Rappers Dizzee Rascal and Wiley Reunite Onstage After 20-Year Feud
In a surprising turn of events, British rappers Dizzee Rascal and Wiley have seemingly put their two-decade-long feud behind them. The pair appeared together onstage in Dubai over the weekend, suggesting that their relationship has been mended after years of animosity. This reunion comes after both rappers have faced controversy in their respective personal lives in recent years.
During his performance at the Emirates Golf Club in Dubai on Saturday, Dizzee Rascal introduced Wiley onto the stage, indicating their newfound goodwill. Footage from the gig captured Dizzee jokingly telling Wiley, Oh shit. Get off my stage, man. I didn’t say you could come on stage. The audience cheered as the two artists embraced, signaling a possible reconciliation. However, it remains unclear whether they performed together or if Wiley was simply in attendance.
The feud between Dizzee Rascal and Wiley is said to have originated from an incident in Ayia Napa, Cyprus, back in July 2003. The altercation occurred when members of Roll Deep, Wiley’s crew, clashed with South London’s So Solid Crew. In a 2016 interview, Wiley confirmed that the Ayia Napa incident marked the beginning of their friendship’s deterioration. He recounted the events, stating, The reason we haven’t spoken for so many years? Basically, me and Dizzee went out one night [in Ayia Napa] and there was some fighting with another crew… Then the next day, I decided to carry it on – I didn’t pull out a knife.
Over the years, Dizzee and Wiley exchanged diss tracks and engaged in public beef through social media platforms. Their clashes reached a peak in October 2017 when both artists traded barbed tweets. Dizzee made allegations of underage sex and death threats towards Wiley, who vehemently denied these claims.
In addition to their long-standing feud, both rappers have faced their fair share of controversy individually. Wiley faced backlash in 2020 after making anti-Semitic remarks, resulting in his suspension from various social media sites. Footage emerged the following year, appearing to show him going on another antisemitic tirade. Last year, Wiley failed to appear for a court hearing, where he was due to face charges of burglary and assault.
Dizzee Rascal has also faced personal challenges, having been found guilty of assaulting his ex-fiancé in 2020. Despite his appeal, he lost his case in January of this year.
The reunion between Dizzee Rascal and Wiley offers a glimmer of hope that long-standing feuds can be resolved over time. While it remains to be seen whether their reconciliation is genuine, their onstage appearance in Dubai suggests that the rappers may be ready to put the past behind them and move forward. Only time will tell if this newfound goodwill will endure, but music fans can certainly hope for a future collaboration between these two influential artists.
