Rap Beefs That Have Ended: Meek Mill, Drake, Jay-Z & More

Rap beefs have always been a significant conversation starter in hip hop culture. The causes and seriousness of rap beefs can differ depending on the situation. The nature of the tension arrives in the form of diss tracks, social media disses, or real-life altercations. Many of the high-profile feuds between rappers have ended, leading to reconciliation or artists making a song together.

This is a list of rap beefs that have ended. The nature of each of these situations is drastically different as some were shortly-lived compared to others which took longer to conclude. Some feuds between rappers resulted in more diss tracks, while others were real-life disagreements. These now-over beefs are not listed in any particular order. Take a look at the list below.

JAY-Z & Nas

One of hip hop’s most famous rap beefs is the one between JAY-Z and Nas. Their history runs deep as Jay sampled Nas’s voice for “Dead Presidents II” in 1996. JAY-Z dissed Nas on the track “Takeover” in 2001, which led to Nas releasing the legendary “Ether.” Both of these songs, as well as Jay’s “Super Ugly” response track, were so disrespectful that the winner of their beef is still disputed to this day. Their beef officially ended in 2005 when they performed together in New Jersey. They even joke with each other about their once-serious feud. Since their beef ended, JAY-Z and Nas have collaborated on several tracks, including “Success,” “Black Republicans,” “BBC,” and “Sorry Not Sorry.” Jay also brought out Nas during his B-Sides concert.

Drake & Meek Mill

The beef between Drake and Meek Mill started in 2015 following the release of their song “R.I.C.O.” They had also previously worked together on “Amen” in 2012. In 2015, Meek Mill made the accusation that Drake did not write his own lyrics. This led to the leak of reference tracks of Drake songs performed by Quentin Miller. Drake first hit back with “Charged Up” and then immediately struck Meek with “Back To Back,” with fans declaring Drake the winner upon impact. Meek released a diss that was not well received, which led to another round of sneak disses. The two ended their beef in 2018 and released their collaborative hit single, “Going Bad.”

Chip & Bugzy Malone

Chip and Bugzy Malone’s beef has to hold some sort of record for most diss tracks in one rivalry. The beef started in 2015 via radio freestyles, which escalated to a whopping total of 14 diss tracks between the two. They would out-disrespect each other by filming videos in each other’s hometowns and releasing flagrant disses. While neither of them backed down from a challenge, it was Chip who was the most relentless and warned the scene that he “can’t run out of bars.” It solidified Chip as one of the best in the Grime scene. The beef between Bugzy Malone and Chip officially ended years later in 2021 when the two posed together on Instagram and lent features to each other’s albums. Chip appeared on Bugzy’s “Notorious,” while Bugzy featured on Chip’s “Grown Flex.” Their beef was a legendary time in grime and UK rap culture.

Westside Gunn & Mach-Hommy

In 2016, Griselda was a unified front consisting of members Westside Gunn, Conway, and Mach-Hommy. They released the Don’t Get Scared Now EP that year, while Mach also appeared on Westside’s classic debut, Flygod. The origins of their disagreements are quite vague, but Mach-Hommy ended up splitting off from Griselda around 2017 following their song “Macho On Coke.” Mach built a prolific career alongside Tha God Fahim and Your Old Droog, while Westside Gunn grew the Griselda brand and audience exponentially during the following years.

There were few exchanges between the two in the music or on social media besides Westside’s jab at Mach and Fahim on 2018’s “Easter Gunday 3.” The two eventually reconciled in 2021. Westside Gunn ended up executive producing Mach-Hommy’s Pray For Haiti album, which was released under the Griselda Records label. Mach also featured on Westside’s Hitler Wears Hermes 8 album.

Logic & Joyner Lucas

The beef between Logic and Joyner Lucas started in 2016 when they both appeared on Tech N9ne’s “Sriracha,” and Logic did not perform the expected chopper flow. Joyner expressed frustration towards Logic’s titling of his “1-800-273-8255” song about suicide. He alleged that Logic had copied his 508-507-2209 album title, which also had a song about suicide. The beef was primarily one-sided until Logic subliminally addressed Joyner on “Yuck” in 2018. The two reconciled in 2019 when Logic featured on Joyner’s song “Isis.”

Gucci Mane & Jeezy

Perhaps hip hop’s most vicious beef, the situation between Gucci Mane and Jeezy was quite serious. Originating back to their hit collaboration, 2005’s “Icy,” the beef escalated both in musical form and real life. Diss tracks were released, bounties were placed on each other, chains were snatched, and Gucci even killed one of Jeezy’s affiliates. Gucci Mane’s “Truth” diss track remains among hip hop’s meanest disses. The feud was one of the most severe and long-standing rap beefs. They attempted to squash their beef multiple times but officially buried the hatchet during their 2020 Verzuz battle, performing “Icy” together. They have also toured together since.

Freddie Gibbs & Jeezy

Freddie Gibbs started his career under Jeezy’s CTE label and had a falling out before Freddie went independent and started building his momentum. Since then, Freddie had voiced his beef with Jeezy quite directly on the 2014 song “Real,” one of hip hop’s most cutthroat diss tracks ever. Freddie addressed the beef primarily as he continued to diss Jeezy publicly during the following years. They squashed their beef last year when they ran into each other at an airport. Freddie also apologized to Jeezy and showed his gratitude on the song “Rabbit Vision.”

Cam’ron & Mase

Cam’ron and Mase have had a complicated relationship. The two were childhood friends and worked together in their rap careers. They were in a group called Children of the Corn together, and they featured on each other’s tracks when they achieved mainstream success. Since 1999, Cam’ron and Mase beefed with each other publicly, inside and outside of music. Their beef peaked in 2017 when they exchanged diss tracks towards each other. Since then, Mase and Cam’ron have reconciled, and together, they host a sports talk show called It is What It is. They even recently appeared on a song together with Jadakiss.

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Swizz Beatz Drops Video for “Say Less” Feat. Lil Durk & A Boogie wit Da Hoodie

unnamedSwizz Beatz Drops Video for "Say Less" Feat. Lil Durk & A Boogie wit Da Hoodie

Swizz Beatz is back with a new video for “Say Less.” The single featuring A Boogie wit da Hoodie and Lil Durk can be found on Swizz’s collaborative EP with Mass Appeal, Hip Hop 50: Vol 2.

The 6-track project marks the second EP in Mass Appeal’s Hip Hop 50: The Soundtrack. Coming off the first installment of the EP series with DJ Premier’s Hip Hop 50 Vol. 1Hip Hop 50: Vol. 2 is entirely produced by Swizz Beatz. The EP is an ode to New York rap and includes star-studded features from Nas, Lil Wayne, Lil Durk, A Boogie wit da Hoodie, Jadakiss, Jay Electronica, Benny The Butcher, Fivio Foreign, Scar Lip and Bandmanrill. Fans can also stay tuned for the “Say Less” video featuring Lil Durk & A Boogie wit da Hoodie releasing next week. 

Hip Hop 50: Vol. 2 is the culmination of Swizz Beatz’s career spanning over two decades and the sound that inspired it. The Verzuz creator first rose to prominence as a Ruff Ryder producing songs for DMX and Eve. The success of “Ruff Ryder’s Anthem” launched Beatz’s career as a highly sought-after and regarded artist. He’s since gone on to create some of the most prolific songs in Hip Hop, working with JAY-Z, Noreaga, Busta Rhymes, Cassidy, Nas, Rakim, Lil Wayne, and many more. Hip Hop 50: Vol. 2 will be followed by eight more EPs from iconic figures who’ve had a hand in expanding the culture from the streets of the Bronx to the global community. Hip Hop 50: The Soundtrack, distributed via Mass Appeal’s new deal with The Orchard, is the score to the biggest birthday bash ever.

A portion of all Hip Hop 50 proceeds will be donated to the various charitable organizations, including, the Universal Hip Hop Museum set to open its doors in 2024. Mass Appeal recently announced Hip Hop 50 partnerships with CÎROC Ultra-Premium Vodka – the official Vodka of #HipHop50, as well as Google Pixel and Sony Music Entertainment. In January, Mass Appeal partnered with Fotografiska to launch Hip Hop Conscious, Unconscious exhibition – currently on view in New York City till May 21st before traveling to other locations. Additionally, Mass Appeal has teamed up with Live Nation Urban to produce live event programming, as well as Paramount + / Showtime for a premium content partnership with captivating documentaries such as: YOU’RE WATCHING VIDEO MUSIC BOXCYPRESS HILL: INSANE IN THE BRAIN, SUPREME TEAM and more.

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AI Biggie Covers Nas’ “N.Y. State of Mind,” Twitter Is Divided

Some of our favourite artists have already dropped off noteworthy new music in 2023. Unfortunately, their releases as of late are chiefly being overshadowed by the songs coming out via artificial intelligence. From hearing Kanye West take on Hit-Boy’s “2 Certified” thanks to technology to heavy hitters like Drake and Michael Jackson covering Ice Spice’s “Munch (Feelin’ U),” the entertainment has been endless, albeit damaging to the music industry. Earlier this week, a video of the late Biggie Smalls rapping Nas’ “N.Y. State of Mind” began circulating online, sparking plenty of debate amongst the hip-hop community,

The 1994 cut previously arrived on the New Yorker’s Illmatic album and remains one of the most popular in his discography to this day. Of course, The Notorious B.I.G. lost his life just three years after this, and though he and Nas had plans to collaborate (the latter previously revealed on The Breakfast Club that he “got too high” in the studio for anything to come to fruition), it ultimately never came to be. This is the closest we’ll probably ever to see to a joint effort, and while some users are loving Biggie’s flow on his friend’s song, others are frustrated with AI’s presence in the industry at the moment.

Biggie’s Unofficial “N.Y. State of Mind” Cover

“This made me realize Nas has the greatest flow of any rapper ever,” one Twitter user said, markedly praising the 49-year-old. Another, less pleased listener chimed in, “The gap between Biggie’s flow and Nas’ flow is f*cking me up right now. This sounds so much worse than his voice on his flow lol. Too much energy with the wrong tone.” Elsewhere, someone argued that the computer-generated audio fails to “capture Big’s essence one bit.”

Apart from the comedic, discourse-causing covers, we’ve also heard brand new lyrics written and beats crafted for Champagne Papi, The Weeknd, and more, rivalling some of their previous releases in the hearts of fans. In wake of this, music labels are beginning to take action in defence of their artists to protect their work and vocals. Keep scrolling to read Twitter’s reactions to the viral Biggie AI cover, and be sure to share your thoughts in the comments afterward.

Social Media Reacts

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Nas Admits He “Probably Was A Bad Father” To His Daughter

Though naturally recluse, Nas opens up to the world whenever he steps into the booth. From the release of Illmatic to recent efforts like the King’s Disease series, Nas drops gems, whether from his own observations of the world around him or his own self-realization. Today, he appeared on the opening track of Swizz Beatz’s Hip-Hop 50 Vol. 2, “Runaway.” The Queensbridge rapper dives into his own experiences of being a parent, specifically when raising his first-born daughter.

On the record, Nas discusses his struggles balancing his life as a rapper and a father to Destiny, who he shares with Carmen Bryan. He reflects on providing Destiny with the financial backing to succeed but ultimately, failed to spend as much time as he should’ve. “Probably was a bad father to my first born/ Love her to death, but I ain’t been home since my first song/ Provided for her, but money can’t replace a father for her,” he raps on the record. Nas previously addressed raising a daughter on 2012’s Life Is Good in the song, “Daughters,” where he similarly reflected on some of the mistakes he made as a parent. 

Nas Reflects On Fatherhood

In addition to Destiny, Nas also shares a 13-year-old son with his ex-wife Kelis. Even though the two had their fair share of public disputes surrounding custody, the rapper expresses his gratitude on “Runaway” for his kids. Still, he admits that he didn’t expect to live long enough to watch them grow. “Plus I got a son, blessed with kids, yeah, man, I adore ’em/ And I was sure I was gonna leave this life too fast/ I got the guardian angels, came down and saved my ass,” he raps on the record.

Swizz Beatz’s Hip-Hop 50 Vol. 2 serves as a tribute to New York’s rap scene and includes appearances from Jay-Z, Lil Wayne, Jay Electronica, Bandmanrill, Fivio Foreign, A Boogie Wit Da Hoodie and more. The project follows the release of DJ Premier’s Hip Hop 50 Vol. 1. Each of these EPs has been released through Nas’ Mass Appeal imprint. Check out Nas’s new song above and sound off with your thoughts in the comments. 

Swizz Beatz Releases ‘Hip Hop 50: Vol. 2’ Via Mass Appeal

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Today, Grammy Award-winning producer, rapper, and entrepreneur, Swizz Beatz, releases his triumphant EP – Hip Hop 50: Vol. 2 – via Mass Appeal. The 5-track project marks the second EP in Mass Appeal’s Hip Hop 50: The Soundtrack. Coming off the first installment of the EP series with DJ Premier’s Hip Hop 50 Vol. 1Hip Hop 50: Vol. 2 is entirely produced by Swizz Beatz. The EP is an ode to New York rap and includes star-studded features from Nas, Lil Wayne, Lil Durk, A Boogie wit da Hoodie, Jadakiss, Jay Electronica, Benny The Butcher, Fivio Foreign, Scar Lip and Bandmanrill. Fans can also stay tuned for the “Say Less” video featuring Lil Durk & A Boogie wit da Hoodie releasing next week. 

Hip Hop 50: Vol. 2 is the culmination of Swizz Beatz’s career spanning over two decades and the sound that inspired it. The Verzuz creator first rose to prominence as a Ruff Ryder producing songs for DMX and Eve. The success of “Ruff Ryder’s Anthem” launched Beatz’s career as a highly sought-after and regarded artist. He’s since gone on to create some of the most prolific songs in Hip Hop, working with JAY-Z, Noreaga, Busta Rhymes, Cassidy, Nas, Rakim, Lil Wayne, and many more. Hip Hop 50: Vol. 2 will be followed by eight more EPs from iconic figures who’ve had a hand in expanding the culture from the streets of the Bronx to the global community. Hip Hop 50: The Soundtrack, distributed via Mass Appeal’s new deal with The Orchard, is the score to the biggest birthday bash ever.

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A portion of all Hip Hop 50 proceeds will be donated to the various charitable organizations, including, the Universal Hip Hop Museum set to open its doors in 2024. Mass Appeal recently announced Hip Hop 50 partnerships with CÎROC Ultra-Premium Vodka – the official Vodka of #HipHop50, as well as Google Pixel and Sony Music Entertainment. In January, Mass Appeal partnered with Fotografiska to launch Hip Hop Conscious, Unconscious exhibition – currently on view in New York City till May 21st before traveling to other locations. Additionally, Mass Appeal has teamed up with Live Nation Urban to produce live event programming, as well as Paramount + / Showtime for a premium content partnership with captivating documentaries such as: YOU’RE WATCHING VIDEO MUSIC BOXCYPRESS HILL: INSANE IN THE BRAIN, SUPREME TEAM and more.

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6 Treys Member Arrested For Allegedly Trying To Avenge Nas Blixky’s Shooting

Nas Blixky survived a shooting earlier this year, and an alleged member of the 6 Treys gang was arrested by police for recently and reportedly trying to avenge it. Moreover, the rapper fortunately survived, a fate that others in his camp unfortunately didn’t get a chance to see. Furthermore, the New York Daily News reported that 22-year-old Taj Zeigler was arrested and detained at Brooklyn Federal Court on Friday (April 7). According to the charges, Zeigler tried to shoot the person responsible for the attack on Nas on January 28, 2022, just six days after Blixky was shot.

However, his efforts proved unsuccessful, and he hit no such target. To elaborate, Zeigler reportedly belongs to the 6 Treys, an offshoot of the Folk Nation Gangster Disciples that Larry Hoover founded in 1960s Chicago. Not only that, but police were able to identify Zeigler (who wore a mask during the shooting) because of footage showing him wearing “black Marmot-brand puffer jacket and two-toned black and grey sneakers.” Through some social media sleuthing, authorities found that said outfit is similar to one he wore in various videos and pictures.

6 Treys Member Arrested For Attempting Revenge For Nas Blixky Shooting

Moreover, his charges include possessing ammunition as a felon, and additional charges are unknown as of writing this article. After Nas Blixky’s shooting, his stepfather told the aforementioned publication that he’d retire from the game. “On Facebook they’re saying he’s dead but he’s still alive,” he stated. “The rapper Nas Blixky is dead. The stage name is gone. Many people want him dead. I told him he’s better than that. You want him dead? He’s dead. He’ll be back with better music and better lyrics.”

Meanwhile, Nas Blixky fought back against these claims in a Complex interview. “I f**k all these n***as’ b***hes. I’m the flyest,” he said. “Sometimes I can get cocky with it, ’cause it’s the n***as that be coming at me. But sometimes I be humble with it, you feel me? ’Cause, just like this, it can be taken from you. I got my cocky s**t out… now it’s time to fall back and lay low. I ain’t never done dissin’.” Furthermore, along with 23 other alleged gang members, he faces charges of attempted murder, conspiracy, endangerment, and more. For more updates on the Nas Blixky case, stick around on HNHH.

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R-Mean Trades Bars With Nas On “Candle Of The Devil”

R-Mean isn’t playing around these days. The West Coast rapper continues to apply pressure with each record. Every time he shows out, he proves that he’s one of the fiercest lyricists in the game right now. Over the years, he’s show-and-proved time and time again, from the Mean Monday series, which showcased his consistency, to projects like December’s Justin Credible Presents: R-Mean, a project that found him trading bars with the likes of Jay Critch, BlocBoy JB, and more. 

However, he’s been gearing up for something major in the past few months. With his album M.E.A.N due out later this month, he’s dished out excellent singles. He kicked off the year with “Lonely Day.” Later on, he showcased his versatility when he joined forces for YG on the playful, “Charles Barkley.” Now, he connected with one of his childhood heroes for an incredible collaboration, produced by Scott Storch.

R-Mean & Nas Trade Bars On “Candle Of The Devil”

It truly takes a special type of artist to earn praise from Nas, but evidently, R-Mean proved himself worthy through years of hard work. This week, the two connect on their new collaboration, “Candle Of The Devil.” Scott Storch’s xylophone-heavy production feels like a call back to Nas’ 96 run while the two bring top-tier storytelling and wordplay to the table. R-Mean’s resilience shines as he reflects on spirituality, family, and legacy. Nas follows up with an excellent 16 that showcases his timeless flow and penmanship.

On Instagram, R-Mean detailed how he manifested the collaboration. Back in 2017, he released “Letter To The King,” a tribute to his two idols, Eminem and Nas. Though many of his fans praised the record, he didn’t get any sort of acknowledgment from either rapper, until a few years later. “Several years later, on a random Wednesday, I got a facetime call and when I picked up it was Nas [mind blown emoji] He happened to walk into Cookies on Melrose and my brother @alll___1 played him ‘Letter to the King,’” he wrote on Instagram. “Nas told me ‘that sh*t did something to me right now’ as he pointed to his chest. Three days later we were in the studio at @scottstorchofficial’s house and we created this masterpiece together on the spot!” Check the song above.

Quotable Lyrics
Red wine straight out of Spain, poured from a pitcher
Four hour dinners out with my n***as, pour out some liquor
You was told to accept things you can’t change
I respect that, to me, nothin’ in monolithic
Nobody exempt from who karma visit

Today in Hip Hop History: Nas Released His Third LP ‘I Am’ 24 Years Ago

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Released by Columbia Records, Nas’ third album, I Am, debuted at #1 on the Billboard 200 chart. The album sold 470,000 copies in its first week and was certified double platinum in the United States. The album was nominated in 2000 for Best Rap Album at the 43rd Grammy Awards.

Originally intended to be a double album titled I Am…The Autobiography, the album was arguably Nas’ most honest and poetic project at the time. Although the additional tracks were scrapped due to bootlegging of the original sessions, the intention for the theme and tone of the project can still be felt on the released single-disc LP.

Nas’ cover art has always been an iconic staple of his work. Usually consisting of his face superimposed over his native Queens, each cover has served as a visual representation of Nas as an artist. Famed portrait photographer Danny Hastings shot this particular cover. To create the image of Nas’ face in the Pharaoh mask in a pre-Photoshop world, Hastings made a clay mold for Nas’ face (which, in fact, almost killed him when clay got lodged in his nostrils, nearly suffocating him).

This album wasn’t only popular in the United States. I Am… made appearances on music charts in Australia, Canada, Norway, France, Germany, Sweden, Switzerland, and the United Kingdom. The two official singles from this project claimed spots on the Billboard Hot 100 chart. “Nas Is Like..” peaked at #86, and “Hate Me Now” climbed a little higher to take the #62 spot.

After the release of this album, Nas released seven more solo albums and two collaborative projects. Nas continues to perform and is known as one of the most prolific rappers of his or any generation. Take some time today to listen to this album appreciate the career of a living legend.

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