Drake is preparing the release of his Views From the 6 album with his beef with Meek Mill still lingering. The Philadelphia rapper called Drake out for reportedly using a ghostwriter to pen his verse for “R.I.C.O.” a cut from Meek Mill’s Dreams Worth More Than Money album.
While Drake and his OVO team brushed off the allegations, the question remains if Drake is a legitimate rapper if he doesn’t write his own rhymes. KRS-One says he is.
“If you’ve got a dope writer that can make you sound like something, go ahead and get with dude,” he says in an interview with N.O.R.E. and DJ EFN on the Drink Champs podcast. “The issue is writing. This is the issue, writing dope rhymes. I don’t give a fuck where it comes from. Writer, whoever. Some of the dopest dudes and I’m not gonna call no names, rhymes you say, ‘Yo,’ there’s secrets in Hip Hop. The dopest dudes had dude write for them. That’s not a problem. Now me, I never had the privilege of anyone writing for me. If Rakim came to me with a rhyme, I’d say that shit.”
He continues that there is a difference between rappers who write their own lyrics and those who don’t but it doesn’t mean Drake can’t be appreciated.
“It’ll never be ok with real spittas that write their shit,” he says, “but that’s our lane.”
KRS-One, who has had his own beef with MC Shan among other artists, says that the back-and-forth between Drake and Meek Mill made them more legitimate rappers. He says that in the age of social media, it is easy for any rapper to talk about his prowess without actually doing anything on the mic. He says that the new generation of artists is competing with legends like himself who are still hungry to make good music. He has special props for Drake who walks the tightrope between genres.
“I think it gave both of ’em credibility because for me as an MC, like when people say Top 5, everybody got their Top 5, you know what I’m saying,” he says. “But if you ain’t battle, if you ain’t did tours, if you ain’t put hits out, it you ain’t put somebody else on or came from a legacy that was wild, you ain’t even near the Top 5, so I’m looking for young cats today to really rise up to the criteria first….I like both of they lyrics by the way. Drake I think is underrated in terms of cause maybe he’s doing the pop thing or whatever. But his lyrics is still dope from an emcee perspective.”
Watch the video of KRS-One saying he doesn’t care if Drake uses a ghostwriter below:
Wow, didn’t expect this one from KRS… guess he sold out, and it’s not even his fault, everybody’s too scared to call out the fake ass Canadian pop star because it will hurt their career, that’s alright we get it.
That ghostwriting shit was blown the fuck out of proportion…listen to 30 for 30 and 6pm in NY and compare it to RICO and 10 Bandz and Energy
Bro I’ve been saying the same thing niggas act like drake can’t write he been having a writer this whole time
KRS-One needs a new album. There should be all star producers. DJ Premier, Dr. Dre, Rick Rubin, Bomb Squad/Hank Shocklee, Kanye West, and slept-on folks like C-Doc (Public Enemy) and Johnny Juice Rosado (Public Enemy).
He put a new album out only a few weeks ago. Get with the times. Smh
I’m definitely shocked. Everytime this topic comes up, ghostwriting is fine. Damn…
He didnt sell out. KRS said “It’ll never be ok with real spittas that write their shit,” he says, “but that’s our lane.” CLEARLY he’s against it but that doesnt mean that Drake songs arent hot. Drake can write I can tell when he writes his songs. I can also tell when he has ghostwriters. But you can never be in the TOP MC list if you have ghostwriters. That’s a rule in Hip Hop.
Congratz on being the first from 7 posters who understood KRS’ message. Here, have a +1.
I’m just going to start by calling bullshit on you knowing when he and when he does not write his own lyrics because in reality you have no idea. And how you confidently think you do know is really funny as well. Also Quentin Miller was credited for every song he was apart of soo he’s not a ghost writer…
Shit – Who ghost write for Hov?
Young Chris and members of the Prop….heck he steals slang and don’t sound right saying it …Gay z can make a good song but sounds like a Sucka being 40 and talking about crack …elevate…
“But you can never be in the TOP MC list if you have ghostwriters” So, in your eyes HOV isn’t the best then?
Remember what Ice Cube said? “even if the ghost writer were credited they are still ghost writers because we don’t know which part the real MC wrote, and which one the ghost writer wrote”
We should be more upset that this guy says he don’t give a F about Bam’s allegations, come on now.
So when he says “But his lyrics is still dope from an emcee perspective.” he really means the lyrics he has written for him are dope? Drake is an entertainer not an emcee.
KRS makes me cringe every time he offers his overly intellectual pseudo spiritual opinion on anything these days..
His response to the Bambaata allegations was ill thought out… At best, really suspect at worst.
His music just always sounds the same and despite his best attempts to stay relevant just misses the mark these days..
I used to really like his music when I was coming up but he’s become a caricature of his wackest self…
Fake teacher, false prophet and wannabe preacher.
Gospel of Hip Hop? Please…. Stfu who elected him as Pope?
Zz.
Took the words right out of my mouth. Well said.
Took the words right out of my mouth. Well said.
I think you need to remember that there are people in the Hip Hop world which deserve RESPECT no matter if they were relevant 30, 20 or even 10 years ago. Their perspectives are good to hear, regardless of if you agree with them or not.
double message I don’t care and he will never be in the top mc list
I dont get why KRS has no issue with Drake but he had a big problem with Nelly and how Nelly wasnt hiphop. Shit Nelly IS KRS One compared to Drake. I disagree with KRS on this one