The Craziest Artist Feuds That Rocked the Music World
Behind the scenes of hit songs and sold-out tours, some artists have been locked in battles far more dramatic than anything onstage. These feuds made headlines, spawned diss tracks, and created unforgettable moments in music history. We’ve rolled out 15 of the wildest rivalries in music with no backstage pass required.
Prince vs. Michael Jackson
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They respected each other’s talent but couldn’t resist competing. After declining to duet on Bad, Prince escalated things during a Vegas performance by playing bass in Michael’s face. The final straw? Jackson told Will.i.am the next day: “He’s always been a meanie.”
Elton John vs. Madonna
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Elton kicked it off by slamming Madonna’s Bond theme as “the worst ever.” It only escalated from there, including public digs about lip-syncing and showbiz theatrics. Eventually, he apologized over dinner in France, but not before years of back-and-forth sniping that included Christmas cards and a fake truce at the Golden Globes.
Paul McCartney vs. John Lennon
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After the Beatles split, things got icy fast. Lennon aired grievances in Rolling Stone, accusing Paul of controlling the band. McCartney responded on Ram, and Lennon fired back with How Do You Sleep? Paul tried to make peace with Dear Friend, and by the mid-’70s, they were on speaking terms again.
Taylor Swift vs. Kanye West
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After the infamous mic grab at the 2009 VMAs, they briefly patched things up, only for it to unravel again over Kanye’s Famous lyric and video. Things turned nuclear with Look What You Made Me Do, which mocked the drama right down to Kanye’s tilted stage.
Noel Gallagher vs. Liam Gallagher
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Calling their fights “sibling rivalry” doesn’t quite cover it. The Oasis brothers have traded insults, tambourines, and a guitar threat that reportedly ended the band. Liam once peed on Noel’s stereo; Noel later described him as “a man with a fork in a world of soup.”
Roger Waters vs. David Gilmour
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Pink Floyd’s biggest battles weren’t about money; they were about who got to steer the ship. Waters, convinced of his lyrical supremacy, tried to dissolve the band after The Final Cut, but Gilmour wasn’t having it until lawsuits followed. They briefly reunited at Live 8 in 2005.
Mariah Carey vs. Jennifer Lopez
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Mariah’s infamous “I don’t know her” line turned a vague rivalry into a pop culture legend. The shade stemmed from a rumored producer conflict back in the early 2000s. Lopez claimed they’d met “many times,” while Carey stuck to her story. Even years later, when asked again, Carey doubled down, “I still don’t know her!”
Slash vs. Axl Rose
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Once the heart of Guns N’ Roses, Slash and Axl fell apart over control, song rights, and a Michael Jackson guitar solo. Axl booted Slash’s parts off Sympathy for the Devil, then legally took over the band name. At one point, he called Slash “a cancer.”
Brian Wilson vs. Mike Love
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Wilson pushed the Beach Boys toward Pet Sounds and psychedelic experiments. Love wasn’t a fan, once calling the lyrics “nauseating.” Wilson later claimed Love hated the direction so much he uttered the now-legendary phrase: “Don’t f— with the formula.” Lawsuits followed; even a 50th-anniversary tour couldn’t keep them together.
Jack White vs. The Black Keys
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White didn’t like the comparisons. He once barred Dan Auerbach from his kid’s school and accused the Keys of copying his sound. He called Auerbach dirty names in leaked emails and claimed the band was riding his coattails. After a near altercation in NYC, both sides eventually cooled off.
Lil’ Kim vs. Foxy Brown
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They started as promising collaborators until their relationship fell apart over a borrowed outfit—or possibly a magazine cover. Things escalated through diss tracks, jabs in lyrics, and literal chaos involving entourages outside Hot 97. Decades later, attempts at a reunion fizzled, with both MCs blaming poor planning.
David Lee Roth vs. Eddie Van Halen
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This one mixed ego, hip replacements, and canceled reunions. Roth wasn’t thrilled when Van Halen started recording at his own home studio. The tension came to a head at the 1996 MTV VMAs, where Roth tried to hog the mic and dance through someone else’s award speech.
Nas vs. Jay-Z
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Subliminal disses turned into full-scale lyrical warfare. Jay dropped Takeover, Nas returned with Ether, and the battle lines were drawn. Jay got personal—mentioning Nas’s child’s mother—and even his mom told him to apologize. In 2005, they shocked everyone by shaking hands on stage and later collaborating.
Ray Davies vs. Dave Davies
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Before Oasis, there were the Kinks. Ray and Dave Davies were bandmates and brothers who once fought over a piano and a fake fainting spell. After a stroke brought them briefly together in the 2000s, things soured again over credit for You Really Got Me.
Tupac vs. Biggie
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They started out as friends but didn’t last. After Tupac was targeted in 1994, he suspected Biggie’s camp had prior knowledge. Biggie denied it, but Tupac’s Hit ‘Em Up made things ugly fast. Lines like “That’s why I f—ed your wife” were hard to walk back.