13 Underrated Diss Songs
13 Diss Songs That Should Have Gotten More Attention
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Hip-Hop beefs generally command their own press tours these days (see Common’s “Sweet”) days and the potency of the diss songs usually get blown out of proportion.
After Drake sent a whispering warning shot to Meek Mill over the weekend, half of Twitter acted like it was “The Bridge Is Over” and the other half gained more ammo to shoot down Drizzy. When you have the spotlight, you get all of the attention.
Below are a collection of fiery diss songs that didn’t get all of the “oohs and ahhs” for reasons explained.
LL Cool J – “The Ripper Strikes Back”
Targets: Canibus, Wyclef Jean, Mike Tyson
Canibus’ defeat in his beef with LL Cool J was primarily his doing, thanks in part to his falling out with Wyclef and consistency dropping wack albums. Regardless, Uncle L hilariously claiming he rocked shows at high school proms was what the streets snoozed on.
Jayo Felony – “You’s A Character”
Targets: Snoop Dogg, Eminem, Kokane
After getting some momentum sending shots in Jay-Z’s direction, Jayo went rogue Crip against the West Coast and eventually faded to obscurity. This joint still goes, though.
Nas – “Stillmatic”
Targets: Jay-Z, Memphis Bleek, Beanie Sigel, Freeway, State Property
The “Takeover” usually gets credited as the first shot in the classic Jay-Z/Nas beef. Yet after Esco took Jigga’s Summer Jam bait, he dropped this lyrically fresh joint that had him flowing better than heard in the previous two years.
T.I. ft. Jay-Z – “Watch What You Say To Me”
Target: Lil Wayne
As T.I. and Ludacris were warring for title of King of South, Lil Wayne was going for the entire throne and his campaign included plenty of nudges to Jigga’s ribs. The champ wasn’t having it and he dropped a largely ignored gem on the other Carter before they collaborated a couple of years later.
Eminem – “The Sauce”
Targets: Benzino, The Source Magazine
Eminem’s other diss, “Nail in the Coffin” took all the glory in the Aftermath/Shady/Benzino/Source/XXL/Murder Inc. ring-around-the-rosie. However if lyrics sold, this record would be your king.
Lloyd Banks – “Officer Down”
Target: Rick Ross
The extremely goofy and eventually costly beef between Maybach Music and G-Unit managed to produce one inkling of classic battle rap. But of course, the dawn of antics and social media had begun and thus, Pimpin Curly and Gay Unit Workouts hogged all the glory.
Nature – “Nas Is Not”
Target: Nas
After being slandered on 2002’s “Destroy & Rebuild,” Nature wasn’t afraid to bark back at his old Firm partner. According to Nas, all he got for his troubles were his teeth knocked out for mentioning Ill Will’s mother.
DMX – “Trina Moe”
Targets: The LOX, Ja Rule
In 2001, DMX was still a forced to reckoned with on the mic–and on the charts, and he made sure to remind everyone who got too big for their britches before it was their time to shine.
Jaz-O – “Ova”
Targets: Jay-Z, Memphis Bleek, Beanie Sigel, Freeway, State Property
Team Roc-A-Fella did a great job of painting Jay-Z’s former mentor as a disgruntled rap vet but there was no denying he still had spit game. Well, for those who heard the track, there was no denying he still had spit game.
Bone Thugs-n-Harmony – “U Ain’t Bone”
Targets: Twista, Do Or Die, Crucial Conflict
The second disc of 1997’s Tha Art of War is only best remembered for “Thug Luv,” a.k.a. “the song with Tupac.” But Kray, Lil Lay and Biz snapped on the whole city of Chicago with this one.
KRS-One – “Ova Here”
Target: Nelly
Hip-Hop heads thought Nelly committed blasphemy when he lyrically went at the legendary T’Cha, who had plenty of heat left in his microphone to fire back with competence. Unfortunately for Kris, millions on top of millions were too busy bouncing to Nellyville to care.
Lil Kim ft. The Game – “Quiet”
Targets: 50 Cent, Foxy Brown, Junior M.A.F.I.A.
Even a 5-mic rating from The Source in 2005 couldn’t help the promotion for The Notorious K.I.M., thanks to her year-long incarceration. In a nutshell, everyone slandered on the track got to take the easy way out.
Ja Rule – “Clap Back”
Target: 50 Cent, Eminem, G-Unit
Good music and club bangers couldn’t save Ja Rule/Murder Inc. from the dominance of 50 Cent and G-Unit in 2003. According to Billboard, this heatrock only peaked at No. 44 on the Billboard Hot 100. Ouch.
