THE TOP 10 DISS SONGS OF ALL-TIME

Aug 7

Rap beef is captivating. When it’s two of the biggest names in the game, the world tunes in.

The same way they would a big championship fight with turmoil leading up to it.

The list below certainly factors in the magnitude of the moment alongside its jammability (defined as the ability of which to jam to said song).

So as we proceed, without further adue, I bring to you, the 10 best diss songs of all-time.

10. “LOST ONES” LAURYN HILL

One of a few full group disses on this list, Lauryn Hill put track on what was recently dubbed the greatest album of all-time by Apple Music shortly after leaving The Fugees and Wyclef Jean behind. She was also relatively quiet about the entire situation until this song was dropped, while Wyclef was outwardly speaking on the radio and on his solo singles about everything. Beyond all of that, it was the first diss song to win a grammy. One of the best to ever do it, Ms. Hill.

9. “Bully” eminem

This song is absolutely sinister. The beat is creepy. Em’s honesty shakes the spine of an in tune listener, as much as it likely did Benzino and Ja Rule. Not only does he stand on his ground and make some harrowing threats, but he also acknowledges the reality of rap beef and the scary thought that he doesn’t see anyone involved in this beef stepping down, which could mean violent escalation. If this were a single or if Ja Rule hadn’t faded into oblivion shortly after this, “Bully” would be a much bigger song and part of hip-hop lore.

8. “TAKEOVER” JAY-Z

Classic track. The chant hook. The group retaliation. It’s great.

But it’s not a noun… it’s not “Ether” Which is also which makes this song great. In one of three biggest beefs of the 21st century. Jay-Z had the second best song in this scrap and it’s still highly regarded in the unofficial rap beef hall of fame (as “Push Ups” will be). Some people even rank it higher than “Ether,” which I think it’s crazy.

7. “BACK TO BACK” DRAKE

The second diss song to win a grammy. It hurts throwing this on the list as a Philadelphian but it’s undeniably a great song and a knockout win for Drake in the most random beef of the last 20 years. Glad he and Meek got to be cool again.

6. “WHO SHOT YA” THE NOTORIOUS B.I.G.

The argument over whether or not this was a direct diss to Pac or not will live on forever, as will that opening line and the entire first verse. Look at it however you want but it was perhaps the official public shot that set off the most memorable and unfortunately deadly rap beef ever.

5. “THE STORY OF ADIDON” PUSHA T

One of the most infamous diss songs ever. The first big-time full-length Drake diss.

Cutting and poetic.

“The Story of Adidon” is a creepy gem of a diss track that peeled the curtain back on the biggest rap star of the moment. Besides the MGK & Eminem beef, there really hadn’t been any other mainstream rap beef for a while. It was loud.

Drake never even responded with a direct track and instead did an interview on the matter. Although Pusha will never reach the levels of stardom that Drake and Wayne have achieved, to go out on top in a beef against both of them (Wayne on a much much smaller scale), for over a decade of hostility is pretty impressive.

4. “NO VASELINE” ICE CUBE

From this point on, you could argue every song deserving the top spot. “No Vaseline” is probably the most effective of them all with Ice Cube shitting all over NWA and their manager. NWA released its last album, Niggaz4Life in May 1991 and with Ice Cube releasing “No Vaseline” a few months later, N.W.A. would never recover as Eazy-E would pass away from HIV/AIDS and the group would fall apart.

3. “ETHER” NAS

The diss song that became a verb — Ethered. Right from the “Fuck Jay-Z” at the beginning, you’re hooked. Then Nas goes on to do Nas things and in a nearly two decade rivalry, it’s easy to look at Hov as the victor in terms of a full career, but when they exchanged these haymakers of tracks in “Takeover” and “Ether,” it’s hard to imagine anyone declaring Jay-Z the winner when the term “ether” has become synonymous with smoking rappers in a battle.

2. “HIT EM UP” 2PAC

Some of the most legendary opening bars of all-time. In the greatest beef of all-time.

First off, fuck your bitch and the clique you claim
Westside when we ride, come equipped with game
You claim to be a player but I fucked your wife
We bust on Bad Boy n****s fucked for life
Plus, Puffy tryin' to see me weak hearts I rip
Biggie Smalls and Junior M.A.F.I.A. some mark-ass bitches

Lil' Ceaser, go ask ya homie how I leave ya
Cut your young ass up, leave you in pieces, now be deceased
Lil' Kim, don't fuck around with real G's
Quick to snatch yo' ugly ass off the streets, so fuck peace

Need I say more? Legendary hook, too.