RAP BEEF TIMELINE · 2002–2003
Dr. Dre vs. Ja Rule
The Aftermath–Murder Inc. proxy battle
DormantHeat index 3/5
When 50 Cent joined Shady/Aftermath, Murder Inc.’s wider conflict spread to the label around him. Dr. Dre’s verse on Obie Trice’s “Shit Hits the Fan” put him directly into the rhetoric, but the pair never built a long standalone feud.
THE RECORD
The moments
Music industry
The 50 Cent signing widens the label war
50 Cent joining Shady/Aftermath brings Murder Inc.’s conflict with him into the label orbit, making Dre a visible proxy target even before he delivers a direct verse.
Read the receipt ↗Diss track
“Shit Hits the Fan” puts Dre on the record
On Obie Trice’s track with Eminem and Dr. Dre, Dre takes direct aim at Ja Rule’s credibility as part of the wider Aftermath answer.
“You wanna talk about Gs and guns?”Dr. Dre, “Shit Hits the Fan”
▶ Watch “Shit Hits the Fan”Read the receipt ↗
THE RECEIPTS
Sources and listening
West Coast rap feuds — released records and radio-history context ↗ARTIST LENSES