DMX and his rival Ja Rule have "squashed" their long-standing beef thanks to efforts from their mutual friend Irv Gotti.

The two rappers have been waging a war of words for years after DMX accused Ja Rule of copying his gruff style on records. Meetings between the two have come close to blows.

But when Ja Rule's label boss Gotti insisted the pair stage a secret summit meeting to discuss their differences, the seed of peace was planted.

DMX admits he initially wanted to scrap with his rap rival when he was released from jail last year before making peace: "Gotti came to me in jail and said I want to make peace with you and him.

"I was like, 'Alright Gotti, let's do it. But I need five minutes in a room with your man. I got to put my hands on him.'"

But the tough-talking rapper eventually saw sense and agreed to meet with his one-time foe: "Gotti sat down and we squashed it. I said he (Ja Rule) got to stop sounding like me."