Introduction The first full week of July has hip-hop moving at full speed. The release calendar is stacked three deep with heavyweight albums, one of the genre's founding fathers has announced a rare stadium show, a Cleveland institution finally got its flowers on Hollywood Boulevard, and the culture paused to honor a pioneer we lost. Here's a rundown of the stories driving the conversation over the past few days. Ken Carson Kicks Off a Loaded July with 'xperiment' Ken

A backstage snub, a few subliminal lines, Whitey’s Revenge, Quitter and one mention of Hailie turned Eminem vs Everlast into one of rap’s strangest personal feuds.

Joe Budden criticised Views, Drake appeared to jab back, and Budden responded with Making a Murderer, Wake and Afraid — but the battle never became a clean two-way war.

Before Pusha T exposed Drake’s son, his long war with Young Money had roots in BAPE, Clipse, Mr. Me Too, Exodus 23:1 and Lil Wayne’s Goulish response.

A misunderstood Trap House video, a Young Buck collaboration, a changed verse and years of tension turned T.I. vs Ludacris into one of Atlanta’s sharpest rivalries.

Mase and Cam’ron were Harlem friends before fame. Years later, The Program, The Oracle and their eventual sports-media reunion turned the feud into a full-circle story.

When Graduation and Curtis dropped on the same day, Kanye West and 50 Cent turned first-week sales into a cultural referendum on where rap was heading.

The Game entered through G-Unit, then clashed with 50 Cent over loyalty, credit, feuds and identity. The result was one of rap’s biggest crew breakups.

Before diss tracks became albums, streams and memes, Kool Moe Dee battled Busy Bee and helped change what MCs were expected to do on the microphone.

Kool Moe Dee saw LL Cool J as a younger star borrowing from old-school foundations. LL answered with hits, confidence and one of rap’s earliest generational battles.

Cardi B and Nicki Minaj’s feud moved from songs and interviews to a New York Fashion Week altercation — and turned female rap rivalry into tabloid spectacle.

Remy Ma’s ShETHER used Nas’s Ether beat, attacked Nicki Minaj for nearly seven minutes, and created one of female rap’s biggest modern beef moments.