Music
beef
What does beef mean?
A grudge, dispute, or ongoing conflict between people or groups.
"They've had beef since high school over nothing."
Origin
Older American slang for a complaint or grievance, repurposed in hip-hop for feuds between artists or crews. Standard rap vocabulary since at least the 1980s.
Frequently asked questions
What does 'beef' mean in slang?
It means a grudge, dispute, or ongoing conflict between people.
What does 'beef' mean in rap?
In rap it's a public feud between artists, often fought through diss tracks and interviews.
What does 'squash the beef' mean?
It means to end the feud and make peace with the other person.
Is 'beef' always serious?
Not always — it can be a small petty argument or a major long-running feud, depending on context.
Study it as flashcards or scroll it in Vocabulary Flow — saved to your collection.
