Image via Complex Original
Rappers want to be athletes. And athletes want to be rappers. It’s an adage that’s decades old and still applies today. But the mutual respect and admiration usually shared between the professionals from different genres isn’t always standard operating procedure.
Bad blood, often for very stupid and ridiculous reasons, has a way of boiling to the surface from time-to-time, most especially thanks to the proliferation of Twitter and Instagram over the past 10 years. At the very least, social media has given athletes a chance to respond, tell their side of the story, or clap back in ways that weren’t readily available 20 years ago over an occasional diss stashed in a random verse.
Whether the public clapping between rappers like 50 Cent and athletes like Floyd Mayweather is/was ever truly legit, or more likely just a bunch of bull so they could bask in the attention, we’ll leave the final interpretation up to you. But we’d be lying if we said it wasn’t entertaining as hell and fun to document the many notable verbal battles between rappers and athletes that are best characterized as silly and superfluous.
Drake vs. Everybody
Who hasn’t Drizzy beefed with on the sidelines? Arguably the most annoying celebrity NBA fan, The Boy can’t help himself when he’s sitting courtside in Toronto and talking all kinds of shit to Kendrick Perkins, Draymond Green, Kevin Durant, or anyone not named LeBron James.
He even trolled Giannis Antetokounmpo this past season, walking around Scotiabank Arena with a WWE title belt in a nod to the Raptors knocking off the Bucks in last season’s Eastern Conference Finals and the Greek Freak’s pre-game wrestling hijinks.
50 Cent vs. Floyd Mayweather
Once upon a time, these two were actually BFFs. 50 escorted Money Mayweather to the ring on numerous occasions and they were seemingly inseparable. But then, Mayweather went to jail a couple of years ago and, after he was released, the friends turned into enemies. 50 claimed that their falling out occurred because of a disagreement over money, Mayweather has remained mum on the subject. But in recent months, they've traded shots on social media and talked bad about one another through the media on a consistent basis. So it doesn't sound like a reunion between the two is going to take place anytime soon. In fact, can you believe that these two are still beefing in 2020? Amazing.
The Game vs. Brandon Jennings
40 Glocc knows The Game has no problem with assaulting another dude in public, so a lot of people believed rumors saying he punched Brandon Jennings when he saw him at a club in California. Jennings was only celebrating his birthday, but The Game took issue and eventually punched him when the birthday boy started being selfish with the DJ microphone. The Game later came out and denied he hit Jennings, but they did exchange words and at least one altercation broke out between the two parties. The Game has a loose interpretation of the term "fight" apparently.
Lil B vs. James Harden
When James Harden was scoring like an assassin in the 2015 Western Conference Playoffs, he started celebrating with a cooking dance. You know—the one that looked similar to Lil B’s from his 2010 track with Soulja Boy “Cooking Dance.” When fans brought it to his attention, the rapper from the Bay Area wasn’t having it since Harden never credited him for the inspiration—or the blatant rip-off, depending on your perspective.
Lil B said in an interview with Undefeated he had never even heard of Lil B. So Lil B did what he does best and dropped on of his signature curses on the Houston sharpshooter.
Fabolous vs. Sebastian Telfair
The most famous shot thigh in New York that doesn't belong to Plaxico Burress is Fabolous'. Sebastian Telfair had his $50,000 diamond chain snatched by a person who was believed to be part of Brooklynite Fabolous' crew while he was outside of Diddy's Justin's restaurant. Soon after, Fabolous took a bullet to the thigh. No one was charged unlike in Burress' case. He spent two years in prison.
Lil Wayne vs. Chris Bosh
Chris Bosh wasn't the one who kicked Lil Wayne out of that one Heat game on February 10 last year, but he had to take the fall for it. Wayne said he got kicked out for cheering for the Lakers, while fans and witnesses say he was making gun gestures and exchanging words with Dwyane Wade. Regardless, Wayne dropped the ball when he claimed he slept with Bosh's wife Adrienne Williams-Bosh at a party after the 2013 All-Star Game.
50 Cent vs. Conor McGregor
It started during one of the stops on the Mayweather-McGregor world tour in the summer of 2017 when the MMA star dragged the Queens rapper into his web of Grade A trash talking. It escalated over the ensuing months with subtle shots on Instagram before 50 took it two notches higher, alluding that McGregor cheated on his girlfriend with Rita Ora.
It continued into 2018 with McGregor mocking 50’s age and his “man boobs” in an IG post that was supposed to be about International Women’s Day. McGregor ended the post saying “It’s all love tho fifty serious, you are a mad bastard, but we still proper love a few of your tunes over on this side of the world.”
Benzino vs. Paul Pierce
Pierce was able to play all 82 games during the 2000-01 season despite a life-threatening incident that occurred a month before the season. The Truth was trying to break up a fight between members of Benzino's Made Men crew at Boston's Buzz Club. Bad move. Pierce ended up with 11 stab wounds to the back, face, and neck for his trouble, and had to undergo lung surgery. But according to Benzino, "it's all love" between the two now.
Kanye West vs. Kris Humphries
Humphries was already the butt of a lot of jokes when he and Kim Kardashian divorced in 72 days. The wealthier, more popular Kanye West taking her definitely didn't help his cred much either. Then there was no coming back when West finished him on 2012's "Cold": "And, I'll admit, I fell in love with Kim/'Round the same time she had fell in love with him/Well, that's cool, baby girl, do ya thing/Lucky I ain't have Jay drop him from the team." So not only was Kanye eying his wife, but he threatened to literally fuck up his career. Humphries did snidely tweet, "I'm up at Brooklyn! @S_C_ "lucky I didn't have Jay drop me from the team." He definitely has the L, though.
Rick Ross vs. Floyd Mayweather
Mayweather may not have had that much beef with Rick Ross if he wasn't firmly in 50 Cent's corner at the time. But he was understandably inclined to be anti-MMG since his buddy was. Rick Ross fired his shots through interviews by saying, "You know, some of my Gs out in Vegas told me that he was [kind of] sweet so I just put it on the table and they haven't addressed it. It is what it is, I wish him much success. He wanted my attention so I gave it to her."
Lyrically, he went after him on songs like "Go" ("Fuck Floyd Mayweather" is far from a subliminal) and "Mafia Music," where he touched on Money Mayweather owing $6 million to the IRS. The boxer aimed at Rick Ross' most obvious vulnerability: His credibility. "[Ross'] stats and credentials don't rhyme. One minute he said he wasn't a CO or cop, next minute he is," he said in an interview.
The two later ended their beef and Ross even walked Floyd to the ring back in 2014.
Jay Z vs. DeShawn Stevenson
Another beef caused by one side taking themselves a bit too seriously. Then-Wizards player DeShawn Stevenson called LeBron James overrated in the first round of the 2008 playoffs, which he retorted by saying, "responding to him would be like Jay Z firing back at Soulja Boy." The latter simply couldn't keep quiet after hearing his name mentioned and decided to attend a game to support Stevenson. Jay Z then got in the mix by sending some shots at Stevenson in his "Blow the Whistle" freestyle, in which he pretty much agreed with James: "Uh! Ask my nigga Lebron!/We so big we ain't gotta respond." James and the Cavaliers went on to beat the Wizards, while Stevenson rap mentions went silent.
LL Cool J vs. Mike Tyson
Tyson played hypeman in Canibus' "Second Round KO"—a diss track aimed toward LL Cool J. The former heavyweight champion simply said "eat, eat, eat, eat MC's," which sounds indirect and playful on paper. LL Cool J's response in "The Ripper Strikes Back"—"Heard that convicted rapist on the record too, fresh out of jail, ass cheeks still black and blue"—was probably a bit overboard. Tyson is doing comparatively well for himself after getting caught up in that triangle. LL Cool J made "Accidental Racist," Canibus is still an underachiever, and Tyson is still Tyson.
Jay Z vs. Stephon Marbury
Stephon Marbury got robbed of his necklace in 2000 while sitting in a car, and Hov reminded people of the moment in "La-La-La (Excuse Me Miss Again)": "Don't confuse me with Marbury out this bitch/Run up on me at the light, you could lose your life." Marbury would later retort in 2009 by calling Jay Z a camel and saying he would never kill anybody. Marbury touched on this and much more in a recent episode of the Load Management podcast, and basically said he's still not very cool with Jay Z. Some beef never ends.
Lil Wayne vs. LeBron James & Dwyane Wade
Back in 2011, Weezy complained in a Rolling Stone article that LeBron and DWade never showed him any respect when he would sit courtside at Heat games and drop all that money for the primo seats. Never a dap, never a “What’s up?,” never even a head nod from the two superstars got Wayne all in his feelings. “At least come ask me why I’m not rooting for you,” Wayne spouted. James and Wade never responded and the beef was squashed as evidenced in the above picture from 2012.
Roy Jones Jr. vs. Fat Joe
Roy Jones, Jr. had a pretty rough year in 2004 as he lost all three of his fights that year. Just a month before "Lean Back" dropped, Antonio Tarver had forcibly put him to sleep giving Jones is first loss by knockout. So it's understandable he'd be a bit iffy about a line like, "Even Roy Jones was forced to lean back," which Fat Joe dropped on his verse in Ja Rule's "New York." The once great boxer belligerently approached him about the line while at a party. The two have since apologized to each other, but there's no word on how Jones will react if it comes on at a party (if it still gets burn at all).
T.I. vs. Floyd Mayweather
In 2014, T.I.'s wife Tiny showed up at a Mayweather fight in Las Vegas with a friend. And T.I. did not like it. According to Mayweather, he's known Tiny for a long time and their relationship is innocent enough. But T.I. got the wrong impression and got into a verbal argument with Mayweather inside of a Fatburger in Vegas that turned physical and led to a beef between the two. Since then, they've both refused to talk about it and moved on.
Joe Budden vs. JR Smith
It's funny looking back on this one after Tahiry denied Joe Budden's proposal. JR Smith tweeted a picture of Tahiry's bottom in a thong. Budden, not the one to have dudes thirsting over his girl, ex, or whatever decided to send some subtweets Smith's way. The Twitter beef has since long ceased.
Chris Brown vs. CM Punk
It started with a tweet in February of 2012 from the wrestler who wrote, “Me curb stomping that turd would be a #wrestlemania moment.” Of course Brown had to clap back and take a shot at Punk’s manhood, alleging “the roids hes on has made it utterly impossible for him pleasure a women."
More tweets soon followed and Punk even went on Hot97 to explain the beef, saying he couldn’t stand Brown’s childish public behavior and seeing the singer/performer win a Grammy that year, despite his past domestic violence transgressions, had enraged him.
Lil B vs. Kevin Durant
Kevin Durant doesn't have much of a problem telling someone to keep their mouth shut when the situation calls for it and BasedGod is no exception. Back in 2011, Durant got heat from Lil B when the Slim Reaper said he couldn't believe the rapper was relevant. Durant then experienced what's called "The BasedGod's Curse," which was later used by many as the reason for the Thunder losing to the Heat in the 2012 Finals (hate to take away credit from Miami, but yeah).
Lil Wayne vs. Dez Bryant
Back in January 2012, Wayne and Birdman were partying inside of Club LIV in Miami when they reportedly came in contact with the Cowboys wide receiver and exchanged words with him. There was never any confirmation as to why the two sides got into it—several reports indicated that their beef may have involved money—but they ended up getting into a physical altercation and had to be separated by security.
Nelly vs. Floyd Mayweather
Does Mayweather get along with anyone? It certainly doesn't seem like it. We've already told you about his beefs with Rick Ross, 50 Cent, and T.I. Mayweather also got into it with Nelly in 2014 after the rapper started dating his ex-girlfriend Shantel Jackson. He sent several shots in their direction on social media, and Nelly responded by taking a shot at Mayweather's lack of education on ESPN.
Snoop Dogg vs. Nick Young
You just knew this one was going to happen, didn't you? Once Snoop started firing shots at Young's one time girlfriend Iggy Azalea on Instagram, you knew that Young was eventually going to have to step in and say something. And he finally did by sending out a tweet about Snoop. "Ain't nobody worried about no SnoopLion," he wrote on Twitter. "This dude just goin thru a midlife crisis you Go get convertible yet. OG's out here losin."
People told Swaggy P not to get into it with Snoop. They told him that he should delete his tweet. But he didn't. How could anyone ever beef with a guy like Snoop?
Russell Wilson vs. Future
This one is pretty simple. Ciara is married to Russell Wilson. Ciara used to be with Future. This led the Atlanta rapper to take shots at Wilson during a Beats 1 radio interview, when he said the QB wasn't "being a man." Things seemed to settle after that, but you can bet that anytime Wilson tweets something, he's going to get Future replies in his comments.