Rap beefs have long made up the DNA of hip-hop. When a party rocker like Busy B took on a lyrical sword smith like Kool Moe Dee, and rapid-fire spitter Big Daddy Kane took on “The Teacher” KRS-One, it showed that styles make great clashes. That’s what we have with Brookyln’s Papoose and Queen’s 50 Cent, as they represent the exact opposite type of artist.
Although their origins are New York based, and their rise to notoriety could be summed up basically in a similar fashion, they ended up in completely different spaces.
The Origin Stories of Two Different MCs
When I first heard Papoose it was 2003 or 04 and I had been ordering mixtapes from New York religiously from the likes of DJ Kayslay, Sickamore and others, when I ordered the latest Smack DVD. On the mixshow style DVD there was a freestyle titled “WTF is a Papoose?” with the Brooklyn MC posted on the streets of NYC with DJ Kayslay standing aside him. The talent was instantly recognizable as he not only had clever bars but a distinctive style.
My exposure to 50 Cent came much earlier. In 1999 he dropped his first mixtape Guess Who’s Back? and the track “Your Life’s on the Line” seemed to be playing on everyone’s latest mixtape as well. Obviously it later appeared on his debut album The Power of a Dollar.
Evident by his eventual signing to Shady/Aftermath Records, and him shooting to super-stardom, 50 showed the moxy very few rap stars can match.
Papoose had a very different path. Paired with DJ Kayslay, Papoose worked the mixtape circuit eventually signing with Jive records for 1.5 Million dollars. A move that eventually resulted in an album, but a move the Brooklyn MC later said was the worst decision in his life.
Papoose dove in head first to a much publicized marriage and divorce to Remy Ma, eventually landing with Boxing Champion Clarissa Shields. He also maintained a fandom and became the President of Tunecore. All while maintaining his lyrical prowess, but failing to ever make certified hit. His peak of notoriety culminating on Busta Rhymes 2005 hit “Touch It Remix,” which oddly features G Unit’s Lloyd Banks.
50 Cent obviously went on to drop Get Rich or Die Trying which went diamond, launching his music empire. Later as he music career waned he stepped into producing TV hits like Power, BMF and his now infamous Diddy doc. Their success is where the comparisons end as evident in their respective diss songs.
New York MC’s Let the Shots Fly with Disses
Embroiled in a beef with Maino, Dave East, Fabolous and Jim Jones who dropped a freestyle dissing the Queens MC from their “Let’s Rap About It” platform, 50 finally shot back this week.
50 decided to pair up with Jim Jones rival and recent parolee Max B “No More Tricks, No More Lies.” Who allegedly wrote Jim’s biggest hit “Ballin,” appears on the hook and the AI driven video.
The song is eirily reminiscent of “Hustler’s Ambition” a sound often employed by 50. Although the production value is there the flow is basic and methodical. This is 50′ formula. Good song composition, with high level production. Papoose is completely different MC and showed that with his diss “Agent Provocateur.”
Papoose is lyrical beast dropping bars about 50’s friendships, relationships and even his sexual health with his rapid fire delivery. Papoose is going to appeal to fans who love bars and hip-hop. 50 relies on song structure and a bulletproof bravado. An aspect the masterful MC takes on claiming he only really got shot five times.
Battles are like boxing matches. Styles make fights. And with Papoose and 50 we have a battle that personifies this point. On one side you have a talented lyrical MC standing with only his skills and on the otherside you have a music mogul relying on publicity and song structure. Fans will get to argue which holds more value.
Discover more from Color Coded Magazine
Subscribe to get the latest posts sent to your email.
