Pulling Rank: Best Acts of Pardoning Bad Behavior in the Genre of Hip Hop Listed from Truce to Squash the Beef

The mea culpa within the hip-hop arena has been a mainstay. With all the lights and glamour that comes with the life in the studio, on the road, and among the rich and famous, things may not always be what they seem. You might look onto an Internet video and see a group of rappers jumping up down in unison, enjoying their new found glory and fame. The next thing that happens is there is a falling out and a severance of ties within the group. Now, there is a period of diss records leveled against each other. Finally, if nothing ends in violence as has happened in the rap world, the warring factions settle their differences and reunite either in the studio or in some other fiscal venture.

In a genre full of shady figures where idols can become rivals, the act of contrition for an earned guilt has become an almost fashionable way of communicating. While some scores are settled through raps to be aired and streamed, others are still more in each others' face and sincere. In almost three decades, three major reunions have occurred within the rap world. With these sessions of settling bad blood over women, money, and respect, the musical genre becomes a place that engenders the possibility (for the most part) for grown men of color being able to not humble themselves to the opposite party but have the confidence and self-esteem to be able to recognize their own wrong.

Each example of requesting for the person wronged to pardon the offending party shows that this game can have some semblance of sanity and decorum. The ability to say that you had messed up somewhere down the line as an adult shows maturity and growth. These virtues seep into the genre but hardly do they sprout. Most males regard ego as a scapegoat to not saying sorry to another man. It is not ego that holds them back, it's self-contempt. They don’t value themselves enough to possess and embrace an ego which would lend them the integrity to sheath swords and shake hands with former friends.

To not see that is to not give benefit of the doubt to multi-millionaires dealing in a billion-dollar industry. With a lifestyle that is fast, where some die even faster through murder or overdoses on codeine and other intoxicants, the time taken for individuals to admit their misdeeds and be upfront about it ought to be regarded as divine. So get your olive branch and dove for Pulling Rank: Best Acts of Pardoning Bad Behavior in the Genre of Hip Hop Listed from Truce to Squash the Beef.

3. Shawn “JAY-Z” Carter and Damon Dash

After years of animosity that brewed between these two hip-hop icons after the dissolution of Roc-A-Fella Records, these two men were able to engage in conversation again. Their story is sad and sweet. Both of them represented fire (Damon Dash) and ice (Shawn Carter). Whenever Dash sensed that a record executive or anyone within the structure of a given label sought to slight him or his flagship artist in Carter, he raised hell. While yelling at the top of his lungs, he would cause hysteria within a boardroom or while getting his haircut. On the opposite side, Carter moved as “cool as gato.” He racked up millions in sales and opened the market up with Dash to film, liquor, and a clothing line amongst the various ventures in which they involved themselves.

Alas, all of this would be for naught. While some people still blame Beyoncé for breaking up the ROC, the allegations that Dame Dash had taken money from Carter soon surfaced. The idea of the co-CEO and executive producer on the albums released under the Roc-A-Fella umbrella not fulfilling his day-to-day tasks appears to be the most prominent reason that Carter and Dash split after over a decade of being friends and business partners.

For them to meet in in 2013 and still maintain their self-respect and dignity presents a picture of the genre advancing. While it is unclear whether either of them actually said sorry to one to the other, the pictures of them smiling together after all of the turmoil, confusion, and angst show that both of them can look past all of that nonsense. The years that they battled and fought labels together, the months that they spent enjoying the aftermath of Carter selling millions of records must’ve been the defining moments that sparked this reunion. Over time, the two of them have been interviewed in print and video. Each man continues to allow the other to move and prosper in the game.

Without Dame Dash, there would be no Shawn “JAY-Z” Carter as he is known now. Dash provided the enthusiasm and kinetic energy that propelled the projects that Carter dropped over the years. But without JAY-Z, Dame Dash might have been relegated to selling cassette tapes in Harlem for six dollars. But Dash is too smart for all that. He’s kept himself afloat by venturing into liquor and a new clothing label under the title Dusko Poppington. Carter continues to be a successful rapper, releasing his own cognac, Dussé, amongst other business concerns. The division between these two titans and their brief reunion at least provides a cautionary tale for upcoming wannabe moguls who emulate Dash and Carter.

Rank: Truce

2. Andre “Dr. Dre” Young and Eric Lynn “Eazy-E” Wright

Right before Eric Wright died of complications from contracting HIV/AIDS, Young settled their differences. There’s a theme within the business of show that is no different in the hip-hop sphere. Money and business interests are usually the scapegoats for the differences that exist between artists. With Wright and Young, they waged sonic wars where Young accused Wright of selling out his race to cling to a Jewish man, the late Jerry Heller. Wright shot back at Young on wax alleging that Young was feminine, a major insult to straight men of color in the rap game, especially.

The film Straight Outta Compton (2015) depicts this reunion without sentimentality and with a bit of grace. Young and Wright, like so many before them and more to come, had let bad record deals, women, and infighting amongst artist spoil their relationship. It took Wright to be overwhelmed with illness for Young to notice the light. Compton illustrates the dilemmas that arose during the time that three prominent record labels came into being: Ruthless Records, Death Row Records, and Aftermath Records. In the Ruthless Records period, it all seemed as simple and carefree. Alcohol poured like water; money flowed just the same. But when Young suspected Wright of being a traitor against his race, there seemed to be no turning back from that.

It must’ve brought closure to the mind of Young, who now commands a fortune nearing the billion dollar mark, to break down to his former labelmate and friend just what was on his mind at the time. To see him talk to Wright in an unconscious state, as shown in the film, appears to be a final way of saying whatever was done in the past does not match up with where they were on that day in the hospital.

Rap feuds usually are quashed with both parties still conscious. Either that or, as of this writing, unknown assailants will take them out without regard, as in the cases of Christopher “Notorious B.I.G.” Wallace and Tupac Shakur. Fortunately, Young summoned up enough strength to say his last goodbye to his friend. It took egoism to fulfill such a deed, not humility. He knew that Wright’s time would be short and that he would have to make the best of his speech as the machines kept Wright alive.

To move on to bigger and better things, Young had to first let go of the nastiness of the past and embrace future ventures with aplomb and attitude. For his ability to be a man about the whole situation, Young deserves credit. He could’ve just walked away from the whole matter with Wright clinging to life. Instead, he employed integrity and stepped to the ailing Wright and made everything better for the future.

Rank: Making these right again

1. Bryan “Birdman/Baby” Williams and Dwayne “Lil’ Wayne” Carter Jr.

The skies had parted. A strong ray of sunshine poked through the messy business dealings that both afflicted Williams and Carter Jr. The two men reunited on stage in front of thousands in the crowd and millions around the world on their devices. Williams had a brief but profound message for his “son,” Carter Jr. He apologized upfront and directly without any prodding or wasting of anyone’s time. He admitted his guilt in how ugly the match between the two men had gotten. Everything from publishing rights, to who “owns” which artist, to their father/son dynamic spilled out onto that concert stage like a fine wine cascading from the heavens.

The Lil’ WeezyAna concert featured Williams as a performer. In between a short set, Williams opened his mind up and allowed his manly pride to lead him to an apology. This is a distinctive feature of the world of hip-hop. As mentioned above, the blending of women, money, and altruism seem to be at the root of the bickering and backbiting and dismissal from groups and music companies. What Williams did is monumental because he could’ve just kept mum and let the beef continue. Williams took it upon himself to air out all differences that he and Carter Jr. may have had in the past. One of the defining characteristics of a man is to know and acknowledge when he is wrong. For Williams, he pushed himself to deliver one of the most wide-open public apologies that has been seen in the realm of hip-hop.

Carter Jr. appeared to take this apology in stride and accept it. He knew that he held the power of the stage. If Williams had gone up there to disparage Carter Jr. in any way, he knew that that would be the death knell for Williams career as a rapper. Yes, he would retain rights to Cash Money Records. And, yes, he may (allegedly) own Carter Jr.’s masters. But his name as an artist would be worse than his now infamous tirade during the Breakfast Club radio interview. Carter Jr. recognized that Williams had done him wrong but that they still had a lot more money to get together, and, unlike the two cases above, their bond seems to benefit both men. Williams and Carter Jr. now have the opportunity to continue producing great work and building upon their past accomplishments. They each have the ability to live and let their lavish lifestyles be the proof to their smart work and dedication.

Carter Jr. will go on with his many tours and albums and the aforementioned Lil’ WeezyAna music fest. Williams seems to be poised to never stop aiding and guiding Carter Jr. as he treks down the road to more money, greater exposure, and success on all accounts. Minus all of the turmoil that the two experienced, maybe this will mean that Carter Jr. and Williams will be able to set an example for other familial crews. They could be inspired to go on programs and Internet shows espousing the benefits of reaching out to old friends who may have done each other wrong but seek to find solace, closure.

Egoism is the root to all of the men who decided to address one’s errors. While the other party can still smell the flowers of accord that you afford that party is the key to reconciliation. Not only does this feel better as emotion, your rational faculty permits you to do no less. If you forgo the act of apologizing to your one time pal, then that becomes a lead burden that can never be fully removed from one’s consciousness, one’s soul. Williams did the right thing by Carter Jr. And that’s what life is, anyway. To make sure that someone has done right by you even if they wronged you in the past. If the evil was redeemable, you have the opportunity to salve a sore wound and improve conditions.

Rank: Squash the beef