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Monday, December 16, 2013

Who Won #1 : Ice Cube (And Westside Connection) vs. Common


This article revolves around one of the most infamous 'beefs' during the East Coast - West Coast Rivalry. This specific battle was a result of Common's classic song from the Resserection Album, "I Used To Love Her. (http://rapgenius.com/Common-i-used-to-love-her-lyrics)" In this song Common, uses "Her" as a metaphor for Hip-Hop. He explains how she changed throughout its early history and to the present (which would be the past to us.) He showed disdain for the direction that West Coast Hip-Hop was in. "Now she's a gangsta, rollin' wit' gangsta bitches." Ice Cube and several other West Coast Mc's took the last verse of "I Used To Love Her" as Common (At that time known as "Common Sense") was saying that Hip-Hop was pure until the West Coast started taking over. Remember that this is the 90's. This is before rappers started worrying about friendships instead of defending their coasts. (Joe Budden Qoute.) Ice Cube, was and still is known as a fierce battle MC, so he didn't have to announce that he would respond. It was a given. (Thank God for Ice Cube. Nowadays rappers talk shit but don't produce. Direct diss to Fabulous, where was your kendrick response? Ohhhh that's right, "The Real Kings From Brooklyn", fuck outta here with that bullshit, lost all your G status nigga. Back to the article.)

At this time, Ice Cube was in a group called Westside Connection. His group-mates were Mack 10 and WC. They delivered a lyrical assault towards Common called, "Westside Slaughterhouse." Each MC delivered hard hitting lines. " Just A Pussy Whipped Bitch, With No Common Sense. Hip-Hop started in the West. Ice Cube, bailin' through the East without a vest." - Ice Cube. Common heard this song, and decided to shock the world. It was known that Common is from SouthSide Chicago. He's no Bitch. But, he was seen as very calm, poised, and positive. No one expected him to go balls out (http://rapgenius.com/Common-the-bitch-in-yoo-lyrics), and throw verbal jabs at Ice Cube and Westside Connection.
On an instrumental created by Pete Rock with a sample from The Education of Sonny Carson. Common channels his inner battle mc, and tears shit up. Not only was the song dope, but his shit was somewhat factual. " On the dick of the east, for your first release." Ice Cube went to New York to record his first solo album, and his production team was the Bomb Squad (who made beats for Public Enemy.) He also included many references to when Ice Cube's chain was stolen.

The choice is yours. After listening to both songs, I still can't decide who won. If anything it was a tie. But both sides had major gang affiliations and Minister Farrakhan had to step in to end the fued.