
In 2009 track Reflecting, grime pioneer Skepta raps "I think I'm the best / And I call it competitive confidence, not vanity". It's a line that encapsulates the combat-driven spirit that has shaped rap music throughout its five-decade history.
Whether through the East vs West Coast rivalries of '90s US hip–hop or the modern postcode wars of UK drill, clashing with opponents has always been at the lyrical heart of rap music's DNA.