Hip Hop is a contact sport. There are few other music genres so competitive as to naturally pit the top contributors against each other. And clashes between the likes of The Game and 50 Cent as well as Lil Kim and Foxy Brown have turned physical with both verbal and literal “shots fired.” Of course, the deaths of Tupac Shakur and The Notorious B.I.G. represent the ultimate losses for Hip Hop, as both men were dragged into a media-created “East versus West” feud and died of gunshot wounds in separate altercations. So there’s a precedent for corporations (in their case major record labels) profiting from emcees clashing.
This upcoming weekend’s “Total Slaughter” marquee battle between Joe Budden and Hollow Da Don represents one of the times when a corporate entity, two conflicting participants and Hip Hop at large will all hopefully profit from a battle. Hollow and Joe have been trading barbs in the months leading up to this battle, and on July 12, everything will finally be settled.
In the meantime, we look back at 14 memorable battles between emcees ranging from Nas and Jay Z to Three 6 Mafia and Bone thugs-n-harmony. This is not a ranked list. Enjoy looking back on what we hope are beefs that have long been settled, and as you await “Total Slaughter,” check out BattleRap.com for updates on the upcoming battle between Joe Budden and Hollow Da Don. And since we know you’re fiending, don’t forget to order “Total Slaughter” on Pay-Per-View this upcoming Saturday July 12. Check out “Total Slaughter” on FuseTV and if you’re cable company’s acting the fool, you can grab the episodes over at Watch Loud.
Battle: Jay Z vs. Nas
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Key Songs: “Takeover” – Jay Z [The Blueprint], “Ether” – Nas [Stillmatic], “Supa Ugly” – Jay Z [No album], “Stillmatic Freestyle” – Nas [No album], “Last Real Nigga Alive” – Nas [God’s Son], “Blueprint 2” – Jay Z [The Blueprint 2: The Gift & The Curse].
Jay Z’s RIAA/Billboard Impact: The Blueprint peaked at #1 on Billboard magazine’s Top 200 albums chart during a 35-week run on the chart. On May 1, 2002 the RIAA certified The Blueprint as double platinum. The Blueprint 2: The Gift & The Curse peaked at #1 on Billboard magazine’s Top 200 albums chart during a 26-week run on the chart. On December 10, 2002, the RIAA certified The Blueprint 2: The Gift & The Curse as triple platinum.
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Nas’ RIAA/Billboard Impact: Stillmatic peaked at #5 on Billboard magazine’s Top 200 albums chart during a 38-week run on the chart. On January 16, 2002 the RIAA certified Stillmatic as platinum. God’s Son peaked at #12 on Billboard magazine’s Top 200 albums chart during a 28-week run on the chart.
Battle: Casual vs. Saafir
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Key Songs: “That Bullshit” – [Fear Itself], Hieroglyphics vs. Hobo Junction Battle [Wake Up Show].
Casual & Saafir’s RIAA/Billboard Impact: Fear Itself peaked at #108 on Billboard magazine’s Top 200 albums chart during a two-week run on the chart. According to Sway Calloway, he and King Tech took upwards of 500 phone calls, facilitated coverage in Rap Pages and were able to parlay the Casual versus Saafir battle into a recurring segment on the Wake Up Show. So while the battle didn’t necessarily help sell albums, the registers definitely kept ringing.
Battle: Common vs. Ice Cube
Key Songs: “I Used To Love H.E.R.” – Common [Resurrection], “The Bitch In Yoo” – Common [No album], “Westside Slaughterhouse” – Westside Connection (Ice Cube, Mack 10 and WC) [Mack 10].
Common’s RIAA/Billboard Impact: Resurrection peaked at #179 on Billboard magazine’s Top 200 albums chart during a two-week run on the chart.
Mack 10’s RIAA/Billboard Impact: While the beef was primarily between Common and Cube, “Westside Slaughterhouse” appeared on Mack 10’s self-titled debut. The eponymous Mack 10 peaked at #33 on Billboard magazine’s Top 200 albums chart during a 19-week run on the chart. On September 12, 1995, the RIAA certified Mack 10 as gold.
Battle: Kurupt vs. DMX
Key Songs: “Callin’ Out Names” – Kurupt [Tha Streetz Iz A Mutha], “Party Up” – DMX [...And Then There Was X]
Kurupt’s RIAA/Billboard Impact: Tha Streetz Iz A Mutha peaked at #179 on Billboard magazine’s Top 200 albums chart during a two-week run on the chart.
DMX’s RIAA/Billboard Impact: ...And Then There Was X peaked at #1 on Billboard magazine’s Top 200 albums chart during a 74-week run on the chart. On February 7, 2001, the RIAA certified ...And Then There Was X as five times platinum.
Battle: Gucci Mane vs. Jeezy
Key Songs: “Icy” – Gucci Mane [Trap House], “Stay Strapped” – Jeezy [Da Bottom Vol. 5], “Round One” – Gucci Mane [No album], “745” – Gucci Mane [Chicken Talk], “24, 23” – Jeezy [No album], “Truth” – Gucci Mane [No album] “Respect Me” – Gucci Mane f. Rick Ross [Large On Da Streets 28]
Gucci Mane’s RIAA/Billboard Impact: Trap House peaked at #101 on Billboard magazine’s Top 200 albums chart during a seven-week run on the chart.
Jeezy’s RIAA/Billboard Impact: Oddly enough, the fact two of Jeezy’s most notable Gucci diss tracks don’t appear on albums is part of the back story between these two Atlanta-based [t]rappers. The beef was partially spawned by “Icy” not appearing on Jeezy’s Let’s Get It: Thug Motivation 101. For what it’s worth Let’s Get It: Thug Motivation 101 peaked at #2 on Billboard magazine’s Top 200 albums chart during a 47-week run on the chart. On September 29, 2005, the RIAA certified Let’s Get It: Thug Motivation 101 as platinum. Similarly, “24, 23” was slated to appear on Jeezy’s retail album TM:103 Hustlerz Ambition, but it did not. The project peaked at #3 on Billboard magazine’s Top 200 albums chart during a 36-week run on the chart. On January 31, 2012 the RIAA certified TM:103 Hustlerz Ambition as gold.
Battle: 50 Cent vs. The Game
Key Songs: “Hate It Or Love It” – Game [The Documentary], “Window Shopper” – 50 Cent [Get Rich Or Die Tryin’ Soundtrack], “Piggy Bank” – 50 Cent [The Massacre], “Outta Control” – Mobb Deep [Blood Money], “One Blood Remix” – Game [Doctor’s Advocate], “300 Bars and Runnin’” – Game [No album]
50 Cent’s RIAA/Billboard Impact: The Massacre peaked at #1 on Billboard magazine’s Top 200 albums chart during a 57-week run on the chart. On February 6, 2012 the RIAA certified Get Rich Or Die Tryin’ as six times platinum.
Game’s RIAA/Billboard Impact: The Documentary peaked at #1 on Billboard magazine’s Top 200 albums chart during a 35-week run on the chart. The Doctor’s Advocate also peaked at #1 on the Billboard magazine’s Top 200 albums chart during a 20-week run. On April 24, 2008, Billboard magazine cited Nielsen SoundScan statistics reporting Game’s The Doctor’s Advocate sold 969,000 copies. On January 18, 2005 the RIAA certified The Documentary as double platinum.
Battle: 50 Cent vs. Ja Rule
Key Tracks: “Life’s On The Line” – 50 Cent [Get Rich or Die Tryin’], “Wanksta” – 50 Cent [No Mercy, No Fear & Get Rich or Die Tryin’], “Clap Back” – Ja Rule [Blood In My Eye], “So Hot” – Ja Rule [No album], “Back Down” – 50 Cent [Get Rich or Die Tryin’]
50 Cent’s RIAA/Billboard Impact: Get Rich or Die Tryin’ peaked at #1 on Billboard magazine’s Top 200 albums chart during a 94 week run on the chart. On December 9, 2003 the RIAA certified Get Rich Or Die Tryin’ as six times platinum.
Ja Rule’s RIAA/Billboard Impact: Blood In My Eye peaked at #6 on Billboard magazine’s Top 200 albums chart during a 10-week run on the chart.
Battle: DJ Quik vs. MC Eiht
Key Tracks: “Dollaz N Sense” – DJ Quik [Murder was the Case Soundtrack /Safe+Sound], “Def Wish II,” – Compton’s Most Wanted [Music To Driveby], “Def Wish III” – MC Eiht [We Come Strapped]
DJ Quik’s RIAA/Billboard Impact: Murder Was The Case (The Soundtrack) peaked at #1 on Billboard magazine’s Top 200 albums chart during a 34-week run on the chart. On April 5, 1995, Murder Was The Case (The Soundtrack) was certified double platinum.
Comton’s Most Wanted RIAA/Billboard Impact: Music To Driveby peaked at #66 on Billboard magazine’s Top 200 albums chart during a nine-week run on the chart.
MC Eiht’s RIAA/Billboard Impact: We Come Strapped peaked at #5 on Billboard magazine’s Top 200 albums chart during a 14-week run on the chart. On September 29, 1994, the RIAA certified We Come Strapped as gold.
Battle: Ice Cube vs. N.W.A
Key Tracks: “Alwayz Into Somethin’,” “A Message To B.A. (Interlude)” – N.W.A [Niggaz4Life], “No Vaseline” – Ice Cube [Death Certificate]
Ice Cube’s RIAA/Billboard Impact: Death Certificate peaked at #2 on Billboard magazine’s Top 200 albums chart during a 33-week run on the chart. On October 21, 1991, the RIAA certified Death Certificate as platinum.
N.W.A’s RIAA/Billboard Impact: Niggaz4Life peaked at #1 on Billboard magazine’s Top 200 albums chart. On August 8, 1991 the RIAA certified Niggaz4Life as platinum.
Battle: KRS-One vs. MC Shan
Key Tracks: “The Bridge” – MC Shan [Down By Law],“The Bridge Is Over” – Boogie Down, Productions [Criminal Minded], “South Bronx” – Boogie Down Productions [Criminal Minded], “Kill That Noise”- MC Shan [Down by Law], “Juice Crew Law” – MC Shan [Born To Be Wild], “Blackman In Effect” – Boogie Down Productions [Edutainment]
BDP’s RIAA/Billboard Impact: N/A. This album was released before Nielsen began tracking SoundScan’s data in 1991
MC Shan’s RIAA/Billboard Impact: N/A. This album was released before Nielsen began tracking SoundScan’s data in 1991.
Battle: Tupac vs. Notorious B.I.G.
Key Tracks: “No More Pain” – Tupac [All Eyez On Me], “Hit ‘Em Up” – Tupac [How Do You Want It Maxi-Single], “Long Kiss Goodnight” – Notorious B.I.G. [Life After Death]
Notorious B.I.G’s RIAA/Billboard Impact: Life After Death peaked at the #1 spot on Billboard magazine’s Top 200 albums chart during a 80-week run on the chart. On March 25, 1997 the RIAA certified Life After Death as 10 times platinum.
Tupac’s RIAA/Billboard Impact: All Eyez On Me peaked at the #1 spot on Billboard magazine’s Top 200 albums chart during a 105-week run on the chart. The How Do You Want It maxi-single featuring “How Do You Want It,” “California Love” and “Hit ‘Em Up” peaked at the #1 spot on Billboard magazine’s “Hot 100” singles chart during a 24-week run on the chart. On June 18, 1998, the RIAA certified All Eyez On Me as nine times platinum. The Don Killuminati (The 7 Day Theory) peaked at #1 on Billboard magazine’s Top 200 Albums chart during a span that lasted over 331 weeks. On June 15, 1999, the RIAA certified The Don Killuminati (The 7 Day Theory) as four times platinum.
Battle: Foxy Brown vs. Lil Kim
Key Tracks: “Bang Bang” – Capone N Noreaga (feat. Foxy Brown) [The Reunion], “Guess Who’s Back” – Lil Kim [No album], “Quiet Storm Remix” – Mobb Deep (feat. Lil Kim) [Murda Muzik], “Massacre” – Foxy Brown [No album]
Mobb Deep’s RIAA/Billboard Impact: Murda Muzik peaked at #3 spot on Billboard magazine’s Top 200 albums chart during a 17-week run on the chart. On October 26, 1999 the RIAA certified Murda Muzik as platinum.
Capone-N-Noreaga’s RIAA/Billboard Impact: The Reunion peaked at #31 on Billboard magazine’s Top 200 albums chart during a 14-week span.
Battle: Nicki Minaj vs. Lil Kim
Key Songs: “Black Friday” – Lil Kim [Black Friday], “Roman’s Revenge” – Nicki Minaj [Pink Friday].
Lil Kim’s RIAA/Billboard Impact: Black Friday did not chart on any of Billboard magazine’s charts. In February of 2011, Lil’ Kim claimed to sell 113,000 copies of Black Friday through PayPal in 28 hours, setting an all-time record. These numbers were never verified through PayPal.
Nicki Minaj’s RIAA/Billboard Impact: Pink Friday: Roman Reloaded peaked at #1 on Billboard magazine’s Top 200 albums chart during a 49-week run on the chart. On April 03, 2012 the RIAA certified Pink Friday: Roman Reloaded as platinum.
Battle: Three 6 Mafia vs. Bone Thugs-N-Harmony
Key Songs: “Live By Yo Rep”- Three 6 Mafia [Mystic Stylez], “Notorious Thugs” – Notorious B.I.G. [Life After Death], “All Original” – Bone thugs-n-harmony [The Art Of War], “Look Into My Eyes” – Bone thugs-n-harmony [The Art Of War]
Three 6 Mafia’s RIAA/Billboard Impact: Mystic Stylez did not chart on any of Billboard magazine’s charts. It has no RIAA certification.
Notorious B.I.G’s RIAA/Billboard Impact: Life After Death peaked at the #1 spot on Billboard magazine’s Top 200 albums chart during a 80-week run on the chart. On March 25, 1997 the RIAA certified Life After Death as 10 times platinum.
Bone thugs-n-harmony’s RIAA/Billboard Impact: The Art Of War peaked at #1 on Billboard magazine’s Top 200 albums chart during a 32-week run on the chart. On July 17, 1998 the RIAA certified The Art Of War as four-times platinum.
Victoria Hernandez is a journalism student at the University of Miami. She started listening to Hip Hop in high school and has been obsessed ever since. Her music news career began at the South Florida Arts Review. She has also written sports for CaneInsider.com and The Miami Hurricane amongst others. Follow her on Twitter @vrhernandez116.
Christopher Cole is a native of Rancho Cucamonga, CA (Yes, from Next Friday), and he studies Film and Television Production at NYU’s Tisch School of the Arts. He is an aspiring screenwriter, Kanye West defender, Netflix binge watcher, and has written for Washington Square News. Follow him at @ChrisCole95.
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I liked when they put the subtitle as Foxy Brown vs. Lil Kim but put Mobb Deep and Capone impacts instead the actual two artists beefin
1. Ether
2. Takeover
3. Long Kiss Goodnight
4. No Vaseline
5. Real Muthaphukkin G’s
No Hit Em Up?
No Officer Down?
yo man no any Em tracks in your top 5 diss tracks?
I mean Em is arguably one of the best at those diss tracks:
– go to sleep
– the sauce
– nail in the coffin
1. Takeover
2. Hit Em Up
3. Second Round Ko
4. The Sauce
5. The Bridge Is Over
NUMBER #1 Diss Track is No Vaseline
Young Boi
1. Go to sleep
2. Real muthafucken G’s
3. No Vaseline
4. Second round ko
5. Life’s on the line
LIL DURK VS GAME
Dr. Dre vs Eazy E
Eminem vs Benzino
Ludacris vs TI
DMX vs Ja Rule
Game vs G-Unit
Battle: Jay Z vs. Nas This was a FAKE beef. Back in the day everybody used to talk about Big and Pac. Although Nas and Jay-Z are great rappers they didnt shine like Big and Pac. So thats the reason the Nas and Jay-Z beef went dow. Nas and Jay-Z wanted to have a place in hiphop history.
In fact a real battle is face to face and not some coward studio diss like: game vs 50 cent.
Jay & Nas had many altercations, so how in the hell is this not considered “REAL” beef… A lot of these diss tracks were all on wax. Hov & Nas were basically neighbors, now add the fact that they both have shady backgrounds… BUT ITS NOT REAL BEEF
Not to be a Stan, but no eminem? They act like he didn’t have big beefs, regardless of the fact that most of his battles were pretty one sided. He inherited 50s beef with Ja Rule. He went up against the owner of a renowned hip hop magazines. He went up against someone who was regarded as a lyrical machine, in canibus, though I never thought the dude was that nice! Idk man, they talk about nicki minaj vs a washed out lil Kim. That’s funny
Common disst the shit outta ice cube the Hollywood gangsta lol. Common is to intelligent for a dumb fucker like Cube.
I agree with the diss part but to say that Common is too intelligent for Cube is just not an intelligent thing to say…..See Cube’s writing skills…Ride Along, Friday, Are we there yet, etc…..Has Common wrote any screenplays, movies? …..Yes, common destroyed Cube but come on man.
@Anon 2
Those movies are gay except for maybe the first two Fridays.Talking like Cube’s an award winning screen writer lol
top diss tracks of all time:
the bridge is over(bdp)
dollaz & sense(dj quik)
2nd round knockout(canibus)
real muthaphuckin G’s(eazy e)
ether(nas)
shut the eff up hoe(mc lyte)
no Vaseline(ice cube)
the bitch in you(common)
takeover(jay z)
death blow (kool moe dee)
*disclaimer- these joints were full of impact, career enders, career builders, straight shots to the head & gut, just plain fire
how are you gonna leave out “Hit ‘Em Up”?
Common’s The Bitch in Yoo was the “ETHER” before ETHER. Common destroyed Cube and Mack 10 with FACTS. ….Cypress (B-Real)- No Rest for the Wicked also killed Cube….”all because you wanted to be CYPRESS CUBE”” DEAD!!! ….Of yeah, and Mack 10 doing the Cypress tribute at the VHS awards…..CYPRESS WINS!!
The Biggie / Pac beef was no battle….If Big would have went hard on Pac, he would have destroyed Pac…pac had no MC skills…ask any true hip hop head…all dude did was yell and be obnoxious. …..his word play was as good as Lil Waynes. chew on that shit!
Nas lost
Casual lost
Ice Cube lost
Kurupt lost
Jeezy (and his goon) lost
Game (and his goon) lost
Ja Rule (and his camp) lost
MC Eiht lost
N.W.A lost
MC Shan lost
Both Pac and Biggie lost
Foxy Brown lost
Lil Kim lost
Three 6 Mafia lost
Nas lost? Did you even listen to Ether? Lmao.
Looks like we got a dickrider here…
lol pac and biggie lost.
da truth
NAS MURDERED JAY
JAY DICKRIDERS STILL TAKIN’ STITCHES TO THE ANUS LMAO
Eminem – Nail in the coffin
sauce and go to sleep had more fire
what about the LL battles with ice t, cool mo dee, can-i-bus
D-Block vs State Property (jay was too shook to get involved)
Eminem vs anyone
Joe budden vs Saigon
Cassidy vs meek
D-Block vs G-Unit
Joe Budden vs Ransom
Casual v Safir??? Fuck outta here HHDX
50 vrs buck? you looked em in the eye said I wouldn’t survive now they know u tried to bury me alive
Young Buck – Bury Me Alive
Kanye vs. 50?
Are you an idiot ?… That wasn’t a real beef !…
How do people STILL not know this ?… Sigh…
Notorious Thugs was not a 36 Diss, what the hell?? Look Into My Eyes and All Original were, maybe some of U Aint Bone as well, but Notorious Thugs?
bizzy say “triple six rivals” on notorious thugs
idk half of these rappers or why the beef started..
ill say it here first.. ether is overrated as fuck..idk why people like it so much bc he calls him a camel and say he got big lips..that track was weak jayz took that. takeover was fire
Because Nas killed him PERIOD! …..QUEENS ni 99 as run him, ask Russell Simmons!!!
Another Hov scust face 4 ya mind.
why yall putting up billboard numbers? it has nothing to do with the battle, are we analyzing sales and actual skills, two different separate entities. Hiphop VS Corporate
If you look at it as a lyrical standpoint, yes Nas was better than Jay (he didn’t kill him). But other than that, Jay’s career took off much better than his. Fact is a diss track/battle ISN’T always going to ruin your rep. Only in the rap battle world will that happen, not on wax.
nigga you stupid, all Nas did was say immature shit like “oh jay is gay uh uh jay z has big lips”
Jay-z had way better diss in the takeover
This is a shit article….you need quotes and actual relevant tracks. Background info would be good, who hit first etc, foundation of the beef. Come on man, you ain’t sayin nothing here.
how do u want it only went #1 because the b-side was hit em up.
What sort of lame BS is this? Billboard and chart numbers for Hip Hop battles? Sloppy work. Sites a joke.
I was surprised to see the article written in such bad taste too. What’s the comparison about though? No write up to explain the genesis of the beef? HHDX shouldn’t have approved this.
– Reader from Nigeria.
LMAO Gucci Mane & Jeezy