Pete Rock has been a leading voice in Hip Hop’s ongoing clash between the old school and new school, so it should come as no shock that he’s involved in yet another war of words on social media. This time, the legendary producer ran down Waka Flocka for comments made in a recent interview with ThisIs50.
Around the 5:30 mark of the below video, Waka blamed the previous generation for not creating a better environment for today’s artists. This did not sit well with Rock, who defended his peers and fired back at Waka’s claims in a lengthy Instagram post.
“Im gonna defend my older heads and tell you your not equal,” Rock wrote. “Be as disrespectful as you want. Your not doing what we did,havent accomplished what we accomplished. Our generation didnt experiment with pills or syrup or anything synthetic. Its already written in history. Rock n Roll hall of fame,hip hop hall of fame and museums. Where are you at in any of that? The problem is yall never had respect from the jump. WE ARE THE REASON YOUR WHO YOU ARE AND DO WHATEVER IT IS YOUR DOING! Pay homage to who was before you.”
Rock, who’s been one of the most prominent critics of “Mumble Rap,” reiterated his disdain for new artists with a lack of substance in their music. Much like his digital dust-ups with Young Dolph and Darrell “Digga” Branch, the man behind classics like “T.R.O.Y.” and “The World Is Yours” wasn’t going to hold his tongue.
https://www.ageofconsent.net/states/new-york
“Problem is also yall want us to accept music that dont move nothing but the young,when you making music its to inspire everyone not just your era,” he continued. “Only time my pockets on pause is when im streaming yall album. I listen to it and made a decision not to buy yo shit cuz in my opinion being a music maker,there is no substance to the music or lyrics so dont get mad cuz you not cut from the cloth of hip hop pioneers. Lets see how long you can last in this business doing what you doing.”
Rock capped his message off by addressing Waka directly, challenging the trap rapper to make better music and boasting about the Golden Era.
“You been quiet until you startED running your mouth about old school niccas,” he wrote. “Thats corny bro. Just make better music and spit like an MC. Yeah yall different but nothing of what nas krs kane jay z or any official rapper has ever taught you. We saying something about your generation cuz your simply not making heart & soul felt music young nicca! The old head rant is corny. Old heads are special and i just think yall cant do what we did. Salute! @wakaflocka.”
Waka caught wind of Rock’s tirade and responded via Twitter. The equally opinionated artist expressed disappointment and said Rock was stuck in the past.
“Damn P this post was lame and uncalled for,” he tweeted. “I should slap the shit outta you. You stuck in the past. Krazy shit is my real blood family was always around you smh .. and I don’t do none of those wack drugs you talkIng.”
Rock’s last project was 2016’s Don’t Smoke Rock with Smoke DZA, yet he’s stayed in the headlines over the course of 2017 due to his penchant for IG rants.
Pete is right doe when it comes to the current wave, maybe not bout waka but waka did play his part in paving the way for the dumbed down version of rap that we have today.
The crazy thing is PR is trying to show these young rappers not to fall into the traps of the past. If you have no skill you become irrelevant. This is not about hating this is about teaching you about your culture and ensuring that it survives for others to come up. If they lucky they can eek out a career doing something else that is not hip hop. Most won’t be able to. Whereas most skilled rappers have benefited two ways. They make money from concerts worldwide into infinity think wu and public enemy. They are also respected in other fields think 50 and Ice Cube. None of these mumblers will make it this far.
It’s frustrating for fans… I can’t even imagine how it must feel for the artists who went through all the systematic racism of the late 80s/90s and against all odds managed to release music… for kids 20 years later to not give a shit. This doesn’t happen in any other genre, like rock, where AC/DC and black sabbath are treated like gods still, and supported by the kids. I’ve never heard anyone in rock say ‘ozzy Osbourne is trash’ yet I’ve heard kids these days say ‘nav is better than Nas, lil yachty is better than eminem, Uzi vert is better than KRS-One. It’s insane, kids have no respect! Fair enough if you don’t listen (I don’t listen to music from the 70s) but you have to respect what came before and how they paved the way!
You sir, are correct. Hip hop has some of the dumbest artists in music history smh….
“Hip hop has some of the dumbest artists in music history ” facts. What this generation failed to realize is they have a broader way to communicate than the old school, but are wasting it. Personally I Think Atlanta has become the hub of everything detrimental to hip hop. Mumble mouth rapper, the gays are big here the dress code is from Atlanta, also the music itself. some have good production, but it all sounds the same. Wheres the public enemy of this generation, the Rakim or the KRS 1? Theses dudes promote sex, drugs and violence at a level the music industry has not ever seen before. I mean everybody that gets in the game sold drugs? ran the streets, 100 tats and never lost a fight, wow. Trap music is that exactly , a trap.
Pete is really caught up, I used to be very vocal about that shit too, but I’ve come to let it go. Things have changed. But as far as blaming the guys who are out now doing the mumbling, or whatever, isn’t the right move, imo. We must just continue on and so called “old” hip hop artists can continue to make the music they enjoy. But getting mad on social media, all that, it’s not going to change anything.
Yea, I’ve let it go by just adjusting my Slacker and Soundcloud apps to just play old school hip hop and underground substance rap!! They really trying and grinding but they just too overshadowed by this Media-pushed trash
Pete Rock said something DEEP!! Ion know if y’all caught it…..when Hall of Fame comes round for this new generation in the future, WHAT THEN?? These mumble rappers who and I quote “working hard to feed the fans” think they will make it in?? Future drops BS albums nonstop, he think he’s Hall Of Fame capable????
This is just part of a typical mainstream cycle. Unfortunately all of the older heads are going to have to sit back and let it run it’s course like a virus.
This has happened several times before in other genres, and just like those genres, these guys will have little or no impact on the actual culture or the purists who propagate it. If we look at the 90’s we had groups like Nirvana and Stone Temple Pilots. Once the business caught up to what they were doing, we started seeing bands like The Goo Dolls or The Wallflowers, which you would be hard pressed to hear anything about. The same goes for punk, while in the 70’s and 80’s you had groups like The Ramones, Sex Pistols or The Clash, in the early 90’s we had groups like The Offspring who were a manufactured attempt at punk which did well to sell records, but when you’re in a discussion about the genre, the only time you will hear Offspring brought up is when it involves a joke.
I believe the same will apply to Migos, Waka, Lil Uzi etc. They are part of the cycle, not the foundation. And let it run its course, because as this batch moves out, another will move in. All you can do is sit back, be patient, and get excited and support the Kendrick Lamars and Joyner Lucas’s when they show up.
Now THAT was an awesome post with examples and substance. Thank you for that.
Now THAT was you mocking yourself and replying to your own post. Loser.
100% with Pete Rock ! Waka is wack. Ain’t done shit for Hip Hop. Period !!!!
None of these ninjas can spit. Shout out to KRIT, WALE, KDOT, COLE, BIG SEAN, DRAKE, MEEK, and DAVE EAST for holding down hiphop with wordplay, substance, lyrical ability, and flow…in this era of mumble jumbo…thank god for these MC’s
You realize you put Grayke, the ghost written pop-tart puppet in your list? Where is Bieber, fuck boy?
smh, this old hag again. all you old heads keep saying you want us to respect you, but you guys never respected us in the first place. why in the fuck should we give you respect back? we’re doing our own thing, we don’t go by the rules. and guess what? it’s working for us. y’all in the backseat, were in the front. let’s have pete rock and waka flocka put out albums on the same day, and guess who will sell/stream more? that’ll determine who’s running things around here.
We will buy Pete’s Album and kiddies like you will buy Waka’s album…. common sense! Enjoy y’all mumble reps but respect the Culture
no, old heads and real hip hop heads do not buy albums. they give all the praise to their favorite irrelevant rappers on the internet then complain when they don’t sell more than the hottest “wack” rappers. and apparently, the “kiddies” are running things since both you and i both know who will sell more between pete rock and waka.
Complain :)) ur so fucking dumb !! For real the old head how u call them they love to make music and their music make sense doesnt matter to them if they sell or get grammies.they all ready did that in the past and look how many new rappers got influenced by them the thing is ur rappers cant rap have no sense in their lyrics and they even cant freestyle haha what a joke
Dum idiot grow up before the youngs get their respect they need to respect the old one 1st if wasnt for the old one ur favorite rappers wouldnt be here do shut the fuck up with ur clown wack rappers !! Ur rappers may have hits but will never have classics and will never be on the G.o.a.t level
Dudes will definitely be saying, “Pete who?” PR needs Kanye to drop that shit he is so adamant about coproducing already. He better hope it’s fire… that Smoke Gayza shit sucked. Beats were OK at best. What happened to C.L.? Why ain’t Nas fucking with you anymore? Because you’re a drama queen ass ho? Or maybe you aren’t what you used to be. Wacka does suck though…
I agree with Pete but he needs to understand that hip hop is not black hoodies and timb boots anymore. I loved those days but things change. Now dudes rock skinny jeans and blouses (migos and others). People making money rapping bout cars and money with a catchy hook. But they are getting the bag. Can you really blame them?
PR isn’t talking about any of what you mentioned. He’s referring to the substance and quality of the music.
Listening to Waka speak damn near gives me an aneurism. First, when all this new generation bullshit took over Hip Hop was already the top genre in music. You had hip hop artists in major budget films, running their own businesses, setting up platforms with the influx of new technology to get more music out to the listener. Took a neighborhood act and made it a worldwide phenomenon and this was all in place BEFORE the new generation came thru. Talking about getting fucked by the label? Then why is it that damn near everyone has their own label, or at least claim to? Point is, this business was fucking thriving long before the Waka’s of the world ever came around, and those are just a few examples. He’s contributed ZERO to this shit. What more does this ignorant bitch think he’s entitled too? Everyone in this world in one way or another is here or have what they have from the grind and sacrifices of those that came ahead of them. The reason this fool is on here crying is because he, and the rest of these no talent having ass imposters are spoiled and have no vision beyond what color they’re gonna dye their fucking hair. The fact alone that he has a position to speak his ignorant mind in such a forum is a testament to the hard work the older generation laid down. That all being said, not everyone from the new generation is dumpster juice, but you get the gist.
So what the fuck is Pete crying about then??? See, the point is that these old heads never had real control over the labels to begin with so we could have some structure over OUR OWN. The reason they got the movie deals and all that was because of whity in the suits and ties setting up the deals, it wasn’t the rappers making the moves, they were just collecting.
What point are you trying to make in reference to what Waka is bitching about? I feel like you just wanted to say something, anything.
Pete Rock is the truth. #Legend
“We saying something about your generation cuz your simply not making heart & soul felt music”
And that is what it all boils down to. This new stuff has no heart and soul. It’s just cheap contrived product: 21 Savage, Tekashi, Cardi B, Migos, etc. These people are not talented or exceptional rappers or songwriters.
Pete Rock and Smoke DZA…. “don’t smoke rock” is an excellent album. Check it if you havent!
Waka needs to Slap this broke duck Geek Rock
@ Sick of this shit… Well said, brah! lol @ “these queers are in skinny jeans, wearing hot pink.”
Wack-A-Fuckin Lame! An old head told you to tighten your bars or shut up, you tighten your bars or shut up son!
Somehow a lot of old heads think that constantly going at the younger generation will somehow influence kids to listen to better music. I’m an old head myself but even I know that when you talk to kids like they’re dumb and talk down on their interests, of course they won’t listen to what you have to say. That’s the same in every generation, including Rock’s. Pete Rock is more than entitled to let people know the way he feels though, he’s definitely not wrong but he’s bashing his head against the wall with this approach.
ANOTHER BROKE NY OLD HEAD SAD BOOM BAP DEAD . GET OVER IT AND LET IT R.I.P.
The truth is there is NOOOOOOOOOOOOOO substance in todays music, period!
no one looking out for Wack Fuck-a-lame nicca anyway
I agree boom bap killed ny hiphop and Pete was a architect of those bullshit beats
please stop, you making your generation look bad.
I find it interesting….somehow “mumble rap” dumbs down the audience, but we all in our feelings when they say hip-hop promotes and incites violence. I just saying tho.
pete rock aint real hip hop, waka is!
Waka is only in the game because of who is Mom and Uncle are.. if you don’t know who they are you should do your homework. Waka knows he’s lame, I repeat, he is only in the game because of who is family is and they come from the era of Hip-Hop Waka is hating on so how stupid is he?
who’s his uncle? couldnt find anything on google
Bimmy is his name…..80s crack dealer, big name in rap industry, funded alot of rappers career
(Shaking my arthritic fist) Damn all of you spoiled little whippersnappers! Back in my days we had to walk uphill 5 miles in the snow to get to a basement studio with a 4-track recorder. We were good with 40s and blunts not this drug cocktail hullaballo you lil dopers are on, even with my achin back! We didn’t have none of this youtube and snapcrap you punks have! I remember saving up my quarters for a Wu-Tang Clan cassette cause they had substance! Now excuse me Im off to listen to a Big Daddy Kane vinyl album while my wife applies my Bengay after some retirement home b-boying i pulled my hamstring!
You’re not funny.
totally true! this geezer thinks this is the ancient days still with useless crap like punchlines and soul samples. Wake up old fart, it’s 2017! Auto-tune everything, staged Instagram fight vids, ball-constricting tights and Ozzy-level drug use are where it!!! In the words of a rapper from your long begone era The Gza “Throw your shitty drawers in the hamper, Next time, come strapped with a fuckin’ Pamper!”
How about instead of looking at this from a generational perspective of old heads vs new school, we approach this solely based on if the music is of lasting quality and that skill and talent goes into every bar and every beat. Krit and JCole are examples of new school hiphop with extreme quality of content. It’s plain as day to see that Waka, Lil Pump, Lil Chump, Lil whoever could NEVER in their life make quality hiphop. Put together some amazing bars, ride the beat, and spit some shit that actually matters. Perhaps over a beat with authentic drums would be a nice touch too and not those water sprinkler hi-hats. This debate should not be old school vs the new, just the dope vs the WACK.
He needs to change his name to Pete “Smoking” Rocks . Broke A$$
WAKA doesn’t need to change his name…it’s already spoken 4