50 Best Hip-Hop Diss Songs of All Time (2024)

Dating back to the time Big Bank Hank of the Sugar Hill Gang borrowed Grandmaster Caz's rhyme book and used his lyrics without credit on "Rapper's Delight," MCs have been feuding on and off wax.

Hip-hop is a culture built around machismo and bravado, so backing down or losing a battle is detrimental to an artist's career. One slip-up and you could find yourself with a one-way ticket to obscurity. Certain MCs have built entire careers around beefing with other artists, while others have had their careers destroyed with just a couple lines. But what once began as two rappers simply battling over skill has turned into big business—with parody music videos, elaborate stage shows, and entire albums dedicated to the coveted battle.

The ante is constantly being upped to keep the fans entertained, so lines will be crossed while artists strive to find unique and creative ways to slander their opponents. Mothers, women, and children have all been involved.And in the YouTube era, a rapper just might show up to your house with a camera crew looking for a brawl. On the heels of Kendrick Lamar and Drake's historic back-and-forth, Complex has updated our list of the 50 best hip-hop diss songs ever. Vegetarians beware. Blurbs written by Andrew Barber and current members of the Complex staff as noted.

50. 50 Cent, "Piggy Bank" (2005)

49. U.N.L.V., "Drag Em 'N the River" (1996)

48. Pusha-T f/ The-Dream, "Exodus 23:1" (2012)

47. MC Eiht, "Def Wish" (1991-1996)

46. Sheff G, "No Suburban"

45. Drake, "Push Ups"

44. Eminem, "Killshot"

43. Nas, "Stillmatic Freestyle" (2001)

42. Beanie Sigel, "Put Ya Hands Up" (2001)

41. Jadakiss, "F*ck Beanie Sigel Freestyle" (2001)

40. T.I., "99 Problems (Lil Flip Ain't One)" (2004)

39. Drake, "Family Matters"

38. Kendrick Lamar, "Meet the Grahams"

37. Eazy-E f/ Gangsta Dresta and B.G. Knoccout, "Real Muthaphu*ckkin' G's" (1993)

36. Cam'ron f/ Jim Jones, "Hate Me Now" (2002)

35. Jadakiss, "Checkmate" (2005)

34. Remy Ma, "ShETHER"

33. Mobb Deep, "Drop a Gem on Em" (1996)

32. Roxanne Shante, "Have a Nice Day" (1987)

31. Cam'ron, "Dear Stan" (2000)

30. Kendrick Lamar, "Euphoria"

29. Company Flow, "Linda Tripp" (1999)

28. Jay-Z, "Super Ugly" (2001)

27. Rick Ross f/ Drake and French Montana, “Stay Schemin” (2012)

26. Lauryn Hill, "Lost Ones" (1998)

25. 2Pac f/ E.D.I. Mean and Young Noble, "Bomb First" (1996)

24. MC Shan, "Kill That Noise" (1987)

23. Eminem f/ D12, "Quitter/Hit 'Em Up Freestyle" (2001)

22. LL Cool J, "Jack the Ripper" (1987)

21. Tim Dog, "F*ck Compton" (1991)

20. DJ Quik, "Dollaz + Sense" (1994)

19. Gucci Mane, “Truth” (2012)

18. Eminem, "The Sauce/Nail in the Coffin" (2002)

17. Future & Metro Boomin f/ Kendrick Lamar, "Like That" (2024)

16. Boogie Down Productions, "South Bronx" (1986)

15. MC Lyte, "10% Dis" (1988)

14. 2Pac, "Against All Odds" (1996)

13. LL Cool J, "To Da Break of Dawn" (1990)

12. Common, "The B*tch in Yoo" (1996)

11. 50 Cent, "Back Down" (2003)

10. Canibus, "2nd Round K.O." (1998)

9. Dr. Dre f/ Snoop Doggy Dogg, "(F*ckin Wit) Dre Day" (1992)

8. Drake, "Back to Back" (2015)

7. Pusha-T, "The Story of Adidon" (2018)

6. Kendrick Lamar, "Not Like Us"

5. Ice Cube, "No Vaseline" (1991)

4. BDP, "The Bridge Is Over" (1987)

3. Nas, "Ether" (2001)

2. Jay-Z, "Takeover" (2001)

1. 2Pac, "Hit Em Up" (1996)