In the fifth episode of Artist 2 Artist, an unfiltered dialog collection, Harlem’s Jim Jones and Brooklyn’s Memphis Bleek discovered themselves addressing old tensions between Roc Nation, Dipset, and G-Unit. The chat rapidly was a fiery protection of loyalty and independence after Bleek and Capo responded to current criticism from Tony Yayo, longtime good friend and G-Unit lieutenant of fifty Cent.

Yayo had beforehand implied that Jay-Z doesn’t “take care of his people,” a declare that struck a nerve with Bleek, considered one of Hov’s most loyal protégés because the Roc-A-Fella period. During the dialogue, Bleek firmly pushed again towards that narrative.

“That’s why you got ns like Yayo talking about, ‘Yeah, Jay don’t take care of…’ Nah, I don’t need Jay to go on tour,” Bleek stated. “Ain’t nobody taking care of ns over here, B… All these n****s worrying about who taking care who. We lit. We getting money.”

Jim Jones & Memphis Bleek Rip Tony Yayo

His phrases reaffirmed what followers have lengthy recognized — Bleek’s bond with Jay-Z runs deeper than cash. Still, his protection lit a spark in Jim Jones, who jumped in to amplify the message and fireplace again at Yayo. The Dipset rapper unleashed a collection of sharp jabs that blended humor and hostility.

“People look at Bleek and don’t understand the business he’s doing. They always look at Jay like… But Bleek out here making moves,” Jones started, earlier than taking direct intention at Yayo. “Yayo smoke hard coke, ya heard me. You look like you need to be taken care of. Go to the dentist, brush your teeth, get some hygiene, n***a. You look like you need help.”

Jim didn’t cease there, calling out Yayo’s perceived monetary struggles whereas invoking a line straight out of Paid in Full: “Tell your man 50 to send you an ounce or something. I got a G for every bump on your face.”

The remarks mirrored years of rivalry among the many crews as every ascended to the highest of hip hop at totally different intervals. Resurfacing the lengthy historical past of competitors in New York City hip hop since its start within the Bronx.

The viral clip reignited long-dormant tensions between New York rap factions as soon as on the middle of the 2000s mixtape wars. Jones’ outburst highlighted a key reality in hip-hop: actual hustlers outline themselves by their grind, not by who helps them.