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There's a fine line between competition and conflict, and in the ever-evolving landscape of Rap and Hip-Hop, all it takes are a few words or actions to tip the scales toward beef.
At their best, calves have given us quotes and songs that have become part of our cultural catalog from KRS-One's iconic lines on “The Bridge is Over” or Jay-Z's jab at Nas' iconic song “The World is Mine” in “Upload”. At worst, the beefs led to violent interactions that served as warnings for the future (rest in peace, Tupac Shakur, Christopher Wallace, and so many others).
Whether you rooted for the underdog or cheered for the bad guy, here's a list of nine Hip-Hop bulls that changed the way we listen to the culture's music to this day.
9. Kool Moe Dee and LL Cool J
Considered by many to be one of the first cases of rap beef, the feud between the two not only spawned some of rap's greatest moments (Kool Moe Dee's Grammy rap performance and LL's Jack the Ripper series), but also set a precedent in use of rap songs. magnifies the brand of both stars. For LL, it had become one of rap's first commercial successes, leading the way to success and respect in the '90s and beyond. His rise also foreshadowed a frontman's anger issue with younger MCs who felt let down by the scorn of the next generation.
8. Lil' Kim and Foxy Brown
Kim's rise to rap in 1996 alongside Notorious BIG and Junior Mafia brought about a new aesthetic for female rappers as she embraced a more sexual and aggressive energy. Unfortunately, the rivalry between her and fellow Brooklyn rapper Foxy Brown became inevitable as the two traded words over the years on various songs, including Kim's verse on Lil Cease's 1999 song, “Play Around.” “The Notorious Kim” and “Quiet Storm” by Mobb Deep. Remix”. Foxy's venomous verse on “Bang Bang” proved prophetic, and the violence and residual intensity that followed over the years make it one of rap's most memorable beefs.
7. Gucci Mane and Young Jeezy
For these two Southern MC's who have since gone on to mend their differences, their feud over Gucci's first commercial record, “So Icy,” led to a flurry of back-and-forth diss records that escalated into alleged violence by disks. Unfortunately, their antics and the energy behind it led to a new dimension of enemies they chase, capped by Gucci's gesture of smoking on an enemy's remains. movement he has since been convicted.
6. LL Cool J and Canibus
For Canibus, the rising phenomenon in rap at the time, to appear on a song with someone as accomplished as LL Cool J was an honor. His opening verse on the posse cut, “4,3,2,1,” as innocent as it was, provoked LL's furious response, and the records that followed only made LL's battle rap grow. Canibus' “Second Round KO” and Canibus' “The Ripper Strikes Back” also demonstrated whether fans preferred battle records from overtly lyrical rappers or more commercially known artists.
5. 2Pac and The Notorious BIG
Largely remembered for 2Pac's sensational claims against Biggie on the song “Hit Em Up,” the largely one-sided beef prompted a flurry of responses from Biggie and others, both directly and subliminally, which fueled the environment that led to their premature death. . Behind-the-scenes antics between Bad Boy Records and Death Row only exacerbated the tension and forced the former friends to push all kinds of boundaries that rap had never seen before.
4. Jay-Z and Nas
After years of tension and perceived disrespect, Jay-Z and Nas' beef in the early 2000s spawned two of rap's biggest diss records, “Takeover” and “Ether,” while also adding to the classic repertoire of two stars with albums and songs. Despite the propensity for violence, both men's decisions to end their affair and work together represented a rare display of maturity unlike anything we'd seen at the time from stars of their stature.
3. Ja Rule and 50 Cent
Arguably one of the most influential rap beefs of the early 2000s, 50 Cent's and Ja's backstory spilled onto the national stage when 50 attacked Ja multiple times on his debut album. Get rich or Die Trying'. The relentless 50's vendetta against Ja and Murder Inc. successfully making him a legend in many eyes and erasing the amazing run of one of rap's most influential and successful record labels. Despite both artists pursuing different endeavors, the beef between them remains one of rap's most notable landmines, exploding at least once a year on social media without fail.
2. Ice Cube and NWA
In the eyes of many rap fans, including Cube himself, his 1991 diss response “No Vaseline” is arguably the most well-known and well-crafted. Before rap fans could get used to the idea of a 20 v 1 type battle, Cube took it upon himself to tell his former NWA group off, so much so that they decided not to respond. At the top of his game, both critically and commercially, his diss carried the same weight as Jay-Z and Nas with a level of sophistication and execution that has yet to be reached by a diss record since.
1. Kendrick Lamar and Drake
Just as Jay-Z and Nas' beef grew over the years before exploding on the scene, Kendrick and Drake's feud after his verse on Big Sean's “Control” grew, culminating in years of subliminal jabs. Kendrick's feature on Future and Metro Boomin's single, “Like That” forced both sides into the contest, and from there, we got more rap disses in one week than we've ever seen from two competitors. The speed of their releases, their mood strategies, and their wit increased interest in the rap feuds usually played out over time and showed us the lyrical brilliance of both camps, regardless of who you thought was the winner.
Culturally, the response to Kendrick's song “Not Like Us” both online and during Kendrick's Juneteenth concert continues the communal call-and-response aspect of rap feuds we've loved since its inception. In a short time, Not Like Us became a rap anthem and one of the most streamed songs of the year, along with Drake's Grammy-nominated Back to Back.
