10 Most Memorable Beefs In Rap Music History
Wars of words, sneak disses, and deep-seated hatred. These intense beefs have got it all.
Some of the best rap and hip-hop stars can transcend their genre and become global phenomenons. You'd be hard pressed to find someone who hasn't at least heard of Eminem, Tupac, or Kanye West, for example. The genre glorifies and glamorises opulent living and excessive spending at times, and celebrates gang violence and drug dealing at others. It's truly a mixed bag, and many of rap's breakout stars are bona fide geniuses when it comes to wordplay and lyricism.
Take Nas, for example. Illmatic released in 1994 and even today, N.Y State of Mind remains one of the most interesting, well crafted examples of storytelling through song to date.
There are other ways that rappers have made headlines however. A tried and true method of garnering popularity is by coming for another rapper and igniting a feud with them. Whether this comes about naturally through genuine disdain for each other, or just an up and coming young start trying to make a name for themselves, history has shown time and time again that it's impossible to take your eyes away from a bitter beef, and relish in the diss tracks that are byproducts of the feud.
10. Lauryn Hill And Wyclef Jean
The Fugees are forever cemented as one of the most iconic groups in music and their sophomore album, The Score is an undeniable classic.
As seems to be the way for many successful groups in music, the good times couldn't last forever and tensions between two members in particular resulted in the implosion of the trio. Wyclef Jean and Lauryn Hill were romantically involved, despite the former being married to another woman.
Jean has recounted in his memoirs that despite how much he loved Hill, he knew it was destined to fail from the start because no matter how much they cared for each other, it couldn't stop constant arguing, drama, and manipulation. Tensions were always at a breaking point until it got to be too much.
Hill was pregnant with Rohan Marley's son, but had apparently told Jean that the child was his, and he called this lie "the ultimate betrayal." Jean has publicly said that this was the reason for the group's downfall, but if the stories about their toxic relationship are true, it may have been just the straw that broke the camel's back.
Since then, Lauryn Hill launched an extremely successful solo career and the group even attempted to perform a reunion tour, which was unfortunately stopped in its tracks due to the COVID-19 pandemic.