The Beefs and Feuds of DMX Throughout His Career

DMX, the legendary rapper known for his aggressive flow and raw lyrics, had his fair share of beefs and feuds throughout his extensive career. As one of the most prominent figures in hip hop during the late 90s and early 2000s, DMX frequently clashed with other big names in the rap game. While some of these conflicts escalated into bitter rivalries, others were eventually settled with both sides making amends. Let’s take a look at some of the major beefs DMX had with other rappers and artists over the years.

Ja Rule

This was perhaps DMX’s biggest feud, stemming from accusations that fellow New York rapper Ja Rule had stolen his signature gruff vocal style. The beef started around 1999 when Ja Rule emerged onto the rap scene with a similar growling delivery to DMX. In 2002, DMX publicly called out Ja Rule for biting his style, telling MTV that he was “getting a little too Hollywood” and that DMX was “sick of money sounding like me.” The two rappers traded disses for years, with Ja Rule releasing songs like ‘Loose Change’ that took aim at DMX. They finally settled their beef around 2009 after posing together at the VH1 Hip Hop Honors.

Frequency of mention:
Ja Rule – 3

Jay-Z

Two of the biggest rap stars of the late 90s, DMX and Jay-Z came up in the game together under the Def Jam label They collaborated early on but grew apart after Jay-Z became president of Def Jam, leading to DMX’s exit from the label. In interviews, DMX implied Jay-Z did him dirty by kicking him off the roster However, the two New York rappers never engaged in a full-on lyrical beef. In fact, DMX said later that he and Jay-Z maintained mutual respect.

Frequency of mention:
Jay-Z – 2

Drake

A brief beef sparked between DMX and Drake in 2012 when DMX criticized Drake’s music and voice in interviews. He said “I don’t like anything about Drake” and compared his vocals to a washing machine. Drake never responded publicly to the criticism. In 2016, DMX retracted his comments and said he squashed the beef with Drake after the two had a phone call. Drake expressed being a long-time fan of DMX’s music, which humbled the older rapper.

Frequency of mention Drake – 3

Kurupt

In the early 2000s, Kurupt accused DMX of having sexual relations with his fiance Foxy Brown. Kurupt released a diss track implying DMX hooked up with his girl. DMX brushed off the beef and never directly responded to Kurupt’s inflammatory accusations. Over time, the two rappers put aside their differences, realizing it was mistaken animosity.

Frequency of mention:
Kurupt – 2

Onyx and K-Solo

Two lesser-known beefs DMX had were with the rap group Onyx and rapper K-Solo in the 90s. Both Onyx and K-Solo called out DMX on songs at the height of his mainstream popularity. However, neither feud amounted to much more than a few subtle lyrical jabs thrown over the years. DMX did not engage heavily with either rap act.

Frequency of mention:
Onyx – 1
K-Solo – 1

Throughout a career spanning over two decades, DMX had his share of quarrels and disagreements with others in the hip hop community. Some feuds like Ja Rule escalated into bitter rivalries fueled by diss tracks. Others like Drake were short-lived with both sides making amends. Despite rubbing many peers the wrong way, DMX earned widespread respect as a pioneer of hardcore rap. His powerful presence on the mic and uncompromising lyricism inspired generations of artists, even those he sparred with. Love him or hate him, DMX left an undeniable mark on hip hop.