Who doesn’t love a good diss track? They can be a breath of fresh air when things are too monotonous, not to mention the drama and excitement that come along with it. Then there’s the inside scoop we wouldn’t have known otherwise and did we mention drama?! In this editorial, we rank the best disses in Nigerian music history.

Vector the Viper – Judas The Rat

After years of tension and subliminal disses, the two biggest rap acts in Nigeria finally went to war and it was nothing short of breathtaking. After dropping ‘The Purge’ and ‘Tetracycline’ aimed at M.I., and the latter replied with the Viper, Vector took it close to home on ‘Judas The Rat’. Dissecting M.I.’s legacy and issues with his brother and other talents on his label, this track was filled with venom and swung the pendulum in Vector’s favor. Irrespective of who we think won, this is what a diss should embody. Straight fire. 

M.I – The Viper

As evidenced on this list, M.I. is no newcomer to beef. After two tracks by Vector, Mr Incredible (as M.I. is fondly called) had to reply on wax and the result was fireworks. On ‘The Viper’, M.I schools vector with this deeply personal and surgical diss record. Filled with quotables and fire, it caused a social media meltdown. A lot of people felt it was over for the ‘Viper’ but we all know snakes are slippery (pun intended). Irrespective of who the winner was, this will go down as one of the greatest disses and beef in Nigerian hip-hop history.

Godwon – I’ve Been Waiting For You

After trading a few jabs between them, Godown would heavily violate Sinzu (fka Saucekid) on this scathing diss record. Littered with facts, disrespectful bars and punchlines, Saucekid had his credibility questioned and lost this beef. This diss was so humiliating, there was no coming back from it. Sinzu’s cases with the American law enforcement also didn’t help, so he had no choice but to take this L.

M.I – Beef

A record that dropped jaws and turned heads, M.I. masterfully laid to rest any idea of beef between him, Kelly handsome, Iceberg Slim and anybody else who might have wanted it. A masterclass in satire, accompanied by one of the most creative diss videos to ever come out of the country at the time, M.I. intelligently displayed why he was miles ahead of anyone who wanted to compete. The art of war personified. 

Jesse Jagz – Nobody Test Me (ft Ice Prince, M.I)

After catching heat from Kelly handsome, this was the perfect way for M.I. to reply a few months later. A menacing record off Jesse Jag’s debut album, it featured all three rappers from Chocolate City at the time (including Ice Prince). With an intimidating lyrical display, this song should’ve been enough warning for anyone who wanted beef with any Chocolate City act to expect trouble. But sometimes people don’t learn the easy way.

Ruggedman – Ehen Pt 1 

In 2005, Ruggedman took the industry by storm when he came for everyone he thought wasn’t original or talented enough. Name-dropping bigger artists at the time like Olu Maintain and Eedris Abdulkareem, “Ehen” caught the ears of everyone. He displayed a high level rap skills to weave such a song together and it became an instant hit. Other artists like Rasqie and Ayangba weren’t exempted from his sharp tongue too. It launched Ruggedman into the limelight and remains a classic to this day. 

AQ ft Vector – Distractions 

After replying Vector with “Ata”, a one-minute reply to a subliminal dropped by the former on Sinzu’s  “Kitchen Street”. Vector would get utterly disrespectful with his guest verse on AQ’s Distractions, filled with brilliant quotables, it showcased why Vector is not one to mess with lyrically. It’s an unforgettable diss for anyone who ever hears it and is still memorable to this day. 

Mode 9 – Death Blow

Viewed as one of the most talented rappers to ever come out of Nigeria, Mode 9 is nothing to joke with. In the middle of a well-publicized beef with Ruggedman, Mode 9 unleashes a very personal and degrading tirade against Ruggedy Baba on Death Blow. The two had exchanged subliminal diss tracks but as soon as Mode 9 decided to get serious and take it personal, it was over as soon as it started. 

Ruggedman –  A Word is Enough for the 9ice

After getting dissed by 9ice and his signee Seriki, Ruggedman decided to get really personal on this extremely demeaning record. Vexed that 9ice had let his name be dragged through the mud with accusations, the rapper decides to put 9ice in his place and absolutely destroys him on this song. One could argue that the exchange was unfair as 9ice is a singer but we don’t make the rules.

M.I – Somebody Wants to Die (ft Ice Prince)

Beef and diss tracks are a constant in the hip-hop space and as the most successful rapper in his heyday, M.I. was involved in quite a few. After being called out by Iceberg Slim in a freestyle, M.I. addresses people that want beef with him as having a death wish. A track that sees “Mr Incredible” flexing his lyrical abilities, it’s eerie and dark. Iceberg Slim would later reply with “Am I”, name-dropping M.I, before being schooled by the latter on “Beef”.

Kelly Handsome – Igwe Kom Kom

In 2009, Kelly Handsome notoriously shocked the Nigerian music scene with his shocking diss track “Igwe Kom Kom ”. It was directed at D’banj and the Mo’hits crew, who were the rave of the moment then. Terry G was also one of the casualties, the singer had previously stated that Kelly was sampling his lyrics. A creative record displaying a talent that probably wasn’t too obvious, filled with sharp wordplay, metaphors and intelligent but hurtful lyrics, it quickly became a smash hit. 

9ice – Talk I Am Listening (ft Seriki) 

In the middle of a tense moment where 9ice sang about seeing his best friend with his wife in a compromising manner, rumors quickly spread that Ruggedman was the culprit. After rooting the rumours and telling 9ice to publicly deny them, Ruggedman was forced to leak their recorded phone call where the singer admitted Ruggedman wasn’t responsible. This prompted this diss track on which indigenous rapper Seriki, who was signed under 9ice’s record label at the time, did most of the damage. Ruggedman would later reply with an equally nasty reply of his own.

Wande Coal – Who Born the Maga (ft Kayswitch) 

A hard-hitting single that sees Wande Coal at his creative peak, on his critically acclaimed debut album “Mushin 2 Mohits”. It features D’banj’s brother and dancehall act Kayswitch, who added a unique blend of reggae that wasn’t too common in the industry. With great production, dope lyrics and a novel music video at the time, it became a hit. Whether it was a diss track aimed at Kelly Handsome is still debated till today, but the latter would go on to record a brutal reply and spark a beef run that saw him take on many industry heavyweights but ultimately lose in the end. 

Tony Tetuila – Omode Meta

After being kicked out of the popular group Remedies which consisted of Tony Tetuila, Eedris Abdulkareem and Eddie Montana, Tony decided to pursue a solo career but not without first dissing his former crew. Recruiting two groups in Plantation Boys and Ruff, Rugged n Raw, it became one of the first diss tracks to blow up in modern-day mainstream media, a smash hit. 

Eedris Abdulkareem – Wakawikee Mcs

In response to Tony Tetuila’s jab on “Omode Meta”, Eedris decided to diss everybody featured on the track. Also one of the earliest diss responses, it solidified Eedris as a rapper who didn’t shy away from beef. Most notably, speaking at the end of the song, Eedris remarked that 2face was the major artist in his Plantation Boys group and insisted he wasn’t trying to break them up. 2face would however go on to pursue a solo career while later, a masterpiece in psychological warfare. 

Tony Tetuila – My Car

Although this wasn’t a direct diss, after trading diss tracks, Tony Tetuila’s portrayal of Eedris as a broke rapper that’s always speaking big grammar or gibberish instead of doing the needful, is highly comical and humiliating. Although mainstream pop and hip-hop music was still in its early stages, this period saw some really creative diss tracks and videos which is impressive considering the state of the industry at the time. 

Notable mentions – 

Reminisce – 3rd World Thug

Nico gravity- I Wan Finish Timaya

Mallam Spicey – 1005 naira

Ruggedman – Banging 

Olamide – Local Rappers 

Naira Marley – Am I a Yahoo Boy