• 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
  • World's Most Admired Companies
  • See All Rankings
  • Lists Calendar
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
  • Press Center
  • Work At Fortune
  • Terms And Conditions
  • Site Map
  • About Us
  • Press Center
  • Work At Fortune
  • Terms And Conditions
  • Site Map
  • Facebook icon
  • Twitter icon
  • LinkedIn icon
  • Instagram icon
  • Pinterest icon

Latest in Arts & Entertainment

art
LawCrime
Father-daughter duo duped New York City art world with at least 200 fake Banksy, Warhols, Wyeths, prosecutors say
By Jake Offenhartz and The Associated PressApril 30, 2026
1 day ago
gen z
Arts & EntertainmentMedia
57% of Americans between 13 and 17 years old get news from social media at least once a day
By David Bauder, Linley Sanders and The Associated PressApril 30, 2026
1 day ago
Taylor Swift poses.
AICelebrities
Taylor Swift files to trademark her voice and image to save from potential AI misuse
By Maria Sherman and The Associated PressApril 28, 2026
3 days ago
damaro
CommentaryDisney
Disney’s $60 billion bet on the one thing AI can’t replace
By Roland BetancourtApril 28, 2026
3 days ago
trump
PoliticsMedia
Trump wants Kimmel’s head (again) after joke about Melania Trump as ‘expectant widow’
By David Bauder and The Associated PressApril 28, 2026
3 days ago
Top CD rates from major banks April 27, 2026: Chase CDs, Bank of America CDs, Citibank CDs, and more
BankingCertificates of Deposit (CDs)
Top CD rates from major banks on April 27, 2026: Chase CDs, Bank of America CDs, Citibank CDs, and more
By Danny BakstApril 27, 2026
4 days ago

Most Popular

China dominates the world's lithium supply. The U.S. just found 328 years' worth in its own backyard
North America
China dominates the world's lithium supply. The U.S. just found 328 years' worth in its own backyard
By Jake AngeloApril 30, 2026
24 hours ago
Accenture's Julie Sweet blew up 50 years of company history. She says the hardest part is still ahead
Conferences
Accenture's Julie Sweet blew up 50 years of company history. She says the hardest part is still ahead
By Nick LichtenbergApril 29, 2026
2 days ago
Apple cofounder Ronald Wayne—whose stake would be worth up to $400 billion had he not sold it in 1976—says that at 91, he has no regrets
Success
Apple cofounder Ronald Wayne—whose stake would be worth up to $400 billion had he not sold it in 1976—says that at 91, he has no regrets
By Preston ForeApril 27, 2026
4 days ago
The U.S. economy is booming — just not where 50 million Americans live
Commentary
The U.S. economy is booming — just not where 50 million Americans live
By Derek KilmerMay 1, 2026
9 hours ago
Exclusive: America's largest Black-owned bank launches podcast with mission to unlock hidden shame holding back generational wealth
Banking
Exclusive: America's largest Black-owned bank launches podcast with mission to unlock hidden shame holding back generational wealth
By Nick LichtenbergApril 29, 2026
2 days ago
America shot its arsenal empty in 2 wars. Now it needs Beijing's permission to reload
Commentary
America shot its arsenal empty in 2 wars. Now it needs Beijing's permission to reload
By Steve H. Hanke and Jeffrey WengApril 30, 2026
1 day 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.