Ice Cube Scoffs At 2Pac’s ’Hit ‘Em Up’ Being Better Than ‘No Vaseline’

    Ice Cube has sounded off with his thoughts on whether he believes 2Pac‘s “Hit ‘Em Up” is a better diss track than his 1991 song “No Vaseline.”

    During a recent conversation with DJ Whoo Kid, the West Coast rap legend scoffed at a ranking of the “Most Unforgettable Diss Tracks in Hip Hop History,” by The Root, in which “No Vaseline” was listed in third place while 2Pac’s “Hit ‘Em Up” sat nicely in the number one spot.

    “How’s 2Pac number one when he needed help on that record?” questioned Cube. “Me, ‘No Vaseline,’ one MC. I love Nas but it’s not,” he quickly segued as the host interjected to inform him of who occupied second place: Nas with “Ether.”

    “Took out four n-ggas and the manager. I mean, damn! Got to give me credit for that,” continued Cube of the track, which took aim at his former N.W.A groupmates Eazy-E, Dr. Dre, MC Ren and DJ Yella, as well as their manager, Jerry Heller.

    “[The] group was over. I don’t know if they made another record after that. So, nah man. Sorry!”

    Check out the interview below.

    Ice Cube’s comments received a lukewarm reception on social media as people began to chime in after a clip from his interview resurfaced via The Art of Dialogue on Twitter.

    “Why is this even a discussion,” said DJ Quik, while fellow Cali rapper Glasses Malone showed a united front with the Straight Outta Compton MC, saying: “agreed top 3 diss records of all time 1. no vaseline 2. ether 3. hit me up.”

    Cube’s discontent regarding how he feels others have viewed his contributions to Hip Hop has long been vocalized.

    Earlier this year, the rap veteran took issue with Billboard’s Top 50 Greatest Rappers of All Time list, demanding that his placement on the list proved the publication “ain’t Hip Hop.”

    TMZ Hip Hop caught up with Cube as he was leaving Los Angeles International Airport (LAX) in February, and Cube at first didn’t seem to be phased by his ranking as the 18th greatest rapper of all time.

    “Who?” he asked rhetorically when the reporter mentioned Billboard‘s list. “I don’t fuck with Billboard or the editor. Billboard ain’t Hip Hop so their opinion don’t matter. So who gives a fuck?”

    Cube then argued that his Mount Westmore contemporary Too $hort not being included on the list was definitely an undeserved snub.

    “It’s an irrelevant list,” he continued. “It’s like assholes: everybody got one and they all stink.”

    Billboard‘s 50 greatest rappers list was topped by JAY-Z, with the publication citing his commercial success, critical acclaim, cultural impact, entrepreneurial achievements and career longevity, along with his uniquely “regal-scented rhymes that speak to the struggle.”

    Following Hov was Kendrick Lamar (No. 2), Nas (No. 3), 2Pac (No. 4), Eminem (No. 5), The Notorious B.I.G. (No. 6), Lil Wayne (No. 7), Drake (No. 8), Snoop Dogg (No. 9) and Nicki Minaj (No. 10), making her the highest-ranked female on the list.

    The heavily-debated list also featured Kanye West, Andre 3000, Rakim, LL COOL J, Black Thought, Scarface, 50 Cent, Missy Elliott and many more.

    25 thoughts on “Ice Cube Scoffs At 2Pac’s ’Hit ‘Em Up’ Being Better Than ‘No Vaseline’

    1. Cubes verse on mt westmore song “Camera” is the reason he should get zero respect in rap…
      Fucking tool

      1. Yeah, I’m sure ppl play hit em up to hear the outlawz verses, not Pacs lmao… and 50s power of the dollar wasn’t as good as other albums because it had no name features helping 50 finish a track too, right?

    2. To be fair though, Hit Em Up was much more impactful IMO. Cube says he destroyed NWA, yet Eazy was already having health issues, well, actually months after… then MOST of NWA wasn’t going far, just a couple of em… it’d be like Ja Rule saying he destroyed G Unit, when the fact is rap groups generally just don’t last forever. They have an Era of anthems, then die out as they usually begin to lack originality after enough time has passed. Pacs record lead to real life violence, much more impactful than simply hurting an artists popularity. Cube dissing NWA is more like Em dissing ICP honestly, no disrespect to Cube or Em. But hit em up was so much more impactfil.

    3. How did Cube bodied a group? They splitting up had nothing to do with Cube. They went their separate ways when Dre left. Now had they stayed together Ren could have bodied Cube by himself. But who ended up on top at the time? Eazy started everybody’s career. They all ways unproductive citizens. Dre was a drunk producer woman who was in and out of jail. Cube flew to Arizona to try and be a architect. Eazy was a visionary from the day he died with his own radio show as the first Hip Hop Mogol. And he was crafting his own line of speakers. Truth be told Cube and Dre came up by pretending to be Eazy E growing up in the Streets of Compton. Real Talk!

    4. Fxck that ranking list. Kendrick Lamar no 2 before Nas, Scarface and Biggie??! WTF! Ice Cube is right. Media are making the weather despite the facts. Kendrick is overrated af with his Gollum voice and woke theme albums.

    5. Im not gonna say No Vaseline isnt better than hit em up even though as a massive Pac fan i prefer it. My point would be even people in there 30’s know Pac’s whole verse or Verses on Hit em up and dont know any lyrics to No Vasoline

    6. Im not gonna say No Vaseline isnt better than hit em up even though as a massive Pac fan i prefer it. My point would be even people in there 30’s know Pac’s whole verse or Verses on Hit em up and dont know any lyrics to No Vasoline

    7. 2 of the gayest titles to songs in the history of histories.🍌🍑Captain Obvious loves!

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