Before they ever collaborated, Jay and Nas spent an entire decade feuding in what was a battle for the ages. After taking several speculated subliminal jabs at one another, Jay decided to throw the first punch in 2001 during Hot 97 FM's Summer Jam, rapping, "Ask Nas, he don't want it with Hov. NO." 

Nas' response? He fought back against his adversary on his fifth album, Stillmatic. On "Ether," Nas repeatedly declares "F*** Jay-Z," dubs him the "fake King of New York" and calls him "a fan, a phony, a fake..." You get the idea. He also accuses him of stealing lyrics from Notorious B.I.G.

Things seemingly went too far when Jay declared he had a fling with Carmen Bryan, the mother of Nas' daughter, Destiny, during a 2001 freestyle dubbed "Supa Ugly," and Jay's mom reportedly told her son to apologize. He did, saying "I want to apologize to Carmen and any females I may have offended." In 2005, the pair officially buried the hatchet. That year, Jay staged a concert he called "I Declare War" and used it to do the opposite, declaring peace with Nas, signing him to Def Jam and performing "Dead Presidents" and "The World is Yours" with him on stage.

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