5 artists Jay-Z had a beef with

American rapper and businessman Jay-Z has been involved in a number of feuds in the 2000s, such as his well-known beef with Nas and his rupture with former protégé Beanie Sigel. However, Jay-Z, whose real name is Shawn Corey Carter, has been able to move past many of his past disputes and establish new professional partnerships.

However, Jay-Z's name continues to make headlines, as seen in a recent BBC article on December 9, 2024, where it was reported that:

“US rapper Jay-Z has hit back at a lawsuit which alleges that he, along with Sean "Diddy" Combs, drugged and r*ped a 13-year-old girl at a party in 2000.

In a statement, Jay-Z dismissed the legal action as a "blackmail attempt.”

Note: The opinions expressed here are solely those of the author and not Sportskeeda as a whole.

Drake, and other artists Jay-Z had a beef with

1) Nas

The rivalry began in 1996 when Nas left a recording session for Jay-Z's first album, Reasonable Doubt. Soon after, Nas included a lyric in his next album that seemed to be aimed at Jay, which was released shortly after Hova's (Jay-Z's nickname).

When Jay-Z referred to himself as NYC's best MC following Biggie's passing in 1997, the dispute intensified. Memphis Bleek, Jay-Z's friend, then made fun of Nas in 1999, and Jay responded with Takeover from The Blueprint in 2001 with the lyrics:

"Use your brain! You said you been in this ten

I’ve been in it five, smarten up Nas

Four albums in ten years n****? I can divide

That’s one every let’s say two, two of them sh*ts was due"

Nas's iconic diss track Ether, was his response. Jay retaliated with Super Ugly, a rather intimate remark.

Things then calmed down after a few more jabs. The hip-hop scene had moved over their disagreement by 2005.

Nas took the stage with Jay-Z during his I Declare War tour in New Jersey that year. By performing Dead Presidents and The World Is Yours, they brought harmony to the hip-hop scene and formally put an end to their beef.

2) Kanye West

The beef between Kanye West and Jay-Z has been ongoing, with issues popping up from time to time. Here are some key moments:

Jay-Z revealed in a July 2013 interview with Zane Lowe that he didn't always get along with West.

Kanye West appeared to have problems with his Jay and Beyoncé in October 2016, despite the fact that it began as a one-sided quarrel. West attacked Jay's supposed lack of support following the Paris incident involving his then-wife, Kim Kardashian, during his Life of Pablo tour.

When Hova released his 4:44 album, the lyrics on Kill Jay-Z read:

"But you got hurt because you did cool by 'Ye

You gave him twenty million without blinkin'

He gave you twenty minutes on stage, f*ck was he thinkin'?

F*ck wrong with everybody?" is what you sayin'

But if everybody's crazy, you're the one that's insane"

In 2018, West disclosed that the Carters' absence at his wedding increased his conflict with Jay-Z.

After years of ongoing beef, by December 2019, Kanye West and Jay-Z seemed to have reunited at P. Diddy's 50th birthday.

3) Drake

There have been many highs and lows in Jay-Z and Drake's relationship. What began as a joint effort on songs like Off That and Light Up turned into a back-and-forth of beefs.

Drake's guest verse on DJ Khaled's I'm on One included the lines: "I’m just feeling like the throne is for the taking/ Watch me take it."

Fans thought these lines were aimed at Jay and Kanye West. However, Drake quickly took to X to deny that it was a shot at them.

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In a November 2011 Billboard interview, Drake mentioned he was upset that Jay-Z had won Best Rap Solo Performance instead of him at the 2009 Grammys.

Their ongoing back-and-forth continued when Drake made a subtle jab during a Raptors game, after Jay questioned him following the release of DJ Khaled's song They Don't Love You No More.

However, when the two were seen posing for photos together at a On The Run II Tour in 2018, it seemed like their beef had temporarily ended and things had calmed down.

4) Lil Wayne

After Jay-Z was crowned MTV's Hottest MC in 2009, Birdman attacked him verbally. Then Jay-Z reacted in 2011 with the line, "You got Baby money, keep it real with n***as, n***as ain't got my lady money," from the song H.A.M. from Watch the Throne.

In his song It's Good, Wayne defended Birdman by stating, "Talkin' 'bout Baby money? Take your b**ch and get that "how much you love your lady" money; I got your baby money."

Jay retaliated once more in Magna Carta Holy Grail in 2013 by mentioning Wayne's threats to abduct his wife in a line from La Familla.

After that, Wayne said nothing about the matter. Then Wayne collaborated with Jay-Z's Tidal to release the Free Weezy Album in 2015. He called himself a “Roc-A-Fella millionaire” rather than a cash-money artist during a performance the following year, making fun of Birdman.

Nicki Minaj also criticized Jay during the NFL Halftime Show in 2016, accusing the league of ignoring her mentor, Lil Wayne.

5) Fat Joe

Rumors of conflict between Fat Joe and Jay-Z were ongoing for years. During the 2004 Entertainment Basketball Classic in NYC, the two appeared to attempt to work out their disagreements. However, Joe's Terror Squad won the title after Jay's S.Carter team forfeited because of schedule conflicts.

Joe boasted about the victory in his 2004 single Lean Back: "Kay keeps telling me to talk about the Rucker/In actuality, I don't want to talk about the Rucker." Joe rapped, "My n****s didn't have to play to win the championship,"

In the same year, Hova responded to his song The Game is Mine by saying, "No regrets, don't even speak about no Ruckers, motherf**kers/ You guys still don't see the broader picture, so I'm set up like a tennis match. See where your attention is at."

Jay-Z's feuds are often long-lasting, but he seems to settle most of them amicably in one way or another.

Edited by Prem Deshpande