Pete Rock and Common vs. MC Shan Beef

Let’s talk about MC Shan.

A member of Queensbridge royalty and a hip-hop icon, Mc Shan is one of the people who laid the groundwork for Queensbridge rap and hip-hop in general.

He blessed us with the well-known song “The Bridge,” which began one of the most major feuds in hip-hop history.

Regardless of their skeptics, KRS-One and Boogie Down Productions will always be recognized for their work.

In 2025, Shan is seen as more earnest than authentic. That brings us to the recent drama where he has publicly criticized Pete Rock and Common for their song “Wise Up,” which copies the timeless hip-hop hit “The Bridge.”

Shan says he hasn’t gotten any payments from the sample, despite owning the publishing rights, which has caused controversy.

The song is on their Grammy-nominated CD, The Auditorium Vol. 1. Shan placed the two on notice and launched into an angry tirade on Instagram, expressing his displeasure at what he sees as a flagrant error.

Shan’s Copyright Conflict: “The Bridge” Battle.

Shan’s reply was all caps and angry. “WHAT YOU DIDN’T KNOW IS I OWN THE PUBLISHING ON ‘THE BRIDGE,’ SO IT’S A BIGGER INFRINGEMENT THAN JUST YOU TAKING MY VOICE AND SAMPLE IN A BEAT,” Shan wrote.

“I own the publishing, son”.

He went on to criticize the “double standard” that he claimed exists in the way artists handle copyright disputes.

“You should go get that money back from Homeboy since he didn’t knock on my door or cut me in on nothing”, Shan continued.

Last year, however, Shan acknowledged payment and referred to Pete Rock and Common as “men of respect.”

He admitted that they probably cleared the sample by following the proper legal processes. That has suddenly changed as he now claims that he never received the money.

Although the location of the breakdown is unknown, Shan appears certain that he is aware of his rights and intends to seek restitution.

Since Pete Rock, Common, and Shan are all highly esteemed figures in the history of the genre, the argument is disheartening, and is expected to explode any time.

Before the lawsuit begins, their fans hope that the three icons’ beef will be settled.

In hip-hop, sampling without consent has long been a divisive topic, frequently drawing attention to the problems with copyright and music publishing.

For now, it serves as a sobering reminder of how crucial it is to fairly compensate artists for their cultural contributions.