LL Cool J (as everyone knows) is one of the most established rappers in the Hip Hop game. He has released numerous albums, singles, he has featured on many Soundtracks, starred on guest appearances etc. You get the picture.

Late last year, LL was finishing off his auto-biographical album 'Phenomenon' and decided to make a track called '4,3,2,1' this would be, without a doubt, one of the best tracks on the album. He had lined up a star studed line of rappers; Redman, Method Man, DMX (who had been working in Hip Hop for a while but was pretty unknown at the time) and Canibus. Back then, Canibus was a rapper of whom LL envied. Canibus' lyrics were amazing, he could include intellectual phrases, messages, multi-syllable words all into his freestyles making him a must for this track.

So, it was set. LL invited the group to a recording studio to rhyme on the track. Up first was Redman, then Method Man, DMX and finally Canibus. Once the group had left LL listened to the verses. When he got to Canibus' verse he encountered (what he thought) a verse which insulted him. It referred to his status and his tattoo (a mic on his arm). LL phoned Canibus and confronted him, Canibus stated that it wasn't an insult but LL managed to convince Canibus that LL would change his verse if Canibus would. Canibus came back into the studio and recorded a brand new verse.

A while later the track was released. Canibus' verse was changed but LL's verse was altered and now managed to show to the world that LL was higher than Canibus by dissing him on the track. The track was later released and Canibus heard it, then the period of realisation and revenge kicked in. And for the '4,3,2,1' video, Canibus shot his part separately (after they all were done). LL didn't include it into the video until 2-3 months later.

Canibus had allegedly already been verbally attacked by Redman but took no notice. Canibus wasn't pleased with LL, and along with Mike Tyson and Wyclef produced the dis-track '2nd Round Knockout.' This track was produced by Wyclef, featured Mike Tyson and had Canibus insulting everything that LL was known for.

The track '2nd Round Knockout' insulted LL's family, his TV show, his body, his attitude and basically it insulted him. With lines like "I'll kick you in the groin, hit you in the head, stick you for your Van Guard award infront of your moms, your first, second and third born," "Frontin' like a drug free role model you disgust me I know ni**as that see you smoke weed recently."

The whole of the Hip Hop community were both shocked and engrosed in this beef, they sat back and watched it progress.

For the 'Bulworth' soundtrack, Dr. Dre was set to do a comeback track with Snoop Dogg, re-forming their original deep Death Row alliance, there were legal problems in clearing this so LL took Snoops place on the track. This track (LL's verse) was said to be his '2nd Round Knockout' comeback, 'Zoom' contained a pretty weak verse by LL, and fans weren't happy with this 'reply.'

'Zoom' wasn't the reply, not in the slightest. LL wasn't content on being insulted on such a wide scale so he produced 'The Ripper Strikes Back' a track which was a retaliation towards Canibus. In this track LL insulted Canibus (not as much as Canibus insulted him). He also insulted Wyclef and lastly Mike Tyson. They all received a verbal attack.

I saw various Canibus appearances after the release of 'The Ripper Strikes Back,' and he wasn't all that bothered. All LL had said basically was the Canibus were things like; "49lbs and trying to be a mobster,""You know you watch the sitcom ni**a stop lying" nothing which really could be taken as too offensive. The funny thing is that on 'The Ripper Strikes Back,' LL keeps saying as a sort of chorus "Can-I-Bus ? Yes you can!" from sources at www.canibus.com I have found out that Can-I-Bus is actually the name of Canibus' forthcoming album.

However, the other two parties involved in '2nd Round Knockout' were offended. Wyclef had been referred to as "that Bob Marley impostor" and various other things. Wyclef decided that he would retaliate with 'What's Clef Got To Do With It ?'(later released as 'What's Clef') this track wasn't as powerful as Canibus' but still enabled Clef to defend himself.

Canibus now has a tattoo on his arm of a mic with a fist around it, on the knuckles of the fist are the numbers : 4,3,2,1.

Onto Mike Tyson, he had a range of insults thrown towards him. "Heard that convicted rapist on the record too, straight out of jail ass cheeks still black and blue." Tyson received (in my opinion) the largest offensive amount of insults.

I have heard from various sources that Mike Tyson may make a rap record against LL Cool J but there is no confirmation regarding that rumour. Will they squash the beef ? We'll see. But I doubt LL will take the retaliations lying down.

On LL’s side, for a long while a kid from Philadelphia named Meddafore has made a dis-cut towards Canibus entitled ‘Lightwork,’ the track has been circulating around the underground for a while now. Meddafore plans to release his Canibus dis-cut, sometime in the Autumn (Fall).

More Canibus beef problems include one with Queen Latifah, during a freestyle a while ago Canibus is said to have upset her in some way, he can’t go back to Jersey due to death threats. Another artist, Truck Turner got involved (who is down with BDP) with the Canibus dis-track entitle ‘Canibitch’ the track is produced by a guy named Domingo and as of yet Canibus has kept quiet towards Truck Turner, although it is pretty much unknown why Truck Turner got involved.

There are/were a lot of rumours surrounding an artist called Headkrak. Headkrak is down with Canibus and Wyclef and rumours circulated that he created a dis-track to Meddafore (the artist who dissed Canibus). These rumours were put forth to Headkrak, in actual fact there was no dis-track. Headkrak is down with Canibus but doesn’t want to get involved in this beef.

LL Cool J has unfortunately retired, so it's unlikely we'll hear anymore replies from him, but along with 'Lightwork,' an emcee named Mr Phace has come out with a reply to Canibus' '2nd Round Knockout,' the track is called 'You Wanna Battle,' it attacks Canibus in many ways including an assault of his track entitled 'How We Roll' (originally entitled 'Niggaz We Roll With'), and talks about how he wanted a reply so this is it. The beef seems over with LL, but will Canibus be replying to Meddafore and Mr Phace and Truck Turner ?................

The latest updates in this beef are as follows; LL decided to not stay down and get dissed publically by Wyclef and LL put out 'Rasta Impasta' which seems to only be a promo release yet he seems to jump on Wyclef a lot more than he did Canibus, will this beef ever end ?