Christmas Day 2025 didn’t bring a surprise drop or a goodwill moment. It brought a response. After 50 Cent mocked the Let’s Rap About It podcast over an alleged rent dispute, even calling the crew “squatters” and threatening to buy their building after posting a claimed voicemail from the owner, Maino, Jim Jones, Dave East, and Fabolous answered the way New York rappers traditionally do, by rapping.
Most artists might have kept the beef online, but these four took it to the booth instead. “Squatter’s Rights Freestyle” is a four-verse rebuttal built on 50’s own beats, turning his catalog into the setting for a pointed, carefully constructed reply.
The freestyle cycles through four iconic 50 Cent beats, with each rapper claiming a different instrumental.
Maino opens on “Back Down,” produced originally by Dr. Dre. Jim Jones slides over Eminem’s menacing “I’ll Whip Ya Head Boy” production.
Dave East takes The Massacre’s “A Baltimore Love Thing,” crafted by Needlz. Fabolous closes on “Rider Pt. 2,” also from The Massacre era. The choice was pointed, an effort to dismantle 50 on his own classics.
Opening Salvos
Maino establishes the tone with bars about DNA and not backing down. His flow stays measured over Dre’s ominous synths.
“These internet cats throwing shots picked the right time, I got time today, a hustler gon’ find a way, I don’t back down, it’s not inside my DNA.”
Jim Jones follows with Dipset bravado, flipping the squatter accusation into flex territory. “Ain’t squatting in the building, I’m squatting on some millions, these cats watching my moves, I got ’em in they feelings.” Capo keeps it street, reminding everyone he is still active.
Dave East’s verse operates differently. He is the youngest voice here, bridging generational gaps with references that span decades.
His flow stays pocket-perfect over “A Baltimore Love Thing,” dropping basketball references, including Mateen Cleaves winning the 2000 NCAA championship, and cooking metaphors.
The Harlem MC brings technical precision without overcomplicating things, establishing his lane while staying on code with the veterans.
You might also like:
- Kendrick Lamar Unleashes Euphoria: A Bold Drake Diss Track That Divides the Rap World
- Drake Unleashes Scorching Diss Track Family Matters: A Lyrical Firestorm
- Livestream Culture: How Hip-Hop Conquered Twitch & Kick
- GloRilla Drops “MARCH” & “Special”: New Singles + Video
- Most Streamed Songs of December 2025 on Spotify & TikTok
- Kendrick Lamar’s “Reincarnated” Lyrics Explained
Fabolous: Every Bar a Dagger
Loso saved the ammunition for last. The Brooklyn legend opens with a three-syllable rhyme scheme that immediately signals he came to work.
“I’m a top shooter who drop dollars and pop collars, you ain’t talking about top dollar, do not holler, cats can’t move us, we not squatters, they mad cuz we fly and cats cannot swat us.”
The “fly / swat us / fly swatter” flip on the squatter concept shows the wordplay mastery that made Fab legendary.
“Them window shoppers ain’t really gon’ cop nada” directly references 50’s 2005 Ja Rule diss “Window Shopper,” reclaiming the insult and redirecting it.
The bars that follow reference 50’s catalog and personal history with precision. “You know I got Power, your shorty got hot showered” touches on 50’s television franchise while alluding to his ex-girlfriend Daphne Joy’s relationship with Diddy, who faced federal prostitution-related charges in 2025.
“Catch her trying to leave like Tasha shot LaLa” continues the Power theme, while “The chick hot Myla and no you not Allah, you can both meet the creator, his first name not Tyler” works as both a Tyler Perry and Tyler the Creator reference.
“This blick like a ‘Magic Stick,’ your top voila” brings 50’s 2003 Lil’ Kim collaboration into play. “Got brollic but not solid” questions 50’s character despite his gym gains.
“Not in the jungle” serves as geographic shade, with Fab still in NYC while 50 moved to Connecticut years ago.
“How is these grown men acting childish?” critiques 50’s Instagram persona and the constant trolling that defines his current output.
The verse closes with Fab hanging up a payphone that used to cost 50 cents to operate. Even the outro contains a diss.
Why This Matters
This beef exists in a specific moment. 50 Cent spent 2025 dominating headlines with his Netflix documentary about Diddy’s legal saga, capitalising on the mogul’s troubles. H
is Instagram presence remains massive, but his music output has slowed considerably. The last time 50 really rapped with urgency was 2020’s Magic 2 verse.
Fabolous treats rap like a part-time passion project now. He will drop freestyles when motivated, but album cycles do not interest him. The same applies to Maino, Jim Jones, and Dave East. Their podcast serves as the primary platform.
When 50 called them squatters, he probably expected Internet clapbacks. Instead, they booked studio time on Christmas Day and got bars. The move forced anyone paying attention to compare current 50 to prime 50.
“Squatter’s Rights Freestyle” will not end up in diss track pantheons next to Hit ’Em Up or No Vaseline. The cultural stakes are not high enough.
But as a technical exercise and calculated counterpunch, it succeeds. Maino and Jim Jones held their own. Dave East proved he belongs in rooms with veterans. And Fabolous reminded everyone why nobody wanted problems with him during his prime.
Whether 50 responds musically remains to be seen. His pattern suggests Instagram posts rather than actual bars. Getting in the booth with Fabolous carries risk, and Loso’s pen game has not declined with age.
The freestyle exists as evidence that some New York rappers refuse to let beef stay digital. They will reach for the mic when provoked.
In an era defined by social media arguments and streaming metrics, that feels almost old-fashioned. Almost.