Following Shaquille O'Neal's rap-beef with Kobe Bryant is the latest, greatest hip-hop feud between Ice-T and Soulja Boy, who have been squaring off giving each other jabs that has attracted the likes of Kanye West. Originating when Ice dissed Soulja Boy in a n intro for his latest mixtape (see below for audio clip), the young hitmaker behind last year's "Crank That" sensation responded with a biting cartoon portraying Ice-T as a dated 50-year-old has-been (technically he's only 49) desperate to "wipe the spiderwebs off his mic and mouth" and get back in the game. Now the star of Law & Order: SVU is backing down and switching his stance from "eat a dick" to "I overreacted."
Speaking to All Hip Hop, T said:
Id like to clarify how all this s**t jumped off. I was in the recording booth doing a mixtape, and the cats in there doing the promotion were fucking with me. They were saying things about Soulja Boy this, Soulja Boy that and basically I went on one. It wasnt meant to be evil, it was basically that Hip-Hop nigga fuck that stance.
I didnt expect them to use that clip to promote their mixtape. So Im in the crib and niggas is calling me talking about Soulja Boy is replying to you on the Internet. And Im like replying to what? So I see it and Im like man here we go. It was a statement made behind closed doors, not meant to be an attack on this nigga.
I didnt even know dude was 17 years-old. I felt bad. I know I came hard at the nigga, but at the end of the day thats just an old school, passionate Hip-Hopper trying to keep this thing 100. Im not trying to disrespect Collipark or even lil homie [Soulja Boy]. Of course I overreacted its not meant to be harmful. Bottom line is I would like to see rappers of today step their game up.
In regards to Ice-T's infamous appearance made in the video for Joe Ski Loves "Pee Wee Herman, a dance oriented 80s track ridiculed in the Soulja Boy video clip, the aged rapper laughed at himself, saying, "That shit was corny too. So yeah I had to check myself. We had some dumb s**t that came out like Inspector Gadget. So I have a corny strike on my resume. But now it seems like the game is being overtaken by less skillful Hip-Hop. And you notice Joe Ski didnt have a real long career in Hip-Hop.
This all comes after Kanye West stuck his nose into the battle on his blog, giving cred to Soulja Boy and calling him "real hip-hop." In the blog he wrote:
Soulja boy is fresh ass hell and is actually the true meaning of what hip hop is sposed to be. He came from the hood, made his own beats, made up a new saying, new sound and a new dance with one song. He had all of America rapping this summer. If that ain't Hip Hop then what is? A bunch of wannabe keep it real rappers that ain't even relevant, recycling samples trying to act like it's 96 again and all they do is hate on new shit? N***as always talk about the golden age but for a 13 year old kid, this is the golden age!!! That song was so dope cause everything he said had a hidden meaning... that's Nas level shit... he just put it over some steel drums which is also some Nas shit if you had the 2nd album cassette with the bonus track "Silent Murder" on it. In closing... new n***as get ya money$$$$$$$$$$ Keep this shit fresh and original.... ain't no fuckin' rules to this shit and that's what real hip hop is to me.
And of course coming from such a relevant hip-hop heavyweight, Ice-T responded to 'Ye, adding the "discussion has begun," hinting he'd like to stay in the spotlight for just a bit longer so he can promote his weakly titled forthcoming album, Gangsta Rap. "I respected his comment," he replied. "At least the discussion has begun. But the discussion won't go on if people feel I'm hating. It's more about Hip-Hop. When you go in the studio, you're supposed to really try and do something. It's not someone's fault they got a hit record, but when you try to compare that to Nas, you're gonna get a dramatic response from a real Hip-Hop nigga."
Ice-T's Soulja-Boy-hatin' intro
Soulja Boy's brilliant retort
Joe Ski Love "Pee Wee's Dance"
Speaking to All Hip Hop, T said:
Id like to clarify how all this s**t jumped off. I was in the recording booth doing a mixtape, and the cats in there doing the promotion were fucking with me. They were saying things about Soulja Boy this, Soulja Boy that and basically I went on one. It wasnt meant to be evil, it was basically that Hip-Hop nigga fuck that stance.
I didnt expect them to use that clip to promote their mixtape. So Im in the crib and niggas is calling me talking about Soulja Boy is replying to you on the Internet. And Im like replying to what? So I see it and Im like man here we go. It was a statement made behind closed doors, not meant to be an attack on this nigga.
I didnt even know dude was 17 years-old. I felt bad. I know I came hard at the nigga, but at the end of the day thats just an old school, passionate Hip-Hopper trying to keep this thing 100. Im not trying to disrespect Collipark or even lil homie [Soulja Boy]. Of course I overreacted its not meant to be harmful. Bottom line is I would like to see rappers of today step their game up.
In regards to Ice-T's infamous appearance made in the video for Joe Ski Loves "Pee Wee Herman, a dance oriented 80s track ridiculed in the Soulja Boy video clip, the aged rapper laughed at himself, saying, "That shit was corny too. So yeah I had to check myself. We had some dumb s**t that came out like Inspector Gadget. So I have a corny strike on my resume. But now it seems like the game is being overtaken by less skillful Hip-Hop. And you notice Joe Ski didnt have a real long career in Hip-Hop.
This all comes after Kanye West stuck his nose into the battle on his blog, giving cred to Soulja Boy and calling him "real hip-hop." In the blog he wrote:
Soulja boy is fresh ass hell and is actually the true meaning of what hip hop is sposed to be. He came from the hood, made his own beats, made up a new saying, new sound and a new dance with one song. He had all of America rapping this summer. If that ain't Hip Hop then what is? A bunch of wannabe keep it real rappers that ain't even relevant, recycling samples trying to act like it's 96 again and all they do is hate on new shit? N***as always talk about the golden age but for a 13 year old kid, this is the golden age!!! That song was so dope cause everything he said had a hidden meaning... that's Nas level shit... he just put it over some steel drums which is also some Nas shit if you had the 2nd album cassette with the bonus track "Silent Murder" on it. In closing... new n***as get ya money$$$$$$$$$$ Keep this shit fresh and original.... ain't no fuckin' rules to this shit and that's what real hip hop is to me.
And of course coming from such a relevant hip-hop heavyweight, Ice-T responded to 'Ye, adding the "discussion has begun," hinting he'd like to stay in the spotlight for just a bit longer so he can promote his weakly titled forthcoming album, Gangsta Rap. "I respected his comment," he replied. "At least the discussion has begun. But the discussion won't go on if people feel I'm hating. It's more about Hip-Hop. When you go in the studio, you're supposed to really try and do something. It's not someone's fault they got a hit record, but when you try to compare that to Nas, you're gonna get a dramatic response from a real Hip-Hop nigga."
Ice-T's Soulja-Boy-hatin' intro
Soulja Boy's brilliant retort
Joe Ski Love "Pee Wee's Dance"