DMX and Jay-Z shared a history that spanned decades, filled with battles, friendship, and, occasionally, friction. While they once entertained the idea of forming a rap supergroup, their relationship was far from smooth. And when Jay-Z settled down with Beyoncé, DMX couldn’t help but throw shade, believing the Queen Bey had softened the Brooklyn rapper’s edge.
The two first crossed paths in the underground battle rap scene of New York in the early 90s. DMX, never one to mince words, wasn’t initially a fan of Jay-Z, seeing him as a rival to conquer. Their competitive tension eventually evolved into a mutual respect, thanks in part to hip-hop manager Irv Gotti, who bridged the gap between them. “We earned each other’s friendship,” DMX once said. But even as friends, their rivalry simmered beneath the surface, with DMX challenging Jay-Z to a music battle as recently as 2020.
However, their careers and personalities often clashed. DMX openly criticized Jay-Z’s decisions during his stint as president of Def Jam, accusing him of trying to edge him out of the label. But what really got under DMX’s skin was Jay-Z’s transformation after falling for Beyoncé.
“The flip-flops—he’s just not the same,” DMX quipped in an interview. “It’s Beyoncé. He’s a sucker for love. Thugs don’t do flip-flops.” DMX went on to roast Jay-Z’s new relaxed vibe, insisting he could never feel that comfortable, even on vacation.
Jay-Z, however, saw things differently. In a candid interview with The Guardian, he admitted Beyoncé had profoundly changed him, and for the better. Before meeting her, his music often reflected the casual misogyny common in hip-hop, with women reduced to disposable objects of one-night stands. His relationship with Beyoncé forced him to rethink his language, his attitudes, and even his past hits like Big Pimpin’.
“My language has changed because my dealings with women have changed,” Jay-Z confessed, acknowledging how women like Beyoncé helped him mature emotionally. He even admitted that the kind of language he once used would’ve earned him a slap from his wife.
DMX might not have approved of Jay-Z’s softer side, but the “99 Problems” rapper had no regrets. Beyoncé’s influence didn’t just change his music—it changed his life, proving that love, even for a hardcore rapper, can be transformative.
