7 notable 'beefs' in Nigerian music since 2000

When two artists are at loggerheads, they often use their music to throw shots at each other either directly or veiled.

Since 2000, Nigerian music has seen different artists take a go at each other. Whether it's for sport to light up the hip-hop scene, a battle of moral differences, or one for dominance between two superstars, there has been no shortage of drama in Afrobeats.

Here are 7 notable beefs in Nigerian music since 2000.

1. 2Baba V Blackface V Faze (Plantashun Boiz)

Plantashun Boiz the talented trio of 2Face (now goes by 2Baba), Blackface, and Faze laid the blueprint for boy bands in Nigeria.

After years together, the group broke up in 2004 and it was far from amicable. In 2004, Faze released his debut album where he touched on the breakup with Plantashun Boiz on the emotional single 'Faze Alone'.

2Baba was accused of breaking off the group after he left. He pleaded his innocence on the single 'U No Holy Pass' on his debut album 'Face 2 Face' before suing for peace on 'See Me As Your Brother' on his sophomore album 'Grass 2 Grace'.

While their relationship will get better and the trio will come together for a reunion album 'Plan B' in 2007, Blackface will still carry on the beef. In 2019, he released a diss titled 'War' where he attacked 2Baba who has has since left the beef behind.

2. Mode9 V Ruggedman

Two of Nigeria's greatest rappers Mode9 and Ruggedman had a go at each other in the 2000s. It started when Mode9 dissed Ruggedman for using indigenous languages in his rap.

Mode9 released the diss track 'Death Blow' in 2008 and Ruggedman replied with the track 'To Whom It May Concern' which was a reply although he didn't contain Mode9's name.

3. MI Abaga V Kelly Handsome

Kelly Handsome's mainstream saw notable beefs with different musicians. Kelly Handsome gained attention with the release of his single 'Maga Don Pay' which had parts that praised online financial fraud. MI Abaga, Banky W, Cobhams, Modele, Omawumi, and Rooftop MCs came together to release 'Maga No Need Pay' which is a rebuttal to Kelly Handsome's message in his hit song.

This generated a beef between MI Abaga and Kelly Handsome with the former releasing the diss track 'Fast Money Fast Car' and the latter replying with 'Catch Me If You Can'. 

The diss continued with MI releasing 'Beef' which Kelly Handsome replied with 'Finish You Boy' on which he interpolated a line from MI's label mate Ice Prince's 'Oleku'. 

On the track 'No Body Test Me' by Jesse Jagz, MI, and Ice Prince he took shots at Kelly Handsome who eagerly replied with 'Chocolate Boys' freestyle.

4. Olamide V Don Jazzy 

At the 2015 Headies Awards, Don Jazzy's signee Reekado Banks beat Olamide's YBNL star Lil Kesh to the heatedly contested Next Rated prize.

Olamide would give the organisers a piece of his mind when he accompanied Adekunle Gold on stage to receive his Best Alternative Song award for 'Sade'. Olamide delivered one of Headies most memorable moments with his "Every single f**cking single was a hit" speech.

Don Jazzy also had the chance to reply when he accepted his Special Recognition Award.

The duo engaged in a series of Twitter (Now X) exchanges before the beef was eventually squashed days later after Nigerian Billionaire Aliko Dangote was said to have stepped in.

5. MI Vs Vector 

MI Abaga and Vector gave Nigerian rap fans a show in 2019 after both rappers went public with a beef that has been lingering for years.

 M.I. took the first shot on ‘Martell Cypher II: Purification’ with Vector replying with ‘The Purge'.

Things quickly went downhill with MI releasing the stinging diss track 'The Viper' which Vector replied with 'Judas The Rat'.

While MI was regarded to have had the better song, his decision to reach out to Vector for a truce behind the scenes was a move that many agree lost him the battle. They would later settle their beef and collaborate on the Pheelz-produced 'Crown of Clay'.

6. Davido V Burna Boy

Nigerian superstars Burna Boy and Davido used to be bosom friends until things went sideways. The beef is considered to have gone public in 2020 when Davido posted a fan-made painting of him and Wizkid with the caption: “The two greatest of all time, no [cap].”

This didn't sit well with Burna Boy who took to Snapchat to throw shades at Davido with the post “You cannot play football, everybody knows you cannot play football and you are an embarrassment to the team, but your daddy bought the football team…”

While Burna Boy didn't call Davido's name, it was easily deduced that he was referring to the hitmaker who had a wealthy father.

In the same 2020, Burna Boy took shots at Davido in his Grammy-winning album 'Twice As Tall' with lines like "Fuck a good time" which is believed to be directed at Davido's 2019 album 'A Good Time'.

Also, Burna Boy tweeted Floopy disc hours after Davido's third album 'A Better Time Dropped'. The album has the hit song 'FEM' which was a direct diss at Burna Boy.

The beef between the two continued in 2024 with Burna Boy trolling a Davido fan by telling him "Your oga is a p**sy". 

7. BNXN V Ruger

BNXN and Ruger had a two-year-long beef that started in 2022 when a fan told Ruger that BNXN was better than him.

An irate Ruger responded that he had more solo hit records which was something BNXN couldn't boast of. BNXN would reply that he had more numbers and he made more money than Ruger.

Ruger also went petty and body-shamed BNXN by calling him a "Fatty Bumbum".

The beef would get more competitive when they were both nominated for the Next Rated prize at the 2022 Headies Awards which BNXN later won.

The stars would squash their beef in 2024 and celebrate their found friendship with the single 'Romeo Must Die'.