Another Top 10 Hip Hop Feuds and Beefs
These lyrical battles are pure fire. Welcome to WatchMojo.com, and today we'll be counting down our picks for Another Top 10 Hip Hop Feuds and Beefs.
For this list, we're focusing on even more hip-hop conflicts that kept pop culture poppin'. If you think we missed a feud, don't forget to check out our original list.
#10: Nicki Minaj vs. Remy Ma
This feud began in 2007 when up-and-comer Minaj challenged one of hip-hop’s most respected female MCs. Both were up-and-comers at the time, Remy Ma’s career would hit a speed bump as she went to jail for six years. Meanwhile, Nicki Minaj changed her image and evolved into a pop culture superstar. By 2014, Remy was back in the studio, ready to reclaim her spot within hip-hop. When she busted pointed rhymes over Minaj’s “Truffle Butter” beat, Nicki fired back with controversial verses on “Swalla.” This feud used to be smoldering but it went full throttle when Remy dropped the diss track “ShETHER" in 2017.
#9: Ghostface Killah vs. Action Bronson
As a founding member of the Wu-Tang Clan, Ghostface Killah has a permanent legacy in the rap scene. Furthermore, he’s one of the most respected lyricists of all time. But fellow New Yorker Action Bronson took him down a notch during a 2015 interview on ESPN’s “SportsNation.” The hosts seemed surprised by the shade, and Ghostface clearly didn’t appreciate the disrespect either. He responded with a YouTube video, listing all the reasons why Action should perhaps just mind his own business and respect the Ghostface legacy.
#8: Lil B vs A Boogie wit da Hoodie (and PnB Rock)
Lil B is well known for cursing out NBA players and for his light-hearted-demeanor. But at the 2017 Rolling Loud festival, the West Coast MC paid a price for talking trash about East Coast rapper A Boogie wit da Hoodie. Lil B announced that he’d been attacked by Boogie, PnB Rock and others – but rather than making matters worse, he decided to promote peace. He also canceled his show, because Boogie’s crew apparently took all his gear. Shortly after, the beef was officially squashed, as a mutual friend, Kilo Curt, arranged a phone call to get all parties involved on the same page.
#7: Gucci Mane vs. Young Jeezy
During more peaceful times, these two Atlanta rappers collaborated on the song “Icy.” It was Gucci Mane’s first single, and the track that sparked the long, ongoing feud, as Young Jeezy claimed he was never paid for his guest appearance. The drama escalated when he released the diss track “Stay Strapped.” Gucci was then reportedly set up to be assaulted by Jeezy associates, and ending up killing one named Pookie Loc. The murder charge was ultimately dropped, but each trap artist continued to trade lyrical shots, both in music and during interviews.
#6: Azealia Banks vs. The World
Since making our original list for her beef with Jim Jones, Azealia Banks has taken on the world. As for hip-hop feuds ONLY, she’s labeled Cardi B as the “poor man’s Nicki Minaj” and brazenly took on Rihanna in 2017 after the pop star complained about Donald Trump on Twitter. Azealia told her to “shut up and sit down,” which prompted an Instagram response from RiRi. It didn’t stop there, as Azealia continued on with the heat. She also took aim at Iggy Azalea in 2014 with a controversial series of tweets that, unsurprisingly, incited a reaction from the Australian star.
#5: Canibus vs. LL Cool J
Here’s a late ‘90s feud that began with a misunderstanding on a collaborative track. LL Cool J enlisted the Jamaican-born rapper for the song “4,3,2,1” only did he didn’t appreciate a certain reference to his microphone tattoo. So, LL changed his own rhyme and fired back, which led Canibus to respond with the single “Second Round K.O.” for his album, a reference to LL’s classic “Mama Said Knock You Out.” But LL Cool J is a legend for a reason, and he essentially ended the feud with his lyrical comeback, “The Ripper Strikes Back.”
#4: Eminem vs. Insane Clown Posse
Years before Slim Shady began dissing celebrities, he was dissing hip-hop’s most famous clowns. Way back in 1997, Eminem tried to hype up one of his shows by promoting a possible Insane Clown Posse appearance. But the group passed, and a Detroit hip-hop feud was born. This one was all about respect and status, and Eminem ultimately took advantage of his larger platform to continue the lyrical battle. ICP briefly perpetuated the feud, but it was the late rapper Proof who ultimately helped squash the beef for good.
#3: Meek Mill vs. Drake
In hip-hop, lyrical credibility is a big deal. After Meek Mill (who was recently sentenced to prison) released the track “R.I.C.O.” in 2015, he called out his featured guest, Drake, on Twitter, claiming that he used ghostwriters. He also labeled Drizzy’s verse as “baby lotion soft.” In response, Drake released “Back to Back” and made Nicki Minaj part of the conversation, as she was dating Meek Mill at the time. This is more of a traditional hip hop feud, with each MC using their art form, and social media platform, as retaliation. Considering that even Burger King got involved, it’s perhaps the most commercial hip-hop feud of the social media age.
#2: 50 Cent vs. Ja Rule
Before Curtis “50 Cent” Jackson hit the mainstream, the charts belonged to fellow New York MC Ja Rule. Their rivalry stemmed from many issues, most notably a 2000 attack in which Fiddy was stabbed by one of Ja Rule’s associates. And then 50 Cent released “Wanksta,” which was reportedly directed at Ja Rule, even though he has denied this claim. As the years went by, Rule’s career slowed down and 50 evolved into a prominent pop culture figure. This made the feud, which continued with a few diss tracks like 2003’s “Back Down,” less relevant. Lyrically, many have considered this beef to be entirely one-sided, and Ja Rule owned up to his loss during an interview with radio station HOT 97.
Before we unveil our top pick, here are a few honorable mentions.
Roxanne Shanté vs. The Real Roxanne
Lil’ Kim vs. Foxy Brown
Jadakiss vs. Beanie Sigel
#1: N.W.A. vs. Ice Cube
In the late ‘80s, a group from Compton, California transformed hip-hop forever. But despite their external influence on pop culture, an internal beef made one of their own leave the group. When Ice Cube went solo, the existing N.W.A. members attacked him on their EP “100 Miles and Runnin’,” which incited Cube to push back with his own diss track, “No Vaseline.” As depicted in the 2015 film “Straight Outta Compton,” this beef was especially personal, with various factors contributing to the original conflict. While some hip-hop feuds have faded somewhat in memory, like Ice Cube’s beef with Common, this one remains an integral piece of hip-hop history.