Defsounds

The latest release in Hip Hop beef debuted last week on Defsounds, encompassing not only Hip Hop fans by way of Eminem, but Mariah Carey’s world wide R&B clique also. Mimi and Slim enthusiasts – as well as your average gossip fiend - streamed the oh-so personal piercing from Em to the self-proclaimed Miss Mary Poppins as blogs hustled to dig up the audio leak for a guaranteed traffic increase. And it was.

Slim Shady held no punches on this one, attacking the queen of R&B after she dressed up in a character highly resembling Em, allegedly describing him in the song and video for her latest single “Obsessed.”

As a result, Marshall Mathers attacked Miss Mimi’s husband – Nick Cannon – along with her sobriety and innocents while reducing her respected reputation amongst her fans, and the industry alike. “The Warning” is disrespectful, cruel and callous. So why is it credible?

Firstly, Hip Hop beef can carry some form of an excitement with it. In this oversaturated world of labels and marketing, personas are often created, as are rap superheroes. These personas breathe hypocrites, rappers who say one thing on wax and do another outside of the studio. The Hip Hop industry also creates egos that often exclaim “I’m too good for you, and you, and you and you.”

So in time of genuine beef* that centers on legitimate residues of bruised egos, the perception of the self elevates even higher with slightly-remixed Darwinian dogma: survival of the illest. And all gloves come off.

Secondly, there is an allure in Hip Hop beef as tracks with brutal globes and honesty invite the moans and groans from listeners with an automatic “did he just say that?” usually followed by a quick jab involving rapper to rapper attacks centered around homosexuality, poor album sales and “I bumped yo chick” type-jargon. Usually, these attacks consist of machismo jabs which more often than not have no staying (read: rotational) power for they are not based on already-established relationships and previously-shared friendships/relationships. So again, what makes this one oh so credible?

Other than the obvious fact that two very attractive people are involved (it is much more difficult to take superficial jabs at Mariah than at Rick Ross for example), Em and Mimi have intrigued the audience with the powerful value missing from Hip Hop today: credibility. While the latest beefs  - such as that of 50 and Rick Ross - are about…nothing, and the Joe Budden/Saigon grouse is about…nothing, and the Jay-Z and Game beef is largely about the same thing, Em and Mimi are definitely onto something. Their back-and-forth is remnant of a relationship that went nowhere, and like many, ends up sour. It is reminiscent of relationships in which the kissing stops but the gossip doesn’t.

Suddenly, the people who were once the sole objects of each others’ affections become great nemeses, flashing flaws that were once so conveniently looked over as roses bloomed pretty. Em and Mimi remind us of ourselves and perhaps that is why there is such hype around their petty back-and-forth. For the first time in a long time, Hip Hop beef regained its credibility, and the torch barer is none other than an R&B singer with a butterfly tattoo on her ankle. Thank you Mariah; and thank you Mr. Shady.

*Beef not created as a marketing mechanism (Rick Ross/50 Cent, Kanye West/50 Cent).