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2024 will go down in hip-hop history as one of the years to be remembered for several rappers' controversies and drama. The year began with the release of the controversial Hiss track by Megan Thee Stallion, which resulted in a rap feud between herself and Nicki Minaj.
Using clever wordplay, the artists kept fans and media busy trying to decipher their songs’ lyrics. The full-blown rap war between Kendrick Lamar and Drake made headlines, earned K-Dot a number 1 spot on the Billboard Hot 100, and nominations at the upcoming Grammy Awards.
P. Diddy’s arrest came in September and shook the music industry due to the nature of the allegations levied against him. The list below features some of the biggest rappers' controversies of the year 2024.
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Disclaimer: This article is solely based on the author's opinion and not listed in any particular order.
Kendrick-Drake beef, Cardi B-Offset divorce, and other rappers' controversies that made headlines in 2024
1) P. Diddy’s arrest and charge
The arrest of the music mogul Sean Combs, aka P. Diddy, is perhaps the most talked about of all the rappers' controversies in 2024. It has shaken the music industry, and celebrities in his circle of friends, such as Jay-Z and Beyonce, have come under public scrutiny.
Diddy was hit with several civil lawsuits in late 2023, including one from his decade-long girlfriend, Cassie Ventura. According to NewsNation, in September 2024, Ventura alleged that she was trapped in a pattern of abuse, forced drug use, and r*pe, amongst others.
The lawsuit was settled a day later for an undisclosed amount. According to AP News, in September 2024, Combs’ Los Angeles and Miami homes were raided by Homeland Security as part of a s*x trafficking investigation. Per NewsNation, Diddy was arrested on September 16, 2024, on charges of s*x trafficking and racketeering.
BBC reported in September 2024 that Federal prosecutors accused him of:
"Creating a criminal enterprise" in which he "abused, threatened, and coerced women and others around him to fulfill his sexual desires, protect his reputation, and conceal his conduct".
Following his arrest, his attorney, Marc Agnifilo, implored the public to reserve all facts until the trial, slated for May 5, 2025, was over:
Agnifilo said:
"Sean ‘Diddy’ Combs is a music icon, self-made entrepreneur, loving family man, and proven philanthropist who has spent the last 30 years building an empire, adoring his children, and working to uplift the Black community. He is an imperfect person but he is not a criminal,”
2) Drake and Kendrick Lamar’s feud
Perhaps the most publicized rappers feud of 2024, Drake and Kendrick Lamar’s battle of diss tracks snagged the attention of rap aficionados, fans, and media. For those who are not caught up, speculations began when Lamar seemingly threw shade at Drake and J. Cole in his verse on Future’s track Like That, released in March 2024.
His lines: Motherf*** the big three, nigga, it's just big me," seemingly discredits J. Cole’s claim in First Person Shooter that Drake, Lamar, and Cole are the “Big Three” of rap.
Drake clapped back with Push Ups in April 2024. Some parts of the song throw shade at Lamar as Drake describes SZA, Travis Scott, and 21 Savage as being bigger rappers than the Alright hitmaker.
The Canadian rapper also followed after with Taylor Made Freestyle, where he used AI versions of Snoop Dogg and Tupac to throw shade at Lamar.
According to Rolling Stone, on April 26, 2024, the visuals have since been taken down following a cease and desist from Tupac’s estate. In April, the California-born rapper released Euphoria, which intensified the feud between the artists. Using lyrics:
"How many more Black features 'til you finally feel that you're Black enough?/ I like Drake with the melodies, I don't like Drake when he act tough,"
Lamar seemingly calls Drake out for not being a good rapper and trying to appropriate Black Culture. The heated track led to more back-and-forth releases from the two sides. The feud ended with the track The Heart Part 6 by Drake in May, where he refuted claims of being a pedophile made by Lamar in the Not Like Us single released in the same month.
3) Nicki Minaj and Meghan Thee Stallion’s feud
2024 began with popular female rappers Nicki Minaj and Meghan Thee Stallion involved in a feud. The duo had previously collaborated on the hit single, Hot Girl Summer, in 2019. According to Billboard’s report of May 5, 2024, the two linked up on Nicki Minaj’s IG live in the same year where they showed each other love, and Megan mentioned that she had been a big fan of Nicki since 2008.
"We are gagging right now, we are dead. B—h, we love you! Since 2008, when I was in 8th grade, and I could listen to you,” Megan said.
In August 2020, Megan Thee Stallion collaborated with Cardi B, who has been in a drawn-out feud with Nicki, to release the viral WAP song. When asked whether she had talked to Nicki before her collaboration with Cardi, the Houston-born rapper replied that she didn’t but felt their relationship shouldn’t change because of her artistic leanings.
Per The Sun in January 2024, Nicki Minaj unfollowed Megan in January 2021, and the latter returned the favor. Fast forward to January 2024, Megan released the Hiss track, and fans and media were quick to spot lyrics that seemingly throw shade at Nicki and her husband, Kenneth Petty.
She uses wordplay (Megan’s Law) to seemingly call out Petty, who is a registered s*x offender:
"These h–s don’t be mad at Megan, these h–s mad at Megan’s Law/ I don’t really know what the problem is, but I guarantee y’all don’t want me to start/ B—h, you a p—y, never finna check me/ Every chance you get, bet your weak ass won’t address me,"
Nicki responded with the Big Foot track in the same month with lyrics that openly shade Megan’s rap skills and make reference to the shooting incident involving Tory Lanez.
4) Cardi B and Offset divorce drama
Cardi B and Offest were involved in a highly publicized divorce in 2024. The duo’s tumultuous relationship resulted in Cardi filing for divorce in September 2020.
Per Elle’s publication of September 2024, the couple seemed to have resolved their issues when Cardi reportedly gifted Offset a Lamborghini for his 29th birthday in December 2020 and typed a warm message for him on her Instagram, referring to him as “Hubs.”
The publication reported that Cardi posted a cryptic message on her Instagram stories on December 4, 2023, where she stated:
“You know sometimes you just outgrow relationships.”
She also added:
"I'm tired of protecting people's feelings...I GOTTA PUT MYSELF FIRST.”
Shortly after, fans and media noticed that the duo had unfollowed each other on Instagram. As per TMZ’s report on February 14, 2024, the couple reunited on Valentine’s Day at an Italian restaurant in Miami Beach and were photographed leaving together.
According to a Page Six exclusive on August 1, 2024, Cardi filed again for divorce from Offset in July 2024 and was seeking primary custody of the children they share.
The Bodak Yellow rapper announced she was pregnant a few hours later. Per Hollywood Unlocked on September 26, 2024, Offset commented during Cardi B’s Instagram live in the same month, accusing the rapper of infidelity while she was pregnant with their third child.
During her Instagram Live, Cardi expressed gratitude for her kids with offset but "regretted" the Migos rapper.
5) Kanye West’s multiple lawsuits
Kanye West is one of the most controversial rappers in the music industry, and he has been the subject of multiple suits in 2024 alone. In October 2024, it was reported by The Hollywood Reporter that West’s former assistant, Lauren Pisciotta, sued him for allegedly drugging and s*xually assaulting her during a studio session co-hosted by Sean Diddy Combs.
In the lawsuit, Pisciotta, who sued in June and amended the suit in October, alleged that she attended a studio session with Combs alongside an unnamed client of hers and was made to drink a beverage given to her by Kanye West.
She claimed that she felt disoriented after drinking and remembered nothing about what happened after. She later alleged that the Famous crooner mentioned the night in question and told her that they hooked up.
According to the publication, West’s legal representatives have refuted the claims made by Pisciotta in her original suit. Per USA TODAY, another suit was brought forth by model Jenifer An in October, which alleged that the rapper choked her in a “pornographic” way on the set of the In for the Kill music video in 2010.
The news outlet also reported that another former employee sued the rapper in October 2024 and accused him of using his professional status to investigate his former wife, Kim Kardashian, and spy on his current spouse, Bianca Censori.
In recent developments, Jay-Z has been named a defendant in a lawsuit by "Jane Doe," filed in December 2024. In the suit, she alleged that the rapper had s*xually assaulted her alongside P. Diddy when she was thirteen years old. Per CNN's December 9, 2024 report, Jay-Z's attorneys filed a motion for the judge to require the plaintiff to reveal her identity or dismiss the suit.
