5 Instances of Rappers Dissing Jay-Z in Their Tracks

Shawn Corey Carter, widely recognized by his stage names Jay-Z, Hova, HOV, or Jazzy, stands as a monumental figure within the music landscape. Billboard’s 2023 rankings have celebrated him as one of the Greatest Rappers of All Time, showcasing his extensive body of work and numerous accolades.

Similar to many hip-hop legends, Jay-Z has found himself embroiled in rap feuds with various notable artists throughout his career. These conflicts have frequently given rise to legendary diss tracks that have left a significant mark on both rap and popular culture.

The exchanges between Hova and rival artists have opened up avenues for them to air grievances through clever wordplay and lyrical prowess. From Nas’s pivotal response in “Ether”to 50 Cent’s “Be A Gentleman,” this article highlights diss tracks aimed at Jay-Z.

From Nas’s Ether to 50 Cent’s Be A Gentleman: 5 Instances of Rappers Dissing Jay-Z

1) Nas – Ether

Ether by Nas, considered one of the greatest diss tracks ever (Image via Instagram/@nas) — Nas’s “Ether” is considered one of the greatest diss tracks of all time (Image via Instagram/@nas)

In December 2001, the New York rapper Nas unleashed “Ether,”a highly praised diss track that served as his rebuttal to Jay-Z’s “Takeover,”released earlier that same year in September. In “Takeover,”Jay-Z criticizes Nas’s faltering career.

With “Ether,”Nas questions the authenticity of Jay-Z’s friendships, branding him as insincere. From the very start, he makes his intent clear:

“F**k Jay-Z/ What’s up, ni**as?/ Ayo, I know you ain’t talkin’ about me, dawg (You? What?)/ F**k Jay-Z/ You been on my d**k, ni**a/ You love my style, ni**a (Uh, uh, uh, uh)/, F**k Jay-Z,”

2) 50 Cent – Be A Gentleman

50 Cent aimed digs at Jay-Z in his track, Be A Gentleman (Image via Instagram/@50cent) — 50 Cent took shots at Jay-Z in “Be A Gentleman” (Image via Instagram/@50cent)

In June 2002, 50 Cent released “Be A Gentleman,”a diss track that targeted HOV, reacting to Jay-Z’s notorious freestyle diss at the 1999 Summer Jam, where he subtly criticized 50 Cent with the line:

“I’m about a dollar — what the f**ck is 50 cents?”

In the song’s second verse, 50 Cent skillfully references Jay-Z’s earlier diss, portraying his own response as a retaliatory strike:

“That sh*t you said wasn’t nuttin’ to sweat (What)/ But you was outta line so here’s what you get/ A verbal a**-kicking, Jesus Christ sent me to test ya,”

3) Tupac – All Out

“All Out” is believed to be one of Tupac’s concluding tracks, surfacing in September 1996 as a segment of his album “Until The End of Time.”Shakur, along with several collaborators, crafted this piece.

The song is a response to the feud between Tupac and The Notorious B.I.G., which leads to a public challenge directed at Jay-Z primarily due to his association with B.I.G. In the introduction, Tupac calls for a lyrical confrontation:

“Hold, hold the f**k up, these ni**as diss me (Jay-Z)/ Tch alight (Come out and play)/ Ayo, assassin give me one of those tracks I can just ride on motherf**kers with (Mobb Deep)/ Ni**as talkin’ ’bout we can’t rap? (Come out and play),”

4) Gucci Mane – 745

On October 11, 2006, Gucci Mane released “745,”featured on his substantial album “Chicken Talk.”The collaborators on this track include Juicy J and DJ Paul among others.

In the third verse of this diss track, Gucci Mane seemingly ridicules Jay-Z, alleging that he is inauthentic:

“I smell pu**y? Naw that’s Jeezy!/ You ain’t a snowman, you more like a snowflake/, Cupcake cornflake, ni**a you too fake/ Beyoncé, oh that’s your fiancé?/ Jeezy is the appetizer, you’ll be the entrée,”

5) Lil Wayne – It’s Good ft Drake and JadaKiss

Lil Wayne’s “It’s Good,”featuring Drake and JadaKiss, is believed to implicitly direct barbs at Jay-Z and counters some lines from Jay-Z’s chart-topping track “H.A.M.,”reportedly aimed at Birdman.

Released on September 13, 2011, this track was crafted by a coalition of writers, including the notable names of Lil Wayne, Jason Phillips, Aubrey Graham, and Valenzano, among others.

The song appears to respond to Jay-Z’s claims about wealth compared to Birdman’s, encapsulated in the statement:

“Really you got baby money. .. You ain’t got my lady’s money.”

Moreover, a portion of Wayne’s third verse highlights Jay-Z’s earlier remarks:

“Talkin ’bout baby money? I got your baby money/ Kidnap your b**ch, get that ‘how-much-you-love-your-lady’ money,”

Additionally, other notable diss tracks aimed at Jay-Z have emerged from artists such as Dipset in “Victory,”Mobb Deep in “Crawlin,”and Cam’ron in “You Gotta Love It.”

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