In the world of music, controversy has always been a potent currency. A new study for 2025 confirms that a well-executed diss track can be an incredibly lucrative venture, turning personal spats into streaming gold.
The Lucrative Art of the Musical Feud
Musical rivalries are a tradition stretching back decades. The phenomenon isn't new; one can trace it back to 1933 when Brazilian artist Noel Rosa used his samba song ‘Rapaz Folgado’ to critique fellow musician Wilson Batista. In modern pop, many point to Paul McCartney's ‘Too Many People’ as a key early example, where he took veiled shots at John Lennon and Yoko Ono, which in turn prompted Lennon's scathing response, ‘How Do You Sleep?’. Today, these public disputes do more than generate gossip; they drive massive engagement and significant royalty earnings on platforms like Spotify.
Revealing the Most Profitable Diss Tracks
SeatPick conducted a detailed investigation to identify the most profitable diss tracks released in the last decade. Researchers began by compiling a seed list from Wikipedia and specifically added recent tracks from Lily Allen's latest album, following her public diss aimed at ex-husband David Harbour. The team then gathered the current Spotify stream counts for each song and calculated the estimated royalty earnings using the Music Gateway calculator, allowing them to rank the tracks from highest to lowest earner.
The Top Money-Making Diss Tracks of 2025
Here are the standout diss tracks that have proven to be the most profitable this year.
1. Offset - NO SWEAT (beef: Stefon Diggs, Cardi B)
This track served as Offset's public retort following his divorce from Cardi B and the widespread rumours of her involvement with NFL star Stefon Diggs. The song is a fiery reaction to the new relationship, with Offset seemingly criticising Diggs's character and questioning how quickly Cardi B moved on after their very public split. Estimated Royalties: £920.64.
2. NLE Choppa - KO (beef: YoungBoy NBA)
'KO' is NLE Choppa’s aggressive counter in a heated, ongoing rivalry with YoungBoy. The feud escalated after YoungBoy targeted NLE Choppa in a previous release. This response is an assertive dismissal, questioning YoungBoy's influence and character in an attempt to lyrically conclude their long-running dispute. Estimated Royalties: £4,477.91.
3. Joyner Lucas - Nobody Cares (beef: Skepta)
This was Joyner Lucas's swift and forceful reply to Skepta's diss track, Friendly Fire. After Skepta initiated the lyrical challenge, Lucas used Nobody Cares to aggressively question Skepta's status in the rap world and challenge his authenticity, turning a UK vs. US rap challenge into a full-scale battle. Estimated Royalties: £9,732.39.
4. Skepta - Friendly Fire (beef: Joyner Lucas)
Skepta’s track was the opening shot in his lyrical feud with Joyner Lucas. The diss was a pointed critique of Lucas's highly technical and complex rapping style. Skepta used Friendly Fire to accuse Lucas of overthinking his craft and being disconnected from the street origins of rap. Estimated Royalties: £10,737.19.
Controversy Creates Cash in the Streaming Age
The data makes one thing clear: in the modern music industry, a public feud is a powerful commercial strategy. These diss tracks not only capture public attention but also translate directly into millions of streams and substantial financial gain. As 2025 concludes, the connection between musical beef and profitability has never been stronger, proving that for some artists, controversy truly does create cash.
