Feuds
Page: 2
Drake launched the Anita Max Wynn Tour in Australia on Tuesday (Feb. 4), kicking off in Perth, and he left the audience with some choice words to close out the first show. The 6 God is always one to end a set with some inspiration for fans, and he’s typically very intentional with what he […]
Ye — formerly Kanye West — hosted a Grammy Awards afterparty in Los Angeles on Sunday (Feb. 2), where he premiered his upcoming The Download interview with Justin Laboy. The rapper reflected on competing with Drake over the years, and while he recognized the 6 God was down following his battle with Kendrick Lamar, West […]
It’s famously difficult to win Azealia Banks‘ approval, but Taylor Swift has it. And in a series of posts on X Wednesday (Jan. 29), the rapper gave a detailed explanation why.
After previously declaring that Swifties make up one of the only fanbases she actually likes, Banks responded to a follower who asked her to elaborate. “Cause they don’t bother anybody,” she obliged. “Taylor doesn’t bother anybody. To have beef with her or over is a real sign of TRUE lack of self esteem.”
“Like Kanye Tyler charli whoever else is a f–kin lame,” the “212” artist continued, referencing Ye’s famous feud with the “Anti-Hero” artist, Tyler, the Creator’s recent clash with Swifties, and the Charli XCX’s rumored tension with Swift; the Brat artist and superstar later sang each other’s praises, debunking the rumors. “She really makes her music and minds her biz.”
Trending on Billboard
In the replies, Banks also praised the 14-time Grammy winner for promoting Nicki Minaj’s “Super Bass” back in the early 2010s before the track fully blew up and launched the Queen of Rap into superstardom. Minaj has also previously credited Swift for having a hand in the song’s success, and in 2011, the two women performed it together on the latter’s Speak Now World Tour.
“Like what other white female artist would share her platform with a black girl like that without asking for anything in return but just out of sheer f–king respect for the music?” Banks added. “Not a single one of them. They always want something in return and I really respect the way she carries herself it’s refreshing.”
Banks’ approval of Swift might come as a surprise to some knowing how many other stars the former has verbally struck down over the years. One of the “Liquorice” artist’s most recent targets was Grimes, whom she accused of “trying to paint me like the [villain]” before alleging that Elon Musk had “dumped” and “cheated on” the “Oblivion” singer; Grimes quickly fired back, “i didn’t ‘get dumped.’ I bounced.”
Shortly before that, Banks sparred with Matty Healy over comments the former made about Charli XCX. The exchange crested when the New York native said that The 1975 frontman’s fiancée, model Gabriette, looked “like Frankenstein,” after which Healy said he was “going to f—ing slap [Banks] so hard I’ll get a Guinness world record” before announcing that he was stepping back from X. “I don’t have the right kind of intelligence / emotional maturity etc for social media I literally just end up saying stuff that immediately regret,” he wrote.
See Banks’ posts about Swift below.
Cause they don’t bother anybody. Taylor doesn’t bother anybody. To have beef with her or over is a real sign of TRUE lack of self esteem. Like Kanye Tyler charli whoever else is a fuckin lame she really makes her music and minds her biz https://t.co/5s7zwfotYl— Azealia Banks (@azealiaslacewig) January 29, 2025
Like what other white female artist would share her platform with a black girl like that without asking for anything in return but just out of sheer fucking respect for the music? Not a single one of them. They always want something in return and I really respect the way she…— Azealia Banks (@azealiaslacewig) January 29, 2025
Kai Cenat didn’t become the most popular Twitch streamer in hip-hop by holding back his real opinions. So while speaking to Billboard for his January cover story, he didn’t hold back when it came to his takes on the Drake vs. Kendrick Lamar rap war of 2024.
In conversation with Billboard‘s deputy editorial director Damien Scott, Cenat — who once FaceTimed Drizzy on his Twich livestream — began by saying, “I’m cool with Drake.”
Trending on Billboard
“So people would expect me to be on Drake’s side,” he continued. “But I’m not going to lie. Kendrick won that battle.”
Cenat was one of countless hip-hop fans who was locked in during the Toronto native and Dot’s musical conflict last spring, during which the two rappers lobbed searing diss tracks at each other throughout April and May. The streamer reacted to the drops in real time on his channel, with Drake notably instructing him to “stay on stream” before releasing “Family Matters” in May.
“I loved every second of it,” Cenat told Billboard of the musical back-and-forth. “I was just appreciating the moment. Like, bro, we got bangers right now that’s dropping back to back and everybody’s talking about them. It was definitely fire.”
Things took a turn in November, however, when Drake filed two legal actions against Universal Music Group over Lamar’s “Not Like Us” — the two-week Billboard Hot 100 chart-topper in which the Compton musician famously calls his opponent a “certified pedophile.” The “God’s Plan” artist accused the label of inflating the track’s streams through nefarious methods and cited defamation, alleging that UMG “could have refused to release or distribute the song or required the offending material to be edited and/or removed.”
Earlier this month, Drake escalated things further by launching a full-blown lawsuit against UMG; the label has denied the allegations in his suit and called it “illogical.” Cenat also just so happened to be mentioned in the filing. The Degrassi alum’s lawyers named him and a few other streamers who reacted to “Not Like Us” when it dropped as examples of UMG “whitelisting” the song, something Cenat also reacted to on a stream.
“Wait, why am I in this s–t?” he asked his viewers at the time, baffled. “Wait, hold on! Wait, what the f—? I’m getting sued?!”
See Cenat on the cover of Billboard below.
Soulja Boy isn’t letting up on Drake. Big Draco went on another scathing rant about America and took some more shots at Drizzy over the weekend. “Drake you a b—h,” he began in a livestream. “You can’t even come to America and talk to the president. F–k boy, stay in Canada where your b— a– […]
01/16/2025
Drizzy has filed accusations against Universal Music Group, Spotify and more over the diss track.
01/16/2025
Eminem’s longtime spokesperson has spoken out against the collection of leaked songs from Slim Shady’s vault in recent weeks. While the Detroit legend hasn’t officially released anything this year, fans have stumbled upon a handful of tracks that have gone viral on social media, including songs with longtime collaborators 50 Cent and Dr. Dre, as […]
Cam’ron has issued a scathing response to Jim Jones as he fired back at his Diplomats running mate during an explosive episode of It Is What It Is on Monday (Jan. 13).
Explore
See latest videos, charts and news
See latest videos, charts and news
Killa Cam’s comments came after Jones’ appearance on Justin Laboy’s podcast earlier this month, where Cam pushed back against Capo’s claim that Ma$e continuously disrespected Cam’ron after signing to Bad Boy and questioned Jones’ Harlem roots.
“You’re a guardian angel in designer, n—a,” Cam began. “You are from The Bronx, bro. You are not from Harlem. I did not grow up with you, my n—a.”
Trending on Billboard
Cam set the record straight. According to his account, Jim Jones wanted to be cool with him after hearing his freestyles and mixtapes buzzing around the city. “Basically, you heard our freestyles and you came up to me one day and you said, ‘Yo man, I heard the freestyles. Y’all killing s–t. My grandmother died if y’all wanna come by and just hang out, y’all more than welcome,’” he claimed. “You were fanned out and you begged n—s to come to your house after you heard all these mixtapes.”
Cam’ron continued to allege that Ma$e taught Jimmy how to rap and went on to play several interview clips of Jones saying the same.
“We taught you how to rap, n—a,” Cam added. “How you ran the whole organization? How you made Diplomats? N—a, you ain’t made none of this! You were a fan. I put you down ’cause you had a free crib and you were a nice guy.”
Jones took issue with Cam having 50 Cent on his Talk With Flee YouTube show recently due to their past friction, as they reflected on his Dipset teammates Juelz Santana and Jones joining 50 at a G-Unit show in 2007.
“I didn’t think it would be a big deal because you make up with every n—a that put hands on you,” Cam clapped back. “I see you with C-Gutta from Junior M.A.F.I.A. I see you taking pictures with Tru Life. Mendeecees, y’all having sit-downs. Gunshots were let off with that! Y’all having sit-downs to work it out.”
50 never minces words, and didn’t waste an opportunity to insert himself into the feud. “Individual 1, I mean joMo, jimmy you better holla at Cam privately and chill out,” he wrote in his Monday repost of Cam’s rant to Instagram, while urging them to hash it out privately.
Don’t expect Cam’ron to speak on Jones publicly again, as he claimed this is the final time he will discuss their relationship. “This is going to be the last time I address this,” he stated. “I’m not doing this every seven, eight, nine, 10 years. Whatever you got to say after this, I wish you luck. I got other s–t to do.”
Watch the full video below.
Eminem and MGK (formerly Machine Gun Kelly) have one of modern music’s longest standing feuds, but if one person can bring them together, it’s probably Jelly Roll. And on a recent episode of the Flagrant podcast, the “Son of a Sinner” singer said that he’s up to the task.
While discussing how he’s worked with both the Detroit rapper and the “My Ex’s Best Friend” musician in the past, Jelly revealed that he hopes to someday “bring them together,” as he sees “so much more of them in each other than they know.” “They’re gonna get together one day, eventually,” he added confidently.
Trending on Billboard
“I haven’t really brought it up to Marshall yet, ’cause I’m just still kind of glad that I’m still in that circumference to be able to have those conversations,” the country star continued. “I also gave [MGK] some perspective too: We all grew up watching Eminem take over the game early. If you got mentioned in an Eminem song, it was like being mentioned in a comedy special. You’re on f–king fire. You couldn’t be hotter.”
Em and MGK first started butting heads in 2012, when the latter — who was 22 at the time — referred to the former’s then-16-year-old daughter Hallie as “hot as f–k” on Twitter, which is now called X. In the years since, the two rappers have dissed each other in their music, and Slim Shady most recently name-dropped his opponent on 2020’s “Unaccommodating.”
“But when they ask me is the war finished with MGK? Of course it is,” Em riffed on the track. “I cleansed him of his mortal sins/ I’m God and the Lord forgives/ Even the devil worshippers.”
Even so, Jelly said that a truce between his two friends is “inevitable.” “I think that they’re gonna find each other’s heart more than they don’t,” he said on the podcast. “If they never do connect that way, [the feud] did more for both of them than it did to hurt either one of them.”
When asked how he balances his relationships with Em and MGK, Jelly noted that he simply stays transparent with both stars and their teams. The “Need a Favor” musician has worked with the “Emo Girl” artist on the tracks “Lonely Road” and “Time of Day,” as well as appeared on “Somebody Save Me” from Eminem’s Billboard 200-topping album The Death of Slim Shady. According to Jelly, neither of his friends has ever had an issue with him working with both of them, despite the two hip-hop stars’ famous beef.
Listen to Jelly share his thoughts on Eminem and MGK’s feud on Flagrant above.
Vybz Kartel is adding his voice to the Drake vs. Kendrick Lamar debate — and he’s firmly on Team Drizzy.
While speaking to Billboard‘s Kyle Denis for a cover story published Monday (Jan. 6), the dancehall artist didn’t hold back when prompted to share his thoughts on rap’s biggest feud in recent memory. “I’m not a fan of Kendrick,” Kartel began frankly. “I don’t even listen to Kendrick, so I wouldn’t know.”
“What does he rap?” the “Ramping Shop” musician continued. “I saw it on the internet, but no disrespect to the dude, I hear him, but I don’t listen to him. Drake is more in tune with Jamaica and the culture.”
Kartel added, “Drake is a better and bigger artist.”
The reggae star’s cover story comes less than a week after he made his grand return with a massive Freedom Street concert in front of more than 35,000 people at Kingston’s National Stadium in Jamaica on New Year’s Eve, performing for the first time since his July prison release. Kartel had served a 13-year sentence for the murder of Clive “Lizard” Williams, for which he and his co-accused — Shawn Campbell, Kahira Jones and Andre St. John — have always maintained their innocence.
During the tail end of Kartel’s sentence, Drake and Lamar’s beef simmered over into an explosive rap back-and-forth that fans are still talking about months later. The beef started with the Toronto artist dissing Dot on “Push Ups” and “Taylor Made Freestyle” in April. Lamar clapped back with a slew of searing response tracks including “Euphoria,” the Billboard Hot 100-topping “Not Like Us” and more, while Drake added fuel to the fire with songs such as “Family Matters” and “The Heart Pt. 6” in May.
Lamar is now set to headline the 2025 Super Bowl Halftime Show, while Drake is in the midst of taking legal action against Universal Music Group for allegedly conspiring to “artificially inflate” the Compton musician’s streams on “Not Like Us” and for allegedly allowing Lamar to defame Drake on the track. In November, UMG denied the accusation — which the company called “offensive and untrue” — and added in a statement to Billboard, “We employ the highest ethical practices in our marketing and promotional campaigns. No amount of contrived and absurd legal arguments in this pre-action submission can mask the fact that fans choose the music they want to hear.”
As for Vybz? He’s in the running for the best reggae album Grammy for Party With Me, which was “done in prison,” the artist tells Billboard. “I was writing to keep my mind occupied, ended up with these songs and said, ‘Let me just put them on a little EP.’ Bam, Grammy.”
The ceremony airs Feb. 2 on CBS.