The History Of The YMCMB vs. G.O.O.D. Music Cold War [PHOTOS/VIDEO] - Page 2

Two of the most dominant, divisive and successful crews in Hip-Hop are G.O.O.D. Music and YMCMB. At one time, the two factions headed by Kanye West and Lil Wayne, respectively, were quite chummy. Somewhere along the way however, as their success grew and grew, their friendship went astray.

But to understand how it went all bad, you have to remember that at one time it was all good (or G.O.O.D.). Hip-Hop Wired takes a look at the long and storied history of the YMCMB vs. G.O.O.D. Music Cold War. Whose side are you on?

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Kanye West Bigs Up Lil Wayne on MTV [August 7th, 2007]

Once upon a time, Kanye West was one of Lil Wayne’s biggest fans. This video, referring to the inaugural MTV’s Hottest MC’s In The Game list shows Mr. West bigging up the Young Money CEO. 

Kanye West & Lil’ Wayne’s “Lollipop” Remix [June 1st, 2008]

West’s and Wayne’s friendship spawned a bunch of collaborations including “Barry Bonds,” “Lollipop,” and “See You In My Nightmares.” Things were all gravy.

Drake/Rosenberg Interview [May 27th, 2009]

This is where things get slightly tricky. This is a fresh faced Drake at his “moment of arrival” at his much touted show at SOBs in New York City. This was  dead in the midst of a real bidding war between every record label with a budget, including Wayne and Kanye. Kanye West shows up at Drake’s show and it is clear here that when Drake talks about his signing intentions it is a two-horse race. He also notes Lord’ Willin & Graduation as his favorite albums.

“Best I Ever Had” video backlash, directed by Kanye West [July 1st, 2009] 

A lot of people note this as the moment where the relationship between G.O.O.D. and YMCMB went sour. Drake, still unsigned at the time (allegedly), released a video for his single “Best I Ever Had,” off of So Far Gone. The song had done so well before the video, it shot up to #2 on the Hot 100, only to be bested by the Black Eyed Peas monster single, “I Gotta Feeling.” That’s until the Kanye West -directed video hit the Internets. Criticism of the female friendly jam rang from all areas. “Was this Kanye-directed, Benny-Hill lump-romp the right visual accompaniment for this tender song beloved by so many female fans,” asked The Guardian. Drake would recover, but things weren’t the same. 

Drake, Kanye West, Lil Wayne, Eminem – “Forever” [September 21st, 2009] 

Seemingly a track that wasn’t recorded together, Drake, Wayne, Kanye and Eminem also shoot the video separately. Obviously these are very busy people, but if there was a cold war brewing, a little down time between takes could have solved this, no?

Jay-Z advises Drake [November 1st, 2009]

The big homie was also a Drake fan in his early stages. Not only did Jigga advise the young artist, but Jay-Z praised his So Far Gone mixtape, let him drop a hook on “Off That,” shouted him out on “A Star Is Born,” and even played hypeman for Drake when he visited Toronto and performed “Successful.”

Birdman fires the first shot at Jay-Z [October 19th, 2009] 

The shot is fired. Drake and Wayne’s boss boasts about the success of his crew, which is taken as a jab (albeit non-factual) at Jay-Z and the empire he’s built.

Jay-Z Responds To Birdman’s Money Claims [January 14th, 2010]
     

Jay-Z responds in his trademark scoff when he is asked about who Birdman thinks is “the best.” Jay-Z keeps it political when it comes to lyrics, but not when it comes to bank.

Birdman strikes back on 106 & Park [October 22nd, 2009]
     

Birdman doesn’t back down from his claims, and stands by his team.

Jay-Z Goes At Birdman on “H.A.M,” Lil Wayne Responds. [January 10th, 2011]
     

“N***a, you’ve got Baby Money.” That was all that was needed to get the pot cooking. The slyly said lyric didn’t go unnoticed by the #1 Stunna or Lil Wayne. Wayne says “he can’t box with the God,” on that note, but that doesn’t stop Birdman from replying anyway.

Drake takes a swipe at Watch The Throne idea. [January 11th, 2011]

Fresh off of the success of his debut album, Drake talked to Tim Westwood about doing a collaboration album with Lil Wayne before “those other guys.” It seemed clear that Drake knew what he was saying and what would come of the comments after he said them by his expression. 

Drake – “Dreams Money Can Buy” [May 20th, 2011]

Now this is when things heat up. After being relatively dormant after Thank Me Later, “Dreams Money Can Buy” was the first record to begin the buzz for his sophomore album Take Care. “My favorite rappers either lost it or they ain’t alive,” he raps in the second verse of this song. Fans quickly began assuming Drizzy was taking a jab at Jay-Z, whom he’s regarded as a mentor and one of his favorite rappers.”Hov diss? Hov of all people has not lost it…that’s god body flow,” Drake tweeted May 20th.

Pusha T’s – “Don’t F**k With Me” [September 26th, 2011]
     
Pusha T says “the swag don’t match the sweaters,” who else could he be talking about? Pusha T hops on Drake’s record and sends some veiled shots at the YMCMB crew. Were they recieved? Well…

“It’s a frustrating time for rappers right now” [October 14th, 2011]
     

Drake heard them, but he didn’t think they were that direct. So instead of firing off at the handle, Drake pulls a page out of Jay-Z’s book and keeps it political.

Lil’ Wayne ft. Drake & Jadakiss – “It’s Good” [August 24th, 2011]

“Talking about Baby Money? I got your baby money. Got that kidnap your b-tch talkin’ about ‘How much you love your lady?’ money.” No subliminal disses here. Wayne goes hard in the paint at Jigga and the mother of his child, and wife.

Pusha T. Calls In Funkmaster Flex [September 7th, 2011]

A little back story here. Pusha T and Lil Wayne’s issues with each other go way back to Tha Carter 2 days. Back when Lil Wayne was BAPE heavy, and Pusha T (with Malice as part of the Clipse) were the purveyors of that clothing line, a little bit of a rift happened between the two. Fast forward to 2009, as Lil Wayne was serving a jail sentence on Rikers Island, Pusha A Tone told Complex that the issues with him and Wayne were done. “There was definitely a time period when I felt a certain way [about him], but as of right now I don’t. That’s just where I once was. I don’t even like speaking on it. [On Fear of God] I actually said, ‘They had freed Weezy, congratulations.’ When I seen Wayne in Miami, I told him, ‘Congratulations on getting out of jail.’” Fast forward to Tha Carter IV, and shortly following the “It’s Good” diss, Pusha T. gives Wayne and Jay-Z their props while questioning Wayne’s authenticity in his answer.

Lil’ Wayne Admits To Baiting Jay-Z in Vibe. [September 28th, 2011]

“I know there won’t be any repercussions behind what I did,” says a confident Wayne when asked if he had second thoughts about recording his acidic verse for ‘It’s Good.’ “I know for a fact music is about perception. You can’t do anything but perceive what you hear. I know that for a fact. So I can’t ever be upset about someone’s reaction.”  

Wayne added that while he understands the intrigue and buzz behind the record, it’s just another song. “I’m not going to say I don’t know what would happen before I even say [something on record],” he explains. “I do know what will happen. I’m aware of it. But it is what it is.”

Common Releases “Sweet” [November 14th, 2011]

The seemingly mild mannered and similarly emo Common released this Drake diss out of nowhere. The scathing record has Lonnie going back to his “B-tch In Yoo,” days and sounding angrier than he’s had in a long time. Common’s obvious ties to G.O.O.D. Music and Kanye were ignited once again after “It’s Good,” failed to garner a Jay-Z response.

Drake Responds On “Stay Schemin” [January 6th, 2012]

Drake, who previously said “diss me and you’ll never hear a reply for it,” finally had a reply for it. He simultaneously praised and dissed Common calling him a “God” and a “broad” within the same breath. He also says that Common’s unwarranted shots were all in the name of selling more records.

Common Responds On “Stay Schemin” [January 9th, 2012]

Common “makes no mistake” when he’s talking to Drake. Common disses his father, mother, calls his music “hoe music,” and that he is “Canada Dry.” Ouch.
     

Drake and Common meet face to face and end their beef. [February 12th, 2012]

Ending quicker than it started, Drake and Common come face to face and end their beef. Supposedly, this all started because of Drake’s ties to Serena Williams, making this one of the most pound cake soft moments in beef history.
     

Lil Wayne Sends More Shots At ‘The Throne’ At Grammy Weekend [February 12th, 2012]
     

At the same Grammy weekend where Drake and Common ended their beef, Lil Wayne tosses some more shots at Jay-Z and Kanye West. In a mini freestyle Lil Wayne spits “I met a bad red bone, I took a bad b***h home, I asked her what she wants to watch she said ‘surely not “The Throne”‘

CyHi The Prynce Sends More Shots [February 24th, 2012]

CyHi The Prynce compares the RocNation/G.O.O.D./YMCMB to selling weed. Catch the reference?

Pusha T. Strikes Back With “Exodus” [May 24th, 2012]

Pusha T. reheats the subliminal disses between YMCMB by mentioning things that can only assumed to be aimed at Drake. However, before Pusha T. can confirm or deny anything…

It was on like popcorn. [May 25th, 2012]