Rap Feuds That Shaped the Genre from East to West

The rap world has witnessed some epic feuds over the years, but recently, a new clash between Drake and Kendrick Lamar has grabbed headlines. Their beef seemed to escalate with disstracks aimed at each other, culminating with Drake’s ‘The Heart - Part 6’ in response to Kendrick’s ‘Not Like Us’. Let’s take a look at some of the biggest rap beefs in history that have shaped the genre.

This wasn’t just a beef, it was a full-blown war. Tupac Shakur and Notorious B.I.G. embodied the simmering tension between the East Coast and West Coast rap scenes in the 90s. Tupac’s “Hit 'Em Up” was a lyrical missile aimed straight at Biggie, while Biggie’s “Who Shot Ya?” (although released before Tupac’s shooting) felt eerily prophetic. The tragic murders of both rappers left the music world devastated and the beef forever unresolved.

This late-90s feud was all about bragging rights. 50 Cent, the newcomer, took aim at Ja Rule, the established star, with the scathing “Wanksta.” Ja Rule fired back with “Loose Change,” but it wasn’t enough. Eminem, rap’s reigning king, sided with 50 Cent, igniting a media frenzy. Ja Rule’s career never fully recovered, serving as a cautionary tale for underestimating the underdog.

This one got personal. Pusha T’s “The Story of Adidon” dropped a lyrical bomb, revealing Drake had a secret son. Drake scrambled with “Duppy Freestyle,” but the damage was done. The fight spilled over to Kanye West, solidifying a multi-layered rap beef that redefined the meaning of a diss track.

The drama wasn’t limited to just the guys. Cardi B and Nicki Minaj, two of the biggest names in female rap, went head-to-head. There were no diss tracks here, but barbed comments in interviews and a now-infamous physical altercation at New York Fashion Week event made it clear there was no love lost.

This was a clash of the egos, fueled by a sample. When Nas felt disrespected by Jay-Z using a beat from his song, a lyrical war erupted. Jay-Z’s “Takeover” was a masterclass in boasting, but Nas’s response, “Ether,” is widely considered one of the greatest diss tracks ever. The feud eventually cooled, with Nas even signing to Jay-Z’s label, proving that sometimes even the biggest beefs can end in a handshake.