Rhymefest has earned a fair share of accolades during his career but the Grammy-winning artist recently spoke about some relationships he has lost along the way.
In an interview with the Associated Press, the longtime Kanye West collaborator admits to a radio silence between himself and Common since their work together on “Glory,” a collaborative single written by Common, Rhymefest and John Legend for the 2014 film Selma.
“Glory” won Rhymefest a Grammy for Best Song Written For Visual Media in 2015, but did not receive an award for his contribution to the song when it won an Oscar for Best Original Song at the 87th Academy Awards.
When the AP asked Rhymefest (real name Che Smith) if he had conversed with Common since the ceremony, he replied, “Of course not. That’s Hollywood. No… Other people are protecting their interests. I get it, but if they only knew. If you only knew how much love could grow if you give me a little authenticity? But that’s fine. I’m doing films. I’ll see you in a minute. Who knows what the universe has in store.”
There appears to be no love lost from Rhymefest over the situation who addressed the subject during an interview with the Associated Press last February.
“It’s not that we don’t speak because anybody’s angry at anybody, it’s just, after that, it was just, you know, you just don’t speak. I love Common. I respect him as an artist. I think he’s dope as hell. In fact, he’s one of my heroes.”
He described the conflict as a “learning experience.”
“You can’t go around feeling cheated or you can’t move forward. So, I don’t feel cheated. Also, it was an opportunity for me. I did get a Grammy. I did get a Soul Train Award. I did get a plaque. I was part of a great thing that happened, and guess what? More than me, the world needed ‘Glory.’”
Rhyemfest is currently on a press run for the upcoming release of The Public, a film he is starring in alongside director Emilio Estevez, Alec Baldwin, Christian Slater, Jeffrey Wright, Gabrielle Union, Michael K. Williams and Taylor Schilling.
The Public hits theaters Friday (April 5).
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Wow, man I thought those Chitown boyz had it all together
This guy has a really good heart, Common should be ashamed of himself.
Nah, Common shouldn’t be ashamed of himself. Fest may have a good heart, but dude has had his shady moments and isn’t as reliable as he hopes to be. Look at the situation with him and others especially, Ye. After awhile, you gotta look inward if these things keep happening.
Rhymefest wrote most if not all of the classic music Kanye has, when Kanye started spiralling around Life Of Pablo they separated because Kanye was making songs talking about if she just hot her ass bleached does that make me an asshole? Rhyme tried talking to him like a man and Kanye Kardashian wasn’t trying to hear anything other than that’s crazy man you’re a genius.
Mam you sound like as if you were in the room givin them both top
Fest always complaining but stay hanging on someone else’s coattails. How about you write a song all by yourself and see how many awards you win if that’s what you want. Otherwise shut up and be grateful
Real Talk
He does seem conscious and grateful. Perhaps the headline is misleading. When you read Rhymefest quotes, he seems relatively at peace with himself and is working hard. Someone asked him if he heard from Common and he said no. He also said he’s learning from the experience and if you ask me, he does not come off as bitter at all. Sounds like he is working hard on his own shit.
Common has gone so far left and Hollywood, and Kanye went to the right and is as egotistical as ever. Rhymefest is the only one to keep his cool and his integrity the whole time. Others have shifted in their realness.