By now, the Drake and Pusha T beef is in full swing. When the DAYTONA rapper responded to Drake’s “Duppy Freestyle” with “The Story Of Adidon,” it came with some controversial single art.
In the photo, Drake is donned in blackface and wearing a Jim Crow shirt, which left many people wondering, well, why?
On Wednesday night (May 30), the OVO Sound mastermind released a statement on his Instagram Story that explained where the photo originated.
“I know everyone is enjoying the circus but I want to clarify this image in question,” he wrote. “This was not from a clothing brand shoot or my music career. This picture is from 2007, a time in my life when I was an actor and I was working on a project that was about young black actors struggling to get roles, being stereotyped and type cast.”
Drizzy went on to say it was an attempt to “bring awareness” to the issues he and other black actors had to deal with during auditions.
The photographer who took the photo, David Leyes, asked Pusha’s manager Steven Victor to take it off Twitter shortly after the song’s release and Instagram pulled it from Pusha’s account.
Pusha kicked off the back-and-forth spectacle on Friday (May 25) with the release of “Infrared,” which was included on DAYTONA. The song took aim at both the 6 God and Cash Money CEO Bryan “Birdman” Williams.
As of now, the ball is in Drake’s court. [apple_news_ad type=”any”]
There is no explanation, it was a mistake, just say that and move on.
When you have to explain shit from a diss track you know you took an L
That ain’t working. Damage is done. Dude was a child star already at that point that wasn’t effected by having dark skin since he is a very light skin mix kid. Dude is taking on more L’s than his mom and son.
Where the bars at Drake??
Makes no sense for a couple reasons. 1 he was already a working actor, 2 where’s the campaign at? 3 this is clearly a mistake and someone obviously stopped him from making a fool of himself so just call it that. He was clearly trying to be funny and truthfully this just speaks to how corny Drake is as person to not understand how out of touch this would have been. I thought it was photoshopped! There was no way that I thought this was real and his reason also falls short because when has Drake ever stood up for black causes? I’m not going to say he’s not black enough and all that nonsense but that’s just not his thing. MAN UP, your white fans aren’t going anywhere and most of your black fans are not woke enough to know what you were doing
Actually in 2007, he wasn’t making it like that. He has gone on record to say that he wasn’t making that much money from Degrassi like that, just enough to support him and his mom. He funded his music at the time, and shot the Replacement Girl music video with Trey Songz, but he said it flopped and he lost a lot of money on it – a bad memory for him and one of the reasons why he doesn’t really perform the song. He started bubbling in 08, and took off in 09.
Also, there are many instances when a campaign or project can be shot or created, but then it gets scrapped for whatever reason. Happens all the time.
Dude just stop. There’s no excuse for doing anything in black face after 1921, it’s 2007 when he did this. Secondly, Drake does not voice his stance on black causes at call so keep that. It’s excuses like yours that allow this type of foolishness to happen within our society. Drake was a working actor, on his way to rap stardom and times were so so so hard that he felt the need to go black face?? Lol yeah ok
Just stop, Drake isn’t progressive enough when it comes to black causes to even pull something like this off. G Eazy and Macklemore have taken greater chances when it comes to standing up to injustice and discrimination. Please stop
“Please stop”? Stop what? I’m not justifying anything about the situation, I’m letting you know the facts regarding your points 1 and 2.
In terms of your point 3, you’re being far too presumptuous. No one knows if he was trying to be funny. Saying he doesn’t stand up for black causes is extremely laughable, as he has spoken on social issues regarding black plight, as well as donated to various black establishments. Saying that speaking up for a black cause is “not their thing” is terribly shortsighted and nonsensical. One can choose at any time to “make it their thing” if they want, as they aren’t barred from it.
“Drake isn’t progressive enough when it comes to black causes to even pull something like this off. G Eazy and Macklemore have taken greater chances when it comes to standing up to injustice and discrimination.”
While what you find as a greater risk in terms of how one stands up for anything is opinionated, you clearly have no idea what you’re talking about, especially since you mentioned of all people Macklemore and G Eazy.
Lol what? Those two that I mentioned have been more vocal about discrimination and police brutality and that’s a fact. Get out of your feelings and try to understand that the reason that most people aren’t buying his answer is because Drake has never ever ever ever addressed black causes. Not in his music and not on his social media. So now he has millions of followers and he’s silent but you want us to believe that while he was relatively unknown, he was going to pull off a black face campaign to expose Hollywood??? Lol why am I even debating with your ignorant azz
This is some bullshit and Drake should know better. Serious question because not being from the US I don’t know. But are black people allowed to use black face? Is that cultural acceptable? And how black do you have to be if thats the case? Drake is half black right? What if he was quarter black? Is it ok then? Because I don’t understand why there isn’t more fuss over this.
There’s not a lot of fuss because the media loves Drake. He’s the Trump of rap, meaning no matter what he says or does, it doesn’t stick to him. Nobody puts on black face, this isn’t the 1920s. The reason he wanted it taken down is because he knows this was a terrible idea, period. Now with that said, the only fans he will lose is the black hip hop head who only enjoys his music from time to time and when he puts out something that’s undeniably good. Drake has pop fans and they don’t care about this just like they don’t care about him having ghost writers. This is just a bad look but fortunately for him we live in an age where H&M can put a little black boy in a hoodie calling him a monkey and black people will be there the next day.
DX took down my reply to you, there’s no reason anyone should be in black face after 1921 and let’s just leave it at that since they’re sensoring comments
Appreciate your answer. Even though I genuinely enjoy American culture and music I don’t have full control over the entire history of things and whats ok and not. Thank you.
Well, this won’t sound “PC”, but Drake was never an “African American” (Canada is America too, North America). He never sounded street or used Ebonics until he started all his cash money shit. On Degrassi he spoke like a straight whiteboy. He always has. No one should wear black face period, specially a half black, studio, Millie Vanilli sellout.
I agree but the term african american is such bullshit, just because your black you get labeled african but meanwhile all these European settlers are considered just american. After so many generations why can’t black people just be considered american, and also if your black from another country you still get jumbled in the african american labled, so even if drake is from canada black is all the same but he is half jewish tho
“Working on a project”? Ok cool, where’s that project at? I’ll wait…
Lol dude took another major L with this flimsy explanation. That black face shit was extremely racist move. Accept that you made a mistake with it. Next time choose your battles wisely. Everyone ain’t meek.
Didn’t address the child issue though
For what? With all these deadbeats out here, who cares if Drake’s one?
Everyone was asking for an explanation for the blackface thing so Drake had to give it, Also lets be real,we do not want to hear a verse from drake talking about the black face. We want to hear a 44bars of disrespecting the fuck out of pusha t.
You mean from Quentin Miller with Frake’s vintriloquist ass…
“I know everyone is enjoying the circus” you damn right we are Drake, now drop your reply tomorrow so nobody would be talking bout Kanye album, now that would be epic.
Nobody would be talking about Kanye’s album? LOL hes the biggest hip hop artist out there. Its impossible for anybody to not talk about Kanye
nah kanye ain’t shit no more
You obviously didn’t hear the beats on Daytona, nerd. Now listen to that corny ass “upset” shit by Grayke.
I don’t know how Kanye and Maybac Music get a pass. That whitney Houston shit is disgraceful and Rick Ross was A C.O.
Who run Bartertown??
I understand what he was trying to do, but it was in poor taste and Pusha capitalized. Honestly, I hope he doesn’t address the picture in his response–this is good enough–that would just be awkward. Counter Pusha’s bars.
run drake RUN
Damn. Major L for Drake. He better treat this like that Buddens shit and act like it never happened. It’s going to be hard to live down the Black Face shit as a half black Canadian with ghostwritten battle raps and fake street cred… HHDX will try their sanders to ave Drake and cover this shit up.
Where there even Jim Crowe laws in Canada? He seems to have a pretty big, happy smile on his face for someone trying to “expose” some shit… Total loss. Amazing. How did this not get exposed earlier? So now he’s abandoned a kid (which he had with a B-rate porn star), had lyrics ghost written for a battle rap and worn black face (tried to claim it was photoshop, then changed his excuses). I don’t know what he could possibly use to get out of this one… I’m curious as to what K. Dot thinks of all of this. A real rapper that writes his own shit and has Grammys…
Anyone that accepts this explanation of blackface is slow. He was on a syndicated show that played all over North America. The continent. It’s was on Nickelodeon which is owned by Viacom a huge media company that also owns mtv bet vh1 and a long list of channels and media outlets. Never a struggling black actor regardless of his “pay”. He always lived well. He has never spoken to any causes afflictions or anything that effects anyone identified as black in North America ever in his music which is why we even pay attention to drake because he makes music. And we should believe he was being “artsy” n pointing out hypocrisy in Hollywood casting. After being on a successful series that spanned over a decades time. Plenty of hits no depth to the art he’s been actively selling this whole decade past his “personal” issues which he doesn’t go past sleeping around with women that he can’t trust n supposed young rich man problems. Notice he didn’t address that baby. Notice he didn’t apologize either. Just “ explained” the supposed context of the photos. He needs white fans to believe he’s a brother n down for the cause to stay cool. He needs black people to co-sign him to be cool. But it’s not cool no matter what. It’s corny n lame N his explanation doesn’t suffice and can be deconstructed just by a quick google search on Degrassi n drake. But his fans will be like slim Charles said in the wire “if it’s a lie then we fight on that lie. Cuz we still fight”. We shouldn’t fight for his lies people. He’ll be alright cuz people won’t stop liking the music he makes. But the chinks in the armor need to stand. Nothing should change what should be perceived by all as wrong with or without context. He didn’t make spike lee’s bamboozled with a photo shoot or short film or whatever. Even that was destroyed by critics n most people n spike did a good job explaining context of the blackface in interviews n in the film. Still got panned n received backlash. He need to take his lumps charge it to the game n be better prepared to explain the issues of blackface n his maybe baby.
Drake be lying, he was already to projects in 2007. He released come back season in 2007. He was not a struggling actor. I hope someone exposes this deadbeat ass ghostwriter ( dad ).
Wait a minute… someone once that Drake was black without knowing him? With that Canadian accent and shit? GTFOH. Total jackass move.
Spoken like a true strong white man
All in the name of art. You joking right HHDX. Why is that considered art but Daytona album cover isn’t. Come on Son.
Daytona album cover is a photo of a cocaine addict’s bathroom, bro.
you drake stans are so pussy lmaooo
I don’t even like Drake that much tbh. Just stating the obvious, buddy…
Best comment fr
“Everyone was asking for an explanation for the blackface thing so Drake had to give it, Also lets be real,we do not want to hear a verse from drake talking about the black face. We want to hear a 44bars of disrespecting the fuck out of pusha t”.
Nothing to see here folks! Black people are allowed to joke about anything they want. This would only be news if it was a white person doing this! Because EQUALITY!
Yes we need hear Woah Vicky’s opinion on this.
No explanation is acceptable for Drake’s blackface photo…The photo comes across as a failed attempt to mock African American struggles from a guy who may not be comfortable with being biracial. The fact that Drake took a photo in blackface as an adult is a slap in the face to black people, especially in America. And to make this situation even more alarming, Drake didn’t even apologize for the photo’s offensive nature!!!! Shame on you Drake and to anyone classifying this stupid and disrespectful photo as art. Now we know exactly what Drake’s mindset it when it comes to African Americans smh. I want to reiterate that Drake didn’t apologize for this photo being offensive to African Americans.
hahahahaahahahahahahahahaahahahahah oh the irony
Funny how black people (particularly black women) don’t care about this. They “canceled” Chrisette Michelle for performing at Trump’s ingratiation, as well as Kanye for saying slavery is a choice, but they won’t do the same to Drake for doing this bull shit???
these thots only think with their stank p&ssies
People don’t even hold other rappers to this standard. Like he addressed the photo and people don’t want to accept the truth about it because they got played by Pusha and want to keep the narrative going.
If this was anyone else they would have been fired. This dude is out here in black face with a racist ass clothing line…smh. This guy gets a pass for everything. You sound like a butthurt drake stan mad that this dude got destroyed and he is being humbled like a MF right now:0)
Mos Def actually did the blackface.
Nos did it as a form of protest and posted it all over the internet at the time he did it. BTW, Mos is black enough for that shit to not be as obvious as it was on snowflake Blackface.
The fact that he had to address it is a L within itself. I don’t see no other rappers/actors or anyone of color doing blackface so this is not acceptable. This is on “slavery was a choice” level. It wasn’t cool then and it’s not cool now, we in a PC state of mind these days. If Pusha did the same he should get the same negative heat, we live in different times and Drake got caught slipping from a poor decision he made.
Mos Def actually did it awhile back.
Wow. You actually compared Mos to Drake? You should be banned for life as well. Hahahah
This dide sold his soul for alittle cash…smh…he out here in blackface trying to act like it was art:/? His music is all about him crying over a girl, being number 1, how everyone hates him cause he number 1, how his boys cook in the kitchen and all that other BS. never have i heard a drake record talk about race or real life issues facing thw black community. Drake is being humbled right now…PUUUUUSH.
Been telling my brother this foreverrrrrrr. No real substance . No hidden Jewels
“Drizzy Drake” is shook as fuck right now. Push ain’t fucking around. It’s so nice to see Drake on the L-receiving end.
lol jay z definitely had his hand here – him and push want drake out of the paint so bad they are willing to insult all of black america to try and get one on him – drake really has these guys nervous if they are willing to go to this extent
Drake fans dont know how to feel right now^^^^^:0) ..pusha t has them rethinking their whole sad life thats dedicated to drake..lol
Drake fans in scramble mode!! Funny as hell!!! Did Drake get 24 hrs to respond?? This a circus well he the CLOWN!!!
So he released a STATEMENT???Wait where’s his response??? I can’t stop laughing!!
Yeah cool beans Aubrey…but you can watch one of the best movies ever “Hollywood Shuffle” & get the same message…that coon face shit is no bueno Aubrey
they keep tryna get me for my souuuuul
So Drake says this happened in 2007 but the clothing line released a statement saying they released the Jim Crow clothing line in 2008. Hmmmm….something doesn’t add up. He is definitely lying lol.
He issued a “statement” which begins with, “I know everyone is enjoying the circus…”. Damn right we are. Where the bars at Aubrey?
Question ..WHY DOES EVERYONE WANT DRAKE TO COME BACK….AGAIN??? HE RESPONDED AND WAS KILLED AGAIN RIGHT AFTER. DRAKE SAID ALLLLLLL HE COULD ABOUT PUSHA..THERES NOTHING LEFT OF CHARACTER TO TALK ABOUT..BUT WE CAN GO ON FORVER ABOUT THE PRIVILEGE AND FAKE TALENTS IN THE INDUSTRY…AKA DRAKE..AKA AUBREY
AKA..MILLY VANELI
Yo craig – he made it from nothing. No co-sign from anybody. He flew himself to meet wayne and the rest was history. Industry greats like HOV tried their damndest to keep him out of the paint but the will was too strong. 9 out of 10 listen to Jay and their career is dust… Jay Z did the exact same thing when he was coming up…..Pusha tho…one of the nicest to do it, been in the game almost 20 years and has all the intangibles to be a great and he has somehow put him self in a position to not even have a say what his own album cover is gonna look like…he didnt even know when he was dropping…this is what separates followers from leaders….Drake didnt even have to pretend to be a drug dealer……youre all still in pusha mode and rightfully so that diss was hard……. drake makes more in a year than pusha did in 15 years…..whos really hustling here??
He got a Jas Prince co-sign.
He made it from nothing? He was acting FOR DISNEY when he first started rapping. Yeah. Lindsey Lohan and Mikey Cirus made it from nothing. Hahahahaha. How’s the weather up in Canada, eh? He was always middle class. Him and his mom lived in a middle class gated community before the fame. It’s all documented. Nerd.
here u go posting away and you dont even know where pusha is from ya big dummy – “Its all documented.” he says hahahahahaha – with a period and everything – You know what is actually documented – Pusha being from the middle class, no struggle, and attending church often – Go search “no malice interview” w vlad” and FOH with your passive aggressive emotional wrinkles haahahaaahahah – sometimes i ask myself how these guys found their way to a rap site knowing as little as they do
I heard Drake also stuffed his bulge to make it look more like a legit BBC bulge
I heard your dad enjoys watching your mom being used by legit BBC’s
And I heard your mom enjoys watching your dad being used by legit BBC’s.
Damn how foul are you weirdo fantasizing about black dicks and posting that comment with that profile pic of you and your kid .
Go away bitter white dude
If you havent figured out that there are ignorance and double standards coming from a certain group of people then you not the smartest.
No fuck that
Whatever, Eminem made raps calling a black girl a porch monkey and he is whiter than Drake. Justin Bieber used the n-word too. Both were before they were famous and their wallets haven’t taken much of a hit.
listen u soft canadian piece of trash i dont care what u were doing u put on black face man u need to be banned from hip hop off gp
LETS ALL START CALLING FRAKE #SnowflakeBlackface. How dope would it be if that became his nickname across the Internet? Hahahaha.
Lupe Fiasco put on a KKK uniform and no one cared about that….. the Drake hate is so bias
It was an obvious protest. He also didn’t cover it up and posted it himself, dipshit.
Drake didn’t cover it up it was for. Like 12 years ago he probably forgot it ever happened…
Bigfella Candy Bar OTW! candymanvendingservice.com
GTFOH with this dumb letter and explanation……..He can dress up in black face and rock jim crow shirts but never stood up for black causes and issues in America….. Drake is a fraud…. Bring that baby home…
the guy is obviously not a racist… so who fucking cares what he did 12 years ago. i dont see why this is such a big deal. Lupe rocked a Klansmen fit… its not like he was selling and glamorizing drugs to his own people contributing to the destruction of his community. i wonder how many fatherless children Pusha T’s drug dealing empire caused… Just imagine if social media and camera phones was around when old man Pusha T came up,
Drake, how in the hell is wearing blackface bringing awareness to black actors ? Just admit that, at that time there was a bag large enough for you to do some self-hating coon shit. Not gonna be able to salsa dance your way outta this one buddy