In 2024, the world of hip-hop has been dominated by diss tracks, with at least 19 released so far this year, according to NBC News. The ongoing feuds between major rappers like Drake and Kendrick Lamar, as well as Nicki Minaj and Megan Thee Stallion, have ignited heated debates among fans. Diss tracks have become the battleground for lyrical warfare, with artists using clever wordplay to throw shade at their rivals.
Professor Tia Tyree from Howard University explains that social media has intensified these beefs, as diss tracks allow artists to assert their dominance in the hip-hop genre. “Diss tracks are a tool for artists to claim the top spot or reaffirm their place in the rap hierarchy,” Tyree notes.
Turning Feuds into Profit
Diss tracks are more than just personal attacks—they’re big business. According to Tyree, “Rap beef means money. These conflicts generate massive profits.” Fans eagerly stream the diss tracks, fueling conversations and driving up sales. For example, the feud between Nas and Jay-Z in 2001, with their albums “Stillmatic” and “The Blueprint,” saw both rappers earning millions, proving that beef can be lucrative.
Today, Kendrick Lamar’s diss tracks consistently outperform Drake on the charts, and Megan Thee Stallion’s latest hit, Hiss, became her first solo number one on the Billboard charts. With over 30 million monthly listeners on Spotify, Megan’s song saw a 41.2% increase in radio play in Canada alone. Meanwhile, Nicki Minaj’s retaliatory diss track, Big Foot, also generated significant revenue.
According to Billboard, Megan’s Hiss earned an estimated $121,000 in royalties, while Nicki’s Big Foot brought in around $44,000. As Nels Abbey, author of Hip-Hop MBA: Lessons in Cut-Throat Capitalism from Rap’s Moguls, points out, “These artists are savvy businesspeople. They capitalize on scandals and controversy, making headlines and money simultaneously.”
Social Media Wars: A Battle Beyond the Music
Diss tracks often lead to intense fan debates. Social media platforms become arenas where fans choose sides, arguing over who had the best lyrics and the most effective takedowns. However, with the rise of stan culture—an extreme form of fan loyalty—determining a clear winner has become nearly impossible. Cultural critic Pablo Hawkins notes that “Stan culture makes it hard to declare a winner in these battles. Fans are so devoted that they blindly support their idol, regardless of the facts.”
For instance, Kendrick Lamar accused Drake of inappropriate behavior in the track Not Like Us, and Lamar’s fans fueled the fire by circulating an old interview with Millie Bobby Brown discussing her friendship with Drake. Despite Drake denying the accusations in The Heart Part 6, Lamar’s fans continued their attacks, while neutral listeners criticized both rappers for focusing more on personal insults than on lyrical craftsmanship.
In conclusion, the real battle behind these diss tracks is fought not just on the charts, but across social media platforms, where fans relentlessly defend their idols, blurring the lines between victory and defeat.
