Photo credit – (R) Prince Williams, (M) Ethan Miller, (L) Nicholas Hunt/Getty Images for Marc Jacobs/Getty Images
In 2018 alone, hip hop produced some notable diss tracks that had everyone talking. Remy Ma’s “Sheether” that was aimed at Nicki Minaj, the feud between Eminem vs. Machine Gun Kelly, and Pusha T airing out Drake’s business in the “Story of Adidon.” When it comes to “rap beefs” are there rules or is it like the jungle where there are none? Since the golden era of hip hop, two EMCESS lyrically going at each other bar for bar is all a part of the culture so is it even possible to take lyrics “too far?”
Whether you believe the Cold Crush Brothers or the Sugar Hill Gang started rap, they didn’t leave us a handbook of rules to follow when it comes to diss records! Some of your favorite artists like Meek Mil, Dave East, and Styles P have voiced their opinions on the “rules of rap beef.”
Earlier this year, Drake told reports that he expected his rap rival to talk about his son but he felt Pusha T went “too far” mentioning his friend that has Multiple Sclerosis.
In the line, Pusha T raps,
The only ones I chase are two ghosts
Still givin’ you classics, that’s the only thing that dates me
OVO 40, hunched over like he 80—tick, tick, tick
How much time he got? That man is sick, sick, sick
I got the devil flow, nigga—six-six-six
Surgical summer with it—snip, snip, snip
And you don’t really want it with him
Drake sat with LeBron James to respond and said, “wishing death upon my friend who has MS — I study rap battles for a living. When you mention defenseless people who are sick in the hospital, who have passed away, I just believe that there’s a price you have to pay for that. It’s over! Someone’s gonna f****** punch you in the f****** face.”
Check out the clip here:
Meek Mill did an interview and mentioned the Pusha T and Drake beef. Meek believes that it’s all part of the game and there are “no rules.”
During an interview with Ebro In The Morning, Styles P and Dave East also spoke about the Drake and Pusha T situation. Styles P said, “you gotta go into it knowing anything could happen. That’s why your best bet is to not engage. Stay away from beef at all costs.” Dave East believes it was a smart move for Drake for his brand to not continue the beef but in the “hip hop culture world,” he would have had to respond.
Check out the full interview here:
Although J. Prince isn’t a rapper, he’s a CEO of a music label and knows a lot about the industry. He was at L.A Leakers and the Pusha T and Drake feud came up. J. Prince was one of the people who told Drake to let the beef go before it “gets out of hand.” He said that he saw the beef “heading to a dangerous place.” J. Prince agrees with Drake that there are “some rules,” but they’re not written anywhere.
Watch the full interview here:
What are your thoughts on the “rules of rap?”