Diss songs have become hip-hop’s most reliable growth hack: “Not Like Us” spun 1 billion Spotify plays in 250 days—roughly $3 million in platform payouts—plus five Grammys and a Super Bowl spotlight.
Albums built on tension (We Don’t Trust You, 251 K first-week units) are the year’s biggest sellers, and meme-fuel like #BBLDrizzy gives marketers a free global ad campaign. As long as controversy out-streams collaboration, expect rap’s family tree of feuds to keep sprouting—and cashing—in. The beef, in 2025, isn’t just lyrical sport; it’s vertical integration, turning every clap-back into content, commerce and culture.