Why Beef Is Great for the Music Business

We at Radio 254 do not advocate or promote violence of any kind but by looking at the success Kendrick Lamar had last year culminating in 5 Grammy wins and a Superbowl performance, you cannot help but think about all the perks that winning a rap beef especially if you also get to have the bragging rights. Don’t know what I am talking about? Let me bring things back home a little. Did you even know who TNT was before they jumped Barak Jaccuzi? Until very recently, Bahati and Willy Paul both used their rivalry to help promote their music. 2Pac needed Biggie, Like Cassper Nyovest needed AKA. Rap beef or rivalry, if used correctly, is the best way to get core fans to come out and support their favorite rapper. One of the best uses of this was when rapper 50 Cent decided to drop his album on the same day as Kanye West. This not only encouraged his fans to go get the album but also forced them to compare the two albums.

In Kenya Music, the first music rivalry that worked in favor of the Kenyan music industry was the beef between Calif and Ogopa. These two record labels at the time were the biggest in the country, and each year, they would challenge each other. This got people excited about Kenyan music and made them want to rep either Calif or Ogopa. Bamboo is a clout chaser, so we do not want to focus on any of his beefs, but the next memorable rap beef is the beef between Abbass Kubaff and Octopizzo. Octopizzo can deny it like he did on IKO NINI, but Octopizzo made an entire diss track dissing Abass and his baby mama. The track was titled Njeri Doobiz. If you can find it online, see me outside. This song and a plethora of attacks were Octopizzo’s way of showing he was a better rapper than Abass, who was, at the time, considered King. Interestingly enough, it was Octopizzo that Khaligraph attacked to become king. You see, in the art of beefing, you only beef with people who you consider considerable formidable opponents. Jua Cali would not do a song against Nonini but would agree to do one with Nameless. When King Kaka was starting, he also tried to become King and dissed Collo and Prezzo at the time. Jaguar dissed Prezzo because that was who he wanted to be.

People beef or create rivalries in music for different reasons. What is important to remember as a Kenyan artist trying to make it on the world stage is how to use rivalries in music to your advantage. For years, Davido and Wizkid have built music careers by competing against each other despite having a friendship on a personal level. It was human to see Cassper Nyovest mourn AKA when he passed because, at the end of the day. The rivalry was about music, not personal. Artists should consider competing if and when they think they have an advantage. Last year, Masta VK dissed Breeder, and despite how talented Masta VK is, he did not outwork Breeder, so Breeder still wins. When you beef with someone, be prepared to take it the whole way, at least with the music and delivery. It shouldn’t get personal, but if you are an artist, then music is your business, and you don’t let anyone mess with your money.

I remember when Dyana Cods was dissing Femi One, and now we have Chude Genje. So, beef does not also have to be forever. Artists are allowed to kiss and make up, like Prezzo and Jaguar did, but fans might not necessarily be happy when the beef is over because the fans sometimes get invested in the beef and want it to continue. At the end of the day, what is important is that Kenyan artists are aware of rivalry and strategy and use it to their advantage to challenge themselves, promote a new release, or just show why they are better. We don’t have to watch American artists beefing with each other; Kenyan artists can make the industry more exciting by embracing competition and “beef”. I would have never known of GTA if it wasn’t for the Buruklyn Boyz beef.

What beef would you like to see come to an end?

Who would you like to see rival each other?

Is there a low-key beef brewing that we should know about?

What radio station should we beef with?