Photo Credit: Michael Tran/FilmMagic
Drake’s been the top male rap artist for some time now riding at the top at the Hot 100 so it only makes sense that he would be getting criticized for how he got there. In an interview with Tiffany Calver of BBC Radio 1’s Xtra Radio Show, he addressed claims he was stealing from hip hop culture, or being a culture vulture as it’s called.
“I hate that people think that me being into music from these kids that are trying to make it and build a name for themselves is like, ‘Oh, that’s some culture vulture,’” he admitted. “What does that even mean? I don’t understand. Would you rather me not acknowledge anything or not support? That’s some real confused hater sh*t,” Drake said during the interview.
The culture vulture accusation comes from the number of underground influences he tends to have in his music including New Orleans bounce, Caribbean dancehall, and UK grime and funky house. “I’ll never understand how supporting somebody’s song, or even going a step further, giving somebody a song or linking up.. I’ll never understand how that’s not viewed as something admirable,” he claimed. In his defense, what artist wouldn’t be happy to be featured on a Drake track?
British rapper, producer and godfather of grime music, Wiley was the cause of Drake’s forray into addressing accusations of being a culture vulture, ranting on Twitter in disapproval while he was on air and was promptly responded to in real time. “Assassination vacation ffs what a punk,” he wrote, referencing the name of Drake’s current tour as one of the only tweets surviving after deleting all the rest. Wiley’s gone as far as calling Drake a paigon and has criticized both Skepta and Dizzee Rascal for working with Drake altogether.
Drake responded saying, “I like to enjoy what’s going on… I appreciate like all these young people creating all these things. It takes some real energy and synergy to create a good song. We were joking today about the comment that my boy left on the picture or whatever or on the video of me at Loski’s show.”
“I hate that people think that me being into music from these kids that are trying to make it and trying to build a name for themselves is like ‘oh that’s some culture vulture…’ what does that even mean? I don’t understand what that means,” he continued. “Would you rather me not acknowledge anything or support? Like that’s some real like confused hater shit. But it is what it is.”
On a more positive note, the last night to his 7 day residency in London at the O2 Arena, Drake brought J. Cole on stage and had an announcement to make. “I can’t wait to make some new music with you,” he said with his arm around Cole. “I know we been working. I can’t wait to let these people hear it.” Earlier in the week he said he had some new music he wanted to come back to London to play next year which is definitely good news for the Drake fans out there. And J. Cole went on to describe Drake as being in the “top five, if not, G*d damn arguably the best rapper to ever come in this motherf**ker.”
Drake responded similarly praising J. Cole saying “When I think of all my earliest memories when we were doing this sh*t… this is just for anybody that has a dream, that has a vision,” he said. “When I think of all my earliest memories there was always one guy that was always right there doing the same thing as me. Taking care of his people, showin’ love, and it’s this man right here. [Cole] hasn’t changed since the first day I met him.”
Are you all excited about new Drake material?
