Pusha T and Jay Z represents two very specific eras of Hip Hop’s fascination with drug raps. Hov spent a nice chunk of his career catering to the classic mafioso aesthetic before evolving into the mega mogul that’s cemented his prolific career. Meanwhile, King Push has transitioned well as one-half of Brothers Thornton to the last remaining major label coke rappers where sing-song flows and club hits are seen as more important than being a lyrical gymnast. For “Drug Dealers Anonymous,” both give the best confessional coke flows they can and proudly make it a Tidal exclusive. Well, an exclusive for now. Produced by DJ Dahi, this would be the second week in a row Jigga has blessed listeners with a feature sense the “All The Way Up” remix. Giving readers a hot take on one of the most anticipated tracks of the year, HipHopDX Managing Editor Trent Clark, Senior Features Writer Ural Garrett and Contributor Jesse Fairfax have a lot to say about the first single from King Push.
Can “Drug Dealers Anonymous” Becomes The Year’s Best Coke Rap
Trent: Is this actually a Pusha T record? The tagline says it’s the first single from King Push but a Mr. Shawn Carter definitely runs away the track; going the extra mile with his requisite 16 bars.
Now for the nitty gritty. As always, I’m highly amused with the reactions across the net regarding yet another new Hova verse. Those individuals who can’t fathom the thought of Hip Hop culture moving forward past 1999 are doing a helluva job trying to convince their social media following that “D.D.A.” features the reincarnate of Reasonable Doubt Jay revisiting his days of shaking hands with cocaina caked in his pinky ring. Everyone else is writing it off as the subject matter well running dry with material, thus supplying the world with a retread on the days past.
I can honestly say despite a rather clunky start, the Jay verse was rock solid; replete with double entendres and he hit his stride somewhere along that Uber metaphor. (No shots but that DamnDaniel line was pretty asscheeks. We get that you’re not that removed from the Internet culture but congratulations, you dated your verse.) Pusha’s opening was marginally forgettable due to the fact that he’s been down this road several times before. In fact, I dare anyone to disagree you can mix and match Pusha T bars from the likes of Hell Hath No Fury, Fear of God and Darkest Before Dawn, and still not fall in line within the same context. When you’re blessed with the gift of lyrical landscaping, it may be hard to break through your ceiling since it’s already set at particular threshold but you gotta push through, King Push. The Hip Hop stratosphere has very few artists who can still offer up a classic album in the traditional sense and you are believed to be one of those individuals.
Also, long live TIDAL. Just sign up for your free trial, people. It’s not that serious.
Ural: Hip Hop this year has been dominated by the new school sensibilities of Desiigner’s “Panda,” the upgraded vintage New York flair of Fat Joe & Remy’s “All The Way Up,” the lush sonics of Chance The Rapper’s Coloring Book and anything regarding Drake. There’s this feel good vibe that’s all about being as radio friendly as possible or simply smile inducing. “Drug Dealers Anonymous” is thankfully the complete opposite.
Not even a year since being appointed president of GOOD Music, King Push has remained steadfast in maintaining his damn near infinite ability to rap about Hip Hop’s favorite illicit hustle. King Push: Darkness Before Dawn was a purpose filled appetizer and the upcoming album seems to be turning into a different beast within itself. Though DJ Dahi is becoming more known for his more colorful production style blend of angular samples, melodies and purpose filled drums, “Drug Dealers Anonymous” fits into the dark sonic aesthetic that’s been attached to Push more recently. This isn’t “My Type of Party,” “Worst Behavior” or “Money Trees.” One thing is for sure, DJ Dahi can strip his sound effectively when necessary.
And, this is more than necessary with Push. He demands to be heard and articulating his bars with his polished delivery hones in the point. Though rappers with less lyrical ability would sound redundant, Pusha still manages to pull cocaine metaphors and anecdotes out of his pockets like a Looney Tunes hammerspace. By now, Pusha has also damn near perfected the drug dealer anti-hero knocking down moral ambiguity. This is more evident in the “Who the fuck ain’t mastered this / America’s nightmare’s in Flint / Children of a lesser God when your melanin’s got a tint” after “I can baptize a brick / As I wash away my sins like a catholic.” As he gets older, it’s clear King Push gets the social/economic context of the drug game a lot more now.
“Yall think Uber’s the future / our cars been autonomous” is Hov playing cool as usual. Similar to the “All the Way Up (Remix)”, he’s using his guest features to more so explain himself than anything. Makes sense, stay out of the limelight and let the music do the talking for you. For his appearance on the Fat Joe & Remy single, he took shots at those rumors and allusions behind his wife’s black women empowerment epic Lemonade. This time, his verse opens up with conservative talking head Tomi Lahren who used Hov’s drug dealing past against him in countering what she perceived as Beyonce being anti-police through “Formation” and subsequent Super Bowl performance celebrating The Black Panthers.
His answer? “14-year drug dealer and still counting / Who deserves the medal of freedom is my accountant / He been hula hooping through loopholes, working around shit.” From Hov’s perspective, he went from literally selling dope to pushing some of the greatest rhymes in rap history. Those having a clue about the correlation between crime, poverty and drugs total get Hov’s controversial rise. At this point, he’s totally removed himself from that lifestyle to pushing cognac, sports clubs and his management company. From Jigga’s perspective, “the paper trail is gorgeous.” Oh yeah, that “Bitch I been brackin’ since the 80s” line is just as hilarious him asking detractors to Google him and saying #DamnDaniel.
A track like “Drug Dealers Anonymous” isn’t really supposed to exist in this day and age, but thank goodness it does. Never thought in this day and age, cocaine flows would find its niche in the era of “Trap Queen.” Thankfully, Pusha T and Jay Z spit with a style and flair of their own in one of the best lyrical exercises from any mainstream artist this year.
Jesse: When this song was announced I’ll admit I was hesitant. Pusha T’s credibility took a few hits with me considering ludicrous comments that The Life of Pablo is his boss’ best work ever, not to mention his co-sign of fly by night jackrabbit Desiigner. But between getting a jersey signed by fellow VA legend Allen Iverson and the arrival of “Drug Dealers Anonymous”, it would seem he’s having the best week ever.
Though they share a brotherly bond with Kanye West, Pusha T and Jay-Z have never been alone on a song until now so I guess the time was better than ever to attempt showing youngins they still have it. I’m used to more dynamic production from DJ Dahi, but less is more as Pusha caused my face to scrunch (in a good way) telling the world “My brick talk is more than obvious, it’s ominous.” Incessantly giving us the intricacies of the dope game for soon to be two decades, (who could have predicted his career when “The Funeral” came out?) he keeps finding ways to reinvent his game while making it seem effortless.
As somewhat of a Jay Z connoisseur over the years, as he’s aged he’s fallen into a formulaic comfort zone on the mic and “Drug Dealers Anonymous” isn’t much of a departure. Name dropping European labels I’ve never heard of and don’t care to Google (despite his insisting twice that I use the world’s most popular search engine), for some time he’s been coasting in comparison to his sharpest glory days.
Claims of losing 92 bricks aside, Hov’s believability is never an issue. His trafficking past can be documented via third parties and he’s more than wealthy enough to afford a life most can’t imagine, but I no longer get chills down my spine when blessed with a new verse. Once driven by hunger, rapping is now an ongoing game of Horse for him where he calls bizarre shots just to see what will land; unfortunately his blindfolded clever attempt at shouting out recent viral sensation Joshua Holz ends up as an airball.
On a side note, I’m annoyed by the TIDAL exclusivity of “Drug Dealers Anonymous” and ever so hesitant to embrace the streaming trend until the day I’m absolutely forced to. But as the song itself is concerned, I hope this wasn’t just a street record to satisfy Pusha T’s core fans with the forthcoming King Push going on to be catered to G.O.O.D Music’s millennial hypebeast hive.
I’ve been waiting for this, you good folks @DX never disappoint well maybe Jesse expressing the pessimist attitude before listening to the record but it’s ok we all have flaws. Pusha T’s verse was the perfect alley oop for Hov’s amazing finish listen to the last 6 bars of Pusha and then the snippet from Jesse’s relative about Hov selling crack. It’s perfect sarcasm and wit hence the title. Job well done Trent, if only you would’ve thrown the lob to Ural this would’ve reminded me of that Pusha T record with Jay Z
this was a dissapointment. the beat is dope and I was hoping Jay-Z would rip it but he sounds uninspired. not terrible but was hoping for more
I expect better out of these two. At best average but the beat isn’t good enough to make it a hit. Jay Z name dropping random shit was awful, if that’s all the ideas he has left then he needs to stop.
A hit?? That’s what it’s come to? We are no longer the audience we are now A&R’s ,label execs and Dj’s. We checking for “hot songs” that sound like the last “hit”? The game needs these kind of records it’s cool to just hear them rap, play with words and actually flow say shit THEY have to decode.
the game does not NEED these songs. damn every rapper records THESE songs. THESE songs are redundant and familiar. The drug dealer narrative is boring. It is reckless and childish for grown men who allegedly no longer sell drugs to continue to rap about drug dealing. you need to grow up just like Jay-Z and Pusha T need to grow up.
I feel you… but I still love these types of tracks. The beat here is fucking awesome and Push/Hov both rip it. The game doesn’t really need anything.. the game is what it is. Ultimately we as listeners choose the trends.
I feel you… but I still love these types of tracks. The beat here is fucking awesome and Push/Hov both rip it. The game doesn’t really need anything.. the game is what it is. Ultimately we as listeners choose the trends.
Who write these reviews….people put too much thought into shit. Lmao..its hip hop…this the reason shit is suffering as it is..And oh yeah..THAT COLORING BOOK WAS TRASH!
Are people in this community really that old and jaded? Should every rapper become a conscious rapper just to satisy your old hearts? They had some great wordplay and wonderful delivery. One of the top verses of the year in a time filled with Designers, Futures, Young Thugs, singing Drakes. Jesus Christ this isn’t the 90s or even early 2000s anymore
This is conscious rap. They are consciously telling you that they are selling drugs. The problem is that people got conscious rap and consciousness confused. Because back in the 90s there was a movement of rappers that decided to talk about higher ideas and use the rap platform to do it. But it’s all the same when you make a conscious decision to tell someone how you sell drugs kill or whatever. It’s all conscious. Keep it 100.
This is conscious rap. They are consciously telling you that they are selling drugs. The problem is that people got conscious rap and consciousness confused. Because back in the 90s there was a movement of rappers that decided to talk about higher ideas and use the rap platform to do it. But it’s all the same when you make a conscious decision to tell someone how you sell drugs kill or whatever. It’s all conscious. Keep it 100.
God Da**… how many times do we have to have that Jay-Z LITERALLY went from being a drug dealer to a business man? Every year, every album you guys hype him up THE SAME WAY. It’s not interesting no more, its old news!!! These 2 nickel dime hustlaz need to stop hyping themselves up like they were Pablo Escobar. Get off his nuts man
Let’s thank the hip hop gods for blessing us with this track. I luv it.
That female reporter is going to snap when she finds out that her voice was sampled for the rhyme.
Same old stuff from both these two. Not HOV or Pusha’s best bars but hardly their worst. Personally, I find both of these dudes old stuff better, so if I want to listen to HOV or Pusha I will listen to their old stuff, until they can make something of the same or better quality. You would think after all these years both these guys would have something different to rap about.
First off… The guys who wrote this should probably have a better understanding of what they’re listening to and pay respect when it’s due!
Jay did his thing on the track. I don’t really see the issue with what the writers are talking about (saying “damn daniel”, talking about blow and certain wordplay). I honestly do not see what made anyone’s face squint about the “brick obvious/ominous” line. There’s nothing that dope about it, nor does it have any depth? I talk about blow, means something bad’s about to happen? That’s sick? What? Your incessant drug talk will eventually get you looked at by the feds so hard your manager ends up getting popped, going to prison and your brother becomes a christian rapper? That’s the only impact (if any) that line has on me.
Now, lets get to the real meat and potatoes of this track. Hov does a GREAT job doing what he always does, being Hov. And to say he’s not giving anything better than what you hear on the radio now, WOW! I guess lyrics don’t matter anymore. Also, i had no idea what damn daniel was till this track. Once again, Hov making another listener think a bit more (even if it is a pointless internet meme I could give 2 shits about). But let’s really talk about a line that made me think, that most people probably missed… The “I’m A Course In Miracles” line. If y’all really had more of a life outside of internet memes and blogging, you’d probably would’ve caught that… Along with the follow up lines “there in lies the peace of God” and so on… Not to get TOO over the top but Jay is referring to the book “A Course In Miracles” and the lines “nothing unreal can be threatened/nothing unreal can exist” is his was of discarding the fake… They can’t threaten him (heres looking at you Drake) and nothing unreal is even “real” to him (again, Drizzy…) and of course in the same breath, he reclaims his title as “God MC/me, Jay, HOVA” because ACIM is supposed to be a book divinely inspired by God/Jesus and as that part of the bar closes he refers to himself as a prophet, by once again claiming that since that book was written before Jay hit his stride in the rap game, he inspired it and SINCE Jay did not write the book, along with the rhymes he doesn’t write, he just get’s that more DEEP and impactful with his verse, along with proving why we call him HOVA… All in a single Bar. All, that I am almost 100% positive that the writers of this website completely missed. But hey, I’ve come to expect that with these “bloggers” who simply write about things without even doing proper research and blah, blah, blah… the list could go on. And I’ve literally broken down a SMALL portion of this song. Don’t get me started on the rest of it. Just wanted to point this out for myself and others…
Cuz when I critique a Jay verse, I’m only biggin up my brother!
So Jay referring himself as god for the 100th time is something we should give af about? Seriously he’s been spitting the same derivative bs for years now. It’s fucking Boring! Jay stans suck his balls through his draws so hard it’s pathetic
So Jay referring himself as god for the 100th time is something we should give af about? Seriously he’s been spitting the same derivative bs for years now. It’s fucking Boring! Jay stans suck his balls through his draws so hard it’s pathetic
The perspective I got from this article is that hiphopdx is over analyzing the song. Like even the damn Daniel line by jay, when dx assessed they were like “we get it jay stll up to date with the Internet.” I’m like what the fuck, just let us know if you like or not without the explanation. You journalist sound like Wendy Williams.
Also, the line “nothing unreal can be threatened/nothing unreal can exist” is a quote from the book A Course In Miracles. Should’ve clarified that. Again, Hov being that king of this rap shit.
Also, the line “nothing unreal can be threatened/nothing unreal can exist” is a quote from the book A Course In Miracles. Should’ve clarified that. Again, Hov being that king of this rap shit.
This Stan P.Skillz said Hov is making the listener THINK MORE with the stupid “damn daniel” meme, wtf. You call that conscious and dope? FOH, you are delusional and way far up Camel’s ass. Nas murdered him man let it go already. Jay-z is only relevant in NYC, fact. You get a thousand stanning points though.
Lmao… Only relevant in NYC? Nas murdered him? This must be a troll. You get two thousand stanning points for this and an extra thousand for almost getting me to believe you were serious. LOL!
Its strait fire…
More like straight doo doo
More like straight doo doo
Looks at year…. It’s 2016! These fools rapping like they’re trying to make a pop song for the year 1999.
Hiphopdx is so dumb.
That damn Daniel line was fire as fuck ” damn Daniel fbi keep bringing them all white VANS threw” if you didn’t get that you need to go back cuz you missed a lot more lol