For years, musicians just about had only one creative outlet for dissing their enemies: by means of music. That may all change for good circa 1981, nevertheless, when the trendy music video was born — bringing with it an entire new approach for singers and rappers to creatively dunk on their haters, exes, backstabbers, copycats and everybody else in between.
The most effective issues concerning the format is you can be as delicate or as apparent as you need. On one aspect of the spectrum, for example, there’s the Taylor Swift methodology of hiding cryptic Easter eggs seemingly directed at her nemeses (see: “The Man,” “Look What You Made Me Do,” and so on.). However then again, there’s simply full-blown pettiness, achieved by means of nail-on-the-head inventive decisions resembling, say, casting people who you already know are going to get a response out of somebody particular (or not so particular).
It’s on the latter aspect of the spectrum the place the artists on this checklist — Katy Perry, Nicki Minaj, Drake, Justin Timberlake, Usher and extra — prefer to dabble. These artists know no worry in relation to assembling music video casts which can be positive to ship followers and social media right into a tailspin, whether or not it’s by means of recruiting an enemy’s enemy or an adversary’s doppelgänger for four-ish minutes of onscreen shade set to music.
With out additional ado, listed below are eight occasions artists used casting decisions to take digs at another person by means of their music movies. Convey alongside a flashlight, although — it’s about to get shady.
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“Boyfriend”
Picture Credit score: Courtesy Photograph Artist: Usher feat. Keke Palmer
Supposed shade goal: Darius Jackson
In summer season 2023, Darius Jackson made headlines for publicly shaming his then-girlfriend Keke Palmer, with whom he shares a son, for sporting an attractive gown to an Usher live performance and dancing up shut with the R&B singer on Twitter. “You a mother,” he’d written accusingly, amongst different feedback. But it surely was Palmer who acquired the final chuckle.
The Nope actress went on to star as Usher’s main girl within the musician’s “Boyfriend” music video, the duo wanting like a glamorous couple onscreen and busting out some epic group choreography collectively. All of the whereas, Usher taunts in his lyrics: “Anyone stated that your boyfriend is on the lookout for me, that’s cool/ He ought to know I’m fairly straightforward to seek out/ Simply search for me wherever he sees you.”
Then, on the very finish, Palmer takes one final dig at Jackson’s feedback about her motherhood: “S–t, I’m so drained… I’m a mom, in any case,” she says, winking on the digicam.
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“Dangerous Blood”
Picture Credit score: Courtesy Photograph Artist: Taylor Swift
Supposed shade goal: Katy Perry
Swift’s 1989 single “Dangerous Blood” from 2014 was extensively believed to be about her beef with Perry. And whereas there’s no explicit casting alternative within the single’s star-studded music video that instantly shades the “Firework” singer, the clip incorporates a stacked solid of distinguished feminine celebrities. It’s arguably saying, Take a look at everybody who’s on my aspect and never on yours. Neener, neener.
To not fear, although; the 2 pop stars ultimately buried the hatchet, and Perry herself later guest-starred in one other of Swift’s celebrity-packed music movies. Catch them hugging it out on digicam in matching burger and fries costumes within the “You Have to Calm Down” video right here.
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“Swish Swish”
Picture Credit score: Courtesy Photograph Artist: Katy Perry
Supposed shade goal: Taylor Swift
Earlier than the 2 stars made amends, nevertheless, Perry seemingly shot again at Swift together with her 2017 single “Swish Swish.” The “Darkish Horse” musician even took it one step additional by together with Nicki Minaj on the monitor and casting the rapper in a starring position in its corresponding video.
Why does this matter? Minaj and Swift as soon as had beef of their very own, sparked by a misunderstanding over a pair 2015 VMAs-related tweets (Swift had acquired a video of the yr nod, mockingly for “Dangerous Blood,” which went on to win; in the meantime, Minaj’s “Anaconda” was snubbed). Whereas the 2 hashed it out on-line, Swift implied that Minaj was attempting to “pit girls towards one another,” main a disgruntled Perry to leap into the fray.
“Discovering it ironic to parade the pit girls towards different girls argument about as one unmeasurably capitalizes on the take down of a lady…,” Perry tweeted, after which Minaj despatched her a kissy face emoji.
You possibly can additionally argue that Perry’s basketball opponents’ mascot within the video — a wolf sporting a sheepskin — can also be petty casting, given what Perry had beforehand tweeted allegedly about Swift in 2014: “Be careful for the Regina George in sheep’s clothes…”
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“Cry Me a River”
Picture Credit score: Courtesy Photograph Artist: Justin Timberlake
Supposed shade goal: Britney Spears
If there was any doubt left within the minds of the general public about who Timberlake’s “Cry Me a River” was written for, the 2000s pop icon made it clear in his transparently shady music video for the music. Casting a useless ringer lookalike in your former girlfriend — who, on this case, was fellow famous person Britney Spears — for a music about being betrayed by a hypocritical ex? That’s Petty 101. Like, come on: they even styled the lookalike in Britney-esque clothes, proper right down to the then-trendy pageboy cap.
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“I Hit It First”
Picture Credit score: Courtesy Photograph Artist: Ray J
Supposed shade goal: Kim Kardashian, Kanye West
Ray J simply couldn’t resist shading his ex-girlfriend Kim Kardashian after she began courting future ex-husband Kanye West, seven years after she and the “Attractive Can I” singer broke up. Not solely did Ray J slam her relationship with Ye within the lyrics — “She would possibly transfer on the ballers and rappers / however everybody is aware of I hit it first” — however he additionally took a web page out of Justin Timberlake’s textbook by casting a Kim Okay lookalike within the music’s April 2013 music video.
Regardless that the lookalike was styled to match Kardashian’s signature take a look at the time — curve-hugging gown, slick black ponytail and heavy, neutral-toned make-up — Ray J later insisted that individuals had been “digging into it too deep” by connecting the video to the truth star. “It’s a music, we simply having enjoyable,” he stated on the time. “I’m not attempting to create no battle. It’s all love.”
Positive, Ray J. Positive.
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“These Heaux”
Picture Credit score: Courtesy Photograph Artist: Bhad Bhabie
Supposed shade goal: Kylie Jenner
Bhad Bhabie has been throwing figurative punches for the reason that starting of her music profession, however what are you able to count on from the woman who first acquired well-known for screaming “Money me outdoors” on Dr. Phil? Then 14 years outdated, Danielle Bregoli got here out swinging within the music video for her debut music “These Heaux,” exhibiting a Kylie Jenner lookalike getting giant injections in her lips and butt as the teenager rapper warned listeners to not evaluate her to “faux” h–s.
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“Good Kind”
Picture Credit score: Courtesy Photograph Artist: Nicki Minaj
Supposed shade goal: Cardi B
The Queen of Rap simply couldn’t assist herself, might she? Within the midst of the 2 girls’ long-running feud, Nicki totally shaded Cardi B in her “Good Kind” music video that includes Lil Wayne, just by casting sisters Baddie Gi and Jade… aka, the alleged victims Cardi was charged with assaulting at a strip membership in 2018.
In 2022, Cardi accepted a plea deal relating to the incident, agreeing to fifteen days of group service.
