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Northernstar@excapethematrix.com
United Artists
Artists in the music business often feud with each other, whether it’s for personal or controversial reasons. Feuds can sometimes gain exposure for an artist. In contrast, it can also hurt a person’s career. Here are ten feuds in the music industry that includes the biggest names. Some artists have put their differences aside and united with each other, whilst others still choose not to be on good terms.
The Fugees Versus Themselves
When the Fugees (Wyclef Jean, Pras, Lauryn Hill)
burst into the music scene in the mid-1990s, they took the hip-hop world
by storm with their challenging rhymes and harmonic melodies. In 1996,
they released their smash hit “The Score,” which featured the hit
“Killing Me Softly.” After two Grammy wins in ’97, the group had
conflicts and in 1998, Lauryn Hill released her solo album entitled “The
Miseducation of Lauryn Hill,” which garnered five Grammy awards in 1999.
The problems the Fugees shared were revealed on the “Miseducation”
album, which featured the hit song the “Ex-factor”. It’s been reported
that the song is based on Wyclef and Lauryn’s secret “relationship gone
wrong.” After the success of her album, it was obvious that the Fugees
were over. It got so ugly that they stopped speaking, even making
“diss” tracks towards each other. However, the Fugees reunited at the
2005 Bet Awards where they performed a medley of all their hits. They
are set to release an album later this year.
Fugees Reunited
Britney Versus Christina
They were once best-friends when they were cast together on the Mickey Mouse Club, but when both artists gained record deals in 1998, they both were declared as rivals. The tabloids would construct drama between the two in the beginning of their careers, but the more successful they each became, the more obvious it became that the rumors were true. Who wouldn’t pit the girls against each other with their sexy images and huge success? They both were on top and with endorsement deals, Grammys and chart-topping hits. When they both united together for a performance at the 2003 MTV Video Music Awards with pop icon Madonna, fans thought the rivalry would be put to an end. But after both girls engaged in a kiss with Madonna, it was Britney and Madonna who got publicity for the kiss, leaving poor Christina shut out! Christina was so offended that she verbally attacked Britney, calling her “talentless” in the men’s magazine “Maxim.” She also got even by co-headlining her “Stripped” tour with Britney’s ex boyfriend and former-mouse co-star Justin Timberlake. Ouch! Reports say that Christina allegedly apologized to Britney in a letter, squashing the beef between them that had gone on for almost a decade.
Britney, Madonna, Christina
Hillary
Duff versus Lindsay Lohan 
A bout between the Disney teen queens unraveled
after Lohan found out Duff was dating her ex-boyfriend pop tart, Aaron
Carter, who didn’t show much interest in either of the girls. The two
became major opponents after appearing on a cover for “Vanity Fair” that
involved nine young female stars including themselves. Its’ been
reported that the two girls got into a screaming match with each other
during the photo shoot. The cattiness continued after Lindsay allegedly
left disturbing messages on Duffs’ voicemail, with Duff responding to
Lohan with a song entitled “Haters.” It’s not confirmed if both girls
are still enemies of each other, but since then Lohan has dealt with her
own battles - DRUGS!!!
“Who wouldn’t pit the girls against each other with their sexy images was
huge success? They both were on top and with endorsement deals, Grammys
and chart-topping hits.”
“Where the cat fight erupted”
Brandy Versus Monica
When they both burst onto the music scene in 1994-1995, they were portrayed as rivals because they were both African-American females, had chart-topping hits, and could really sing. Therefore the media wanted them to be catty towards each other. In 1998, Monica and Brandy united as one to record a duet entitled “The Boy is Mine,” which became a number one hit on the Billboard 100 chart for thirteen weeks straight. But when it came time to perform their number one hit at the 1998 MTV Music Awards, rumors circulated that the two got into a fist-fight backstage before the performance. However, both artists claim that there was never a dispute between them two and they both respect each other’s work. To top it off, “The Boy is Mine” won Brandy and Monica their first Grammy in their careers.
Brandy and Monica embrace after winning their first Grammy.
Eminem Versus Gays
When rapper Eminem released his multi-platinum selling album “The Marshall Mathers LP,” it was well received by hard-core rap fans. But with lyrics such as “my words are like a dagger with a jagged edge/ That'll stab you in the head whether you're a f-- or les," offended individuals in the gay community and GLAAD (the Gay and Lesbian Alliance Against Defamation ) took action after it was revealed that Eminem was nominated for numerous awards at the 2001 Grammy Awards. Eminem insisted that he was not homophobic and the lyrics in his songs are only “freedom of speech.” To prove he was innocent of false accusations, Eminem performed his #1 hit “Stan” with openly gay singer, Elton John, at the 2001 Grammy Awards. The two guys embraced each other with a hug in the finale. Meanwhile, many people in the gay community were angry of the collaboration, but this proves unity was a great idea.
Eminem uniting with openly gay singer, Elton John.
Destiny's Child4 vs Destiny's Child3 
Beyonce’ Knowles, Letoya Luckett, Kelly Rowland and LaTavia Roberson were developed as Destiny’s Child at the tender ages of nine, and in the mid-90s, they were making a name for themselves on their debut album with the Wyclef Jean produced hit “No No No.” They continued their success with “Bills Bills Bills” on their critically-acclaimed sophomore effort, “The Writings on the Wall.” In December 1999, Luckett and Roberson found themselves being mistreated by their manager, Mathew Knowles (also Beyonce’s father and Rowland’s legal guardian). They felt that Knowles was favoring the likes of Beyonce’ and Kelly by having them sing lead on the majority of the group’s songs, whilst Letoya and Latavia always sang background vocals without being paid for their work. They reportedly discussed with the other group members they wanted separate managers, but Mathew thought it was “ridiculous” and dismissed both girls without letting them know. Letoya and Latavia claim that they didn’t know they were out the group until they saw replacements Farrah Franklin and Michelle Williams in the “Say My Name” video. The girls sued Beyonce and Kelly after the hit song “Survivor” came out, which seemingly depicted that the song was referring to Letoya and Latavia. They eventually settled the dispute out of court. The group became a phenomenon after losing Farrah Franklin and later becoming a trio. The trio has been given the title of the “Best Female Group Of All Time” and Beyonce is one of the industry’s top-notched singers of this era. Meanwhile, Letoya branched off with a successful solo career,garnering the hit, “Torn” and in March 2007, the Texas “Hip-Hop Summit Action Conference” united Letoya and her ex-manager, Matthew, together.
Mathew Knowles and Letoya Luckett call a truce.
50 Cent Versus The Game
The Game was once signed to 50’s “G-Unit” record
label, but when The Game refused to fire back at the dismissals of
rappers Jadakiss and Fat Joe, 50 decided to boot him. After a few disses
against each other, they both kissed and made up - literally. But that
make up shattered after the Game left G-Unit, dissing the whole crew,
including Lloyd Banks, Young Buck, Tony Yayo, and 50 himself, tagging
them “G-UNOT.” Game released several mix-tapes and spitting at least 300
bars of rhymes towards his old crew. 50 fired back a few times, but the
beef died down fast.
“Some artists have put their differences aside and united with each
other, whilst others still choose not to be on good terms.”
50 and The Game kiss and make-up… Then fall out again!!!
Jay Z versus Nas 
In the fall of 2001, two of hip-hop’s illest rappers butted heads when they released “The Blueprint” and “Stillmatic,” respectively. What a coincidence it was that both rappers from New York claim the crown as being king there. It all started when Jay-Z recorded the “Takeover,” where he raps, “I sold what your whole album sold in my first week, ask Nas he don’t want it with Hov, no.” Nas coldly responded to Jay saying, “When these streets keep callin, heard it when I was sleep, That this Gay-Z and Cockafella Records wanted beef, Started cockin up my weapon, slowly loadin up this ammo, To explode it on a camel, and his soldiers, I can handle.” The battle between them two became very ugly with different mix tape circuits, growing to the point that they were going to have a rapping match in “boxing-style.” Four years later, the two rappers decided to put lay the beef to rest and they united on stage for the first time in October 2005 at the “Powerhouse: Operation Takeover concert.”
Nas and Jay-Z shake hands after a four year battle.
Tupac Shakur Versus Biggie
The feud that remains to be the nastiest feud in music history is the “friends-turned-nemesis” battle conjured between 2Pac and Notorious B.I.G, who are now claimed as the best rappers ever in the game of Hip-Hop. It all started with the battle against the East Coast -West Coast, with rapper Snoop Dogg and problem stirrer, Suge Knight representing for Tupac’s side, while Sean “Diddy” Combs represented for Biggie’s. More turmoil erupted after Tupac made a diss track towards Biggie entitled “Hit ‘Em Up,” in which 2pac confessed that he had slept with Biggie’s ex-wife, singer Faith Evans. Tupac was also more than convinced that Biggie had something to do with a conflicting robbery that left Shakur shot five times. Sadly, the two rappers were killed six months apart from each other, with Shakur dying on September 1996, and B.I.G. dying in March of 1997. It has been rumored that their deaths are part of a conspiracy theory, but that is still unproven ten years after both guys are no longer with us.
