Moby revisits his long-running feud with Eminem 25 years later, offering a surprising shift in perspective. In a new interview tied to his album Future Quiet, Moby reflects on the Grammy controversy, Eminem’s “Without Me,” and why he now sees Eminem as a progressive and intelligent artist.

At the beginning of the 2000s, the clash between Moby and Eminem was more than a celebrity disagreement. It felt like a cultural moment. On one side stood the electronic and alternative scene, often associated with political awareness and introspection. On the other stood Eminem, whose confrontational rap style dominated global charts and stirred constant controversy. The tension between those two worlds exploded publicly in 2001.

That year, at the Grammy Awards, Moby openly criticized Eminem for lyrics he believed promoted misogyny and homophobia. At the time, Eminem was riding the massive success of The Marshall Mathers LP, breaking sales records and becoming one of the most talked-about artists on the planet. Moby’s comments were bold and direct. He questioned the responsibility of artists whose words reached millions of young listeners.

The response came quickly.

In 2002, Eminem released “Without Me,” a single that included a sharp reference to Moby. The lyric was mocking and dismissive, instantly becoming one of the most quoted lines of that era. What might have been an industry disagreement turned into a pop culture flashpoint. Fans took sides. Media outlets amplified every comment. The feud became part of early 2000s music history.

At the time, Moby did not escalate the situation. He responded calmly, even saying in interviews that he found the diss somewhat amusing. However, he did not withdraw his criticism. He maintained that music celebrating violence or prejudice had real cultural impact, especially on younger audiences. His position was consistent, rooted in his broader social and political activism.

Now, 25 years later, the tone has changed.

In a recent interview connected to the release of his new album Future Quiet, Moby revisited the feud with a noticeably different perspective. Instead of focusing on the conflict, he reflected on Eminem’s evolution. Over the years, Eminem has publicly criticized political figures such as Donald Trump and spoken out on social issues. For Moby, those moments stood out.

He explains that when artists known for progressive views speak politically, it rarely surprises anyone. But when someone with Eminem’s audience — including large segments of middle America — takes strong public positions, it carries different weight. According to Moby, that shift made him reconsider how he sees Eminem today.

Rather than viewing him solely through the lens of early controversy, Moby now describes Eminem as intelligent and, in many ways, progressive. He acknowledges that artists grow and change. The public image of a musician at one point in time does not define their entire trajectory.

There is also an element of self-reflection in Moby’s recent comments.

He recalls giving an MTV interview back in the early 2000s where he joked that perhaps Eminem had a personal issue with him. At the time, it seemed like harmless humor. Looking back, he admits that comments like that may have contributed to the escalation. What felt lighthearted then may have added fuel to an already tense situation.

The original clash between Moby and Eminem reflected deeper cultural divisions. Moby represented a more idealistic, socially conscious approach within electronic music. Eminem embodied provocation, raw storytelling, and a willingness to shock. Their confrontation symbolized two different artistic philosophies colliding in a very public way.

Today, Moby’s tone is measured and calm. There is no attempt to rewrite history or deny what happened. Instead, he frames the feud as part of a particular era — a time when public disputes between artists were amplified by television and early internet culture, often without nuance.

Meanwhile, Moby continues to evolve creatively. Future Quiet, his 23rd studio album, moves in a reflective and atmospheric direction. He describes himself as more centered and less reactive than in his younger years. The emotional intensity that once defined public moments like the Eminem feud has given way to a quieter outlook.

The shift in perspective does not mean that Moby has abandoned his values. He still believes music carries social responsibility. But he now recognizes that artists can mature, shift positions, and surprise audiences. In his view, Eminem’s later political statements demonstrate that change.

Notably, there has been no public reconciliation between the two artists. There has been no joint appearance or formal resolution. Yet the softened rhetoric carries its own significance. In pop culture, feuds often remain frozen in time, replayed endlessly without context. Acknowledging growth is rare.

The Moby and Eminem feud once symbolized division. Today, it highlights transformation. It shows how cultural conflicts can look different decades later, when the noise fades and perspective expands.

For fans who remember the Grammy tension and the sting of “Without Me,” the story feels almost surreal in retrospect. What once seemed like a permanent rift now reads more like a chapter in a rapidly changing music landscape.

As Moby continues promoting Future Quiet and preparing for major appearances in 2026, his reflections on Eminem add another layer to his own narrative. They reveal not just how he sees a former adversary, but how he sees himself — older, more reflective, and aware that artistic journeys rarely move in straight lines.

In the end, the story is less about who was right in 2001 and more about what it means to grow beyond a moment. Twenty-five years later, the feud is no longer the headline. The evolution is.