King: Courtesy of the artist, Emiway Bantai: Adsto LIVE, Amey Ghatge
Beef culture has long been a defining element of Indian hip-hop, gaining widespread recognition over the past five years, particularly following the intense feud between Emiway Bantai and Raftaar. This rivalry, marked by a series of five diss tracks, not only sparked significant controversy but also propelled the Indian hip-hop scene to new heights. Emiway, often labeled a “beef rapper” by his fans and within the desi hip-hop community, has been embroiled in conflicts with several prominent rappers, including MC Stan, Divine, and Muhfaad. His most enduring feud, however, remains with KR$NA, with both artists consistently releasing diss tracks and trading occasional barbs.
Recently, a new beef has ignited between Emiway and King following the release of King’s 15-track album Monopoly Moves. One of the tracks, “Fck What They Say*,” features Mc Stan, who has a long-standing history with Emiway Bantai. The accompanying music video showcases both King and Stan flaunting their success and lifestyle, with the second half of the song containing subtle jabs at Emiway. Adding fuel to the fire, King made a statement on an episode of Prakhar ke Pravachaan, suggesting that those who claim to be independent—allegedly referring to Emiway—are not truly independent. Since then, the hip-hop community has been eagerly waiting for Emiway to respond with a diss track.
In response, Emiway Bantai dropped a diss track titled ROKO 2MG, aimed directly at King. In this track, Emiway asserts his dominance by emphasizing his status as an independent artist and mocks King by referring to him as a “wrapper” rather than a rapper. The track’s artwork, featuring an aluminum foil medicine wrap, further underlines this criticism. Emiway also includes a series of lyrics using the term “Represent,” playing off a viral interview where King struggled with the word. King’s reaction to the track was visible in the comments section of the YouTube video, where he initially expressed anticipation but later deleted his comment. Although ROKO 2MG is lyrically reminiscent of Emiway’s previous diss tracks, it includes a few inventive bars and maintains the same thematic elements.
On August 26, King dropped a diss track titled “Mere Pyaare Emiway” on Instagram, delivering a barrage of sharp criticisms aimed at Emiway. Set to a jazzy lo-fi beat, the track serves as a warning that this might be Emiway’s final feud. King accuses Emiway of misleading his fans by falsely presenting himself as an independent artist, highlighting a significant disconnect between Emiway’s public image and reality. He points out the disparity in view counts on Emiway’s YouTube videos, suggesting that Emiway is more of a YouTuber than a genuine rapper. Additionally, King takes aim at Emiway’s fashion choices, labeling them as unfashionable and offering suggestions for improving his music video production, including recommendations for stylists and cinematographers. King also accuses Emiway of plagiarizing song ideas and using ghostwriters, noting that Emiway has previously been criticized for copying American rapper and singer Russ. To add another dimension to his critique, King claims that Emiway has recently started imitating rapper NF’s style.
In response to King’s track, Emiway released a seven-minute diss track titled “Meet the Instagram Yapper” within 24 hours. The song mirrors the flow and beat of King’s “Mere Pyaare Emiway,” and Emiway uses similar language to kick off his rebuttal. This track serves as a direct counter to the accusations King made. Emiway contends that King’s latest album was a flop with significant losses, criticizes King’s English skills, and suggests that King is merely pretending to be wealthy. He argues that this ongoing beef is a strategic move by King to gain attention and recover from his album’s failure.
The artwork for Emiway’s track features a profile picture from King’s secondary Instagram account, depicting someone lounging on a balcony dressed as Spiderman. Emiway uses this image to claim that he is the true Peter Parker. Additionally, Emiway unexpectedly gives a shoutout to Divine, with whom he previously had a feud. He asserts that his rapid response with the track within 24 hours demonstrates his skill and legacy. The track reinforces why Emiway sees himself as a standout figure among rappers, highlighting his reputation as one of the most formidable diss track artists. King, in the comments section of the track, accused Emiway of copying his entire song and demanded his seven minutes back, though this comment was later deleted. As both rappers continue to release tracks, the battle rages on, with no clear end in sight. While the outcome remains uncertain, fans of desi hip-hop seem to be entertained. We’ll have to see how this ongoing feud unfolds.
