Image via Complex Original
Beef is so rampant in hip-hop that it's impossible to remember them all. The advent of social media has resulted in beef so frequent that the general response to new rap feuds is one of apathy. But it wasn't always like that. There was a time when beef was one of the most exciting parts of the genre, inspiring high moments of wit and lyricism.
However, all of those conflicts aren't seared into everyone's memory, say, the way Nas and Jay-Z's battle is—until now. We're taking a look back at the under-the-radar rap beefs that didn't make much impact beyond UStream or whispered-about subliminals. Continue reading for a breakdown of 25 crucial and forgotten about hip-hop beefs.
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Busy Bee vs. Kool Moe Dee
Advantage: Kool Moe Dee
Kool Moe Dee's surprise attack on legendary party rapper Busy Bee in the last minutes of an open mic night in 1982 was a paradigm shift. No longer could a MC claim king without sufficient lyrical ability nor was it enough to hype parties and call out zodiac signs. Kool Moe Dee's devastating attack set off the rise of lyricism in rap.
Mobb Deep vs. Redman
Advantage: Redman
On Mobb Deep's seminal classic The Infamous, Prodigy recorded a rambling keep-it-real interlude directed at "all them rap ass niggas wit ya half-assed rhymes talkin bout how much you get high, how much weed you smoke, and that crazy space shit that don't even make no sense" and warned he might get on some high school shit and "smack niggas just for living." Redman took this personally and his ally Keith Murray reportedly confronted Mobb in front of NYC nightclub, the Tunnel. According to reports, Mobb needed more people.
2Pac vs. Dr. Dre
Advantage: Draw
When Dr. Dre started looking for an exit from the bloody soap opera that had become Death Row, 2Pac went on the attack, claiming Dre was gay and now that he was gone Death Row was "out of the closet." Dre for his part never responded, which in retrospect was probably a wise move.
MC Hammer vs. 3rd Bass
Advantage: MC Hammer
In effort to burnish their real rap crudentials, 3rd Bass attacked pop rapper Hammer for selling out hip-hop's image at the end of their hit single "Gasface." Hammer responded by shooting a video in which he did the Hammer Dance on top of a line of broke rappers.
Rakim vs. Big Daddy Kane
Advantage: Draw
This was the greatest battle that never was. It was a open secret that the two traded barbed subliminals on Ra's "Microphone Fiend" and Kane's "Set It Off," but the beef never expanded into open warfare.
Memphis Bleek vs. Nas
Advantage: Nas
The beef that would set off one of the most epic battles in rap history actually started with a back and forth between Nas and Jay's lyrical apprentice, Memphis Bleek. In a naked subliminal on a mixtape track "Mind Right," Memphis questioned Nas credibility prompting Nas to react. Then Jay stepped in and the rest is history.
Mobb Deep vs. Saigon
Advantage: Saigon
During a melee at a show, Saigon snuffs Prodigy on stage and then is chased out of the venue by 25 or so members of the Mobb Deep entourage. In the subsequent re-telling, Mobb Deep would start a "Run, Saigon, Run" sticker campaign.
Pimp C vs. Young Jeezy
Advantage: Pimp C
In an interview with Ozone magazine, Pimp C calls out Atlanta rappers for being not Southern enough and then misquoting prices on that work. Jeezy who nicknamed himself Mr. 17.5 resembled those remarks. Pimp C was fairly quick to walk his comments back but the sting of that O.G. slap lingered.
MC Lyte vs. Antoinette
Advantage: MC Lyte
After Antoinette bit the beat from her brother Milk D's massive hit "Top Billin'" Lyte went on the warpath. "10% Dis" is pure, unrelenting devastation--ether before "Ether."
Eminem vs. Everlast
Advantage: Eminem
Pioneering white rap guy Everlast came up against a young, angry Eminem and got his ass handed to him. Apparently, Everlast was mad that Eminem didn't acknowledge him in person at a Sway and Tech show. He lashed out on Dilated Peoples' "Ear Drums Pop" remix and Eminem responded with the lacerating, intensely personal "I Remember."
Eminem vs. Fred Durst
Advantage: Eminem
Fred Durst of Limp Bizkit became collateral damage in Em's merciless campaign against Everlast for the white rapper crown. Feeling slighted by Durst and his DJ Lethal's ambivalence in the feud, Em recorded "Quitter" and and "Girls," and threatened physical damage.
Treach vs. Chino XL
Advantage: Treach
After years of competition between the two lyrically dexterous Jersey rappers with similar style and skill, Treach would find more success. On the day Naughty By Nature signed a million dollar recording contract with Tommy Boy, Chino XL found a copy on his doorstep.
Lil Cease vs. Maino
Advantage: Maino
Fresh from prison, Maino scrapped with Lil' Cease when beef developed between Cease and Lil' Kim. The subsequent controversy would launch Maino's career as rap realness standard bearer.
CNN vs. Dogg Pound
Advantage: Draw
At the height of the coastal tensions that would lead to the deaths two legendary favorite rappers, Snoop and the Dogg Pound recorded themselves rampaging through New York buildings Godzilla-style over lethal G-funk. NYC responded in kind: first, shots at the Dogg Pound trailer and then lyrical shots by CNN and Mobb Deep in defense of the home team.
Jadakiss vs. Beanie Sigel
Advantage: Draw
As one of the great lyrical back-and-forths of the modern era, Kiss vs. Beans was more a reflection of the tensions between the teams than it was between the two lyrical giants. The two would acknowledge their mutual respect years later, both claiming they benefited from such fierce competition.
Common vs. Westside Connection
Advantage: Common
Ice Cube took offense at Common's description of the West Coast treatment of hip-hop on his track "I Used to Love H.E.R." and recorded a diss record with the West Coast Connection to address it. To most people's surprise Common retaliated with a surgical deconstruction of Ice Cube's entire career.
Waka Flocka vs. Wiz Khalifa
Advantage: Draw
On a Kay Slay tape, Waka accused Wiz of lacking swag and--of all things--not being able to handle big blunts. For his part, Mr. Vacuum Lungs, kept his cool.
Lil Wayne vs. Gillie Da Kid
Advantage: Lil Wayne
Philly rap star Gillie the Kid claimed Wayne stole his style after Gillie wrote for him. The controversy, ironically, would only fuel Wayne's ascendancy to the top eschelons of rap and resulted in a bunch of jabs from Weezy on Da Drought 3.
Roxanne Shante vs. Real Roxanne
Advantage: Roxanne Shante
The drama of rap crew UTFO's TK hit "Roxanne, Roxanne" set off a slew of answer records and came to a crescendo in the battle over who could claim to be the "real" fictional Roxanne. Marley's innovative production and Shante's superior mic presence won the day.
Eminem vs. Cage
Advantage: Eminem
New York rapper Cage took shots at Em at every opportunity mostly because they occupied the same rap lane. Em responded by name checking Cage on the Slim Shady LP: "I bought Cage's tape, opened it and dubbed over it."
Joe Budden vs. Raekwon
Advantage: Raekwon
After Joe Budden started talking reckless about his lyrical superiority over Method Man, one of the members of Raekwon's entourage took it upon himself to defend the Clan's good name. In a backstage confrontation Budden caught one in the face. Budden's post-eye jammie video stream is one of the classic documents of the emo rap genre.
MC Eiht vs. DJ Quik
Advantage: DJ Quik
This battle between West Coast MCs came to abrupt end when Quik noted that MC Eiht's misspelt name was missing the G for a reason. There was no "G" in him. MC Eiht's career abruptly ended soon after.
Jackie O vs. Foxy Brown
Advantage: Jackie O
From all reports, Fox caught a bad one when she confronted Jackie O in a studio in Miami about a percieved lack of respect for "Fox Boogie." "I went to work," Jackie O would later state, "I didn't know I would be winning an ass-kicking contest."
Cam'ron vs. Tru Life
Advantage: Draw
In one of his more Machivellian moves following Cam'ron's withering attack on his choice of footwear, Jay-Z decided to sign Tru Life, a rapper from the Bronx, to Roc-A-Fella. A few weeks later, Tru Life and Camron find each other in front of a club and a confrontation ensues. This results in rumors that Camron "cried in the car" and his subsequent disappearance for months. This was the last we heard from Tru Life. Jay-Z, meanwhile, counted money on some island somewhere.
MC Hammer vs. LL Cool J
Advantage: LL Cool J
LL eviserated Hammer on "Break A Dawn" calling him, among other things, an old gym teacher with no place in rap.