The 10 Most Shocking Diss Tracks of All Time
What’s Beef?: The truth is you can stop at 1993’s 12 Play and Tre Songz still wouldn’t amount to the sheer career impact of R.Kelly. But that doesn’t mean Kellz’ pandering use of Auo-Tune didn’t deserve to be called out as lazy pandering. Frankly, R&B fans should thank Tre for sparking Kelly to a return-to-form as heard on his soulful 2010 effort Love Letter.
Stole On You Moment: “Put that Auto on, yo’ homie should of clowned you…you trying to be the-Dream.”
What’s Beef?: Okay. Maybe Prince’s B-Side statement was more of a brazen response than a diss. But his Royal Badness—who was still at the height of his world-beating commercial powers—didn’t take too kindly being deemed a selfish asshole by the press. Not after turning down Quincy Jones’ request to appear on the all-star, hunger-fighting single “We Are The World.” Clearly for Prince, who donated his own track to the USA For Africa project, charity begins at home.
Stole On You Moment: “We're against hungry children, our record stands tall/But there's just as much hunger here at home.”
What’s Beef?: Weezy taking up for his father-in-spirit and Cash Money head Bryan “Birdman” Williams is kinda cool. Weezy dragging Jay-Z’s wife Beyonce in the middle of the headline-grabbing dust up? Not so much.
Stole On You Moment: “Talkin' 'bout baby money, I gotcha baby money/ Kidnap your bitch get that how much you love your lady money.”
What’s Beef?: Sure, Kim proved to the hip-hop nation that she still had the goods. And yet her rabid (and still hilarious) attack on Young Money princess Nicki Minaj, came off as a bit petty, no?
Stole On You Moment: “Fuck your whole team, all I see is a bunch of weirdos/You’s a airhead bitch... scarecrow.”
What’s Beef?: Let’s be clear. KRS-One has destroyed many a career. To be sure, the man who effortlessly took on the entire Juice Crew as the head of Boogie Down Productions 25 years ago is among the G.O.A.T. discussion. But not even hip-hop’s most ardent back-packing hardliner could excuse the Blastmaster’s opportunistic challenge of the uber pop-friendly Nelly. Kris might as well have kicked a bag of puppies.
Stole On You Moment: “Let me tell you, let's give hip hop a lift/And don't buy Nelly's album on June 25th/That'll send a message back to all 'em sellouts/House nigga rapper, your bottom done fell out.”
What’s Beef?: Quite possibly the most devastating diss record of all-time, “Ether” is also credited with reviving the somewhat stalled career of Nasir Jones. Much has been written about this epic battle (Marshall Mathers’ “STAN” became part of the rap lexicon after Nasty Nas unleashed the term on a devastated Jigga) against proud papa Jay-Z, who has since buried the hatchet with the Queensbridge giant. Clash of the titans, indeed.
Stole On You Moment: “Compared to Beans you wack/And your man stabbed Un and made you take the blame/You ass, went from Jaz to hanging with Kane, to Irv, to BIG/And, Eminem murdered you on your own shit.”
What’s Beef?: The Game’s seemingly 100th irrational bait-and-diss against Shawn Carter only reminded us that Prozac is a good thing.
Stole On You Moment: “Here's a dome shot to this nigga named Otis/Niggas think they the coldest but nigga you just the oldest.”
What’s Beef?: We don’t know what’s more absurd? The news of Kim K’s sex scandal-ex Ray J and Brooklyn spitter Fabolous getting into an actual fist fight backstage at the ritzy Las Vegas spot The Palms. Or Fab wasting his top-shelf punch-line weaponry on destroying Brandy’s little brother. Bravo.
Stole On You Moment: “That Ray J shit got me so sensitive/Big bad wolf dressed in a granny disguise.”
What’s Beef?: Em will go down as one of the greatest, lyrically gifted MC’s to ever touch a mic; grace a stage; spark a recording booth; drop a head-exploding verse while doing a handstand; or any other scenario you can dream up. But Slim Shady has also made a career out of going after soft targets. Joining the Charmin-tough hit list of N’Sync, the Backstreet Boys, Insane Clown Posse and Christina Aguilera—Mariah Carey (and her non-threatening better half Nick Cannon) doesn’t actually put the fear of God in you when it comes to blasting a hot 16. You our man and all, Marshall, but this wasn’t a good look.
Stole On You Moment: “I'm a sit and fight with you over some slut, bitch-cunt/That made me put up with her psycho-ass over six months/And only spread her legs to let me hit once
What’s Beef?: Novice hip-hop fans may have been shocked to hear Com’s venomous lyrical assault of Drake, but heads in the know are well aware that Mr. Electric Circus is a problem when it comes to verbal scrapping. Just ask NWA alum and Los Angeles rap icon Ice Cube, who after rattling the Chicago native’s cage in response to his sobering critique of gangsta rap on “I Used To Love H.E.R.,” discovered that the affable Common Sense was no punk.
Stole On You Moment: “Now what the fuck I look like dissing a whole coast?/You ain't made shit dope since AmeriKKKa's Most.”
