Update: Diddy & Jermaine Dupri’s Verzuz Battle Has NOT Been Confirmed, Despite Recent Reports
Update: Diddy & Jermaine Dupri’s Verzuz Battle Has NOT Been Confirmed, Despite Recent Reports
Update: (May 10, 2023): We hope you haven’t finalized your outfit for the highly-anticipated Diddy and Jermaine Dupri Verzuz Battle just yet.
According to new reports, an official Verzuz Battle for the music icons to face off has not been set. It seems fans took Diddy’s wishful thinking that the event could take place on September 8 as confirmation that everything was set in stone. As previously reported, while speaking about a potential battle against Jermaine Dupri, Diddy said:
“September 8th… at the [Madison Square] Garden, n*gga. Me versus Jermaine [Dupri]. Then we’ll have you out the rafters, flying out the sky.”
However, an insider shared with TMZ that Diddy’s statement was just “strategy” talk, and as of now, supporters shouldn’t be marking anything on their calendars.
Original story: (May 9, 2023):
It looks like the Bad Boy x So So moment we’ve all been waiting for has arrived!
According to Diddy, he and fellow music legend Jermaine Dupri will be going hit-for-hit in a long-awaited battle against each other.
Reportedly, the anticipated showdown is scheduled for September 8 at Madison Square Garden in New York City.
In a now-viral clip, where Diddy is seen “chopping it up” with rappers Fabolous and Busta Rhymes, Diddy told Busta Rhymes,
“September 8th… at the [Madison Square] Garden, n*gga. Me versus Jermaine [Dupri]. Then we’ll have you out the rafters, flying out the sky.”
Diddy announces he’s facing Jermaine Dupri in Verzuz September 8th at Madison Square Garden
20 songs, who’s winning?pic.twitter.com/bh0o58wnG1
— SOUND (@itsavibe) May 8, 2023
If you didn’t know, a Diddy and Jermaine Dupri face-off has been on the table for almost two years now. The super producers first teased the idea in 2021, when Jermaine Dupri challenged Diddy to go against him in a Timbaland and Swizz Beatz’ Verzuz.
However, Diddy comically responded to the social media call by saying that he felt music mogul Dr. Dre would be a better match for him.
The 53-year-old wrote in a post,
“Beloved you my n*gga but your arms too short to box with God!!! You ain’t got enough hits. I’ll smash you with just Biggie n Mary. But I do have the utmost respect on you as a musician legend–[Dr.] Dre the only one [who] can get in the ring w me. -LOVE.”
The Hip-Hop icons engaged in a little back-and-forth online banter for a while, but nothing came of it until last year. In August 2022, Diddy and Dupri both agreed to “battle it out.” However… without the Verzuz label attached.
During an Instagram Live, the fellas mentioned hosting the competitive event in Atlanta. Diddy said,
“J.D., if you want that smoke, you can get that smoke anytime.”
In reference to Swizz Beatz and Timbaland’s $28 million lawsuit against Verzuz’s parent company, video-sharing phenomenon Triller, Diddy added,
“Since we ain’t f*cking around with Verzuz no more, ’cause they f*cking around with our boys, we don’t need to be going against each other.”
Now that the legal matter has been settled, it appears that Diddy and Dupri are back on the Verzuz train. An official announcement hasn’t been made, but Swizz Beatz did give an Instagram Story co-sign, reposting an article about the forthcoming occurrence.
Who do you think will take home the winning crown: Jermaine Dupri or Diddy? Let us know in the comments below!