What’s Beef: Diving In to the Feud Between Jay Z and Nas

As we celebrate 50 years of the genre, we gotta talk about the epic controversies, rivalries, and beefs in Hip Hop. I mean, from Tupac vs. Biggie to Drake vs. Pusha T, hip hop has seen its fair share of verbal and physical showdowns. In this series, we're diving deep into the most significant hip hop beefs of the last 50 years and how they've shaped the game.

Now, let's get into the legendary clash between Jay-Z and Nas. These two rap icons took their rivalry to a whole new level, taking their careers and the genre itself to new heights. The Jay-Z and Nas hip hop beef was all about wit, lyrics, and dominance, and it still resonates with fans to this day.

So, how did it all start? Well, back in the late 90s, both Jay-Z and Nas were rising stars in the hip hop scene. Jay-Z was making moves with Roc-A-Fella Records, while Nas was known for his groundbreaking debut album, "Illmatic." But things took a turn when Jay-Z dissed Nas' "Street's Disciple" album in his hit track "Takeover." Shots fired!

Nas didn't take it lying down, though. He hit back with "Ether," a scathing diss track that tore Jay-Z apart. And just like that, the battle was on. It became a lyrical warfare that had the whole hip hop world on edge. Both artists dropped diss tracks left and right, trying to outdo each other and prove their supremacy.

But you know what? Time heals all wounds. As the years went by, the animosity between Jay-Z and Nas faded away. They realized that their feud was holding them back and decided to bury the hatchet. In 2005, they publicly reconciled during Jay-Z's "I Declare War" concert. It was a moment of growth and maturity for both of them.

And guess what? They even went on to collaborate on a few tracks, like "Black Republican." Talk about turning beef into something positive, right? Their reconciliation showed the hip hop community the importance of mutual respect and collaboration.

The legacy of the Jay-Z and Nas beef is undeniable. It showed us the power of competition, the beauty of lyrical prowess, and the importance of personal growth. It elevated their careers and inspired future rap battles. But most importantly, it taught us that even in the midst of intense competition, there's room for unity and shared success.

So, there you have it. The Jay-Z and Nas hip hop beef was a monumental clash that left a lasting impact on rap music. Their lyrical warfare pushed boundaries, inspired artists, and elevated the culture of hip hop. It's a story that will continue to resonate with fans for years to come.

The 2023 Soul Train Awards had everything an R&B and soul music lover needed. They took place in Los Angeles on Sunday night (Nov. 26). In lieu of a traditional award show format, the Soul Train Awards decided to have a "soulful party" instead.

"Soul, R&B, and hip hop continue to top the charts and drive culture forward,” Connie Orlando, EVP, specials, music programming & music strategy, said in a statement. "This year, we are taking inspiration from these genres to innovate and disrupt the award show format while celebrating the legacy of Soul Train. We are proud of this year’s list of esteemed nominees and look to deliver an unforgettable night of soul with our new location, performances, and show moments."

RELATED: 2023 Soul Train Awards Complete Winners List

Keke Palmer was this year's host and kept everyone laughing the entire night.

"Keke Palmer is a globally recognized multihyphenate talent who embodies confidence and positivity, and is one of the most engaging and lovable personalities working in entertainment today,” stated Connie Orlando, BET executive VP specials, music programming & music strategy, in the press release announcement. "We can’t wait to have her host the Soul Train Awards house party. BET gave Keke her first talk show, where she made history as the youngest talk show host in television, and today we are honored to have her back on the Soul Train Awards stage. As always, expect our star-studded slate of soulful artists and can’t-miss moments to illuminate your screens for a night dedicated to soul music."

Keke Palmer was the night's host, but she also played double duty when she stepped on stage to perform.

As for winners, SZA took the lead as she won four times for: Song of the year ("Snooze"), Album of the Year (SOS), Best R&B/soul female artist, and The Ashford and Simpson songwriter’s award ("Snooze").

Take a look at all of the performances below:

The 2023 Soul Train Awards' Best New Artist, Coco Jones hit the stage with legendary R&B group SWV. She performed "Double Back" which samples SWV's "Rain." The women of SWV also performed their 1997 hit. Jones also made it back on stage later in the night to perform with BJ The Chicago Kid on "Spend The Night." Take a look at SWV and their performance above and BJ and Jones' performance here.

Keke Palmer pulled double duty last night as she was both the host and a performer. She performed "Ungorgeous" from her album Big Boss. The LP dropped earlier this year. Take a look at her performance above.

The Soul Cypher is always a sight to see at the Soul Train Awards. You either enter it blind and come out with a new artist to add to your playlist or you get to watch some of your favorite artists perform. This year the Soul Cypher included performances from Eric Bollinger, Nicci Gilbert, Arin Ray, and Marsha Ambrosius. Take a look at the performance above.

If you haven't heard of Maeta by now, you definitely need to refresh that playlist. Maeta performed her song "Through The Night." The song is from When I Hear Your Name, which was released this year. Take a look at her performance above.

Some of you might remember Fridayy from his assist on DJ Khaled's Grammy-nominated song "God Did," but the singer can shine all on his own. He performed "When It Comes To You" from his self-titled album. It was released earlier this year. Check out his performance above.

October London had a dynamic performance of his song "Back To Your Place." The song is from his album The Rebirth of Marvin. He was nominated for four Soul Train Awards this year. Take a look at his performance above.

T-Pain accepted the Legend Award Sunday night and shut the place down with a medley of his greatest hits. He performed "Got Money", "Good Life", "I'm N Luv," "Bartender," and more. Take a look at the nostalgic performance above.

Janelle Monáe was the Spirit Of Soul Award recipient this year, and they proved they were deserving of the award with their phenomenal performance. They performed "Float" which was the lead single to The Age of Pleasure. They followed it with "Champagne S---" which is the second track on the LP. It dropped back in June. Take a look at their performance above.

Muni Long performed the beautiful ballad "Made For Me" at the Soul Train Awards. She even had Jermaine Dupri and Bryan-Michael Cox as special guests. The single was released back in September, and it was her first new song of the year. Check out her can't miss performance above.

Danté Bowe performed not one but two songs at the Soul Train Awards. He performed "Wind Me Up" and "Your Majesty." The Christian singer released "Wind Me Up" back in June and the latter in July. Take a look at his inspirational performance above.

Honey Bxby shut down the BET Amplified Stage at this year's Soul Train Awards. The R&B singer performed "Touchin" from her EP 3 Words, Eight Letters. The project was released back in June. Take a look at her performance above.