10 Most Important Beefs In Hip-hop History

Anyone that's only familiar with the career of Chicago based artist Common following his affiliation with Kanye West's G.O.O.D music label is likely unfamiliar with his infamous dispute with the Ice Cube-led Westside Connection. Whilst the two have now starred alongside each other in various films after both rappers made the successful transition to the silver screen, they were once embroiled in a highly personal feud.

One of the most wonderfully crafted tracks in his discography, this war stemmed from 'I Used To Love H.E.R'; a song in which the MC formerly known as Common Sense chronicled the many stages of hip-hop's evolution as though it were a torrid love affair. A masterclass in symbolism and metaphorical rhymes, Common's arguably blatant acceptance of West Coast gangsta rap's stronghold over 90's hip-hop and claim that 'I wasn't salty she was with the boys in the hood' was interpreted as a direct attack by Cube.

Never shying away from lyrical warfare, Cube, Mack 10 and WC fired back at Common's alleged jibe with 'Westside Slaughterhouse' which saw the gangsta rap pioneer venomously spit 'Used to love her, mad cause we f****d her, p***y-whipped b***h with no Common sense, hip-hop started in the west, Ice Cube bailin' through the East without a vest.' Taken aback by the knowledge that such a revered figure was even aware of his existence, Common initially didn't intend to respond until he saw the trio continuing to insult him on B.E.T (Black Entertainment Television.)

More renowned for his conscious and thought-provoking work on the tribulations of life and cultural identity, Common proved his mettle as a battle-hardened artist with 'The B***h In Yoo', a savage retort which took aim at Cube 'Wack 10' and WC for everything from the former NWA member's use of New York based production legends The Bomb Squad for his first solo album to the perceived hypocrisy of his claim to be a muslim whilst appearing in advertisements for St Ide's Malt Liquor.

With the beef continuing to intensify, it was eventually quashed after Minister Farrakhan of the Nation Of Islam called both parties together for a peace summit and it's a subject with the two friends have put far behind them.