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Lupe Fiasco’s SLR 3 1/2 reminds me of Common’s iconic diss in 1996.
Lupe’s SLR 3 ½ Diss reminds me of the time Common dropped his record at Ice Cube.
Rap disses used to be viewed as necessary parts of the culture, dating all the way back from BDP and the Juice Crew. Over time, as more and more street individuals permeated the culture, the records shifted away from the artistry towards more overt threats and displays of violence. Beef and diss records remain a major part of rap despite the casualties and risk involved and yet as time progresses we see examples of rappers moving their beef aside to help the culture advance.
Seeing Jay-Z and Nas, T.I. and Ludacris, and Meek Mill and Drake solve their issues was one. But as much as we love to see the greats on one accord, nothing is better than a good old-fashioned rap diss. Lupe’s lyrical war of words with Royce and his response, “SLR 3 ½” reminds me so much of Common’s “The Bitch in Yoo”. For those unaware, in the 1990s, Ice Cube and Common got in a heated beef. They resolved it shortly after, and while I don’t think Lupe’s and Royce’s argument is as heated, it bears a semblance.