5 times rappers dissed Jay-Z in their songs

Shawn Corey Carter, professionally known as Jay-Z, Hova, HOV or Jazzy, is one of the most influential personalities in the music industry. According to Billboard’s 2023 list, the multi-hyphenate artist is recognized as the Greatest Rappers of All Time. The rapper boasts an impressive discography and several awards.

Like most hip-hop icons, Jay-Z has gotten involved in rap beef with popular artists over the years. Some of these spats have resulted in the release of historic diss tracks that have impacted rap and pop culture as a whole.

The back and forths between Hova and opposing rappers have provided opportunities to settle scores using wordplay and lyrical abilities. From Nas’s Ether to 50 Cent’s Be A Gentleman, this article explores diss tracks directed at Jay-Z.

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Nas's Ether, 50 Cent's Be A Gentleman and 3 other times rappers dissed Jay-Z in their songs

1) Nas - Ether

Ether by Nas is considered as one of the best diss tracks in history (Image via Instagram/@nas)

The New York-born rap icon dropped his critically acclaimed diss track, Ether, in December 2001. It was released as a response to Jay-Z's diss track, Takeover, which came out in September of the same year. In his song, Jay-Z takes swipes at Nas' career which he describes as dwindling.

In Ether, Nas questions Jazzy's authenticity as a friend and describes the latter as fake and ingenuine. In the intro, Nas leaves no room for argument as he declares the intent of the track:

"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,"

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2) 50 Cent - Be A Gentleman

50 Cent seemingly throws digs at Jazzy in his song, Be A Gentleman (Image via Instagram/@50cent)

Be A Gentleman is a June 2002 song, penned by 50 Cent. It is a diss track aimed at HOV in response to the latter's infamous 1999 freestyle diss performance at the summer jam, where he throws subtle shade with lines:

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

In the second verse of Be A Gentleman, 50 Cent seemingly takes a jibe at HOV's freestyle diss and describes his reply track as a sort of repercussion for the former’s shade.

"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,"

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3) Tupac - All Out

All Out is rumored to be one of Tupac’s last recorded songs. Released in September 1996, the hip-hop track is part of the late rapper's seventh studio album, Until The End of Time. Shakur alongside Cooper iii, Yafeu Fula, Greenidge, and Beale are credited as songwriters on the track.

All Out is a diss track inspired by the rivalry between Tupac and The Notorious B.I.G. In the song intro, Tupac calls out Jay-Z for his friendship with B.I.G and invites him to a lyrical showdown.

The intro reads:

"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),"

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4) Gucci Mane - 745

On October 11, 2006, the Georgia-based artist dropped the 745 track, as one of the records from his 25-track album, Chicken Talk. The songwriters credited on the record include Gucci Mane, Juicy J, and DJ Paul.

In the third verse of the diss track, Gucci Mane seemingly throws shade at Jazzy and calls him a fake.

"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 thats your fiancé?/ Jeezy is the appetizer, you'll be the entrée,"

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5) Lil Wayne - It's Good ft Drake and JadaKiss

It's Good by Lil Wayne is a diss track speculated to be directed at Jazzy and supposedly counters some lines from the latter's chart-topping single, H.A.M., reportedly aimed at Birdman.

Released on September 13, 2011, the song features Canadian rapper Drake, and JadaKiss. The rap record is penned by a host of writers including Lil Wayne, Jason Phillips, Aubrey Graham, and Valenzano, amongst others.

It’s Good seemingly claps back at some lines from H.A.M, where Jazzy brags about his wealth and compares the wealth of Birdman to that of his wife:

"Really you got baby money ... You ain't got my lady's money."

A section of the third verse from Wayne’s It’s Good appear to reference Jay-Z's lines above:

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

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Other rappers who have dissed the rap mogul on their tracks include Dipset in Victory, Mobb Deep in Crawlin and Cam'ron in You Gotta Love It.