The 12 Most Unexpected Rap Beefs of 2012
Rap beef is inevitable. Although rappers try to keep the peace most of the time—or, at the very least, try to hide it from the public's eyes—there isn't going to be a year that passes without some kind of rap beef breaking out. As long as guys like 50 Cent, Game, and Gucci Mane are on the scene, rap beef is going to be around.
But, this year, we saw our fair share of really strange rap beefs. You know, the kind that made you made you scratch your head and say, "Wait a minute. Rapper X is beefing with who?!?" If you told us a year ago that we'd see some of these beefs in 2012, we wouldn't have believed you. And yet, they all took place. To see exactly what we mean, just check out our list of The 12 Most Unexpected Rap Beefs of 2012. These beefs prove that beef is always going to be a part of rap music, no matter how hard we try to eliminate it.
But, this year, we saw our fair share of really strange rap beefs. You know, the kind that made you made you scratch your head and say, "Wait a minute. Rapper X is beefing with who?!?" If you told us a year ago that we'd see some of these beefs in 2012, we wouldn't have believed you. And yet, they all took place. To see exactly what we mean, just check out our list of The 12 Most Unexpected Rap Beefs of 2012. These beefs prove that beef is always going to be a part of rap music, no matter how hard we try to eliminate it.
The Beef: Common vs. Drake
Why It Was So Unexpected: We've seen a lot of rappers throw shots in Drake's direction. But, we never (ever!) thought Com would be one of those rappers. And yet, there he was back in January calling Drake "Canada Dry" and igniting a brief war of words with the Canadian MC.
How It Ended: After exchanging diss tracks and reportedly getting into a tussle backstage at the 2012 Grammy Awards, Com and Drake were spotted talking peacefully at the 2012 NBA All-Star Game. So, whatever they were beefing about couldn't have been too serious.
Why It Was So Unexpected: We've seen a lot of rappers throw shots in Drake's direction. But, we never (ever!) thought Com would be one of those rappers. And yet, there he was back in January calling Drake "Canada Dry" and igniting a brief war of words with the Canadian MC.
How It Ended: After exchanging diss tracks and reportedly getting into a tussle backstage at the 2012 Grammy Awards, Com and Drake were spotted talking peacefully at the 2012 NBA All-Star Game. So, whatever they were beefing about couldn't have been too serious.
The Beef: 50 Cent vs. French Montana
Why It Was So Unexpected: We can't say that we were too, too surprised to see Fif involved in beef. But, this beef actually started after French said that he WASN'T into beefing because of the reputation that 50 had gained for doing it. 50 responded to that on Twitter and, from there, it was on.
How It Ended: It hasn't ended…yet. Right now, these two are still trading shots on Twitter, in magazines, and…well, wherever else they can. But, again, we'd like to point out that this beef started because French said he WASN'T into beefing like 50. How ironic is that?
Why It Was So Unexpected: We can't say that we were too, too surprised to see Fif involved in beef. But, this beef actually started after French said that he WASN'T into beefing because of the reputation that 50 had gained for doing it. 50 responded to that on Twitter and, from there, it was on.
How It Ended: It hasn't ended…yet. Right now, these two are still trading shots on Twitter, in magazines, and…well, wherever else they can. But, again, we'd like to point out that this beef started because French said he WASN'T into beefing like 50. How ironic is that?
The Beef: Gucci Mane vs. Young Jeezy (and Yung Joc…and Nas…and Nicki Minaj…and Yo Gotti…and...)
Why It Was So Unexpected: Gucci Mane and Young Jeezy buried the hatchet awhile ago, and Gooch came out swinging once again this year seemingly for no reason. And then, to help promote his October mixtape, Trap God, he started taking shots at other artists as well. It was weird, to say the least.
How It Ended: Once Trap God finally hit the 'net, Gucci calmed down and stopped dissing everyone. But, sheesh! All that for a mixtape? Can you imagine what he'll do when his next album drops?
Why It Was So Unexpected: Gucci Mane and Young Jeezy buried the hatchet awhile ago, and Gooch came out swinging once again this year seemingly for no reason. And then, to help promote his October mixtape, Trap God, he started taking shots at other artists as well. It was weird, to say the least.
How It Ended: Once Trap God finally hit the 'net, Gucci calmed down and stopped dissing everyone. But, sheesh! All that for a mixtape? Can you imagine what he'll do when his next album drops?
The Beef: DMX vs. Drake
Why It Was So Unexpected: Over the summer, Drizzy released a song that featured some Aaliyah vocals and said that he wanted to executive produce a posthumous Aaliyah album. And, that didn't go over well with X, who said that, back in the day, he would've beat Drake up in an elevator. WTF?
How It Ended: X eventually admitted that he doesn't hate Drake; he just hates what he's trying to do with the Aaliyah project. He also said the beef "ain't that serious" and then moved on.
Why It Was So Unexpected: Over the summer, Drizzy released a song that featured some Aaliyah vocals and said that he wanted to executive produce a posthumous Aaliyah album. And, that didn't go over well with X, who said that, back in the day, he would've beat Drake up in an elevator. WTF?
How It Ended: X eventually admitted that he doesn't hate Drake; he just hates what he's trying to do with the Aaliyah project. He also said the beef "ain't that serious" and then moved on.
The Beef: Azealia Banks vs. T.I.
Why It Was So Unexpected: After beefing with Tip's Grand Hustle artist Iggy Azalea briefly, Azealia went after Iggy's boss by referring to him as "snitch" and calling him out on Twitter. It was a remarkably ballsy move made by a rap rookie.
How It Ended: Eventually, Azealia moved on to her next beef…That seems to be her M.O. these days, doesn't it?
Why It Was So Unexpected: After beefing with Tip's Grand Hustle artist Iggy Azalea briefly, Azealia went after Iggy's boss by referring to him as "snitch" and calling him out on Twitter. It was a remarkably ballsy move made by a rap rookie.
How It Ended: Eventually, Azealia moved on to her next beef…That seems to be her M.O. these days, doesn't it?
The Beef: Shyne vs. Kendrick Lamar
Why It Was So Unexpected: For some strange reason, Shyne decided to blatantly hate on KL's debut, good kid, m.A.A.d city, when it dropped in October. "Yoooo!" he wrote on Twitter. "Kendrick Lamar is talented with a lot of potential but his album is traaaaash!" It came out of left field and wasn't supported by any other reasoning.
How It Ended: Shortly after Shyne made his comments, Kendrick played the whole thing off and let a more experienced rapper—Game—fight his battle against Shyne.
Why It Was So Unexpected: For some strange reason, Shyne decided to blatantly hate on KL's debut, good kid, m.A.A.d city, when it dropped in October. "Yoooo!" he wrote on Twitter. "Kendrick Lamar is talented with a lot of potential but his album is traaaaash!" It came out of left field and wasn't supported by any other reasoning.
How It Ended: Shortly after Shyne made his comments, Kendrick played the whole thing off and let a more experienced rapper—Game—fight his battle against Shyne.
The Beef: V-Nasty vs. Soulja Boy
Why It Was So Unexpected: It was unexpected because V-Nasty came out of nowhere when she called SB "fake" and said that his girl Diamond is a better rapper than he is. But, after she lodged the attack, something even more unexpected happened: Soulja Boy refused to respond!
How It Ended: The beef fizzled because Soulja Boy wanted no parts of it. Is he growing up and maturing right before our very eyes or what?!
Why It Was So Unexpected: It was unexpected because V-Nasty came out of nowhere when she called SB "fake" and said that his girl Diamond is a better rapper than he is. But, after she lodged the attack, something even more unexpected happened: Soulja Boy refused to respond!
How It Ended: The beef fizzled because Soulja Boy wanted no parts of it. Is he growing up and maturing right before our very eyes or what?!
The Beef: Havoc vs. Prodigy
Why It Was So Unexpected: In April, Hav shot off a bunch of tweets that suggested that P was gay and then tried to say that his phone had been hacked a few hours later when people started making a big deal about it. But, in the end, he admitted that he had sent out the tweets and, in doing so, confirmed that Mobb Deep was beefing.
How It Ended: We're not really sure where these two stand today. In the days after Hav sent the tweets out, it seemed like there was a legitimate beef. But, Prodigy refused to engage in the beef and, eventually, it went away. But, will Mobb Deep ever be reunited again? Guess we'll have to wait and see.
Why It Was So Unexpected: In April, Hav shot off a bunch of tweets that suggested that P was gay and then tried to say that his phone had been hacked a few hours later when people started making a big deal about it. But, in the end, he admitted that he had sent out the tweets and, in doing so, confirmed that Mobb Deep was beefing.
How It Ended: We're not really sure where these two stand today. In the days after Hav sent the tweets out, it seemed like there was a legitimate beef. But, Prodigy refused to engage in the beef and, eventually, it went away. But, will Mobb Deep ever be reunited again? Guess we'll have to wait and see.
The Beef: Waka Flocka Flame vs. Wiz Khalifa
Why It Was So Unexpected: Their beef actually started all the way back in December 2011 and, oddly enough, Waka revealed it began because of weed. He said he rolled a huge blunt that Wiz couldn't handle and that it escalated into a real beef after he made a joke about it on Twitter. That led to a series of back and forth comments made by both rappers earlier this year.
How It Ended: At some point, Waka realized how silly this beef was and deaded it during a Hot 97 interview with Angie Martinez.
Why It Was So Unexpected: Their beef actually started all the way back in December 2011 and, oddly enough, Waka revealed it began because of weed. He said he rolled a huge blunt that Wiz couldn't handle and that it escalated into a real beef after he made a joke about it on Twitter. That led to a series of back and forth comments made by both rappers earlier this year.
How It Ended: At some point, Waka realized how silly this beef was and deaded it during a Hot 97 interview with Angie Martinez.
The Beef: Lupe Fiasco vs. Chief Keef
Why It Was So Unexpected: Aside from the fact that both of these guys are from Chicago and, for that reason alone, should get along, their beef was over something silly. During a radio interview, Lupe said, "Chief Keef scares me," which prompted Keef to take some shots at him on Twitter. And, that led to Lupe to give him a lecture on Twitter, which resulted in Keef saying that his Twitter account had been hacked. Um, okay?
How It Ended: It ended when Keef claimed he was hacked. But, then things got really weird. Lupe said that, as a result of the beef, he was retiring from rap because of "a broken heart." We're not sure if he's still sticking with that decision, but…WTF?
Why It Was So Unexpected: Aside from the fact that both of these guys are from Chicago and, for that reason alone, should get along, their beef was over something silly. During a radio interview, Lupe said, "Chief Keef scares me," which prompted Keef to take some shots at him on Twitter. And, that led to Lupe to give him a lecture on Twitter, which resulted in Keef saying that his Twitter account had been hacked. Um, okay?
How It Ended: It ended when Keef claimed he was hacked. But, then things got really weird. Lupe said that, as a result of the beef, he was retiring from rap because of "a broken heart." We're not sure if he's still sticking with that decision, but…WTF?
The Beef: Charles Hamilton vs. J. Cole
Why It Was So Unexpected: In March, Hamilton appeared out of nowhere to drop a diss track directed at J. Cole. Why? We still don't know. And, when he did an interview with MTV News in August to explain it, we just got even more confused by his baffling response.
How It Ended: We're not sure it ever did. Then again, we're also not sure that this "beef" ever really began, either. In fact, can someone check with J. Cole and make sure he even heard the diss track?
Why It Was So Unexpected: In March, Hamilton appeared out of nowhere to drop a diss track directed at J. Cole. Why? We still don't know. And, when he did an interview with MTV News in August to explain it, we just got even more confused by his baffling response.
How It Ended: We're not sure it ever did. Then again, we're also not sure that this "beef" ever really began, either. In fact, can someone check with J. Cole and make sure he even heard the diss track?
The Beef: Kevin Durant vs. Lil B
Why It Was So Unexpected: These two have beefed in the past. But, now that KD has released a couple of rap tracks, we're ready to classify this as a "rap beef." Then again, Lil B also tried out for the Golden State Warriors this fall, so maybe it's a basketball beef? Ah, we don't know. Either way, it escalated again in June when Lil B took to his Twitter account o announce that he'd lifted a curse that he had put on Durantula.
How It Ended: It didn't. And, it probably never will. For whatever reason, these two enjoy taking shots at one another on Twitter every now and then. So, we'll see you guys when you're back at it again in 2013, okay?
Why It Was So Unexpected: These two have beefed in the past. But, now that KD has released a couple of rap tracks, we're ready to classify this as a "rap beef." Then again, Lil B also tried out for the Golden State Warriors this fall, so maybe it's a basketball beef? Ah, we don't know. Either way, it escalated again in June when Lil B took to his Twitter account o announce that he'd lifted a curse that he had put on Durantula.
How It Ended: It didn't. And, it probably never will. For whatever reason, these two enjoy taking shots at one another on Twitter every now and then. So, we'll see you guys when you're back at it again in 2013, okay?
