S. Samuel
Bad Boy Records' French Montana recently discussed the decline in hip-hop beefs and why those heated situations may have had an impact on rap star 50 Cent's career.
In Montana’s perspective, rap beefs often leave a bad image for artists.
“You should avoid beef if you trying to make money. People get scared when you try to beef with people. In general, [even in street shit] nobody want to stand next to you if somebody about to shoot you, unless you have a a big lick [Ed. Note–A “lick” means a hustle.] They [used to] do that with 50 because 50 was the bank. They knew he was going to win. People ain’t doing that [anymore] … [The rap game’s not built like that anymore]. No, it’s over for that. It’s gone, big time. They’ll get you out so fast.” (Complex)
Last week, Terror Squad leader Fat Joe spoke on ending his decade-long rap beef with 50.
“He always wanted me and 50 Cent to make peace forever but we were just being stubborn and ignoring him,” Fat Joe revealed in an interview referring to the late Chris Lighty. “I came to do the tribute, I knew 50 Cent would be there but I came there like, ‘We’re going to do this for Chris.’ And while we were there, 50 whispered some things in my ear that was like gentleman-like, you know what I’m saying? I’m a gentleman. I don’t dislike people. I’m one of the most loveable dudes in hip-hop, believe it or not. But you know, he just said the right things, a handshake was involved and that was that. It was two grown men to say ‘Yo, this is Chris Lighty, this is for hip-hop, let’s move on with our lives.’ This is Israel-Palestine. I don’t want to talk crazy but this was going to go bad no matter what. … Unfortunately, it took somebody I love very much and [50] love so much, somebody who tried effortlessy to squash the beef for years.” (Hot 107.9)
Prior to patching things up, Fif found himself engaged in a brief beef with Young Money superstar Lil Wayne.
“Yeah, yeah, but you know what’s interesting, I was just in Las Vegas, I was performing with this thing with Mountain Dew — I did write the Lil Wayne line on the actual song but you know, when I got an issue, it’s clarity in it,” 50 said in a summer 2011 interview. “I never, I don’t really do subliminals. [Did I say his name on the song?] No, I didn’t. I’m making references to his actions because I see, within hip-hop culture, I’m watching the artists attempting to be like the audience in order to gain the audience instead of just letting them come to us. That’s even why the urban apparrel business is going away. They dress like the skateboarders. If you’re wearing skinny jeans, that’s ‘their’ culture. That is like clothes the skateboarders would wear. You see what I’m saying? [Maybe he likes to skateboard?] Yeah, I just don’t know gangsters from New Orleans that skateboard. It’s gonna get interesting. If you look at it, like, I ran into [rapper] Machine Gun Kelly in Las Vegas while I was out there and — he’s really like a part of that culture. I don’t have a problem with Weezy.” (“The Angie Martinez Show”)
Back in 2011, the G-Unit head defended engaging in rap battles but not beefs.
“I never had a conversation with him. My focus shifted during that record. A lot of times, earlier in my career, I was competing with artists because that was what I loved about hip-hop: The idea that battling someone was necessary to defend your spot and you had to take on all challengers — so I did that constantly. No one thinks that way now and everyone looks at me like I’m the Broad Street Bully. The younger kids coming up missed that time frame, and even the conscious rap is gone too. The stuff that Common Sense and Talib Kweli and Mos Def were rhyming about. What was socially conscious and responsible about the music has been replaced by hipster kids in skinny jeans and mohawks. Of course, that’s always been around, but it was usually confined to the Village. Artists have always had the opportunity to influence the culture, but now it’s the other way around: They’re trying to look like their audience to attract their audience. Now you can’t tell the difference between a Led Zeppelin fan and a hip-hop fan.” (Los Angeles Times)
