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The Bridge Wars

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168: 556:, joined in the battle, resulting from the inferior responses from MC Shan and the Juice Crew offering the strongest attack against BDP. Their first single was entitled "Beat You Down", in which he reiterates that no one actually said that hip hop started in the Bridge, but then points out that the area was nevertheless very prominent in the early days of rap, and even had superior sound equipment, causing it to surpass the Bronx as the leader of hip hop. 66: 25: 348:", which was similar in terms of content to Shan and Marl's track except singing the praises of the South Bronx rather than Queensbridge, and made the argument for its being the real birthplace of hip hop. The song first premiered at a concert where MC Shan had just performed "The Bridge". The track directly attacks MC Shan with lyrics like: 415:
The official story at the time was that KRS-One was defending the reputation of the South Bronx in response to MC Shan and Marley Marl claiming that hip hop started out in Queensbridge. However, KRS-One has gone on record in an interview with MTV, saying that his real motivation was the fact that he
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on the B side of "The Bridge" with a song called "Beat Biter", whereby Shan claimed that LL Cool J had stolen beats for his "Rock The Bells" from "Marley Marl Scratch" theme. LL Cool J never directly responded to this claim, and the impending battle between Shan and BDP drew the attention away from
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Though MC Shan states Queensbridge is where his crew got started, and his birthplace, he has stated that he never meant the song to say that Queensbridge is the birthplace of hip hop at all, "everyone knows that hip hop was started in the West Bronx." Statements can be found in the 2003 documentary
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In 2016, Shan essentially revived his part of the beef in an interview, pointing out that they never actually battled, and that he was showing some resentment regarding the claim the KRS "took Shan out" and having to live with the stigma of "losing" the battle. He would claim he wanted to record a
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PHD's 1991 album title track "Without Warning" samples a couple of lines from "Numero Uno" as if answering them. Screwball's "The Bio" and "You Love To Hear The Stories" (a followup to the original "The Bridge", and which featured MC Shan) recounted the story of him entering the battle, and being
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with a 12" single they had recorded entitled "Success Is the Word", (under the group name "12:41"). Magic dismissed it as "wack", and then, after forming BDP, they retaliated by dissing Mr. Magic and Marley Marl's popular "Juice Crew", using the whole "Queens versus Bronx" issue as a pretense.
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soft drink in the mid-nineties, in which they exchanged battle rhymes inside a boxing ring. However, the respective fortunes of the pair in the nineties were very different; MC Shan was widely seen by hip hop listeners as the loser of the conflict; Despite co-writing and producing
743:. The album features two tracks further exemplifying the end of the feud: "The Victory" (produced by DJ Premier) which sees KRS on the same track as Blaq Poet, and "Rising" (as in "Rising To the Top"), in which KRS recounts the whole story from his perspective (a struggling former 294:'s track "The Bridge" in late 1985. The track recited the praises of their home borough and some of its earlier rap crews, and was taken to imply that Queensbridge was where hip hop began, even though it doesn't actually say that. The lyrics that apparently raised the issue were: 610:, who was on BDP's side of the battle. KRS responded with "Still Number 1, the Numero Uno Mix", where he calls Poet "soft" and uncreative, and accuses him of "sounding like Kane". Although conspicuously absent from this counterattack was any rebuttal to Poet's attack on his wife. 793:
He concludes the track acknowledging his indebtedness to Shan and Marley. He also speaks well of them on other tracks in the album, such as "House of Hits". KRS had also contributed a verse to the Symphony 2000 remake of the Marley Marl classic in 1999.
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Mr. Magic dissed BDP and said some stuff about their record on the radio, and he made me the target. I wasn't gonna keep ridin' that Kris/Shan thing...people kept saying "why aren't you answering back"? I'm like why?...I gave him a career already.
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magazine says I still stand on the fact that Hip Hop started in Queens - writers get it twisted. The song the Bridge starts off saying M.C. Shan & Marley Marl in the house tonight - they wanna tell you a story about where THEY come
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Another rapper named Butchy-B (from Manhattan) stepped in for Queensbridge, with "Beatin Down KRS", in which he among other things, mocks the "didadidadiday" chant of "The Bridge is Over". Butchy-B was connected with
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resident trying to enter the business in a period when "answer records" were popular, sparked off by Shante's "Roxanne's Revenge"). You can see this (and the changed attitude towards the former rivals) in the line:
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During the nineties, the beef was not forgotten by fans or the participants, but rather fondly remembered as a classic hip hop rivalry. It has since been referenced in hip hop lyrics by the likes of
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which took various shots at KRS-One and mocked his taking offense in the first place. He even denies saying hip hop started in Queens, and suggests BDP is just trying to jump on their
436:. In dialog on that CD (track 5), he states that Magic dissed a track by them. When they heard "The Bridge", they decided to diss back, and this is why "South Bronx" was released. 412:
Another unnoticed attack is the fact that South Bronx was arranged under the same tempo as "The Bridge", most notably as the rhymes that are performed before the chorus chant.
718: 684:, Shan never recovered his reputation and later effectively retired. KRS, meanwhile, forged out a successful solo career and remained an important figure in hip hop. 948: 579:'s "Juice Crew Dis" which mocked Shan's "Juice Crew Law" and attacks both Shan and Shanté, and M.C. Mitchski's "Brooklyn Blew Up the Bridge", with the refrain 839:
response to The Bridge Is Over, but Marley Marl stopped him. He also included a three-minute freestyle in an over the phone interview. KRS quickly responded.
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After "Kill That Noise", Shan himself became more passive in the battle, as the above statement indicated. But meanwhile, Two other Queensbridge residents,
524:, which were a predecessor to this battle. Shante, mentioned in a very vulgar reference in "the Bridge Is Over", released a rap titled "Have A Nice Day", 1059: 620:
where KRS-One took on such topics as politics, racism, self-identity, slavery, black on black violence, police brutality & corruption and even the
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Records. However he left the label after releasing an almost unheard single titled "Feed the World". Another line by KRS directly attacking Shan was:
671:. MC Shan and KRS-One themselves acknowledged the rivalry's important place in hip hop history when they appeared together in a commercial for the 1079: 512:
Most of KRS's fire was directed specifically at Marley Marl and MC Shan, although the MC added insults to other Juice Crew members such as
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accent. The track had been one of the first blendings of rap with reggae, and one section delivered in a sing song fashion modeled after
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Please help improve this article by looking for better, more reliable sources. Unreliable citations may be challenged and removed.
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But KRS continued to play upon the "response to the claim that hip hop started in Queens" premise with his next response, "
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and got involved to defend the radio station. The track "Go Magic" from the same 12-inch also touched on the rivalry.
446: 272:. KRS-One and Marley Marl have since officially retired the feud, with the release of their collaborative 2007 album 737:
KRS-One and Marley Marl have since officially retired the feud, with the release of their collaborative 2007 album,
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described it: "In 1986, it was a beef that launched the start of KRS-One, with his withering attacks on MC Shan."
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basically ignored, and that it thankfully never escalated into physical violence; and the latter pointed to the
532:(who was not otherwise personally involved in the battle), in which she took a shot at Boogie Down Productions. 1094: 826: 176: 722:(a showcase of Queensbridge hip hop artists), MC Shan took one last parting shot at KRS-One with the comment: 1034: 457:
In a more recent interview on THE FOUNDATION (Jayquan), Shan defended and explained the misunderstood line:
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rivalry during the mid-to-late 1980s and early 1990s, that arose from a dispute over the true birthplace of
98: 76: 801:, which put a new spin on the old story with the release of the compilation which features artists such as 167: 656: 598:
In 1988, DJ Rockwell Noel and the Poet followed up with "Taking U Out", which was even stronger than
505: 44: 962: 672: 615: 287: 269: 926: 484: 464: : Did you ever say in any song, interview or anywhere that Hip Hop started in Queens ? 345: 332: 583:
in support of Boogie Down Productions and lyrics that made fun of Shan's on-stage appearances.
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Kool G Rap talks about Marley Marl and the Juice Crew, crime raps, and his extensive catalog
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by sampling it for the hook in his track "Back When", which focuses on the past of hip-hop.
818: 624:. On the second track "Blackman In Effect" he discusses the concept of "juice" and states: " 451: 862: 681: 677: 648: 814: 564:
In 1987, attempting to calm down an unrelated domestic dispute involving BDP colleague
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In response, South Bronx-based KRS-One and Boogie Down Productions released the track "
472: : I only said HOW it started in QUEENSBRIDGE, not (all) over the world. The new 1068: 810: 802: 739: 621: 569: 417: 274: 241: 237: 699:; and some of the records released over the years, took numerous pot shots at KRS. 652: 644: 607: 521: 603: 525: 261: 249: 65: 1013:"MC Shan Responds To KRS-One Apology Demands With Vicious Bars [VIDEO]" 444:
The Juice Crew soon responded with the track "Kill That Noise" on Shan's album
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So why don't you wise up show all the people in the place that you are wack,
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Poet", and went on to be a part of the groups PHD (Poet + DJ Hot Day), and
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Instead of trying take out LL, you need to take your homeboys off the crack
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was shot dead. Even after La Rock's death, the feud still continued.
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Other rappers joined in making songs dissing Queensbridge, such as
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DJ Red Alert also gives a similar version of this story on the CD
1035:"KRS-One Replies To MC Shan Diss With "S.H.A.N." [AUDIO]" 668: 588: 421: 704: 161: 59: 18: 923:"DJ Red Alert presents..., Beats, Rhymes, & Battles! pt2" 768:
To tell you the truth, it was the only way a MC could get on
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In 1990, Boogie Down Productions released the concept album
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So you think that hip-hop had its start out in Queensbridge,
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Ya got dropped off MCA cause the rhymes you wrote was wack,
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If you popped that junk up in the Bronx you might not live
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Before "The Bridge" was released, MC Shan was signed to
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Shan continues recounting in the FOUNDATION interview:
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A dope jam about where he was from and where he lived;
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after Shante did it, everyone was trying to spit them
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This referred to the fact that MC Shan had attacked
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Sit and listen for a while to the name of the place,
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had moved on, eventually rechristening himself as "
244:and retaliation over the rejecting of a record for 90:. Unsourced material may be challenged and removed. 963:"Various Artists - Bridge Wars - Amazon.com Music" 397:it. Marley Marl later produced most of LL's album 713:(1994) as proof that "the Bridge is still live". 353:Party people in the place to be, KRS-One attacks, 336:, which features the original battle footage. 824:Nas revisited "The Bridge" on his 2012 album 797:Queensbridge Records released the 2011 album 602:, and harshly attacked both KRS's then-wife, 8: 520:, who had earlier been at the center of the 299:You love to hear the story, again and again, 947:: CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list ( 732:The Bridge was never Over, we left our mark 248:. The Bridge Wars originally involved the 53:Learn how and when to remove these messages 221:Learn how and when to remove this message 203:Learn how and when to remove this message 150:Learn how and when to remove this message 304:Of how it all got started way back when, 856:RAP.RU - Beef: something about the meat 848: 940: 783:But in the Bronx there was these kids 773:We answered MC Shan's "Queensbridge"; 487:", featuring lyrics recorded, with a 7: 788:KRS, Scott La Rock tryin' to live... 88:adding citations to reliable sources 987:"Episode 253:HipHop Legend MC Shan" 309:The monument is right in your face, 290:-based producer Marley Marl & 14: 606:, and rival radio station WRKS's 34:This article has multiple issues. 626:I'm not down with a juice-crew". 434:Beats, Rhymes and Battles Part I 166: 64: 23: 929:from the original on 2021-12-21 727:Hip hop was set out in the dark 75:needs additional citations for 42:or discuss these issues on the 501:It's Still Rock and Roll to Me 1: 1080:20th century in hip hop music 753:Answer records were big then; 921:slfboogie71 (29 July 2008). 716:In 2001, on the compilation 834:2016 Revival with M.C. Shan 581:"South Bronx Helped us out" 1111: 819:BET’s "Freestyle Friday's" 888:– via www.imdb.com. 899:Hsu, Hua (6 July 2007). 528:by Juice Crew colleague 16:New York hip hop rivalry 817:(four-time Champion of 420:earlier had approached 400:Mama Said Knock You Out 254:Boogie Down Productions 175:Some of this article's 1090:1990s in hip hop music 1085:1980s in hip hop music 937:– via YouTube. 560:Ending and aftermath 286:The feud began with 84:improve this article 901:"Where's the Beef?" 1075:History of hip hop 910:– via Slate. 861:2008-07-27 at the 485:The Bridge Is Over 503:" from his album 231: 230: 223: 213: 212: 205: 160: 159: 152: 134: 99:"The Bridge Wars" 57: 1102: 1047: 1046: 1044: 1042: 1031: 1025: 1024: 1022: 1020: 1009: 1003: 1002: 1000: 998: 983: 977: 976: 974: 973: 959: 953: 952: 946: 938: 936: 934: 918: 912: 911: 909: 907: 896: 890: 889: 887: 885: 874: 868: 867: 853: 763:So we spit on... 440:1987: escalation 424:radio station's 226: 219: 208: 201: 197: 194: 188: 170: 162: 155: 148: 144: 141: 135: 133: 92: 68: 60: 49: 27: 26: 19: 1110: 1109: 1105: 1104: 1103: 1101: 1100: 1099: 1095:The Bridge Wars 1065: 1064: 1056: 1051: 1050: 1040: 1038: 1033: 1032: 1028: 1018: 1016: 1011: 1010: 1006: 996: 994: 985: 984: 980: 971: 969: 961: 960: 956: 939: 932: 930: 920: 919: 915: 905: 903: 898: 897: 893: 883: 881: 880:. 1 August 2003 876: 875: 871: 865: 863:Wayback Machine 854: 850: 845: 836: 649:Cunninlynguists 633: 600:"Beat You Down" 562: 442: 342: 284: 268:, hailing from 234:The Bridge Wars 227: 216: 215: 214: 209: 198: 192: 189: 186: 171: 156: 145: 139: 136: 93: 91: 81: 69: 28: 24: 17: 12: 11: 5: 1108: 1106: 1098: 1097: 1092: 1087: 1082: 1077: 1067: 1066: 1063: 1062: 1055: 1054:External links 1052: 1049: 1048: 1037:. 9 April 2016 1026: 1015:. 8 April 2016 1004: 993:. 2 April 2016 978: 967:www.amazon.com 954: 913: 891: 869: 847: 846: 844: 841: 835: 832: 815:Mahogany Jones 791: 790: 785: 780: 775: 770: 765: 760: 755: 735: 734: 729: 632: 629: 561: 558: 544: 543: 530:Big Daddy Kane 518:Roxanne Shante 481: 480: 466: 465: 441: 438: 390: 389: 384: 371: 370: 365: 360: 355: 341: 340:1986: response 338: 327: 326: 321: 316: 311: 306: 301: 283: 282:The war begins 280: 229: 228: 211: 210: 177:listed sources 174: 172: 165: 158: 157: 72: 70: 63: 58: 32: 31: 29: 22: 15: 13: 10: 9: 6: 4: 3: 2: 1107: 1096: 1093: 1091: 1088: 1086: 1083: 1081: 1078: 1076: 1073: 1072: 1070: 1061: 1058: 1057: 1053: 1036: 1030: 1027: 1014: 1008: 1005: 992: 991:BlogTalkRadio 988: 982: 979: 968: 964: 958: 955: 950: 944: 928: 924: 917: 914: 902: 895: 892: 879: 873: 870: 864: 860: 857: 852: 849: 842: 840: 833: 831: 829: 828: 822: 820: 816: 812: 811:The Diplomats 808: 805:(produced by 804: 800: 795: 789: 786: 784: 781: 779: 776: 774: 771: 769: 766: 764: 761: 759: 756: 754: 751: 750: 749: 746: 742: 741: 740:Hip Hop Lives 733: 730: 728: 725: 724: 723: 721: 720: 714: 712: 711: 706: 700: 698: 694: 690: 685: 683: 679: 674: 670: 666: 662: 658: 654: 650: 646: 642: 638: 630: 628: 627: 623: 622:meat industry 619: 617: 611: 609: 605: 601: 596: 594: 590: 584: 582: 578: 573: 571: 570:Scott La Rock 567: 559: 557: 555: 551: 550: 549:Rockwell Noel 542: 538: 537: 536: 533: 531: 527: 523: 519: 515: 510: 508: 507: 502: 498: 494: 491:flavor, in a 490: 486: 479: 475: 471: 468: 467: 463: 460: 459: 458: 455: 453: 449: 448: 439: 437: 435: 430: 427: 423: 419: 418:Scott La Rock 413: 410: 408: 404: 402: 401: 395: 388: 385: 383: 380: 379: 378: 376: 369: 366: 364: 361: 359: 356: 354: 351: 350: 349: 347: 339: 337: 335: 334: 325: 322: 320: 317: 315: 312: 310: 307: 305: 302: 300: 297: 296: 295: 293: 289: 281: 279: 277: 276: 275:Hip Hop Lives 271: 267: 263: 259: 255: 251: 247: 243: 242:hip hop music 239: 238:hip hop music 235: 225: 222: 207: 204: 196: 184: 183: 178: 173: 169: 164: 163: 154: 151: 143: 132: 129: 125: 122: 118: 115: 111: 108: 104: 101: –  100: 96: 95:Find sources: 89: 85: 79: 78: 73:This article 71: 67: 62: 61: 56: 54: 47: 46: 41: 40: 35: 30: 21: 20: 1039:. 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hip hop music
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South Bronx
Boogie Down Productions
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Juice Crew
Queensbridge
Hip Hop Lives
Queensbridge

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