The History of Diss Tracks and Rap Battles

Rockstars seem to find ways to hit headlines in some of the wildest ways. The bands of the 80’s seemed to really take things to the next level, and one of the bands leading the way was Van Halen and their frontman, Eddie Van Halen.  Eddie’s incredible talent on the guitar made him a legend to anyone who was reading Guitar World in the 90’s, but as you could imagine there were wild times to go along.   Was the debauchery described in their tours as real as they say?  Was Eddie nightclub guy or more of a recluse?  Are we really sure that Eddie understood how reproduction worked?  We’ll dive into these questions and more in this episode of AHC Podcast.     Intro Music Credits: TeknoAXE's Royalty Free Music Royalty Free Music #192 (The Choice that Rocks) Rock/Stadium Metal/Heavy Metal/Hard Rock Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kEtjIZX58ug Support TeknoAXE: https://www.youtube.com/@teknoaxe       Citations: Goldsmith, L. (2020, October 9). Eddie Van Halen endured a “horrifying racist environment” before becoming a rock legend. NBCNews.com. https://www.nbcnews.com/news/asian-america/eddie-van-halen-endured-horrifying-racist-environment-becoming-rock-legend-n1242663 Howe, C. (2017, June 20). Exclusive: Inside the drug-addled, sex-crazed world of van halen: How sitcom star Valerie Bertinelli fell in love with Eddie Van Halen from an album cover and cried as she held her drunk groom’s head over a toilet bowl after their wedding. Daily Mail Online. https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-4600892/Inside-drug-ridden-sex-crazed-world-Van-Halen.html Klosterman, C. (2023, February 28). Billboard cover: Eddie Van Halen on surviving addiction, why he’s still making music and what he really thinks of David Lee Roth (and other past van halen bandmates). Billboard. https://www.billboard.com/music/rock/eddie-van-halen-addiction-david-lee-roth-touring-6605231/ Staff, G. (2020, October 7). What the final 12 months of Eddie Van Halen’s life were like. https://www.grunge.com/257623/what-the-final-12-months-of-eddie-van-halens-life-were-like/ Wikimedia Foundation. (2024a, June 5). Sammy Hagar. Wikipedia. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sammy_Hagar#:~:text=Van%20Halen%20(1985%E2%80%931996),-In%201985%20after&text=During%20Hagar’s%20stint%20as%20Van,the%20band%20in%20June%201996. Wikimedia Foundation. (2024b, June 12). Eddie Van Halen. Wikipedia. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Eddie_Van_Halen Wilson, M. (2023, November 21). Sammy Hagar explains what caused falling out with Eddie Van Halen. American Songwriter. https://americansongwriter.com/waiting-on-image-sammy-hagar-explains-what-caused-falling-out-with-eddie-van-halen/

Everyone knows that the older a person gets, the more their verbal filter wears off.  But the filter of Katt Williams has always been Virginia Slim 120 light, and recently he’s just letting it all fly.  The accusations made against some of the biggest names in comedy had many of them reeling, but also quickly defending themselves.  How much truth is there behind the craziness Katt is speaking?  How did that nickname stick?  Is Ludacris really part of the Illuminati?  We’ll dive into these questions and more in this episode of AHC Podcast.       Music Intro Credit: Trap Hip-Hop Beat [No Copyright Sound] [ FREE USE MUSIC ] - Unwritten Stories - Followers License:https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0/ Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-TsRokwuhBY&list=PLwc9yMzmTQNWZ7_8mAWAz5-ntgg0vsQ6i&index=7   Support Unwritten Stories Soundcloud: https://soundcloud.com/unwritten-stories/tracks Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCkUe6tctg4HJLp2jC47AMBg Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/creative.commons.beats/           Citations: Maxwell, R., & Friedman, D. (2018, June 6). The 9 lives of Katt Williams. GQ. https://www.gq.com/story/katt-williams-gq-profile-2018 McCarthy, K. (2024, January 10). Kevin Hart responds to Katt Williams: “you don’t entertain the circus. You watch it.” FOX 5 DC. https://www.fox5dc.com/news/kevin-hart-responds-to-katt-williams-you-dont-entertain-the-circus-you-watch-it Mclaughlin, K. (2016, March 24). Gainesville Teen who beat up Katt Williams says the comedian Sucker-punched him after a game of soccer. Daily Mail Online. https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-3507182/He-sucker-punched-did-did-Seventh-grader-beat-Katt-Williams-says-comedian-sucker-punched-game-soccer.html Price, J. (2024, January 5). All the people Katt Williams took shots at during his Shannon Sharpe interview. Complex. https://www.complex.com/pop-culture/a/backwoodsaltar/katt-williams-took-shots-at-these-people-shannon-sharpe Reinhold, H.-E. (2024, May 31). 23 captivating facts about Katt Williams. Facts.net. https://facts.net/celebrity/20-captivating-facts-about-katt-williams/ Rotter, J. (2011, January 9). Katt Williams’ life experiences figure into his comedy. The Stockton Record. https://www.recordnet.com/story/lifestyle/2005/04/28/katt-williams-life-experiences-figure/50671962007/ Smith, R. (2024, March 20). Katt Williams’ fall and rise. Newsweek. https://www.newsweek.com/katt-williams-comedy-tour-shannon-sharpe-club-shay-shay-interview-1872691 Wikimedia Foundation. (2024, May 19). Katt Williams. Wikipedia. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Katt_Williams

So, the original idea for the show was going to be about another accused pedophile, and honestly, we just wanted to talk about something else. So what better topic to discuss with 40-something year-old white guys, than the history or diss tracks and rap battles? This show just isn't a revisit of Biggie vs. Tupac, it's breakdown of the history of the rap battle. Did you know the public, verbal "dissing" between people has been around for a long time? And of course, we dive into the current frenzy of Kendrick vs. Drake. Chiggity check your mic and get ready for this episode of AHC Podcast!

The British have seemed to corner the market for celebrity TV personalities that can be more or less classified, as pric*s.  We’ve already done a show on Gordon Ramsey, I’ve heard that the second-best Bond, Pierce Brosnan, can be a bit of a jerk, and today’ show subject has made a name for himself not only in the music business but with his snarky putdowns.  Simon Cowell was a star in the UK before coming to the US in the early 2000’s and the show he brought with him, American Idol, took the US by storm.  It wasn’t just the singers and their stories that people enjoyed, Simon stole the show with his sharp criticism and dream-crushing comments.  We all seemed to enjoy it, but did the contestants?  What other collateral damage might we have seen over the years with all his different shows?  What is it like being friends with him?  We’ll dive into these questions and more in this episode of AHC Podcast.     Intro Music Credits: FAYZED - MATRIX - Hard Flute Type Beat - Trap Instrumental Beat [ FREE NO COPYRIGHT MUSIC ] Track:https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EHAzr77s5Qs&list=PLxtj0Fzm7DkhQlXlBXVot_xbqjdcn8N_k&index=15 License: https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-sa/3.0/ Support FAYZED: youtube / @retroblue69696  Instagram / ricky_fayzed     Citations: Armstrong, L. (2022, October 29). Simon Cowell reveals how he started drinking and smoking aged eight. The US Sun. https://www.the-sun.com/entertainment/6557608/ran-riot-kid-simon-cowell/ Casey, B. (2024, April 10). Simon Cowell’s $13.2m mansion invaded and marred by wild animals. Search for Real Estate, Property & Homes. https://www.realestate.com.au/news/simon-cowells-132m-mansion-invaded-and-marred-by-wild-animals/ Chris Heath, C. B. (2011, August 23). Simon Cowell - GQ September 2011 interview. GQ. https://www.gq.com/story/simon-cowell-interview-september-2011 Gordon, N. (2013a, October 7). 17 of Simon Cowell’s best insults. Digitial Spy. https://www.digitalspy.com/showbiz/a521604/youve-the-personality-of-a-handle-17-of-simon-cowells-best-insults/ M, M. (2023, August 24). Allegations against Simon Cowell have largely gone unnoticed, here’s the truth about his lawsuits. TheThings. https://www.thethings.com/simon-cowell-allegations-x-factor-lawsuits/ Newkey-Burden, C. (2010). Simon Cowell: The unauthorized biography. Michael O’Mara. Ravitz, J. (2017, December 7). Simon Cowell Baby: Pal’s divorce papers target him post-pregnancy news. Us Weekly. https://www.usmagazine.com/celebrity-news/news/simon-cowell-named-in-friends-angry-divorce-papers-after-lauren-silverman-pregnancy-news-201318/ Wikimedia Foundation. (2024, April 21). Simon Cowell. Wikipedia. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Simon_Cowell

We’ve seen a few of our courtroom contestants meet their maker, as we all will one day, after we release the episode where they are the subject.  Just recently, OJ Simpson, passed away and lots of people made one final dig at The Juice.  Many would say it was well-deserved for what most view as him “getting off” for killing his ex-wife and her friend, but some still say that if the glove doesn’t fit, you must acquit. In this episode, we’ll reboot our OJ show and tell his story one more time.  Enjoy!     Intro Music Credits: [ SHORT BEAT NO COPYRIGHT HIP HOP ] [FREEUSE MUSIC] Sports and Car Energetic Trap - Alex Productions License: https://creativecommons.org/licenses/... Download: https://hypeddit.com/track/0pysnc Support Alex- Productions: https://soundcloud.com/alexproduction... https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCx0_... https://www.instagram.com/aylexmusicx... https://audiojungle.net/user/alex-pro... https://alex-productions.bandcamp.com/ Changes made to extend length of track     Citations: A&E Networks Television. (2021, May 27). O.J. Simpson. Biography.com. Retrieved October 22, 2022, from https://www.biography.com/crime-figure/oj-simpson Encyclopedia.com. (2022, October 22). ." bowling, beatniks, and Bell-bottoms: Pop culture of 20th-century America. . encyclopedia.com. 20 Oct. 2022 . Encyclopedia.com. Retrieved October 22, 2022, from https://www.encyclopedia.com/history/culture-magazines/simpson-o-j-1947#:~:text=Orenthal%20James%20Simpson%20grew%20up,for%20the%20next%20three%20years Frost, N. (2018, June 15). O.J. Simpson's getaway car: What happened to the white Ford Bronco? History.com. Retrieved October 22, 2022, from https://www.history.com/news/oj-simpson-white-bronco-chase-where-now Nakashima, R. (2007, September 17). Apparent tape released of O.J. in Vegas. USA today. Retrieved October 22, 2022, from https://usatoday30.usatoday.com/news/nation/2007-09-16-3123706429_x.htm NBC4 Washington. (2009, April 6). Family friend says stress killed O.J.'s sister. NBC4 Washington. Retrieved October 22, 2022, from https://www.nbcwashington.com/local/family-says-stress-killed-oj-sister/1888646/ Poletti, J. (2022, July 29). The story of O.J. Simpson's gay father. Medium. Retrieved October 22, 2022, from https://medium.com/queertheory/the-story-of-o-j-simpsons-gay-father-4156d4e68d6e Posnanski, J. (2016, March 9). Chasing 2,000 in '73. NBC SportsWorld. Retrieved October 22, 2022, from https://sportsworld.nbcsports.com/oj-simpson-2000-yards/ Schwartz, L. (n.d.). Before trial, Simpson charmed America. ESPN. Retrieved October 22, 2022, from https://www.espn.com/sportscentury/features/00016472.html Wikimedia Foundation. (2022, October 21). O. J. Simpson. Wikipedia. Retrieved October 22, 2022, from https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/O._J._Simpson

Once we got done with our Update Show a couple months ago, we thought we had done a good job of getting everyone caught up on some of shenanigans our subjects had gotten into since we did their show. And I mean, we couldn’t leave Steven Seagal sitting where he was in our final ratings. But then came the absolutely insane stories about Sean “P Diddy” Combs just weeks after our Update Show.  The stories coming out are absolutely nuts and the names involved make this story even more salacious. So, we decided to revisit P Diddy and his latest escapades and allegations.  How deep do these allegations run and how many celebrities are just hoping and praying their name doesn’t come out?  Is Diddy the monster he’s been made out to be?  C’mon Usher, why is your name in all this?  We’ll dive into these questions and more in this episode of AHC Podcast.     Intro Music Credits: Dark, Rap, Trap, Instrumental Beat [No Copyright Sound] [ FREE USE MUSIC ] - FAYZED - Dead Or Alive License: https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/ Track: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IYPFYi5fL_M&list=PLwc9yMzmTQNWZ7_8mAWAz5-ntgg0vsQ6i&index=2       Citations: Cowen, T. W. (2024a, February 27). 50 cent can’t help but once again mock Diddy over latest sexual assault allegations. Complex. https://www.complex.com/music/a/tracewilliamcowen/50-cent-mocks-diddy-sexual-assault-allegations Cowen, T. W. (2024b, March 29). What happened to Diddy this week: Homes raided, trolled by 50 cent, alleged drug mule arrested, & more. Complex. https://www.complex.com/music/a/tracewilliamcowen/diddy-raids-50-cent-drug-mule-sex-trafficking-what-happened DocumentCloud. (n.d.). Documentcloud.org. Retrieved April 6, 2024, from https://www.documentcloud.org/documents/24193182-new-jane-doe-lawsuit-against-diddy-aka-sean-combs González-Ramírez, A. (2023, December 8). All of the allegations against Diddy. The Cut. https://www.thecut.com/article/diddy-allegations-sexual-abuse-cassie.html North, A. (2023, December 20). The sexual assault and trafficking allegations against Diddy, explained. Vox. https://www.vox.com/culture/24006759/puffy-diddy-sean-combs-cassie-rape-lawsuit (N.d.). Retrieved April 6, 2024, from http://chrome-extension://efaidnbmnnnibpcajpcglclefindmkaj/https://storage.courtlistener.com/recap/gov.uscourts.nysd.610475/gov.uscourts.nysd.610475.1.0.pdf

Howard Stern has been at the top of the radio world for decades, making headlines with his crazy antics and intriguing interviews. His shows have remained at the top of the ratings, but as both he and his antics have aged, the show isn’t quite as insane as it once was.  And it was those older shows that made the headlines and Howard a pile of money in the meantime.  But how far is too far?  Has Howard toed the line one too many times for some fans?  We’ll dive into this guy’s crazy story in this episode of AHC Podcast.       Intro Music Credits: The Joker - Hip Hop - Royalty Free Music Produced by Danya Vodovoz https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Iz2XCAr0rc0&list=PLq4r2IOXma9DSwR-JOVaCm3uqYrqwhV1x&index=17 Royalty Free Music       Citations: Buffa, D. (1999, May 11). Stern: Dana tried desperately to Dodge Drug Test. New York Post. https://nypost.com/1999/05/11/stern-dana-tried-desperately-to-dodge-drug-test/ Goldman, J. J. (1994, December 8). Shock jock Howard Stern stops caller’s suicide leap : Media: Man phoned in threat from edge of bridge. radio personality says he decided to “keep this man laughing” until authorities could arrive. Los Angeles Times. https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1994-12-08-mn-6575-story.html IMDb. (n.d.). Howard Stern - Biography. https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0001769/bio/ Nededog, J. (2023, May 18). Howard Stern’s years of controversial remarks towards female guests goes viral in video. TheWrap. https://www.thewrap.com/howard-stern-backlash-women-guests-compilation-video/ Parker, D. (2022, September 29). Howard Stern is totally “unable” to leave his house, here’s the real reason why. TheThings. https://www.thethings.com/howard-stern-wont-leave-his-house-covid/ Scott, E. (2023, May 23). Radio host Howard Stern once talked a suicidal man off a bridge live on Air. LADbible. https://www.ladbible.com/news/howard-stern-talked-suicidal-man-down-live-on-air-radio-855750-20230523 Scout. (2014, January 4). The house that created Howard Stern. Scouting NY. https://www.scoutingny.com/the-house-that-created-howard-stern/ Showbiz, B. (2022, October 3). Howard Stern leaves the house for the first time since 2020. Yahoo! https://uk.style.yahoo.com/howard-stern-leaves-house-first-220000787.html Thornton, P. (2023, November 9). The most controversial moments from “the howard stern show.” Ranker. https://www.ranker.com/list/howard-stern-show-controversies/patrick-thornton Wikimedia Foundation. (2024, January 30). Howard Stern. Wikipedia. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Howard_Stern

Have you ever had a friend or someone you know recommend a movie that you’ve never heard of, and they “swear it’s unbelievable”, and it really is terrific?  What if someone told you that the coolest person that ever lived, passed away before America even became a country?  Many would say, “no chance”, but they may not have heard the story of John Law.  Law was like a 17-century gambler and economist who pretty much invented the idea of centralized banking and at one point may have been the richest man in the world.  How do you think this guy was cool? What caused his downfall?  If this guy is so cool, how come I’ve never heard of him? We’ll dive into these questions and more in this episode of AHC Podcast.         Intro Music Credits: Future [No Copyright Sound] [ FREE USE MUSIC ] - Leonell Cassio - A Magical Journey Through Space YouTube:  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HPzI18H-Nl4 License: https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0/ Download:  https://soundcloud.com/leonellcassio/amjts     Citations: Dictionary of national biography, 1885-1900/law, John (1671-1729). (2010, March 13). Wikisource.org; Wikimedia Foundation, Inc. https://en.wikisource.org/wiki/Dictionary_of_National_Biography,_1885-1900/Law,_John_(1671-1729)  Gleeson, J. (2021). Millionaire: The philanderer, gambler, and duelist who invented modern finance.  Goldstein, J., & Childs, M. (2020, September 4). The murderer, the boy king, and the invention of modern finance. NPR. https://www.npr.org/2020/09/04/909876702/the-murderer-the-boy-king-and-the-invention-of-modern-finance  Hughes-Hallett, L. (2018, August 29). John Law: the 18th-century Scot who became richer than the king of France. New Statesman. https://www.newstatesman.com/culture/2018/08/john-law-18th-century-scot-who-became-richer-king-france  Murphy, A. E. (1997). John law: Economic theorist and policy-maker. Oxford University Press. Wikipedia contributors. (2023, March 15). Livre tournois. Wikipedia, The Free Encyclopedia. https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Livre_tournois&oldid=1144676475  Wikipedia contributors. (2024a, February 28). Goldsmith. Wikipedia, The Free Encyclopedia. https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Goldsmith&oldid=1210871992  Wikipedia contributors. (2024b, March 6). John Law (economist). Wikipedia, The Free Encyclopedia. https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=John_Law_(economist)&oldid=1212170722  (N.d.). Owlcation.com. Retrieved March 9, 2024, from https://owlcation.com/humanities/John-Law-an-Economist-Who-Was-Far-from-Dull 

“Men want to be him, and women want to be with him”, that line couldn’t have been more fitting for the show subject in this episode, Hugh Hefner.  Hugh was a pioneer in the porno world and his creation, Playboy, was the introduction of naked women to many in the American public.  Hugh lived the life that many only dream of, and it seems as though all the stories have a ring of truth to them, both good and bad.  As you can only imagine, the shenanigans that went on at the world’s wildest party house can only be left to the imagination.  But did things go to far?  What kind of craziness could have led to trouble?  What did it smell like in the infamous Grotto?  We’ll dive into these questions and more in this episode of AHC Podcast.         Intro Music Credit: [No Copyright Sound] Beat [ Hip-Hop, Instrumental, Rap ] [ FREE USE ] - Unwritten Stories - Flowers License: https://creativecommons.org/licenses/...   Support Unwritten Stories: https://soundcloud.com/unwritten-stories/tracks / tracks  https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCkUe6tctg4HJLp2jC47AMBg / @unwrittenstories2171  https://www.facebook.com/creative.commons.beats     Citations: Hugh Hefner - wife, Children & Death. Biography.com. (2022, September 9). https://www.biography.com/business-leaders/hugh-hefner Rosenwald, M. S. (2017, September 28). Hugh Hefner: How playboy grew out of his puritanical childhood ... The Washington Post. https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/retropolis/wp/2017/09/28/how-hugh-hefner-became-hef-from-sexually-repressed-childhood-to-playboy/ Sales, N. J. (2011, March 30). Hugh Hefner’s roaring 70s. Vanity Fair. https://www.vanityfair.com/news/2001/03/hugh-hefner-200103 Torres, L. (2022, April 6). From bestiality to unprotected group sex, here are the biggest bombshell allegations made about Hugh Hefner and Playboy magazine on “Secrets of playboy.” Business Insider. https://www.businessinsider.com/secrets-of-playboy-hugh-hefner-girlfriends-allegations-sexual-misconduct-2022-4?amp Wikimedia Foundation. (2024a, February 13). Hugh Hefner. Wikipedia. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hugh_Hefner Wikimedia Foundation. (2024b, February 15). Playboy mansion. Wikipedia. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Playboy_Mansion

In the 4+ years we've been discussing the many subjects in our courtroom, it's very much come to our attention that some of our older scores may not align with where we are now. How we got to some of the earlier scores, we can't really explain, but we'll chalk it up to alcohol and inexperience. But we're here to make it right! In this episode, we are going to dive into updates on a number of people we've discussed in the past, as well as go back and make a few scores right. And and of course we're going to talk about one of our biggest misses of all time, Steven Seagal. This was one of our favorite episodes to record, enjoy!