Jay-Z returns to the stage with sharp bars aimed at both Kanye West and Drake

• Jay-Z performed a four-minute freestyle at the Root Picnic after six years away.
• Bars were directed at Kanye West over past claims he made about Jay-Z's children.
• Drake's Iceman track Janice STFU prompted a sharp response from Jay-Z during the set.

There was a time when Jay-Z and Kanye West stood together as one of the most formidable partnerships in hip-hop history.

Their catalogue of hit collaborations and their well-documented brotherhood made them a defining force in the industry. That bond, however, is long gone — and Jay-Z has now made that rupture loudly and publicly clear.

Hov returns with a four-minute freestyle

At the Root Picnic festival, Jay-Z — known by the nickname Hov — broke a six-year solo performance hiatus with a blistering four-minute freestyle that left little room for ambiguity.

West, now known as Ye, was first in the line of fire. Hitting back at the rapper's past public claims about his children, Jay-Z rapped: "My children is some of them, have you n***** no shame?"

He did not stop there. Hov continued: "Y'all trying to get under skin, I really get under skin." He then added: "Ask Un how I'm playing. Everybody thinks they're the ones who are insane. You're no maniac."

The reference to 'Un' was directed at music executive Lance 'Un' Rivera — a figure from Jay-Z's past whom he was accused of stabbing in 1999.

Jay-Z slams Drake

West was not the only rapper in Jay-Z's crosshairs. Drake — known as Drizzy — had taken a swipe at Hov on his latest album's Iceman track, Janice STFU, rapping: "The jig is up." Jay-Z, who has previously served as a mentor to Drake, did not let it pass.

He responded with a volley of pointed lyrics: "The jig is up, n**** I'm up 10; wrong chart champ, n***** looked up to Hov; I never looked up to them."

He pressed on: "Those crackers got your publishing checks; go talk tough to them; don't talk success to me." He concluded: "You n***** is workers, in perpetuity is how your contract is worded."