It was not long ago that Jay-Z spoke on how battle rap may not be the best thing for hip hop during an interview in the aftermath of the Kendrick-Drake feud. However, now that things are personal, the legendary rapper is back on the offensive.
During his performance with The Roots, Jay-Z freestyled on stage and took shots at a bunch of rappers that have irked him in the last year or so. Nobody was spared. Drake, Nicki Minaj, Tory Lanez, Kanye West, and Dame Dash all found themselves in the crosshairs.
Perhaps the most prominent shot was at Drake, who took subliminal shots at Jay-Z on his latest album, Iceman. While he did not name the mogul directly, the lyrical references to “Jigga” and “Roc Nation” made the target clear. In standard fashion, Jay-Z clapped back with: “The jig is up/N***a I’m up 10/ Wrong chart, champ, you gotta look up again/N****s look up to HOV/I never looked up to them.”
JAY-Z’s full freestyle at Roots Picnic pic.twitter.com/FEeEMuNUqc
— Complex Music (@ComplexMusic) May 31, 2026
The freestyle also addressed Dame Dash, referencing a viral moment regarding his health, and Nicki Minaj, whom he criticized for her public stance on his business ventures. Furthermore, Jay-Z sent warning shots to his former collaborator Kanye West, suggesting that the artist’s bravado is largely confined to social media platforms rather than reality.
Finally, addressing Tory Lanez, who is currently incarcerated, Jay-Z dismissed the rapper’s previous claims regarding his legal troubles. The performance serves as a stark reminder that despite his focus on business, Jay-Z remains one of the most formidable lyricists in the history of the genre.
