Hip hop rivalries

Encyclopedia : H : HI : HIP : Hip hop rivalries

---

Often referred to as "beefs", feuds and rivalries have existed since the dawn of hip hop music, which originated in the 1970s in New York City, United States. Originally, it came to block parties, where DJs would play records and isolate the percussion breaks for the dancing masses. Soon, MCs began speaking over the beats, usually simply exhorting the audience to continue dancing. Eventually, MCs began incorporating more varied and stylistic speech, and focused on introducing themselves, shouting out to friends in the audience, boasting about their own skills, and criticizing their rivals. While this was often done in good humor, the deaths of 2Pac and the Notorious B.I.G. have meant that in today's hip hop scene it is always feared that lyrical rivalries will develop into offstage feuds that become violent. Many observers have claimed that the media feeds on such rivalries for headlines and blows situations out of proportion, a good example of which was the infamous East Coast-West Coast rivalry of the 1990s.

One prominent example used as contrast by those who feel that the media manipulate and intensify hip hop rivalries was the 1980s hit "Roxanne, Roxanne" by U.T.F.O., which sparked several hundred "answer records" in response, some of which were quite vituperative (see the Roxanne Wars). At the time, hip hop was nowhere as widespread as it would eventually become, and as such there was little media response to this record. The beef never made it onto the streets, and many observers felt that if something similar happened today, violence would surely result. However, the recent high-profile beef between Nas and Jay-Z was carried out without ever threatening to become violent.

Boogie Down Productions vs. The Juice Crew

-->Boogie Down Productions, led by KRS-One, were involved in a long-running feud with Marley Marl's Juice Crew during the mid-to-late 1980s and early 1990s that was predominantly a dispute over boroughs of New York. The feud began with Queensbridge-based Marley Marl & MC Shan's track "The Bridge" in late 1985, in which they sung the praises of their home borough and loosely implied that Queensbridge was where hip hop "all got started". Taking offense, South Bronx-based KRS-One and Boogie Down Productions (BDP) recorded and released the track "South Bronx", which was effectively identical in terms of content to Shan and Marl's track except singing the praises of South Bronx rather than Queensbridge, and made the argument for it being the true home and birthplace of hip hop. The Juice Crew soon responded with the track "Kill The Noise" on Shan's album Down By Law which took various shots at KRS-One and mocked his taking offense in the first place: "Yo Shan, I didn't hear you say hip hop started in the Bridge on your record." "I didn't. They wanted to get on the bandwagon." KRS's main response was the Jamaican-influenced "The Bridge Is Over", and lyrics spoofing Billy Joel's "It's Still Rock and Roll to Me":

What's the matter with your MC, Marley Marl?

Don't know you know that he's out of touch?

What's the matter with your DJ, MC Shan?

On the wheels of steel, Marlon sucks

You'd better change what comes out your speaker

You're better off talkin' 'bout your whack Puma sneaker

'Cause Bronx created hip hop, Queens will only get dropped

You're still tellin' lies to me

Everybody's talkin' 'bout the Juice Crew funny

But you're still tellin' lies to me

Most of KRS's fire was directed at Marley Marl and MC Shan specifically, though he occasionally exchanged insults with other Juice Crew members such as Mr. Magic and Roxanne Shante. Shante responded with a song aimed at Boogie Down Productions titled "Have A Nice Day" in which she rapped:

Scott La Rock, you should be ashamed,

when T La Rock said it's yours, he didn't mean his name,

and KRS One, you should go on vacation,

with your name sounding like a wack radio station

The feud quickly died down after BDP's Scott La Rock was shot dead in 1987 after attempting to calm down a domestic dispute involving BDP colleague D-Nice. With his new Stop The Violence movement, KRS-One had his attention elsewhere, and the Juice Crew did not release any further dis records for a long period after La Rock's death out of respect. However, in 1989, MC Shan attempted to restart the rivalry on his song Juice Crew Law which contained several shots at KRS. KRS took more than a year to respond, but eventually did so in 1990 on the song Black Man In Effect from the BDP (which at that point was basically only KRS-One, D-Nice having left earlier the same year) album Edutainment.

During the nineties, the beef was not forgotten by fans or the participants, but rather fondly remembered as a classic hip hop duel, and the rivalry has since been referenced in hip hop lyrics by the likes of Cormega, Nas, Cunninlynguists, Big Punisher, Supernatural and Chino XL. MC Shan and KRS-One themselves acknowledged the beef's important place in hip hop history when they appeared together in a commercial for the Sprite soft drink in the mid-nineties, in which they exchanged battle rhymes inside a boxing ring. However, the respective fortunes of the pair in the nineties were very different: MC Shan, widely seen by hip hop listeners as the loser of the conflict if there had to be one, never really recovered his reputation and later effectively retired, while KRS forged out a successful solo career and remained an important figure in hip hop. Nevertheless, on the QB's Finest compilation (which showcased the finest Queensbridge hip hop artists) in 2001, MC Shan took one last parting shot at KRS-One: "Hip hop was set out in the dark / The Bridge was never Over, we left our mark."

N.W.A. vs. Ice Cube

Ice Cube left N.W.A in late 1989 after making claims that Eric "Eazy-E" Wright and the group's manager, Jerry Heller, were cheating him along with the rest of the group members. The remaining group members fired the first shots by insulting Ice Cube on the two albums they recorded after his departure. On 100 Miles and Runnin', Dr. Dre told the public: "It started with five but one couldn't take it/ But now it's four because the bitch couldn't make it." On Efil4zaggin, the group called Ice Cube "Benedict Arnold", after the notorious traitor of the American Revolutionary War. N.W.A. insulted Cube further on the album by claiming he was "...sucking New York dick", a direct reference to Ice Cube's new production team, the New York-based Bomb Squad. On these albums, N.W.A. dedicated entire tracks at a time to dissing Ice Cube.

Cube's first solo album AmeriKKKa's Most Wanted made no direct response to the N.W.A. feud, although he did use the album to make subtle references to his old crew. The closest to a response Cube mounted on the first album was Flavor Flav's exhortation at the end of I'm Only Out For One Thang: "This is for my boy Ice Cube, yo, stay off his dick!" On the EP Kill At Will, released later the same year, Cube sets the stage for his response on the track Jackin' Fo' Beats. At the end of this track he includes the exclamation: "And if I jack you and you keep comin/I'll have you marks a 100 Miles and Running!"

In 1991, Ice Cube took the fight to the big screen in his first feature film starring role, in Boyz N the Hood. According to movie director John Singleton, Cube suggested changes to one scene in particular where a chain snatcher is beaten up by neighborhood teens. Cube's recommendations were to give the thief a Jheri curl and sunglasses (reminiscent of Eazy-E's personal style) and a "We Want Eazy" sweatshirt while being beaten.

On his second album Death Certificate, Ice Cube fired back at his former group by releasing the song No Vaseline, proclaiming N.W.A. to be "phonies" and declaring Eazy-E to be a "snitch", in reference to a publicity stunt Eazy pulled in attending a fundraising luncheon with then-President George H.W. Bush. He also made remarks about N.W.A.'s manager Jerry Heller that were instantly declared anti-Semitic, including "you can't be the Niggaz 4 Life Crew/with a white Jew/telling you what to do", "you let a Jew break up my crew", and "get rid of that Devil real simple/put a bullet in his temple."

Ruthless vs. Death Row

Soon after No Vaseline, The D.O.C. found that Cube's words were true: Wright and Heller were in fact skimming money off the top, and Dre left the crew behind as well. This, more than anything else, meant the end of N.W.A; Dre began his solo career, forming the highly influential Death Row Records with former bodyguard Suge Knight. When he released his first solo album The Chronic, he began a well-publicized feud with his ex-band mate by constantly poking fun of Eazy-E on the song and the video for Dre Day where Eazy was a money hungry character called Sleazy E who eventually ended up on the streets begging for money, and Bitches Ain't Shit--referring to Eazy as a bitch Dre once knew.

Dre and Snoop were both heard dissing the label on The Chronic; later, Tha Dogg Pound would take shots on their own debut, Dogg Food, such as the line "Ain't got no love for no hoes in harmony": a reference to Ruthless's successful new act, the Bone Thugs-N-Harmony. More tensions between Death Row and Ruthless sprung up when the latter label's act Above the Law accused Dre of stealing their G-Funk sound for his album and taking credit for it.

Eazy-E responded directly by releasing the EP It's On (Dr. Dre) 187um Killa. The single released from this album, "Real Muthaphukkin' G's," featured lyrics filled with disses towards Dr. Dre and Snoop Dogg, and it's video showed pictures of Dr. Dre in makeup and a glitter suit taken during the days he was in the "World Class Wreckin' Cru". But before Eazy died, he had made amends with Ice Cube, even though Dre and Eazy never made peace before his death, Dre meant Eazy had forgiven him due to their past together.He made this clear in the track Whats the difference. In 1996, prominent Death Row artist 2Pac was featured on the Bone Thugs' second album Art of War, signaling to many the end of the feud.

\"East Coast vs. West Coast\"

Probably the most famous rap feud of recent times is the early to mid-1990s rivalry between the East Coast's Bad Boy Records and the West Coast's Death Row Records. Though the beef mostly consisted of shots from Death Row towards various acts and, more specifically, Bad Boy, the media billed it as a "rap war" between two coasts. This led to fans of and from both scenes denouncing each others' native artists, causing a huge impact on the rap culture as a whole.

Hip hop had originated in the streets of New York, and the city remained the undisputed capital of hip hop until the late '80s, when N.W.A. & others put the west on the map. Dr. Dre's The Chronic became one of the biggest-selling hip hop albums in history, followed shortly by Snoop Doggy Dogg's breakout album Doggystyle in 1993. Dre was on Death Row Records, headed by Suge Knight, and he soon built up a roster of stars like - 2Pac, Tha Dogg Pound and Snoop Doggy Dogg that reigned on the charts, and Los Angeles begun to rival New York for its place as the center for mainstream hip hop. This had already, and somewhat inevitably, created a tension between certain industry heavyweights on both coasts, each hungry for control of an increasingly lucrative market. The biggest stars on the East Coast at this time were Puff Daddy's Bad Boy Records crew, which was founded in 1993 and at the time included Craig Mack and The Notorious B.I.G..

Bad Boy and Death Row were thrown into conflict with one another after 2Pac was shot five times at a New York recording studio on November 30, 1994, and publicly blamed his former close friend Notorious B.I.G and his Bad Boy Records cohorts. This feud escalated after Suge Knight mocked Puff Daddy at the Source Awards in August 1995, announcing to the assembly of artists and industry figures: "If you don't want the owner of your label on your album or in your video or on your tour, come sign with Death Row." Despite Puff Daddy himself attempting to defuse the situation with a speech later in the evening, a later performance by Death Row's Dr. Dre and Snoop Dogg was booed (to which Snoop famously responded "The East Coast ain't got no love for Dr. Dre and Snoop Dogg?").

The feud continued to escalate through numerous incidents. First, in September 1995, a close friend of Knight's was gunned down at a birthday party thrown for producer Jermaine Dupri in Atlanta, Georgia, for which Knight publicly blamed Bad Boy Records. Then, in December, while filming the video for the Dogg Pound's song "New York, New York" in Manhattan, Snoop Dogg's trailer was shot at numerous times (though the trailer was in fact empty at the time). The video itself then become the source of further controversy on its release, featuring Death Row artists knocking over New York skyscrapers and landmarks, to which many East Coast artists and fans took offense. There was also suspicion that the song itself was also targeted at Bad Boy Records and New York in general, though this is unlikely as the song is in fact a remake of a Grandmaster Flash song, features only generic, non-specific braggadocio/battle rhymes with nothing that could be interpreted as a specific attack on any specific individuals, and was written and recorded before the Bad Boy/Death Row feud got off the ground. Capone-N-Noreaga also made the song "LA, LA" with Mobb Deep to respond to "New York, New York" which got them involved in the feud.

In 1995, The Notorious B.I.G. released the track "Who Shot Ya." 2Pac interpreted it as B.I.G. mocking his '95 shooting, and claimed it proved that Bad Boy had set him up. In early 1996, 2Pac released the infamous dis track "Hit 'Em Up," in which he claimed to have had sex with the Notorious B.I.G's wife Faith Evans and that "this ain't no freestyle battle, y'all niggas getting killed" and was viewed as taking the feud to another level and critics today look on the song as one of the defining moments of the rivalry. B.I.G. soon responded on Jay-Z's track "Brooklyn's Finest" (a move which also caused Jay-Z to become embroiled in the dispute). In March 1996, at the Soul Train Awards in Miami, there was a confrontation in the parking lot between the respective entourages of Bad Boy and Death Row in which guns were drawn. Although an armed staring contest was all this confrontation eventually amounted to, it was readily apparent to hip hop fans and artists that this rivalry was getting very out of hand, and going far beyond the heated, but never violent, lyrical battles for superiority of the past.

On September 7, 1996 2Pac was shot several times in Las Vegas, dying a few days later on Friday 13. On March 9, 1997, then Notorious B.I.G. was shot and killed in California. Both murders remain unsolved, and numerous theories (some of them conspiracy theories) have sprung up. These include, most notoriously, that 2Pac faked his own death.

In 1997, several rappers, including Bizzy Bone, Doug E. Fresh and Snoop Dogg met at the request of Louis Farrakhan, leader of the Nation of Islam and pledged to forgive any slights that may be related to the rivalry and deaths of 2Pac and Biggie.

Prior to his death, 2pac had also come into separate disputes with several other East Coast rappers. Some friends of 2Pac had been apparently snubbed by the group Mobb Deep at one of their concerts, and when word of the incident reached a then-jailed Tupac he sent out a message to Mobb Deep threatening violence. Mobb Deep immediately responded with the track "Drop a Gem on 'Em" which, although its official release on the Hell On Earth album occurred after 2Pac's "Hit 'Em Up" single which mocked Mobb Deep, it had been circulating on mixtapes and radio in New York long before. Nas also angered Tupac by appearing to mock 2Pac with the line "Fake thug, no love, you get the slug, CB4 gusto your luck blow..." in the track "The Message," although Nas denied that this line was ever aimed at Pac. Even Chino XL, an underground rapper from New Jersey with no eye on mainstream domination and no ties to Bad Boy Records, Nas or Mobb Deep, incurred 2pac's wrath on "Hit Em Up" by using him in a somewhat ambiguous simile "By this industry, I'm trying not to get fucked like 2Pac in jail" (ironically, the track to which this line belongs is a duet with proud West Coast representative Ras Kass). Chino soon responded with a freestyle on live radio, but it was either ignored or not heard by Tupac, since these rappers were all East Coast artists.

Nas vs. Jay-Z

The Nas versus Jay-Z rivalry pitted two hip hop legends against each other, in what is widely considered as the most exhilarating and invigorating hip hop battle of recent times. Supposedly, tension between Jay-Z and Nas dates as far back as 1996, when Nas refused to make a guest appearance on Jay-Z's debut album Reasonable Doubt. However, the relationship between the two rappers remained peaceful (Jay-Z even giving a shoutout to Nas in his album liner notes), and the tension never became a full-blown rivalry until after the death of Notorious B.I.G. The position of best rapper in New York (also known as the King of New York) seemed eerily vacant after the death of Biggie, and fans were eager to see who would take over his role.

In 1997, Jay-Z (a former friend and collaborator of B.I.G.) released a song titled "The City Is Mine" which seemed to many people to be making a claim to the empty throne. This attitude also seems to be evident in the fact that Jay-Z's album In My Lifetime, Vol. 1 was originally titled Heir To The Throne, Vol. 1. Nas, the only rapper in New York at the time who had a reputation capable of rivaling Jay-Z but who had never received the same amount of commercial success, apparently responded to Jay-Z on his track "We Will Survive" (which released in 1999, on his album I Am...), which appears to dismiss Jay-Z as a serious rival as well as attacking both his claims of superiority and his continual evoking of B.I.G's legacy (the verse in question is in the form of a letter to the deceased rapper):

It used to be fun, makin records to see your response

But, now competition is none, now that you're gone

And these niggaz is wrong -- usin your name in vain

And they claim to be New York's king? It ain't about that

There was definite tension between the pair but no action for approximately a year, until in 2001 the beef exploded into the public eye as Jay-Z publicly mocked Nas on stage at the Hot 97 radio station's Summer Jam hip hop festival. Nas responded by delivering a calculated, personal attack on Jay-Z during a radio freestyle over Eric B. & Rakim's "Paid In Full" beat :

And bring it back up top, remove the fake king of New York

You show off, I count dough off when you sampled my voice

I rule you, before, you used to rap like the Fu-Schnickens

NaS designed your Blueprint, who you kidding?

Is he H To The Izzo, M To The Izzo?

For shizzle you phony, the rapping version of Sisqó

The freestyle was untitled but was later titled "Stillmatic", perhaps aimed to promote his new album Stillmatic. It is also called "H To The Omo". The "sample my voice" line refers to Jay-Z's use of a vocal sample of Nas for the hook of his song "Dead Presidents".

Jay-Z responded with the track "Takeover" from his album The Blueprint, on which he attacked Nas for never matching the critical success of his debut Illmatic and questioned his authenticity as an artist. The song was very well-received by hip hop listeners, and many listeners and reviewers immediately dismissed NaS as a contender and feared for the end of his career. Therefore, it was a surprise to many when NaS responded with an equally well-received track titled "Ether" from his album Stillmatic, in which he mocked Jay-Z's early years as an aspiring young rapper (in which he supposedly idolized Nas) and attacked him for being a misogynist and for exploiting the Notorious B.I.G's legacy.

The positive response to "Ether" created enormous interest in the rivalry throughout the hip hop community, the music media and even mainstream news outlets. On Takeover, Jay-Z issued a warning that goes as follows:

''Don't be the next contestant on that Summer Jam screen

''Because you know who (who) did you know what (what)

''with you know who (yeah) but just keep that between me and you for now

Many speculated what Jay-Z was talking about while others dismissed it, believing it to be nothing of importance. Those questions would be answered as the rapper's response was prompted in a radio freestyle that became known as "Super Ugly" Jay-Z offered:

''Me and the boy A.I. got more in Common

''then just ballin and rhyming...get it? More in Carmen

and later

''And since you infatuated with sayin that gay shit

''Yes, you was kissin my dick when you was kissin that bitch

''Nasty shit, you though I was bonin Vanette

''You callin Carmen a hundred times I was bonin her neck

''You got a baby by the broad you can't disown her yet

''When does your lies end? When does the truth begins?

''When does reality set in or does it not matter?

''Gotta hurt I'm your baby mama's favorite rapper

In the song, Jay-Z alluded, accusations that were later proven true, that he had an ongoing sexual relationship with the mother of Nas's child, Carmen Bryan. The song also alleges that Bryan also had a relationship with Philadelphia NBA star Allen Iverson (A.I.). This release was not as well received as the previous three tracks had been. The feud continued to simmer, and rumors of a live pay-per-view freestyle battle began to circulate but never came to fruition.

After the promoters of Hot 97's Summer Jam festival refused to allow headlining Nas to hang an effigy of Jay-Z during his performance at 2002's show, he appeared on Hot 97's rival Power 105 and attacked both the music industry's control over hip hop and the rappers who he saw as submitting to it, including Jay-Z, Nelly, N.O.R.E. and Jay-Z's label mate Cam'ron : "Y'all brothers gotta start rapping about something that's real. [...] Rappers are slaves." This also embroiled Cam'ron into the Jay-Z/Nas feud, in which Cam'ron controversially made disparaging remarks about Nas' mother. It is quite ironic to remark, however, after Cam'ron was able to receive his label after his group the Diplomats, Cam'ron turned around and attacked Jay-Z in Winter 2005. After this incident both continued to go against one another on various tracks, the shots taken including Jay-Z criticizing Nas for his apparent hypocrisy on his album's title track:

And I'ma let karma catch up to Jaz-O, whoa

I'm back before you had a chance to miss me

My mama can't save you this time, niggas is history

Who you know flow vicious as me?

Yet so religiously, that's why they call me Hov

I get the spoils cause the victor is me (me, nigga)

You're an actor, you're not who you're depicted to be

The street dreamin, all y'all niggas living through me

I gave you life when niggas was forgetting you emcee

I'm a legend, you should take a picture with me

Jay-Z is mentioning in lyric, the Public appology he had to make because of the few lines in song Super Ugly upset Jay-Z's mother, making him forcefully appologize after track played over the New York City's radio stations.

Meanwhile, Nas compared himself and Jay-Z to the characters Tony Montana and Manolo respectively from the film Scarface, on his track "Last Real Nigga Alive" from his God's Son album. However, the feud died down somewhat towards the end of 2002, with no real winner decided (arguments go on to this day in the hip hop community about who came out on top overall, with the results of a Hot 97 radio phone-in revealing a 58% - 42% split in favour of Nas), and both Nas & Jay-Z have since paid tribute to each other in interviews, likening the battle to a world title boxing match that pitched the best against the best, and pleased with the entertainment it provided fans.

The rivalry also benefited both of their careers immensely, critically and commercially. The battle was significant, in that it revived the trend of using ‘beef’ as a source for publicity and promotion for hip hop artists. This was a trend that became somewhat unpopular following the tragic deaths of 2Pac and Biggie, yet has become recently prevalent within the hip hop community. Ever since this particular rivalry, hip hop feuds have become noticeably prolific, and have been publicized within the mainstream media more than they previously had been in the past.

In what may be perhaps a pivotal moment in hip hop history, the feud was formally ended in October 2005 at Jay-Z's I Declare War concert, where Nas made a special guest appearance and performed the hook to "Dead Presidents" and a few of his own tracks such as "NY State of Mind" and "Hate Me Now". In 2005 at another 105.1 concert Jay and Nas reunited on stage and performed a song together. In January 2006, Nas signed with Jay-Z's Def Jam, further emphasizing the truce and raising expectations for a possible collaboration.

Benzino vs. Eminem

For further information see Benzino article (more information at The Source article).

Although it is not clear why Benzino, then co-owner of The Source Magazine, decided to air out his issues with multi-platinum rapper Eminem, he claims that Eminem's success was hurting Black and Latino artists. He started a campaign against the corporations that are controlling and supporting Eminem. Benzino stated that Eminem can talk about dark emotions, while Black rappers are forced to talk about bling-bling (materialistic things).

One possible contributing factor for Eminem's concerns was Benzino's rating of his critically-acclaimed and 9x platinum sophomore album The Marshall Mathers LP. The Source gave him a 2-mic rating (changed to 4 mics following protests) for his critically-acclaimed album, while Benzino's Made Men were given 4.5 mics. Eminem was upset and he blasted the magazine on the track "Say What You Say" from his follow-up album The Eminem Show, rapping in the final verse, "Five mics in The Source, ain't holdin' my fuckin' breath/But I'll suffocate for the respect 'fore I live to collect the fuckin' check."

Benzino released two songs directed at Eminem, titled "Pull Ya Skirt Up" and "Die Another Day", the latter of which included the lyrics "You're the rap David Duke/The rap Hitler... I'm the rap Malcolm, the rap Martin". Benzino has explained in interviews that he fears Eminem's fame is the beginning of the end for the Black domination of hip hop; he has also linked Eminem with the consumerism of modern hip hop, complaining that while Eminem is allowed to rap about deeply personal issues he has to "talk about bling-bling because that's all the people who control the images want to hear from us". However, many observers noted that not only is Benzino bi-racial himself, but that Dave Mays, co-owner and founder of The Source, is white.

Eminem responded quickly to Benzino's track with the songs "Nail In The Coffin" and "The Sauce", calling him an "83-year-old fake Pacino", and questioning the credibility of both Benzino as a rapper and The Source as a magazine. Most of the hip hop community stood behind Eminem (including most famously Russell Simmons), and many accused Benzino of criticizing and slandering hip hop's biggest star solely to both boost his unsuccessful career as a rapper and to boost the profile of The Source magazine, which unsurprisingly sided unequivocally with Benzino during the feud and ran a series of anti-Eminem and anti-Shady/Aftermath articles and features. The Source coverage no doubt aided Benzino's cause among many, for many others it further soured the name of a magazine which already had a reputation for being corrupt. Despite criticizing Eminem and his label-mates such as Dr Dre and 50 Cent within its pages, The Source continued to put these prolific record-selling artists on the cover of the magazine.

The Source tried to score an advancement by released details of two tapes of a young Eminem it had received, featuring the future star rapping about how black women are "only after your money" in romantic relationships (he had apparently just suffered an acrimonious split from a black girlfriend) and in another song using the word "nigger". This caused considerable outcry among many rappers, though few said anything more damning than asking for a public apology. Eminem did in fact publicly apologize quite promptly, and later elaborated further on the incident in the song "Yellow Brick Road" from his Encore album.

:But I've heard people say they heard the tape, and it ain't that bad

:But it was, I singled out a whole race

:And for that I apologize, I was wrong

:Cause no matter what color a girl is she's still a hoe

The Source did not gain anything from the long-running feud: not only were they forced to pay a substantial sum of money to Eminem for defamation and copyright infringement, but The Source lost major advertising as a result, most notably from major labels Virgin, Elektra, Interscope, Motown, and more recently Def Jam. It's noted that Benzino has recorded an album from each of the labels before they pulled out of The Source Magazine. The hip hop magazine XXL also became involved in the Eminem/Benzino/Source rivalry. XXL, formerly an enemy of Eminem, decided to join forces with Shady Records to discredit The Source. The magazine that launched in 1997, has always been in competition with The Source for readership, and indeed was initially started by former Source employees. Dissing Benzino on "Nail In The Coffin", Eminem tells the Source co-owner "I don't need your little fucking magazine / I got XXL's number anyways...". With the entire Interscope label effectively involved in Eminem's feud with The Source, Interscope artists began to flock to XXL, who happily granted them increased coverage, which in turn boosted sales for the magazine.

It has been accepted that Eminem won the battle. Also, it was obvious to many that Benzino had started the feud as nothing more than a publicity stunt to bolster his non-existent reputation in Hip-Hop. He and Dave Mays were recently fired from the staff of The Source. The magazine, under new leadership, reported in the April 2006 issue about Benzino and Mays' ouster that they currently are patching up many relationships damaged by the actions of Mays and Benzino, including that with Interscope Records.

LL Cool J vs. Kool Moe Dee

Kool Moe Dee was a member of one of the earliest hip hop crews, the Treacherous Three, and claimed that LL Cool J stole his style, thus causing a long-running feud between the pair. From different interviews and magazines at the time, Kool Moe Dee felt that LL was getting a bit too big headed and actually believing his own hype, particularly when LL was rising to popularity with the Bigger and Deffer album. Supposedly, Moe Dee approached LL and talked to him, and LL either brushed him off, or went back to his old ways after the talk. There also arose rumors that Moe Dee felt that LL was imitating his rhyme style. Whatever the cause, Kool Moe Dee took the first shots with, "How Ya Like Me Now," the title song from his second solo album that featured on the cover Kool Moe Dee leaning against a jeep and a LL trademark Kangol underneath the tire. The album contained the indirect diss track of the same name. While the album cover was a clear shot, "How Ya Like Me Now," was more subtle. Although he did not refer to any specific name, Kool Moe Dee made it clear that he felt bitten by what he viewed as an amateur. Taking this as a sign of disrespect, the then teenaged LL responded with the energetic "Jack the Ripper." In the song LL playfully taunts Kool Moe Dee by repeatedly asking the rhetorical question "How you like me now?" He then precedes to call Kool Moe Dee a "washed up rapper" and an "old school sucker punk."

It was then that Kool Moe Dee released his famous diss record, "Let's Go", rhyming:

''"Tryna be me, now LL stands for/

''Lower Level, Lack Luster/

''Last Least, Limp Lover/

''Lousy Lame, Latent Lethargic/

''Lazy Lemon, Little Logic/

''Lucky Leech, Liver Lipped/

''Laborious Louse on a Loser's Lips/

''Live in Limbo, Lyrical Lapse/

Low Life with the loud raps, boy/"

The sequence ended with the following:

''"...Now look what you done did/

''just using your name I took those L’s,/

''hung ‘em on your head and rocked your bells.../"

The song's technical skill level and wittiness were of such high caliber that many felt Moe Dee had become the victor in the battle. In effect, he had; as LL did not release a response for a full two years. By not responding to Moe Dee and choosing to ignore him, despite being badly insulted on a whole record, LL opened himself up to be dissed by everyone, including MC Hammer and Ice-T. It was during this time that LL abandoned his hardcore image that popularized him, and instead, embarked on a different musical direction towards a more commercial fare (which emphasized New Jack Swing-love ballads). However, critics scoffed at this new direction with the release of Walking With a Panther (1989). These events coincided with the major stylistic change hip hop began experiencing during the late-1980s. The genre was becoming increasingly socially conscious, abandoning the music's early themes of partying and braggadocio, and adopting more socially aware issues such as drug abuse, poverty, racism, and African American empowerment. LL Cool J, as a result, experienced a drop in popularity due to the view that his music was behind the times, materialistic and narcissistic. All this, coupled with a lot of criticism towards Walking With a Panther, and LL’s apparent disregard for the overall changing of the Hip Hop collective to social awareness and consciousness, resulted in the deterioration of LL’s credibility within the hip hop community. In one instance, he was booed off the stage at the Apollo Theater in New York City. However, in 1990, the older and wiser LL released the highly anticipated comeback album, Mama Said Knock You Out, thus reasserting his status and reviving his credibility amongst hip hop purists. Showing his resiliency, LL re-ignited his feud with Kool Mo Dee with the comical diss track, "To The Break Of Dawn".

''Homeboy hold on, my rhymes are so strong/

''Nothing can go wrong. So why do you prolong/

''songs that ain't strong, brother you're dead wrong/

''and got the nerve to have them Star Trek shades on.../

''heh, you can't handle the whole weight/

''Skin needs lotion/

''Teeth need Colgate/

Wise up, you little burnt up French fry/

''"I'm That Type of Guy"

In essence, LL became the first emcee beaten in battle, to ask for a rematch. LL followed the song with several subliminal attacks in other records (a battle practice for which he is known), including the title track, as well as "Jingling Baby," and "Murdergram." Moe Dee soon responded to all of the tracks with the single, "Deathblow," which was dismissed as unspectacular due mostly to Teddy Riley’s production use of a dated James Brown sample. As a result, the song was largely ignored. It was at this point, that fans began to collectively agree that LL may have finally gotten the better of his old nemesis.

LL Cool J vs. Canibus

After the large-scale beef between 2Pac and various East Coast artists, and the resulting deaths of 2Pac and Biggie, many MCs and fans began to feel paranoid that any further battles might escalate to the same level. The first high-profile battle since then became the late '90's Canibus/LL rivalry, which gained much attention partially because fans were afraid things might get out of hand.

The battle began when LL brought in Canibus, Method Man, DMX and Redman for the G.O.A.T. song "4,3,2,1" in 1997. Canibus contributed a verse, which included the line "L, is that a mic on your arm? Let me borrow that" (referring to the tattoo of a microphone LL did indeed have on his arm). LL wrote a response into his own verse, claiming he felt disrespected: "The symbol on my arm is off limits to challengers...You don't wanna borrow that, you wanna idolize." Before the song was released, Cool J asked Canibus to change the line. Canibus claims that LL also promised to remove his lines as well. LL denies this, claiming that he told Canibus that no one would know who he was talking about if Canibus' verse was changed.

Nevertheless, Canibus complied, and the song was released. However, the original version began surfacing, and people started piecing together what had happened. Canibus began telling fans the full story, saying he was mad that Cool J hadn't removed his response. He went on to diss LL with the single "Second Round K.O.," featuring LL Cool J's one-time friend Mike Tyson cheering Canibus on in the background.

LL's response was titled "The Ripper Strikes Back," where he attacks not only Canibus, but Mike Tyson, Canibus' producer Wyclef and the rest of The Fugees. LL then followed that with another track entitled "Back Where I Belong," where he accused Canibus of biting his rhymes and saying Bis was a Canadian claiming to be from New York City. Canibus responded to both songs with the track "Rip the Jacker." This would later spawn his alter-ego, an aggressive battle-rapper by the same name.

Wyclef responded to LL's initial attacks in "The Ripper Strikes Back" with his own song "What's Clef Got to Do With It;" LL retaliated with the underground track "Rasta Imposter." Wyclef and Cool J have ended their own feud; the main beef has since declined to subliminal potshots, with neither directly and openly dissing the other, and seems unlikely to heat back up.

50 Cent vs. Ja Rule

Before even signing to Eminem's and Dr. Dre's labels, 50 Cent was engaged in a well-publicized dispute with rapper Ja Rule and his label Murder Inc. Records. The conflict's origin remains a mystery. Accounts have ranged from an alleged robbery of Ja Rule's jewelry by a friend of 50's, to Ja Rule and Murder Inc. supposedly snubbing a young and star-struck 50 Cent at a video shoot. Whatever the case, the hostility didn't reach public ears until 50 Cent released his fiery, but subliminal, diss track, "Life's On The Line." This led to two violent confrontations between the rappers. The first a meeting where 50 Cent punched Ja and snatched his chain. The second confrontation occurred in a New York studio, where rapper Black Child, a member of Murder, Inc. stabbed 50 Cent. Black Child claimed that 50 cent was reaching for a gun during the fight.

Regardless of the physical repercussions, 50 Cent continued to make the rivalry a cornerstone of his music career. He released numerous mixtapes, clowning and insulting Ja Rule and Murder Inc. Before the release of Get Rich Or Die Tryin', Murder, Inc. began a smear campaign against the rapper. A restraining order document began floating around the Internet stating that 50 Cent had filed an order of protection against label CEO, Irv Gotti and Black Child. This helped forge the belief that 50 Cent is a "snitch" or a police informant.

Although 50 Cent dismissed the claims, the bad publicity continues to be a tool used among various rappers who engage in beef with his rap collective G-Unit. In fact, further investigation from New York lawyers found that the document could have been, and was most likely, signed by a judge without 50 Cent's consent or knowledge. The practice is common place in New York for victims of multiple attacks when their assaulters are released from jail.

The rivalry reached a boiling point for Murder Inc., which had remained silent for the most part, when 50 Cent released his second album-length battle rap, entitled "Back Down." In the song 50, who was always known for his hold-no-tongue approach to battling, insulted, joked and dissed Ja Rule and his label into action. In response, Black Child, along with fellow Murder Inc. rapper Cadillac Tah, countered with their own mix tape disses. Ja Rule, however, remained quiet. 50 Cent continued his barrage, releasing the Tupac assisted "Realest Killas" where he addressed Ja Rule's penchant for imitating the slain rapper. This prompted Ja Rule to finally respond with the songs "War is On," "Guess Who Shot Ya" and "Loose Change." This all culminated into Ja Rule releasing "Blood In My Eye," which was, in effect, a 50 Cent diss album.

Ja Rule eventually tried to squash the beef with 50 Cent by using Minister Louis Farrakhan in a televised interview. However, the attempt at peace lost credibility as the interview was scheduled a day before Blood In My Eye was released. As a result most fans, along with 50 Cent dismissed the interview as a blatant publicity stunt.

Ja Rule also had a small rivalry with 50's label-mate, Eminem. Ja Rule insulted Eminem's ex-wife and daughter in a song and Eminem responded on a mix tape by DJ Kay Slay with a freestyle collaboration with 50 Cent and Busta Rhymes in a Tupac Parody titled "Hail Mary 2003." Although they exchanged heated words, most fans did not take it seriously in the shadow of 50 vs. Ja Rule. Eminem also dissed him with another underground song with G-unit entitled "Bump Heads" (and various other songs with out the G-Unit).

Since then, 50 Cent's sophomore album, "The Massacre," sold millions, yet has been criticized for not being able to recapture the level of hype "Get Rich or Die Trying" set. Ja Rule released "R.U.L.E" with the successful single, "New York," featuring Jadakiss and Fat Joe. Interestingly enough, this single prompted 50 Cent to enter a feud with the two featured artists (See article on Piggy Bank for details) . When Eminem called it quits in "Like Toy Soldiers," Ja agreed, saying that he was exhausted with feuds and has recently released a greatest hits album entitled, "Exodus."

Although it seemed as the feud was over, Ja Rule has returned to the beef with "21 gunz" which is to debut on the Murder Inc Mix tape: MI:3 Friday, May 12, 2006[link]. It can be heard, along with some of his other new songs on his Myspace site[link]. On the mix tape Mo Money in da Bank Pt 4, Lloyd Banks and 50 Cent replied with "Return of Ja Fool".

50 Cent vs. The Game

Not long before this feud began, The Game had been signed to 50 Cent's G-Unit record label (while simultaneously signed to Dr. Dre's Aftermath label), and had subsequently achieved great success with his album The Documentary and the singles "How We Do" and "Hate It Or Love It", both of which featured 50 Cent.

However, the sudden feud between the pair (who had been marketed as close associates, almost in a mentor/protege relationship) started from alleged rumors that The Game had recorded with former G-Unit nemesis Joe Budden on a track that was released in 2004. Things escalated after 50's second album, The Massacre, was released and had several lyrics dissing other rappers; among them Nas, Fat Joe and Jadakiss; The Game soon appeared on New York radio claiming he had no beef with any of the rappers 50 Cent targeted, and was not involved. Taking offense at what he perceived as Game's disloyalty, 50 Cent appeared on the radio soon after to announce that he had officially dropped The Game from G-Unit, claiming that The Game owed him more credit for songs that he had helped in writing and recording, and that Game should have openly supported 50 in his feuds.

The Game refuted this explanation however, stating that 50's alleged jealousy over the success of The Documentary (which resulted in 50's album "The Massacre" being pushed back from February to March) caused them to feud while on tour. The beef escalated as one member of The Game's entourage was shot outside of the Hot 97 radio station in New York, landing him in the hospital. The battle appeared to be escalating dangerously, but within a few weeks, The Game and 50 Cent ended their feud, deciding to give money to charity and apologizing for their actions.

Many fans felt that the supposed feud, and particularly the incident at the radio station was a publicity stunt designed to boost the sales of the two albums the pair had just released. Nevertheless, even after the situation had apparently deflated, 50 Cent and G-Unit continued to feud with The Game, denouncing his street credibility in the media and claiming that without their support, he will not score a hit from his second album. 50 Cent also sued The Game's manager Jimmy Henchmen over unauthorized filming for a documentary about Kelvin Martin. The Game was then highly critical of 50 Cent during a performance at the Summer Jam festival, leading chants of "G-Unot". After the performance at Summer Jam, The Game responded with a hard hitting diss titled "300 Bars and Runnin'" in which it address 50 Cent and G-Unit. 50 Cent has mixed feelings towards the diss but nevertheless he responded through his "Piggybank" video. The video features The Game dressed as a Mr. Potato Head and his many other nemesis named in the song in parodies of major characters on television. The feud continued escalating, as former Bloods and fans of The Game began protesting events that feature 50 Cent and G-Unit. Recently it had been looking like more of a one sided beef with all diss track's being released by The Game. He dropped tracks such as "120 Bars" "G-Unit Crip" "360" and "Red Bandana". At the end of "Red Bandana" The Game claims 50 Cent is stealing Eminem's style by just talking and he says:

''"That knockoff 8 Mile shit/

''You can never be Eminem motherfucker/

''You ain't lyrically inclined enough to be Nas, Jay-Z, BIG, or Pac/

''And in the modern day...today, tomorrow...next week/

''You can't fuck with The Game nigga!/

''...out"/

In January 2006, The Game took the beef to whole a new level by releasing an entire DVD devoted to the fall out entitled "Stop Snitchin' Stop Lyin'" along with a mix tape, with a lot of claims that this would be his final involvement with the beef. After this many Game fans started stating that The Game had won the beef, until 50 Cent came out with the track "Not Rich, Still Lyin'" which featured 50 Cent imitating The Game. The G-Unit has started to respond on numerous underground mixtapes. The Recent G-Unit Radio 21 Mixtape shows a picture of Game as a stripper, which has made Game fight back again.

The people at Interscope are once again trying to deflate the situation. This feud is the first of many feuds whereas, two rappers from the same label currently engaged in rap feuds with one another.

Other known rivalries (not necessarily chronological order)

• MF DOOM vs. GM Grimm DOOM and Grimm have had beef for 10 years now. They had collaborated on two albums together, but Grimm got mad at DOOM a few years ago for "mishandling money". That beef was reportedly squashed, but it is apparently back on again as DOOM recently dissed Grimm in the DANGERDOOM song "El Chupa Nibre" by referring to the Monsta Island Czars (aka M.I.C.) as "Midgets Into Crunk". Grimm responded to this by recording an entire DOOM diss track entitled "Book of Daniel" in which he rhymes "Bitch I'll pull your file". The feud remains to this day.

• MC Lyte vs. Antoinette: Antoinette was an aspiring female rapper who, presumably in order to attract attention, went after the leading female rapper of the time. The two traded insults for a year or two. Lyte's response was also fueled by claims that her rival had stolen the beat from Top Billin, by Audio Two (which included her relative, Milk D).

• Tim Dog vs. N.W.A.: Tim Dog made "Fuck Compton" to express his dismay at the rising popularity of gangsta rappers such as N.W.A. in the '90s, whom he felt were wack, but also for the same reason 50 Cent dropped How To Rob wich was that rappers who dissed other rappers got more publicity. Dr. Dre responded with a skit (The $20 Dollar Sack Pyramid) on his album "The Chronic" in which it is insinuated that Dog enjoyed performing fellatio and on "Dre Day" with Snoop talking about Tim's rhyming skills: Your bark was loud, but your bite wasn’t vicious, And them rhymes you were kickin were quite bootylicious. Tim Dog responded with "Bitch With A Perm" which was a remix of Snoop Dogg's hit "Gin & Juice"and Dog Baby a track that has a beginning similar to Dre Day. Today Dr. Dre and Snoop Dogg is one of the biggest men in Hip Hop, Tim Dog is mostly remembered for Fuck Compton and beeing Snoop's bitch in the Dre Day-video. Lyrically, Tim Dog won the beef, but after some time he was just forgotten.

• MC Shan vs. LL Cool J: While on tour together, a young LL played MC Shan his new single "Rock The Bells." It wasn't until later that Shan realized the beat LL had used was one of Shan's own. Feeling violated, Shan released the song "Beat Biter" directly calling LL Cool J out for plagiarism. LL responded, but only subliminally with "The Breakthrough."

• X-Clan vs. KRS-One: This is believed to stem from remarks KRS-One made onstage after an X-Clan concert. X-Clan responded in the song "Fire & Earth", criticizing KRS for being a humanist, among other things. KRS eventually responded in a Source magazine interview and then with the song "Build & Destroy", by which time X-Clan had disbanded.

X-Clan vs. 3rd Bass: Militant Afro centric group X-Clan targeted the White group 3rd Bass in several songs, referring to them as "cave boys". X-Clan member Brother J has said his reason for going after 3rd Bass was not simply because they were White, but because "the corporation that was pushing them made people think that the group was Black . . . it was hard enough (for actual Black artists) to get in the door to get a decent deal in the 90s (so) do you think I am going to sit back and allow someone to bamboozle the audience and take position (ahead of those other struggling Black artists)?" 3rd Bass never clearly responded, though it is often rumored that they responded subliminally on their second album Derelicts Of Dialect (the tracks rumored to contain disses being "Herbalz In Your Mouth" and "Green Eggs & Swine").

MC Eiht vs. DJ Quik: DJ Quik and MC Eiht were constantly dissing each other, while both had growing popularity at the time. The fued was also fueled by the fact that Eiht had ties to the Crips while Quik had ties to the Bloods. Songs Involved: DJ Quik - Dollaz & Sense, DJ Quik - Let Yo Havit, MC Eiht - Def Wish 3.

• Jay-Z vs. Terror Squad: While the beef between Jay-Z and Terror Squad member Big Pun is only rumored, the bad blood between him and Fat Joe has become increasingly publicized. Rumors state that Jay, Dame Dash and Sauce Money had an altercation with Big Pun, Fat Joe and Cuban Link in a New York club. The story goes that Jay-Z was performing drunk, and Terror Squad walked on stage and told him to get off for their set. Jay-Z punched Fat Joe and was then hit with a bottle of champagne in the head by Big Pun. After this, several subliminal disses may have been traded before Pun's death; afterward, and on up to the present, Jay and Fat Joe have sent more thinly-veiled subliminal at each other, some referencing a Roc-a-Fella/Terror Squad truce basketball game which the Roc forfeited.

• Jay-Z vs. Mobb Deep: In 2000-2001, Jay and Prodigy began a series of disses that would grow to culminate in a Summer Jam concert. While on-stage, Jay projected old pictures of a young Prodigy dressed and emulating the dance moves of Michael Jackson. According to MTV News, the long feud between Mobb Deep and Jay-Z is dead. Prodigy and Hov recently sat down to discuss doing business together. "We got friends in common," Prodigy explained about how the meeting came about. It looks like the Mobb are going to be executive producing the debut by Sam Scarfo, one of Jay's first signings upon becoming Def Jam president.

• Jay-Z vs. Cam'ron- Formerly signed to Roc-a-Fella Records, Cam'ron and Jay-Z's relationship was never more than cordial; when Jay announced retirement, Damon Dash reportedly offered Cam'ron the presidency of Roc-a-Fella. However, when Jay announced he had sold the Roc to Def Jam and was taking the offered ownership in 2005, Cam left with Dame and Biggs. In early 2006, he claimed Jay was to diss him at the I Declare War concert and released a diss to Jay. Currently Jay-Z and his representatives say he has no plans to respond but also says anything is possible. Cam'ron also released a diss called "Swagger Jacker" (also known as "I'm Not A Writer, I'm A Biter" which had Jay-Z as the artist). It showed all the lines that Jay-Z Borrowed or stole from Notorious B.I.G., 2Pac, Big L, Rakim, B.G., Snoop Dogg, Slick Rick, Nas,& Big Daddy Kane. Afterwards Jay-Z Responed With "Swagger Jacker Part 2" (Also Known As "I Don't Write Shit" By Cam'ron) where he did basically the same thing like in part one but with not only Cam'ron but also Juelz Santana (another member of the Diplomats that was signed to Def Jam). Cam'ron released 2 Disses back to Jay-Z. One on Yung Joc's "It's Going Down Remix", but only Cam'ron's verse had disses & Yung Joc's verse stayed the same. The Other diss was "Laughing At You" with fellow Diplomats member Hell Rell. They claimed that Tearra Mari's & Memphis Bleek's albums didn't sell that much. Cam'ron (due to his new "killa Season" album coming out) decides to Fire more shots by Having an old person with open toe sandals, long jeans, a button-up shirt (the kind with the stripes & long sleeves),& a navy Yankee hat appear in his video for "Touch It Or Not/Wet Wipes". The most recent diss to Jay-Z was by J.R. Writer (another Diplomats member) in a song called "Serious Business" where he says that Jay-z is biting a wrestler by making the diamond sign with his hands (the Roc-A-Fella sign), the wrestler (Diamond Dallas Paige aka DDP) in fact, has filed a lawsuit against him for taking his sign but no official claims had been made of the outcome of the case. The other claim in this song was that if Jay-z sent Memphis Bleek against him he would beat him in a battle.

• Jay-Z vs. R. Kelly: In 2004, Jay-Z and R. Kelly commenced on what was to be a 40-date concert tour. Plagued by a string of cancelled and brief shows, the tension between the two artists reached a plateau at October 2004 show in New York's Madison Square Garden. Kelly abruptly left the stage mid-performance when he believed several fans were waving guns at him. In the ensuing backstage melee, R. Kelly and two of his bodyguards received a dousing of pepper spray from a member of Jay-Z's entourage. All dates of the tour were subsequently cancelled. R. Kelly responded by filing a multi-million dollar lawsuit against Jay-Z. A counter suit by Jay-Z against R. Kelly relating to the tour was later dismissed. Then, In Early 2005 Jay-Z Released a diss to R.Kelly Named "Drop It" (Which was Recorded over Snoop Dogg's "Drop It Like It's Hot Remix" Beat). It was a song talking about R. Kelly getting his lawyers to sue Jay-Z over the incident in Madison Square Garden. The finishing line was as follows: "You're wasting your time trying to sue S dot. Take that civil case and drop it like it's hot." Then, in response R. Kelly released the first R&B diss record "The Truth", on which R. Kelly sang about Jay-Z only caring about what can people do for him. This dispute has eventually died out.

Dr. Dre vs. Luke: One of Dr. Dre's tracks on The Chronic was directed toward Luke in the hit single Dre Day. Luke responded with his own track "Cowards in Compton", the video for the song was parodying "Nuthin' But A 'G' Thang".

Westside Connection vs. Common: Ice Cube interpreted the Common song I Used To Love H.E.R. (which details the history of hip hop through an elaborate extended metaphor) as disrespectful towards the West Coast's contribution to hip hop. In response, Cube, along with his crew The Westside Connection, released "Westside Slaughter House," which included a Common Sense diss. Common responded with the track "The Bitch In Yoo", this all of a sudden seemed to be the spark of the East Coast Vs. West Coast Beef but the beef was squashed by Minister Farrakan after Tupac & Biggie's Deaths.

• Bone Thugs-N-Harmony vs. Do Or Die & Twista: This Midwestern feud started some time between Bone Thugs's 2nd and 3rd albums, with each faction accusing the other of stealing the others style. The beef eventually dissolved.

• Westside Connection vs. Cypress Hill: Cypress Hill accused Ice Cube of stealing beats, lyrics and choruses for his Friday soundtrack that they had planned to use on their album. They recorded the dis track "No Rest For The Wicked" as a result. Ice Cube responded with "King Of The Hill" (credited to his Westside Connection group) to which Cypress Hill released "Ice Cube Killa" in response.

Lil' Kim vs. Foxy Brown: Brown accused Kim of slavishly imitating her style, and Kim accused Brown of the same. Kim responded on Mobb Deep's remix of their single "Quiet Storm" and criticized Brown for using a ghostwriter. Brown responded on the Capone & Noreaga track "Bang Bang," in a verse, which unlike Kim's initial verse, included a much more direct attack. The beef reached it's climax in 2001 when Kim's entourage traded gunfire with Capone-N-Noreaga's entourage outside of the Hot 97 studio in New York City. In 2005 Lil' Kim was convicted of Perjury and lying before a Grand Jury when questioned regarding the incident. She was sentenced to a year and one day at the Federal Detention Center in Philadelphia, which she reported to on Monday, September 19.On Lil' Kim's latest album, The Naked Truth, Kim attacks Foxy Brown once again on the track "Quiet", mentioning an alleged incident where Jacki-O beat up Foxy Brown in a Florida studio, thus implying that Foxy’s bad girl status is null and void. Kim aggravates the sore by threatening to go after Foxy’s alleged ghostwriters.[link]

• DMX vs. Kurupt: This feud stems from DMX sleeping with Kurupt's then girlfriend Foxy Brown. Kurupt would release an attack on DMX, his record label Ruff Ryders, the rap super group The Firm, Ja Rule and producer Irv Gotti on a song called Calling Out Names which was later released on album Tha Streetz Iz A Mutha. DMX's diss track towards Kurrupt came in the form of Bring Your Whole Crew from the album Flesh of My Flesh, Blood of My Blood. There has been no visible conclusion to this rivalry.

• DMX vs. Ja Rule: DMX claimed his one-time ally Ja Rule had copied his rap style, and gotten very rich as a result. Ja Rule responded by bringing up DMX's drug abuse and questioning his sexuality.

Shady/Aftermath vs. Jermaine Dupri: Jermaine stated in an interview that he was a more capable producer than Dr. Dre or Timbaland. Dre and Timbaland took offense, although Jermaine tried to rationalize that what he meant was that he simply did more as a music producer than the other two (writing R&B song lyrics for Usher, in addition to creating his instrumentals, for example). Dre then recorded a verse ("Say What You Say" dissing Jermaine on Eminem's album The Eminem Show, mocking Jermaine for, amongst other things, achieving his initial successes with "10 and 11 year olds" (referencing Jermaine's first signed act Kriss Kross, and recent artist Bow Wow). Xzibit, at the time an artist readily affiliated with Aftermath, also mocked Jermaine Dupri in a radio freestyle, and the Atlanta producer then traded dis tracks with Dr. Dre, Eminem and Xzibit for approximately a year.

Nas vs. Cormega: In 1996, Nas started a rap supergroup called The Firm consisting of Foxy Brown, AZ, Cormega and obviously Nas. Steve Stoute, Nas' manager and owner of Trackmasters Entertainment would only allow Cormega, Nas' longtime friend into the group if he joined Trackmasters Entertainment. Cormega refused to join and was replaced by a rapper named Nature. On tracks by Cormega off of The Realness such as "Thun & Kicko" with Mobb Deep and "You Don't Want It," Nas gets dissed. Nas responded to these disses on the track "Destroy & Rebuild" off of Stillmatic where he attacked many Queensbridge rappers. Some believe that Nas extended the beef to Mobb Deep and Nature. Cormega however made disses to Prodigy of Mobb Deep and Nas on his album The True Meaning also. The main diss tracks were "Love In / Love Out," "A Thin Line" and "Take These Jewels" which makes fun of Prodigy getting his jewelry stolen. Nas and Cormega have reportedly squashed their beef.

• Mobb Deep vs. Nas: In 2001, to the surprise of many, Nas shocked fans when he mentioned Prodigy on his QB diss track Destroy & Rebuild (on which he also disses former friends like Cormega, Nature, and Noreaga). Prodigy and Havoc dissed back on RIP Nas and Point Out the Clowns (on which they also diss Jay-Z). The beef was ended, briefly, in 2005; Nas brought Prodigy out at a show to promote the release of his album Street's Disciple, then dissed them again later that year on The Storm when Mobb Deep signed with Nas' rival 50 Cent's G-Unit Records.

• Eminem vs. Canibus: Eminem released the song "Role Model" on his first LP where he mentioned Canibus in passing. Part of this resulted from LL Cool J's and Canibus's beef. Canibus believed that LL Cool J's response The Ripper Strikes Back to have been too well written and approached Eminem and asked whether he had acted as ghostwriter, which Eminem denied. They talked about collaborating which culminated in Canibus's offering a guest appearance on his with his album 2000 B.C. but Eminem declined. Later, Canibus released a song on his C True Hollywood Stories album that retold Eminem's song "Stan." In Canibus' version, the character had survived (contrary to Eminem's original track) and was bitter toward Eminem for how the rapper had treated the fictional character. The two traded tracks for a period, including "Can-A-Bitch" by :Eminem from his Straight From da Lab EP circulating underground, before the beef appeared to fizzle out.

• Eminem vs. Insane Clown Posse: The feud began when Eminem heard a line from ICP's Carnival of Carnage album with the lyrics "...and now I'm sleepin' in the gutta, right next to Champtown's motha..." Champtown was a close friend/associate of Eminem. Approximately 7-8 years later, Eminem started dissing ICP during his live shows as well as a live appearance he had on the Howard Stern Show. In response, ICP, along with Twiztid, made a diss track called "Slim Anus" and aired it on the Howard Stern Show and several other radio shows. This diss track which was basically Eminem's first hit single, "My Name Is", with most of the lyrics altered to make Eminem and Dr. Dre out to be homosexuals. Eminem responded to this by including a skit on his multi- platinum selling album The Marshall Mathers LP, which portrayed ICP members Shaggy 2 Dope and Violent J fellating the gay character Ken Kaniff. Eminem also took several shots at the ICP on the song Marshall Mathers, claiming that the ICP were cowards who lived in Suburban Detroit, despite claiming to be from The Inner City. Later that year, Eminem pulled a gun on Douglas Dail, a close friend and associate of the ICP, whom is otherwise known within the Juggalo community as "Dougie Doug". An altercation took place between them, and Eminem pulled an unloaded gun out on Dougie. Eminem was later arrested and pleaded "no contest", to which he received probation for a year. ICP then released a diss track called "Nothin' But A Bitch Thang" which they posted on their website for free download. This song included a graphic intro featuring Dr. Dre performing sodomy on Eminem. The song itself responded to the disses featured on The Marshall Mathers LP, the "Dougie Doug Incident", and took more stabs at Eminem and his then ex-wife, Kim. Also in the song, ICP described an incident in the '90s before Eminem had made it big, where he handed out fliers at a concert party he was having, which stated that ICP may make an appearance to it. Violent J also described an incident where Eminem had paid Twiztid, another rap duo on their Psychopathic label, to open up for their show. Eminem continued to diss them during his Up In Smoke Tour, using blow-up dolls painted up like the ICP, and on his song "Business". ICP responded with another diss track called "Please Don't Hate Me", this time targeting Eminem's mother. Although they never officially settled their differences, it appears the ICP and Eminem have currently ended their feud.

• Nelly vs. KRS-One: The feud started with Nelly's song "#1" of his album "Nellyville" in 2002. Nelly was accused of subliminally dissing KRS-One on other songs also. KRS-One struck Nelly back with a diss in his song "Clear Em Out". Then, Nelly responded With his Verse on Beanie Siegel's "Roc The Mic Remix" . KRS continued with "The Real Hip-Hop Is Ova Here" (in both the original & the remix) & he started a boycott of Nelly's "Nellyville" album but it still didn't stop the sales of the album. KRs was thought to have been the loser but on Hot 97's Summer Jam On 2003 Nelly was booed off stage with people saying he was actually the loser of the battle.

• Capone vs. Mr. Capone-E: This feud started in 2000 when Capone owner of Latino Jam Records heard a song with a rapper also calling himself Capone. Capone heard rumors of Capone-E saying that Capone from is a White Correctional Officer. Capone confronted Capone-E on these rumors and Capone-E denied it, but death threats and disturbing phone calls from supposed "Hi-Power associates" say otherwise. Capone has stated in an interview that Capone-E is not even Latino, but Middle Eastern along with other members of his Hi-Power label. These statements have fueled the feud between the two rappers and their labels.

• Don Omar vs. Daddy Yankee: Former partners are feuding because Don Omar was suppose to perform after Daddy Yankee in a concert. But Daddy Yankee took his spot to got paid more. They have feuded ever since.

• Royce Da 5'9" vs. D12: In 2002, Royce called his partner Eminem and asked to be signed to Shady Records. Busy with his movie 8 Mile at the time, Eminem refused, but about a week later signed 50 Cent. Royce took this in stride, and even agreed to do the Anger Management Tour with his crew D-Elite. While on tour, D12 took offense to a line Royce had written: "Fuck Anger Management, I need someone to manage my anger". They took the line to Eminem, and from there a series of misunderstandings escalated the beef. A barfight between D12 and D-Elite culminated in Eminem and Royce not speaking, and a rekindled beef between Royce and all of D12, including his friend Proof. Detroit's radio stations were alive with the controversy, playing diss tracks back and forth which included "Smack Down"— D12 minus Eminem over 50 Cent's "Back Down" beat— and Royce's "Shit On You" over D-12's beat of the same name. Then, He used "Malcolm X" over Capone-N-Noreaga's "Bang Bang" beat. While Royce and Eminem never directly dissed each other, the rap world focused on their relationship, mostly overlooking the friction between Royce and Proof, who had been even closer friends. In 2003, his conflict with Proof finally boiled over in a confrontation on the streets of Detroit. The two rappers' entourages gathered around them, as they spoke heatedly and brandished guns. The police arrested them, and they spent the night in neighboring cells, working out their differences. The two have since ended their beef and have been in the studio.

• Young Jeezy vs. Gucci Mane: The feud started in 2004 after Young Jeezy partially wrote and performed on Gucci Mane's hit single, "Icy". Supposedly, Jeezy was never paid properly for his services. Those in Mane's camp are said that gang members from the Macon area attcked Mane in response. Then, in 2005 Young Jeezy put a song out called "Stay Strapped" dissing Gucci Mane. Mane then responded with his song "745". Jeezy disses Mane on "Break It Down" featuring Red Cafe. Later Gucci Mane released "Round 1". The feud is still going on.

Today's feuds

• 50 Cent vs. Silverback Guerillas: Bang 'Em Smurf, and Domination were once original members of G-Unit and . Bang'Em Smurf was a good friend of 50 Cent was ready to put his life on stake for him. When 50 Cent signed to Interscope, Bang 'Em Smurf was arrested on a weapons charge. 50 Cent refused to bail Bang 'Em Smurf out of jail, even though Get Rich Or Die Tryin' had sold over 8 million copies, it eventually lead to Domination & Bang 'Em Smurf leaving and conflicts between them. Both formed their own group known as Silverback Guerillas, signed to Death Row Records.

• G-Unit vs. D-Block: The feud started after 50 Cent dissed Jadakiss for appearing on 50's nemesis', Ja Rule, single, "New York". The feud has grown to encompass both groups. Jadakiss responded to 50's "Piggy Bank" with "Checkmate". 50 Cent responded to Jada's "Checkmate" with "I Run New York".

• The Diplomats vs. Ma$e: His recent feud started with fellow Harlem based rapper Cam'Ron. After returning to Bad Boy to record his album, he had made comments directly at Cam'Ron, and Jim Jones of The Diplomats (known also as Dip-Set). On radio, the rappers had verbal exchanges disputing his previous comments about Ma$e's dissent towards rap. Since then, Ma$e has recorded songs discrediting Cam'Ron and Dip Set. Cam'Ron has blasted Ma$e as being a hypocrite and sinner for his "glorifying" return to gangster rap. Jim Jones blasted a song at the end of Dear Summerat him, well he might be talking to Jay-Z. Jim Jones Released a Freestyle over 50 Cent's "I Run NY" dissing Ma$e then Ma$e countered with "Murder's Back" (over the Ying Yang Twins' "Wait" & "Kamikaze but both sounded very similar because "Kamikaze" was a longer version of "Murder's Back". Then J.R. Writer (another Diplomats member) released "Suit Up" which not only took shots at Ma$e but also at G-Unit for signing him.

• Nelly vs. Chingy: This started when Chingy originally wanted to be signed to Nelly's "Derrty Ent." label because of their affiliation with St. Louis ( Chingy & Nelly's place of origin). Eventually Chingy got impatient of waiting for a deal with Nelly & signed to Ludacris' "Disturbin Tha Peace" records. The two still didn't have no actual problems yet. Then it escalated when Nelly Released his album "Sweat" with the song "Another One" which was a back handed form of flattery to remind Chingy who came out first. Chingy striked back on "We Got"

• Joe Budden vs. The Game: In 2004, 50 Cent criticized Joe Budden's album for "lacking street credibility." Budden took offense and released various insults directed at G-Unit. The Game did a freestyle for DJ Clue, and then Joe Budden used the end of the freestyle without notifying The Game. While on the end, Joe Budden took shots at G-Unit. During 2004, The Game made several records against Joe Budden, notoriously the track "Buddens." The Game threatened Joe Budden and supposedly flew to New York to confront him. Joe Budden mocked The Game's appearance on the dating game show "Change of Heart". On his web site, The Game defended his embarrassing appearance on the show, saying that he was young and needed the money, also he stated on his Stop Snitchin' Stop Lyin' DVD that he was on the show with two girls making him a pimp. Later, at a party in New York, the rappers mutually announced their intention to stop making hostile records about each other, but The Game has subsequently suggested in songs and videos that he won the feud.

• Lil' Flip vs. T.I.: While out of prison, T.I. had overheard people claiming that Lil' Flip had disrespected him at a show he did in Atlanta and he felt obliged to respond. He did so at WHTA/Hot 107.9's Birthday Bash. According to www.allhiphop.com, T.I. was on a Houston radio station talking about the situation between him and Lil' Flip, and he made nasty comments about Lil' Flip repping a hood that he didn't grow up in. The rapper was confronted by Lil' Flip and his crew and a fight broke out between them until someone fired shots to break up the scuffel. They since have discontinued this feud after a closed door meeting between the two. However, on T.I.'s forthcoming album King, there are two tracks which have been disputed by the AllHipHop.com community to be shots at Lil Flip ("What You Know" and "I'm Talking To You"). However in an interview with HipHopGame.com on March 24th, 2006, T.I. was quoted as saying he and Lil Flip have no beef. It is now said that both tracks were actually directed to Rick Ross.

• The Game vs. Yukmouth: Yukmouth confronted The Game at a party and stated to him that he had a beef with 50 Cent. Soon a video surfaced on the Internet in which Yukmouth appeared in a studio with rappers Domination & Bang 'Em Smurf who were making a disrespectful song aimed at G-Unit. At the end of the clip, Yukmouth claims that The Game had a tongue ring. (The piercing is viewed as effeminate.) The Game fired back with performing an Ice Cube move by dissing the rap veteran over his own "I Got 5 On It" beat. Yukmouth responded with a diss track of his own which referred to the Change of Heart and tongue ring incidents. Yukmouth released a mix tape called "All Out War," attacking The Game on several tracks. The two tried to bury the hatchet and even recorded a song together in hopes of squashing the beef. However, Game wanted Yukmouth to record the track with him in Compton. Yukmouth recorded his verse and sent it to Game because he feared it was a setup. Game took this as a sign of weakness and dissed Yukmouth on the track. Yukmouth and Game have both recently said they ended the rivalry this time and recorded another song together.

• Suge Knight vs. The Game: There was a wide spread rumor that Game had been slapped by Suge Knight. Yukmouth heavily promoted this rumor during his and Game's beef. The Game responded on his website, saying that if Suge Knight had ever touched him, he would put him "6 Feet Under." After the 2005 BET Awards, associates of Death Row had their invitations to a party hosted by Ciara rescinded. Supposedly, a member of Death Row had tried to steal The Game's chain. The Game stated on his Black Wall Street web site that he dislikes Suge Knight because of "the lives he has endangered". In Miami for the 2005 MTV Video Music Awards, Suge Knight was shot and wounded at Kanye West's party by an unknown gunman. The Game vigorously denied involvement in the shooting, but the incident renewed efforts to pacify hip hop feuds and The Game has consequently been discouraged from attending certain events in hopes of averting retaliation.

• Yukmouth vs. G-Unit: A video surfaced on the Internet in which Yukmouth appeared in a studio with rappers Domination & Bang 'Em Smurf who were making a disrespectful song aimed at G-Unit. Spider Loc gained some acclaim for stealing Yukmouth's chain while in a night-club in Hollywood. Spider Loc took pictures wearing Yukmouth's chain and they soon spread across the internet. The chain was returned a day later as Spider was pressured to do so by a mutual friend named Ty from Soul Records.

• The Game vs. Lil Eazy-E: There is currently some controversy between Lil Eazy-E and fellow Compton rapper The Game. Although the two rappers use to be close and even collaborated they've recently had a falling out. Lil Eazy-E claims The Game is using his father's name just to help his own career. Lil Eazy-E came out with a song titled "Gangsta Shit" which takes several subliminal shots at The Game. The Game addressed Lil E on a couple of lines on "120 Bars" that stated, "Now Lil Eazy Dissin, he don't write his own raps so I gotta forgive him, I’ve got love for your pops and I always will, so on behalf of Eric Wright my nigga ya gotta chill". Lil Eazy-E responded with diss tracks called "E' Coming From Compton" and "They Know Me".

• 50 Cent vs. Nas: 50 Cent claimed that Nas had made disparaging comments about him and his G-Unit camp while performing at a New York concert. The rapper has denounced Nas as a traitor over the allying himself with Ja Rule and Irv Gotti. He dissed Nas on "Piggy Bank" and Nas dissed him on "MC Burial". Nas however claims to still have "a lotta love" for 50 and that 50 is still bitter over Jennifer Lopez choosing a remix of her "It's Gonna Be Alright" which had a version with 50, but the version with Nas was the one that gained circulation and recognition. According to Nas, there are other situations and moves 50 didn't understand Nas make when they were both together at Columbia Records. As of Summer 2006, the beef has settled down with nothing coming from either camp. However that may change with Nas' next LP, Hip-Hop is Dead.

• G-Unit vs. Terror Squad: 50 Cent points out that Fat Joe had painted a target on themselves for partnering up with Ja Rule while filming a video in which the rapper took shots at him. He recorded the track "Piggy Bank" and attacked Fat Joe and other rappers for their association with Ja Rule. Then, Fat Joe attacked back on a diss called "My 44" (most referred to as "Fuck 50"). But 50 Cent wasn't done, he & Tony Yayo took more shots at him on "I Run NY". Even though things cooled down, at 2005 MTV Video Music Awards, Fat Joe made a disparaging comment about G-Unit during a performance. 50 Cent and G-Unit retaliated on set by shouting obscenities toward Fat Joe and Terror Squad.

• Dem Franchize Boyz vs. D4L: D4L say they came up with snap music and the dance and say that Dem Franchize Boyz stole it. Dem Franchize Boyz say the same thing about D4L and that D4L imitates them.

• 50 Cent vs. Shyne: 50 Cent recorded the track "Piggy Bank" and attacked Shyne for his association with Ja Rule and Murder Inc. Shyne had Irv Gotti produce his album.

• Cash Money Records vs. B.G., Mannie Fresh, & Juvenile: This beef is because of most of the labels star artists claiming that the labels CEOs Baby & Slim cheated them out of the millions. This lead to most of the rappers leaving except for Lil' Wayne.

• Loon vs. Ma$e: Ma$e says that Loon stole his style and Loon calls Ma$e fake.

• Ma$e vs. Fabolous: Ma$e in several interviews said that Fabolous took his style. Later, Fabolous did a song called "Welcome Me Back" after Ma$e had comeback from being a pastor in which Fabolous disses Ma$e for being fake. Mase later does a song with G-Unit which Ma$e says "i don't know why loon & faby(fabolous) wont admit that im their daddy". Fabolous later responds on his "Loso's Way" mix tape on such tracks as "Murda".

• Lil Romeo vs. Bow Wow: This was due to a line that Bow Wow rapped in his video “Fresh Azimiz”, which stated that "18 nigga makin' more than yo dad" which some took as referring to Romeo's father rap mogul Master P, but Bow Wow later said it was a line borrowed from a classic LL Cool J track. As a result Romeo responded with the track “U Can’t Shine Like Me” which in the song he says "Yous a mommas boy im the son of a hustla".

• Ghostface Killah vs. D4L: Ghostface disses D4L for their help in creating "snap music" in the South. He mocks them in several interviews and concerts, as well as his track The Champ from his album Fishscale. (line: "Revenge is my arts is crafty darts, while y'all stuck on Laffy Taffy, wonderin' how y'all niggaz get past me, I been doin this before Nas dropped the Nasty"). D4L has stated that they have too much respect for Killah to diss him.
• Chamillionaire vs. Mike Jones:Chamillionaire is known to have issues with former Swishahouse member Mike Jones, claiming that he is the reason Chamillionaire left Swishahouse, and going as far as devoting an entire disc of his 3-CD mixtape Mixtape Messiah to rapping about Jones, who he calls "Dike Jones". He accused Mike of slander, and as a result the first CD is mostly insulting Mike Jones in songs like "Who They Want" and "You Got Wrecked".

 

---

From Wikipedia, the Free Encyclopedia. Original article here. Support Wikipedia by contributing or donating.
All text is available under the terms of the GNU Free Documentation License See Wikipedia Copyrights for details.