem’s silence and Cannon’s persistent jabs became a running joke online.

In 2019, Mariah and Nick’s marriage ended. While some fans mourned the split, others saw it as a fitting end to a chaotic chapter. By then, Eminem had moved on. He reappeared briefly in 2021 on Fat Joe’s Family Ties album, dropping a subtle jab at Nick and Mariah on the track “Lord Above,” suggesting Nick was still obsessed and controlled by Mariah.

Nick responded with more posts and another Wild ‘N Out invitation, but again, Eminem stayed quiet. Fans interpreted this as a final win for Slim Shady. After years of back-and-forth, his refusal to engage became the ultimate clapback.

In the end, Eminem’s legacy as a rap icon remained untouched. Mariah Carey continued to thrive in music, touring and breaking streaming records. Nick Cannon, while successful in entertainment, became more known for his growing number of children and attempts to keep the beef alive than for any major music accomplishments.

What began as a rumored relationship turned into one of hip-hop’s most talked-about feuds. Through songs, interviews, and social media chaos, it evolved into a cautionary tale of pride, pettiness, and public perception. Eminem’s final weapon wasn’t a diss-it was silence. And sometimes, that’s louder than any beat.