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By: Mark T. Wilson
Battle rap in Hip Hop is where it all began. 2 MCs and words being exchanged about how dope one is, is what birthed Hip Hop. While the men have taken centerstage for years in that, the female MCs have always played the background so to speak. Yes, there have been shots thrown but it wasn’t for the masses as most female battles went unnoticed. Remy Ma and Nicki Minaj had one of the hardest battles in Hip Hop history, male or female. Their beef dates back years and when Remy was released from prison, she put the Hip Hop community on full notice with ‘Shether’.
Remy was the “next up” female MC in Hip Hop. Being co-signed by heavyweights such as Big Pun and Fat Joe will put all eyes on you easily. Remember her iconic verse on the ‘Ante Up’ remix? The world knew she was a problem, but Remy Ma was dope well before that. She was battling MCs long before any record deal on the Hip Hop battle rap scene.
When Remy was bursting onto the scene in 2006, she proclaimed herself to be the Queen of Hip Hop by stating “I’m the queen of rap and there is none higher.” Nothing out of the ordinary there as that’s part of Hip Hop. However, when Nicki was making her waves in the underground scene, she had something to prove as many believed these bars were directed at Remy. “Tell that b—h with the crown to run it like Chris Brown/She won three rounds, I’mma need a hundred thou/Oh, y’all ain’t know? Bet y’all b—hes know now.” That was a year later in 2007. Shots fired…
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Two MCs going at. It’s no different than Jay, Nas, Kane, Rakim, or whoever. It’s all part of the game. But things would get even more heated as years passed. With each MC throwing jabs in songs, it was bout to happen soon enough. Nicki and Remy, bars here and there but how long before someone pulls a Canibus and drops a Second Round TKO diss track aimed at the other?
Then it happened. While songs like ‘Shether’ and ‘No Frauds’ would get the most recognition out of the battle, it was the lesser-known ‘Wake Me Up’ where Remy really won the battle. While the song is 2 verses long, it’s the 2nd verse where Remy displayed her dominance. What made this video even more damaging is that Lil Kim was involved. Yes, there is a slight history there between Kim and Nicki and Remy used that to her advantage.
Sometimes in a battle, saying less is more. Remy in that second verse, shut it down with these bars:
You fake-ass bitch, you owe homage, pay that shitSpray that fif’, the crown, I’mma take that shit‘Cause you a clown and Homey don’t play that shitSee, they ain’t slick, be talkin’ all cray and shitAnd then you see ’em, they be like that they ain’t say that shitI hate that shit, I can make or break your shitSee, I got options, don’t make me weigh them shits
The Hip Hop community was hip to the fact that Nicki never gave Kim the respect that many felt she deserved. Minaj’s entire sexual stance in Hip Hop was based on Kim, even down to her album cover. And yet, you don’t want to pay homage? Well, even in the need, Remy made sure to use that as another missile, and bringing Kim on for the video, was all she wrote. Nicki would rise to fame but she did so without paying homage and that rubbed a few female MCs the wrong way.
Nicki has some skills but when you’re dealing with a heavyweight in the underground and battle circuit like Remy, you best be on your A-game at all times. For a minute, Nicki hung around until Remy decided enough was enough.
