The two rappers have been throwing jibes (and the occasional punch) at one another since 1999. With the release of her critically acclaimed (and surprise) 2020 release, Folklore, Swift appeared to reference the feud again in a more reflective state, singing: “Women like hunting witches, too/ Doing your dirtiest work for you/ It's obvious that wanting me dead/ Has really brought you two together.” On the song, “Peace”, there’s another apparent dig in the lyric: ““But there’s robbers to the east / Clowns to the West.” It was a possible duel reference to Scooter Braun – West’s New York (east)-based manager and the man who bought Swift’s former label and rights to her back catalogue, despite her protests – and West, who lives in Wyoming, the western United States.įew hip-hop feuds are as long-running, or exasperating, as the ongoing rivalry between 50 Cent and Ja Rule. A leaked phone call showed Swift appearing to tell West she was OK with the line: “I feel like me and Taylor might still have sex.” However, it did not show her approving the lyric: “I made that bitch famous.” Then West’s then-wife, Kim Kardashian, entered the row, and claimed Swift had approved the lyric. When she became the first woman in history to win Album of the Year twice at the 2016 Grammys, she appeared to make a dig at West and anyone who attempted to “undercut your success or take credit for their accomplishments”. It was initially reported that Swift approved the line, but she soon denied doing so. Just months later, however, West unveiled a new track, “Famous”, which included the now-notorious lyrics: “I feel like me and Taylor might still have sex/ Why? I made that bitch famous.” Apparently at the urging of West’s mentor, Jay-Z, the pair briefly reconciled and were pictured together at the 2015 VMAs, where Swift presented him with the Vanguard award. He was widely condemned – including by then-US president Barack Obama – for his behaviour, and later apologised for the stunt. Kanye West caused uproar after invading the stage at the 2009 VMAs to swipe an award out of a 19-year-old Taylor Swift’s hands, declaring it should have gone to Beyoncé.