In a recent explosive interview on the No Funny Shit Show, Styles P, the legendary member of the iconic hip-hop group The LOX, openly stated that Jim Jones is simply not on his level as a lyricist. The candid exchange has reignited a long-standing rivalry between two veterans of the rap scene, sparking fresh debate among fans and industry insiders alike.
During the interview, co-host Kenny Supreme suggested that Jim Jones might have a stronger “20 pack” of songs, implying that Jones could potentially have a more consistent set of hits. While Styles acknowledged Supreme’s right to his opinion, emphasizing that “hip-hop is about you connecting with music,” he was quick to clarify where he believes the real difference lies.
“Me and Jim don’t do the same thing. I’m a bar master. I’m a lyrical technician,” Styles said, asserting his position as a true craftsman of bars and lyricism. “I’ve been on joints with some of the best emcees in the world,” he added, referencing his collaborations with hip-hop legends like The Notorious B.I.G., Jay-Z, Black Thought, and Talib Kweli.
Styles P elaborated on his credentials, emphasizing the respect he’s earned from rap royalty: “When Rakim tells you you nice, KRS tells you you nice, Big tells you you nice, Hov tells you you nice… all these people tell you you nice, you’re f**king nice.”
Unlike Jim Jones, whose strength often lies in catchy hooks and club anthems, Styles said his aim is to create music that “makes your soul move”—songs with lasting impact that listeners might fully appreciate even years later. “There’s not many people in my age group that have the amount of catalog I have,” Styles noted confidently.
One of the most striking parts of Styles’ statement was his claim to have “made up a fking lane” in hip-hop: “There was no artist emcee before. It was fly dudes, it was kings. I invented the lane where nas saying they make hard sht. Me.”
Styles also pointed out a defining difference between his work and Jim Jones’s, stating: “[Jim] don’t got none of those kind of songs that make n***as cry.”
Jim Jones Fires Back: Verzuz Challenge Issued
Not one to back down, Jim Jones responded swiftly and publicly to Styles P’s remarks. In a now-deleted Instagram post, Jones threw down the gauntlet, calling for a Verzuz battle to settle the score once and for all.
“Now go listen to [the] song ‘Bobby’ we did on Lobby Boy,” Jones said, referencing a track from The Lobby Boyz album he recorded with Maino. “We recorded it at the same time in the studio together. Since we talkin’ bars let’s [just] do a versus ep something for [the] people to listen n judge.”
Jones made it clear that he’s ready for any competition: “I’m not scared of no competition on any level, I’m here to level [the] playin field. If we talkin bars let’s go.”
This challenge from Jim Jones is especially significant given the history between their groups. Back in 2021, The LOX decisively defeated The Diplomats, Jim Jones’s crew, in a widely celebrated Verzuz battle that many fans still talk about.
The Legacy and Rivalry: Styles P vs. Jim Jones
Styles P and Jim Jones represent two distinct styles within the hip-hop genre. Styles is often heralded as a lyrical heavyweight—a “bar master” with complex rhyme schemes and deep lyricism. His work carries a heavy influence from the golden era of hip-hop and appeals to fans who value intricate wordplay and storytelling.
On the other hand, Jim Jones is known for his catchy hooks and street anthems that resonate widely with audiences who enjoy a more melodic, club-oriented sound. His contributions to the Diplomats and the Harlem hip-hop scene have solidified his place in rap history, but Styles suggests that Jones’s style doesn’t carry the same weight when it comes to pure lyricism.
Their back-and-forth highlights an ongoing debate in hip-hop culture: the balance between lyrical skill and commercial appeal. Fans of both artists have taken to social media to weigh in, creating vibrant discussions on who deserves the crown for lyrical supremacy.
What’s Next? Verzuz Fans Anticipate Another Epic Battle
With Jim Jones’s Verzuz challenge now public, anticipation is building for a potential showdown. Verzuz battles have become a cultural phenomenon, showcasing iconic artists battling live through their music catalogs, and a Styles P vs. Jim Jones matchup would surely draw significant attention.
Both rappers have proven themselves as stalwarts of the hip-hop scene, with decades of music, influence, and loyal fanbases behind them. Whether this challenge will materialize into an official Verzuz event remains to be seen, but fans are eager for a clash that promises not only bars but also a celebration of hip-hop’s evolving styles.
