GAJENDRA PURI GOSWAMI
Battle Over Bars
Raftaar, Emiway & Hip-Hop’s Most Notorious Rap Beefs
W
ith the onset of winter, the country is witnessing
a steep drop in the temperature. But, things
inside the desi hip-hop scene are getting a
little heated. Over the past few weeks, India’s two most
prolific rappers - Raftaar and Emiway Bantai- caused
immense uproar in the hearts of hip-hop fans as they
indulged in a heated exchange of fervent diss tracks.
It all began with an interview by Raftaar with RJ Raaj
Jones where he alluded to Emiway while answering a
question on how to achieve commercial success through
music. Raftaar said that the music ecosystem in India
isn’t congenial enough for musicians to achieve financial
stability. Emiway got outraged by the statement and
vilified the Delhi rapper on a new track - Samajh Me Aaya
Kya - on his Youtube channel a few days later. Following
this, the two rappers, who had a good rapport with each
other prior to the interview, engaged each other in a series
of vitriolic tracks. Finally, Raftaar rested the feud saying
V/S
that the battle had spilled beyond logical reasoning.
The beef was an unprecedented event in India’s hip hop
movement and naturally, it created great fervour in the
public domain. Fans from both sides were quick to takes
sides. Even other rappers, including MC Stan, Muhfaad,
and Emcee Hasnain gave their two cents on the battle
on their respective Youtube and social media accounts.
The short-lasting battle, with no clear winner, gave fans
an insight into rap’s edgy competitiveness, but more
importantly the beef became a testament of the capability
of homegrown rappers to deliver subliminal tracks with
good videos over a short span of time. The feud was a
great example of how hip-hop beefs not only raise the
bar of the game, but also gives rappers a chance to flaunt
their hard-earned skills. Both rappers received a ton of
new viewers by the feud wrapped up. But, it gave us a
chance to open the manuscript and reminisce the some
notorious beefs registered in the annals of hip-hop history.
V/S
V/S
Ja Rule Vs 50 Cent Jay Z Vs Nas Drake and Pusha T
It is alleged that Hip-Hop’s most
popular beef started at a concert in
New York prior to the release of 50
Cent’s debut album – Get Rich Or Die
Tryin’. At the time, Ja Rule was the
biggest name in Hip-Hop, outselling
every other artist in the game but
Eminem. When the beef ended, Ja’s
career was virtually destroyed and 50
Cent had emerged as the new crown
prince of gangsta rap. The beef still
continues and 50 Cent continues to
ridicule Ja over his social media pages.
Recently he bought 200 tickets to a
Ja Rule concert only so that they can
remain empty. Damn, that’s gangsta. This was the internet era’s first rap
beef and it included everything from
subliminal raps to personal jibes.
But, at the time, the two new-york
giants had left the whole hip-hop
world divided into two factions.
It was the ultimate battle of rap
supremacy, but didn’t end fatally
like Pac and Biggie as the two titans
later squashed the beef and joined
hands to keep rap safe and alive. Drake and Pusha T’s battle isn’t a
standalone beef of the two rappers.
Instead, it is a battle of two record
labels that included heated exchange
between many participants from
Drake’s OVO Sound and Kanye
West’s GOOD Music Company. But,
funnily enough the beef started over a
street fashion brand named Bape and
contentions about who wore it first.
And the irony of it all, Drake was a
big Pusha T fan while growing up.
So much so, that he bought a Pusha
T signed mic over ebay for $200.
The
Score Magazine
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