10 Hip-Hop Beefs That Left Some People Broke, Angry, Or Even Dead

Hip-Hop beefs have been a hot topic this week, after things jumped off between Meek Mill and Drake over some discouraging remarks Mill made on Twitter. So far, Drake has released two responses and Meek one, with most people crowning Drake the winner. Of course, this isn’t the first time we’ve seen a hip-hop beef gain a ton of attention. Over the years, beefs have often beeen one of the most interesting parts of the music. In this list we break down 10 hip-hop beefs the left some people broke, angry
or even dead

Drake vs Diddy

Before the Meek Mill feud, Drake had beef with Diddy. Apparently, Puffy punched Drake in the eye at a nightclub after Drake stole a beat that was supposed to go to him instead.

50 Cent vs. Ja Rule

The 2000 battle between 50 Cent and Ja Rule  got UGLY. It all started when 50 Cent said that he had sent a friend to rob Rule for his chain. Ja Rule claimed the beef was sparked when he did a video shoot in Queens (50 Cent’s neighbourhood) and got more love than 50. Regardless of how it started, the two went back and forth for over a year. By the time it was all done, Rule’s career was ruined, while Curtis stood victorious.

Joe Budden vs. Royce da 5’9″

Before squashing the beef and going on to form the rap group Slaughterhouse, Royce da 5″9 and Joe Budden had beef. They battled it out on multiple songs, after Budden had mentioned Royce on Thou Shall Not Fall, a mixtape recorded by Budden. A battle ensued, but it was eventually put to bed.

Eminem vs. Benzino

Slim Shady started beef with Boston rapper and Source Magazine Editor-In-Chief (at the time) Benzino,  when the magazine failed to give his album The Eminem Show a coveted 5-Mic rating. Eminem ended up going on Hot 97 to air out his grievance, sparking a beef between the two. It was pretty much an unfair matchup from the start. Eminem destroyed Benzino.

Kendrick Lamar vs. Everyone

In 2013 Kendrick Lamar stirred up a lot of controversy when he released a verse on Big Sean’s “Control”, saying he could metaphorically “murder” any other rapper in the game. He then proceeded to call out  some of the biggest new MCs out by name including: J.Cole, Big K.R.I.T., Wale, Pusha T, Meek Millz, A$AP Rocky, Drake, Big Sean, Jay Electronica, Tyler The Creator and Mac Miller. While some rappers tried to respond, the beef quickly fizzled out as not may MCs  could come back to such a killer verse

Kanye West vs. 50 Cent

In what was more of a publicity stunt “beef,” 50 Cent decided to make a wager with Kanye West when both rappers had albums slated to come out on the same day. The rapper with the most albums sold during the opening week would be crowned the victor, and the loser had to quit rapping forever. Kanye won, but 50 Cent still works as a rapper and mogul. There wasn’t much bad blood between these two, and they both admit that it was just a stunt to boost each other’s sales.

T.I. vs. Ludacris

Two of the biggest rappers from ATL at the time. TI and Ludacris did some verbal sparring over Young Buck’s stomp back in 2004. They threw a few disses at each over other songs too, but would ultimately end it and make music together.

2pac vs. Notorious B.I.G

One of the best and also most tragic rap battles ever. This rap beef got very, very personal and ended up resulting in the deaths of two of rap’s brightest stars. Originally friends, Pac and Biggie ended up beefing when Tupac was shot at a New York recording studio. The injured rapper alleged that Big and Puffy had set him up. Shortly after, B.I.G. put out a song called, “Who Shot Ya?” Pac pieced the puzzle together in his mind with “Hit Em Up.” Things escalated quickly, as magazines called this an “East Coast vs. West Coast” war. Tupac was gunned down in 1996, and Biggie was killed six months later. Both murders remain unsolved.

Jay-Z vs. Nas

Probably one of the greatest rap beefs of all-time. Jay-Z and Nas going back and forth was a hip-hop fans wet dream. Both were at the top of their game at the time and came at each other hard AF. Although the true reasons for the beef were never revealed, there were rumours and some subliminal nods to a situation where Jay-Z was messing with Nas’s baby mama. What resulted were probably some of the best diss songs all time including Jay-Z’s “The Takeover” and Nas’s “Ether”.

Credit:realcoolvideos