Carter v. Carter: Lil Wayne and Jay-Z’s Complicated History

Why does this all sound familiar? We all remember that Lil Wayne threw shots at Jay-Z on “I’m Good,” off Tha Carter IV, calling him “p—y,” threatening to “take him out” and even vowing to kidnap Beyoncé. And now he dissed Jay and Ye’s duo, The Throne, at the YMCMB pre-Grammys party this past Saturday (Feb. 11). But how did it come to this? Just three years ago, the two rap titans were cheesing on stage together at the Grammys during their performance of T.I.’s “Swagga Like Us.” But their on-again, off-again rapport goes back years, through a roller-coaster ride of subliminal on-wax disses, dope collabos, interview insults and mutual praise. Click on for an in-depth history of Jay-Z and Lil Wayne’s love-hate relationship.

(Photo: Kevin Winter/Getty Images)

Weezy F. Baby and S Dot Carter joined forces again on T.I.’s 2008 smash “Swagga Like Us,” which also featured Kanye West. The four superstar MCs linked up triumphantly to rock the song at the Grammys the following year, sporting tuxes and dubbing themselves the Rap Pack. Can it be that it was all so simple then?
 

(Photo: Vibe Magazine)

Jay again embraces Wayne in this interview with Vibe — but also kind of sons him a bit at the same time: “You should embrace the next generation. In hip hop, you always fight the next person coming because that peson wants your spot,” he said. “He first approached me as a fan. When he felt like he was close enough, he was like, ‘Maybe I can take his head off’ [laughs] — which is natural. I think he really is a fan of mine. I think he really loves the sh– that I’ve done. But as a person, as a competitor that’s only natural. There was a time when Kobe was like, I think I can take Mike. I admire that in a way.…The public has him in line next, and for me to say he’s not in line next would be foolish. That’s what the public says, so why not?”

For more history on the complicated kinship between Hov & Weezy, log onto BET.com

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