East Coast–West Coast hip hop rivalry: Difference between revisions

{{See also|Bastard (Genesys album)|l1=Bastard}}

Following his release from prison, 24-year old Genesys, when asked about if he'd transition into the popular G-Funk sound, stated in a 1994 interview with ''Music Box Magazine'' that he wanted to make music authentic to himself and his experiences, with his stint in prison led him to focusing more on his artistry. This move would ultimately lead to The Prestige dropping Genesys, whom would go on to found his own label, Nuwrld, and signing a distribution contract with Interscope. While recording in [[Bernheim, San Joaquin]], Genesys would travel to The Cave music venue to witness the nightly activity of rap battles that had become popularized a year prior. After being impressed by the numerous acts present, Genesys would form the rap group The Throne with rappers [[Zaa]], [[Killer Woo]], [[Roc Steady]], and [[MAC-12]], along with producers H.E.S. and C-Side, signing them to Genesys' newly-formed record label. With The Throne, Genesys would spend an additional two months recording in Bernheim, working on his second solo album, ''Bastard'', and what would later become The Throne's debut album, ''Truly Humbled Under God'', at the same time.  

The release of ''Bastard'' in 1995 would bring the feud back to the forefront of publicization, as numerous tracks on the record featured subliminal disses aimed at King Rakeem, A.N.D., the Disciplez, Zos, [[Rakki]], and [[B Monie]]. Enraged by Rakeem's release of "Who Shot Ya?" provocatively only months after the shooting incident, and although it did not directly involve Genesys' name, he believed it was directed towards him. Long-time collaborator and producer MAC-12 would later reveal in 2000 that tracks "Respect Yourself" and "Soul Food" respectively, were a response to "Who Shot Ya?", but stated that "it was on [Genesys'] mind the entire time we spent recording together". In particular, "Soul Food" is the most forward with disses against much of the East coast, and has been lauded by critics as "the most hard-core Genesys has ever been." The ferocity of Genesys' raging vocals, as said by MAC-12, was entirely authentic and was described as "superhuman". The song features direct attacks to Rakeem and Godsun of A.N.D., proclaiming himself as the "King of New York and L.A." which stirred major controversy across both coasts. MAC-12 also stated that he had never seen Genesys so angry and that the words he rapped were in no way an act.  

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Genesys also interpreted New York rapper JJ Loc's 1995 track "{{W|I Shot Ya}}" as a diss track referring to the attempt on his life. In 1996, Genesys confronted [[Danger Dogg]], who was featured on the track, at the Las Vegas House of Blues. Dogg made it clear that the record was not about Genesys. Although Rakeem never released an explicit retaliation record, the Disciplez member [[6ix God]] claimed in a ''Sierra Media'' interview that Genesys was the subject of Rakeem's non-album single, "Kick in the Door", with him rapping that 'there can only be one King'. Puffy, however, steadfastly denied this theory, arguing that if Rakeem were to diss Genesys, he would have called him out by name. By this time, the media became heavily involved and dubbed the rivalry a "coastal rap war", reporting on it continually. This caused fans from both scenes to take sides.

=== The Throne vs. Hovah ===

[[File:Hovah 1997.png|thumb|right|Hovah (pictured) would diss Genesys and The Throne on the track "{{W|Takeover (song)|Conquer and Control}}" from his second album ''The Blueprint''. The song is considered by many as a "classic" diss track.]]