• Home
  • Latest
  • Fortune 500
  • Finance
  • Tech
  • Leadership
  • Lifestyle
  • Rankings
  • Multimedia
Arts & EntertainmentAdvertising

Rapper Pusha T says he helped McDonald’s coin ‘I’m Lovin It’ jingle. Now, he’s slamming Filet-O-Fish in a diss track for Arby’s.

By
Andrew Marquardt
Andrew Marquardt
Down Arrow Button Icon
By
Andrew Marquardt
Andrew Marquardt
Down Arrow Button Icon
March 21, 2022, 3:52 PM ET

Two-time Grammy award winning rapper Pusha T says he helped pen the iconic “I’m Lovin’ It” jingle for McDonald’s in 2003, but never got the payout he could have.

Nearly two decades later, the musician known for his damning diss tracks is back in the fast food jingle world with an Arby’s-sponsored criticism of McDonald’s classic Filet-O-Fish sandwich in favor of the former’s new Spicy Fish Sandwich. 

The ad, titled “Spicy Fish Diss,” features crushing lines like “Filet-O-Fish is sh*t/And you should be disgusted,” and “How dare you sell a square fish/Asking us to trust it?” After insulting the McDonald’s sandwich, King Push delivers high praise for Arby’s new fish sandwich: “Arby’s crispy fish is simply it/With lines ‘round the corner, we might need a guest list.” 

In an interview with Rolling Stone, Pusha T said he was paid “peanuts” for his role in writing the “I’m Lovin’ It” jingle for McDonalds nearly two decades ago, which is the longest-running marketing campaign in McDonald’s history. 

“I did it at a very young age at a very young time in my career where I wasn’t asking for as much money and ownership,” Pusha T told Rolling Stone. “It’s something that’s always dug at me later in life like, ‘Dammit, I was a part of this and I should have more stake.’” 

But things are different this time around. While it’s unclear how much ownership Pusha T has in his deal with Arby’s, he told Rolling Stone it was a crucial part of why he accepted the offer to write a song for the fast food chain. 

“Doing those types of songs, I usually require a high percentage of ownership,” he said. “And regardless of what part they take of the song—whether it’s my voice or not—I own what I own.”

This isn’t the first time Pusha has teamed up with Arby’s. He said he owns 40% of the track used by the fast food company in their 2018 “We Have the Meats” ad campaign, which he said he still gets paid for whenever the ad is played. 

Pusha T’s tongue-in-cheek addition to the competition between Arby’s and McDonald’s marks the first time the rapper has come out definitively in favor of one fast-food chain over another. 

“Arby’s paid me but I would say this anyway” Pusha wrote in a tweet promoting the track.

“I’m the first-ever fish sandwich diss[er] ever, and I should go down in history for that,” Pusha told Rolling Stone. 

Arby’s and McDonald’s did not immediately reply to Fortune’s request for comment. 

Never miss a story: Follow your favorite topics and authors to get a personalized email with the journalism that matters most to you.
About the Author
By Andrew Marquardt
See full bioRight Arrow Button Icon

Latest in Arts & Entertainment

Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025
Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025
Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025
Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025
Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025
Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025

Most Popular

Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025
Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025
Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025
Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025
Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025
Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025
Fortune Secondary Logo
Rankings
  • 100 Best Companies
  • Fortune 500
  • Global 500
  • Fortune 500 Europe
  • Most Powerful Women
  • Future 50
  • World’s Most Admired Companies
  • See All Rankings
Sections
  • Finance
  • Fortune Crypto
  • Features
  • Leadership
  • Health
  • Commentary
  • Success
  • Retail
  • Mpw
  • Tech
  • Lifestyle
  • CEO Initiative
  • Asia
  • Politics
  • Conferences
  • Europe
  • Newsletters
  • Personal Finance
  • Environment
  • Magazine
  • Education
Customer Support
  • Frequently Asked Questions
  • Customer Service Portal
  • Privacy Policy
  • Terms Of Use
  • Single Issues For Purchase
  • International Print
Commercial Services
  • Advertising
  • Fortune Brand Studio
  • Fortune Analytics
  • Fortune Conferences
  • Business Development
  • Group Subscriptions
About Us
  • About Us
  • Editorial Calendar
  • Press Center
  • Work At Fortune
  • Diversity And Inclusion
  • Terms And Conditions
  • Site Map
  • About Us
  • Editorial Calendar
  • Press Center
  • Work At Fortune
  • Diversity And Inclusion
  • Terms And Conditions
  • Site Map
  • Facebook icon
  • Twitter icon
  • LinkedIn icon
  • Instagram icon
  • Pinterest icon

Latest in Arts & Entertainment

wyle
CommentaryTV
What HBO’s ‘The Pitt’ gets right—and wrong—about treating alcohol use disorder
By Jonathan Hunt-GlassmanApril 2, 2026
2 hours ago
tiger
LawDrugs
Tiger Woods says he’ll seek treatment for substance abuse after another DUI arrest
By Mike Schneider and The Associated PressApril 1, 2026
21 hours ago
Bobby Witt Jr. throws a baseball. He is standing in front of a FanDuel sign on a baseball field.
Bankinggambling
Credit card delinquencies among millennials and Gen Z have soared because of sports betting—even in states where it’s illegal, new Fed study finds
By Sasha RogelbergMarch 31, 2026
2 days ago
tiger
LawTiger Woods
Tiger Woods had pills in his pocket, bloodshot and glassy eyes, sheriff’s office says
By Mike Schneider and The Associated PressMarch 31, 2026
2 days ago
McCormick combines with Unilever’s food division and adds Hellmann’s and Knorr to its brands
Arts & EntertainmentUnilever
McCormick combines with Unilever’s food division and adds Hellmann’s and Knorr to its brands
By The Associated PressMarch 31, 2026
2 days ago
Blackstone bets on golfer Tommy Fleetwood to win over the world’s wealthiest investors
InvestingFinance
Blackstone bets on golfer Tommy Fleetwood to win over the world’s wealthiest investors
By Lee CliffordMarch 31, 2026
2 days ago

Most Popular

Gen Z fled San Francisco for Texas and Florida. Now they’re turning ‘welcomer cities’ into the next big tech towns
Real Estate
Gen Z fled San Francisco for Texas and Florida. Now they’re turning ‘welcomer cities’ into the next big tech towns
By Fortune EditorsApril 2, 2026
9 hours ago
Current price of gold as of April 1, 2026
Personal Finance
Current price of gold as of April 1, 2026
By Fortune EditorsApril 1, 2026
1 day ago
Two-thirds of parents say their adult Gen Z kids still rely on them financially  for support—even though it's putting them under strain
Success
Two-thirds of parents say their adult Gen Z kids still rely on them financially  for support—even though it's putting them under strain
By Fortune EditorsMarch 31, 2026
2 days ago
Current price of oil as of April 1, 2026
Personal Finance
Current price of oil as of April 1, 2026
By Fortune EditorsApril 1, 2026
1 day ago
Jerome Powell says the $39 trillion national debt is ‘not unsustainable,’ but warns the trajectory ‘will not end well’
Economy
Jerome Powell says the $39 trillion national debt is ‘not unsustainable,’ but warns the trajectory ‘will not end well’
By Fortune EditorsMarch 30, 2026
3 days ago
2 years after Musk challenged Zuckerberg to a cage match, they were texting about DOGE and a joint OpenAI bid, court records reveal
Law
2 years after Musk challenged Zuckerberg to a cage match, they were texting about DOGE and a joint OpenAI bid, court records reveal
By Fortune EditorsMarch 31, 2026
2 days ago

© 2026 Fortune Media IP Limited. All Rights Reserved. Use of this site constitutes acceptance of our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy | CA Notice at Collection and Privacy Notice | Do Not Sell/Share My Personal Information
FORTUNE is a trademark of Fortune Media IP Limited, registered in the U.S. and other countries. FORTUNE may receive compensation for some links to products and services on this website. Offers may be subject to change without notice.