Even though thereās no video recording of it, Jay-Z and DMXās infamousĀ ā90s rap battle is the stuff of legends in Hip Hop. Now, in a recent interview with VladTV via Nah Right, producer Swizz Beatz speaks on the mythical battle between two of his most frequent collaborators.
Although Swizz explained that he missed the actual battle itself, he remembers seeing peoplesā excitement immediately after the battle took place. The Bronx-born super-producer also explained that it was these early connections with the Ruff Ryders that helped introduce him to Hova in the early part of both artistsā career.
āNah, [I wasnāt there for Jay-Z and DMXās battle]. I just missed it,ā he recalled. āI donāt know [who won]. My uncles [Waah and Dee Dean, Ruff Ryder CEOs] made everybody turn their cameras off; thatās like the worst shit. Youāve just seen the end of it when the cameras come on and the dudeās rapping some shitā¦it was real. You couldāve made a movie around that moment. I just remember the energy from everybody coming from that to see [DMX] and to see Hov; [it was]Ā like Meek [Mill] and Cassidy at that time. Iām just happy to be able to witness these moments because I was super young, so I was able to get all that from [a] young [age], and still be young and do what Iām doing.ā
āI was just speaking to Jay yesterdayā¦and it was like, āWeāve working [together] for 14 years, dog; that shit is crazy.ā I remember walking into his office with a cassette with 40 beats and he bought the whole joint right off the spot. Thatās how we metā¦this was like, ā96-97 ācus the shit started coming out in ā98ā¦I think it was right after Reasonable Doubt, because he definitely had that Reasonable Doubt swag in that office.ā
Check out the full interview below.
RELATED:Battle Royale: Jay-Z & DMXās 1990s Bronx Battle Revisited