Years pass, and 1979 arrives. Fatback releases what is considered the beginning of recorded hip-hop music, “King Tim III,” appearing on their disco album Fatback XII.
Still, in 1979, Sylvia Robinson, an American singer and record producer, introduces the Sugarhill Gang to the world. The Sugarhill Gang releases what is considered the introduction of hip-hop music to a wider audience, “Rapper’s Delight.”
The genre goes mainstream. Artists start to express various social issues through it. Political issues, poverty, inequality, and police brutality become prominent topics. Hip-hop is now a different type of culture.
As hip-hop music evolves, 1984 arrives. The Roxanne Wars begin with Roxanne Shante and Marley Marl’s “Roxanne’s Revenge,” a diss record targeting U.T.F.O, a hip-hop group from Brooklyn, New York. U.T.F.O replies with “The Real Roxanne,” and the beef begins.
A series of beefs follow, most notably the Bridge Wars and the famed East Coast and West Coast hip-hop rivalry, involving artists from New York and California. The East Coast and West Coast hip-hop rivalry culminates in violence.
From the Roxanne Wars and the Bridge Wars to the East and West Coast rivalry, G-Unit vs. Murder Inc., and the ongoing Kendrick vs. Drake beef, how did beefs transition from artistic rivalries to real-life hatred?
Tupac vs. Biggie might be the biggest beef the hip-hop community has ever seen, arguably. The feud was also linked to the competition between two of the most powerful record labels of their era, Bad Boy Records and Death Row Records. The feud also played a significant part in the West Coast and East Coast hip-hop rivalry but was more personal.
The two had met for the first time in 1993 and became friends. They even performed together at a concert at Madison Square Garden, New York, that same year. But things between the two of the best to ever grace hip-hop took an unexpected turn.
In 1994, Tupac was shot, and the shooting accusations fell on Biggie and Puff Daddy, who was Biggie’s boss at Bad Boy Records. “Who Shot Ya,” a record believed to be a diss towards Tupac, was released later in 1995. Believing the song was aimed at him, Tupac released “Hit ‘Em Up” in 1996 after coming out of prison, taking shots at Biggie, his rap supergroup Junior M.A.F.I.A., and the entire Bad Boy Records. On the night of September 7, 1996, Tupac was shot dead, and the accusations fell on Biggie and Bad Boy Records again. On March 9 of the following year, Biggie was also shot dead. The animosity between the two was beyond art, and their tragic deaths illustrate how far their feud had gone. Was that still art?
Jay-Z vs. Nas might be another of the biggest beefs the hip-hop community has ever witnessed. Even though the two reconciled in later years and have been on good terms for quite some time, their beef wasn’t solely from an artistic point of view. It is believed that the beef dates back to 1996 when Nas refused to appear on Jay-Z’s debut album, Reasonable Doubt.
In 1997, following Biggie’s death, JAY-Z proclaimed himself as the best MC out of New York. In 2001, JAY-Z released his sixth studio album, The Blueprint. On the second single off the album, “Takeover,” JAY-Z attacked Nas and claimed the Queensbridge MC averages only one good album every 10 years. The Brooklyn MC further criticized Nas’s style of rapping as ‘garbage.’
In that same year, Nas released his fifth studio album, Stillmatic. On the album, the response to Jay-Z’s “Takeover” came with the second single, “Ether.” On the song, Nas calls Jay-Z 'weak’ and claims that Eminem outrapped him on his own song. “Eminem murdered you on your own sh*t,” in reference to Jay-Z and Eminem’s song “Renegade.” Nas also sent homophobic shots at his rival by calling him “GAY-Z.” It is also said that the song had a previous version that was not released, where Nas claimed that Jay-Z deserved to die in the plane crash that took Aaliyah’s life on August 25 of that same year. Was that still art?
Tupac vs. Biggie or Jay-Z vs. Nas aside, you can’t talk about hip-hop beefs without mentioning 50 Cent vs. Ja Rule. Yes, 50 Cent vs. Ja Rule. The beef started with robbery. Ja Rule was robbed and accused 50 Cent of being behind the incident. Later in 2000, 50 Cent was stabbed by Murder Inc. associates, a record company to which Ja Rule was signed.
Following this, a series of diss records were released towards each other and involved other artists like Eminem, Busta Rhymes, Fat Joe, and Jadakiss. The feud escalated to a G-Unit vs. Murder Inc. beef. Over 20 years later, the two are still enemies and don’t seem to be putting aside their differences anytime soon. Isn’t that beyond art?
It’s 2024, and Drake is at his peak as an artist. Away from Toronto is Kendrick Lamar, a Compton native believed to be one of the greatest hip-hop artists of all time and the best of his generation. In the other corner is Jermaine Cole, and the three are said to be the 'BIG 3,’ referring to the biggest three rap artists of the modern era.
Let’s go back a little to October 6, 2023. Aubrey 'Drake’ Graham releases his eighth studio album, For All the Dogs. On the album appears “First Person Shooter,” featuring two of the acclaimed BIG 3. On the song, Jermaine crowns himself as the 'Muhammad Ali’ of the three. The claims reach Kendrick, and we return to 2024.
It’s March 22, 2024. Metro Boomin and Future release their collaborative album, We Don’t Trust You. “Like That” is the sixth track off the album, and Kendrick is featured on it. On the song, the Compton MC distances himself from the BIG 3 comparisons. It’s not the 'BIG 3,’ it’s the 'BIG KENDRICK.’
April 5 arrives, and Jermaine unexpectedly drops his fourth mixtape, Might Delete Later. On the mixtape is “7 Minutes Drill,” where the North Carolina rapper attacks his Compton friend.
Then, on April 19, Aubrey attacks Kendrick with “Push-Ups,” which had been leaked about a week before. The AI-assisted “Taylor Made Freestyle” drops on the same day, too.
By April 30, Euphoria is released in response to “Push-Ups.” On May 3, 6:16 in L.A. drops, with Kendrick still going at Aubrey. On the same day, “Family Matters” is unleashed toward Kendrick. Was that enough? No! It’s only twenty minutes since “Family Matters” came out, and “Meet the Grahams” is playing in Aubrey’s speakers.
Still not over? No! May 4 arrives, and Aubrey is bombarded again with “Not Like Us.” In response, May 5 brings “The Heart Part 6” from Aubrey.
Throughout the Kendrick-Drake beef, dating back to 2012, personal lives were attacked, insults were exchanged, and families were involved. Is that still art?
Throughout hip-hop’s existence, beefs have arisen. Some were resolved peacefully, while others became the center of violence and loss of life. There are many examples illustrating how hip-hop beefs have gone beyond art and created lasting hatred among those involved.
Notable cases include Pusha T vs. Drake, Eminem vs. Benzino, Gucci Mane vs. Jeezy, 50 Cent vs. Game, Rick Ross vs. 50 Cent, 50 Cent vs. Diddy, Mase vs. Diddy, and the currently squashed PFLA vs. Bulldog case.
Throughout hip-hop’s existence, beefs have arisen. Some were resolved peacefully, while others became the center of violence and loss of life.
