Miami rapper Gunplay and Chicago lyricist Lupe Fiasco serve as only a handful of Hip Hop artists who have shared their thoughts on Meek Mill versus Drake and ghostwriting in Hip Hop. Few ghostwriters have addressed the controversy, but earlier this week, Doggie Diamonds TV caught up with ghostwriter Sauce Money to get his take on the situation.
When asked if it’s a strike against a rapper if someone else wrote one of their rhymes, Sauce Money revealed that back in the day it would have been. He went on to explain that in music today, the primary concern is “putting out the best product.”
“I think back in the days it would have been,” Sauce Money said. “I think back in the days emcees had more of a responsibility to write they own shit. Today, I don’t really think it’s—People don’t really—It’s not important like that. It’s about putting out the best product.”
Sauce Money was later asked specifically about Drake during his interview. He defended the Canadian musician as he explained how a studio filled with equally talented people could easily result in someone else coming up with a hook, finishing a line, etc.
Prior to speaking on Drake, Sauce Money used Puff Daddy as an example of an artist who uses ghostwriters, but doesn’t claim to be an emcee.
“I don’t think so,” he said when asked if a rapper could be a top emcee if someone else wrote their rhymes. “Me, personally, you couldn’t really call yourself an emcee—Take for example with Puff. Puff doesn’t call himself an emcee…I don’t think niggas was penning his [Drake] bars like that. I think where we get it confused is we got people in the studio around that’s talented just like we are. So, we feed off of each other. So, a nigga might come up with a hook. A nigga might finish a line for you. We’ve all done it. So, I think Drake is one of the best emcees in the game.”
Sauce Money’s interview with Doggie Diamonds TV can be found below.
For additional Drake-Meek Mill coverage, watch the following DX Daily:
they say sauce money but have a photo of DJ KaySlay wtf
That what I was just about to type Lol….how can get sauce money and k slay mixed up? Thiste is getting lazy.
Lmao man this is funny as shit… wonder how long before they catch it…
Between all these damn ads and this half assed writing this site has turned into the source of 2008. Trying to hard for ad revenue with these ads but having no substance or diversity in your articles.. and your editorials are a waste of space
Came into this to say the same.
If ghost writing wasn’t a career killer it wouldn’t be done by a ghost. if drake is considered one of the best rappers in our generation he is opening the door for a whole future of rappers that use their friends as a creative engine and then boost their career with publicity that they pay for because they are either spoiled rich kids or gangster rich niggas. writing your own content is one of the main barriers to the game. if someone can jump over the gate by having someone else write for them all types of fake mfs will be in the future of hip hop. Stay True
That’s all I’ve been saying bro. Drake owns this generation because of social media so he can break any rule he likes, no one cares. Authenticity and the sound are changing for the negative. Why would I want hiphop to go from real rap( Kendrick, Cole) to R&B rap
ehh, i’m just sick of people making Drake out to be some great rapper
Who is making him out to be great. As old boy said in tthese comments, the winners write history. You can’t tell people who is nie and who is not. This is something else that bothers me about hip hop. People have graphs, theorems, and books and shit to tell other people who should be considered real hip hop or not. I don’t fuck with Drake music, but that’s me. However, I can acknowledge that dude can rap and he has some witty lines. Just like I don’t fuck with Eminem’s music, but I can admit dude is one of the best spitters bar for bar I’ve ever heard. Just like I don’t like that shit like Tag Team had with Whoomp There It Is or party type rap, but somebody liked that shit because those cats are still cashing checks. Just stick to what you like and keep it moving. All this other emotional shit about trying to down other people for what they like is unnecessarly. Now, if we’re talking about what gets popularized and put into the mainstream….that’s a different conversation, and that’s those 3 major labels force feeding that down your throat. Get mad at them and the artists that kept letting them have all the power when they could have flipped the script about 10 years ago.
Jay-z’s ghost writer right here…only real hip-hop heads know this.
True. Kanye, Nas, Wayne, Game, Dre, Snoop, Mase, Bow Wow all have Hits written by ghost writers
He wasn’t a ghostwriter but a collaborator with him just like most rappers use, well at least the smart ones who want to keep writing hits and changing their sound.
It makes me sick inside to see the entire industry reflexively defending the guy who used a blackberry for his first freestyle and is obviously a stooge… and the hip hop listening audience is just following along with this line of thinking. It’s insanity.
You ever think that they’re not “reflexively” defending him since it’s something they do to. There are supposedly reference tracks that Stick Man had for Nas, but at the end of the day Nas came up with the shit and collaborated with him. Ain’t nobody fucking with Nas on that mic or as far as with the pen when it comes to having something actually to say. I know some of you have just been waiting on Drake to fuck up so you could pile on, but this is not your moment. It’s why Funkmaster Flex’s old ass looked as silly as he did with that shit when he was jumping out the window ranting and raving, and everybody who actually gets into those booths and shit to make songs know it. Why do you think people still marvel about how Pac would come up with a verse in 5 minutes? It’s because that shit was extremely rare, and the people who’ve been in the studio with a lot of people know it. Just like Biggie being able to memorize a verse and spit that shit without writing it down picture perfect. Just like Jay’s pen game is legendary with all the hits he’s made, and he uses collaborators too. Believe me, if dude was a fraud with no writing skills, nobody would be hiring him to write for him, and that’s been going on since before you knew who he was as Dre hired him to write for the never coming out Detox. You can check that btw.
Morons and idiots who THINK you know what true hiphop is. Lets just recount the artists who are on record for having collaboraters and have been accused as having Ghostwriters:
1) Ghostface Killah
2) Nas
3) Beastie Boys
4) Run-DMC
5) ODB
shall I go on? The reason the industry is defending Drake is because the hiphop purists have romaniticized the past. They are delusional. Drake’s history, insults, “collaborations” and accusations all fit in with normal hiphop history. Even his middle-class background is pretty normal. …..and he is not the first MC to not freestyle on Flex’s show. Tons of legendary MCs have used songs they had pre-written etc. So-called hiphop purists – your understanding of hiphop is naive and idealistic. It wasnt so perfect back then and terrible now. It was actually similar. Purist backpackers hated Biggie and Jay-Z back then and dismissed them as corporate and pop; they preferred Boot Camp Click and Black Moon but that doesnt mean all the music wasnt dope. Drake runnin hiphop. Get over it
Sorry homie but if we talking numbers eminem still shits all over drake
I know that’s the truth. I don’t even fuck with Drake like that, but you’re on point with everything you said, especially about people not even knowing that reference tracks are pretty standard in hip hop. Nas supposedly had some for the Untitled album, and this dude is pretty much the greatest rapper of a generation.
nice, but drake aint hip hop. he is commercial rap
Nas or Ghostface never had ghostwriters you fucking idiot. The Jay-Z dick sucker who wrote Jay-Z’s book made that shit up, she doesn’t even know Nas. And Superb lied and said he wrote for Ghostface because they beat his ass up for stealing his album.
Biggie and Jay Z weren’t hated and dismissed as corporate/pop and Drake isn’t running hip-hop at all.
“this dude is pretty much the greatest rapper of a generation.” I’m pretty sure that’s Kendrick Lamar.
haha. I must be arguing with little kids. Ok if Biggie Smalls was never dissed for commerical rap explain what “Kick in the Door” was for. Explain why Jeru wrote the lead off single of “wrath of the math”, OGC “No Fear”, the Roots “Do What They Do” and De La Soul’s “Stakes is High”.,.as far Jay-Z, ask why he famously said “Im not a business man / Im business man”… why did he say “im like che guvera with bling on / im complex”… explain this…do you remmeber what he was responding to? why he was saying that? what he was fighting against? You think when Biggie came out with his “Get Money” shit, people werent attacking him dawg. Are u nuts? Biggie was the most hated and loved man in hiphop. Jay-z was also. why do you think Nas was able to Ether him? people hated Jay-z as much as he was loved. You had to live in NYC and live it to understand the dynamics. my friends success is rarely met with open arms and Biggie was highly controversial and hated. Who else do you think was buying 2pacs record ridiculing him? learn your history. Outkast was booed off the Source awards when the won best new artist. Never forget this: artists who break any tradition are rarely respected initially. Drake is no different. His repuation will age well with time. You will see. History is written by the winners
btw i said Ghostface and Nas have been ACCUSED of ghostwriting just as Drake. No difference
There is no comparison at all. Biggie and Jay Z weren’t hated and neither were Outkast. All of that shit you brought up have nothing to do with each other. “artists who break any tradition are rarely respected initially. Drake is no different. His repuation will age well with time.” That is a lie because they are repescted. And if you think Drake is one of those artist who breaks tradition, then you’re delusional because dude is the epitome of a traditional mainstream rapper. Everything he does is something that’s been done before. Plus, he has no classics.
Anonymous – if Drake is nothing but another traditional rapper then why do people care that he sings and raps and incorporates melody in his lyrics? why is he made fun of writing songs like Marvins Room which features drunk-dialing a ex-gf? and songs falling in love with strippers? why do people call him sensitive? I could go on and on.,,Outkast who booed at source awards. It is well-documented. my friend – u dont understand how art works. no point arguing. wait 20 years, see if Drake is more respected or hated. It takes about 10 years and the haters are long forgotten. The youth of 16-19 years old decide what cool music is. then, they immortalize their heroes in their 30s and denigrate the new guy. its just a pattern. u will see it when you grow up. For now, keep wondering why Drake dominates, making the “same hiphop” as you say. hIlarious guys
Newsflash: Drake isn’t the first to rap and sing at the same time and using melody is basically the same thing as singing, which again, other rappers have done this before (Lauryn, Andre 3K, Bone Thugs, etc.). People make fun of him for making songs about being sensitive, saving strippers and falling in love wiht him because it’s shit simps do. And people make fun of Marvin’s Room because it’s wack. 2Pac made emotional tracks and didn’t get the same scrutiny. You can’t compare the Outkast thing to Drake because those are two different situations. I understand art and you’re arguing something that isn’t real. Been listening to hip-hop since I was in middle school, I’m now im college. The cool stuff that the young makes popular isn’t always the thing that sticks around. I’m not wondering anything, I already know Drake is a popular pop rapper whose music caters to mainstream audiences. He’s no innovator or game-changer since he’s doing stuff. Remember: some of the best, timeless music isn’t always the ones topping the charts.
Anonymous – we will have to agree to disagree. its true that some popular artists are forgotten but I do not believe one of the magnitude of Drake will be. I do not feel his music is generic. the other singing artists u mention are great but how sing/rapped was a different and its clear Drake has made innovative strides in song structure and arrangment (worst behavior, know yourself, underground kings). lest us not forget: esoteric artists are often forgotten also. Do you remember OGC, OC, Organized Konfusion, New Kingdom etc? many had amazing albums but they are long forgotten, Artists that dominate the genre are rarely forgotten unless their music is generic. Madonna, Michael Jackson, Jay-z, Biggie, Dr Dre, Beastie Boys, Run DMC will never be forgotten, Drake will be likewise. U guys think Drake is Nelly or Ja rule. Problem is; Drake is a very skilled rapper by anyones standard
Drake’s music is generic pop rap, though. His singing/rapping is no different from the other rappers who also sang. Nothing about Drake’s song structure and arrangement are innovative (those three songs you mentioned are pretty much standard songs). He will never be on the same scales as like Madonna, Michael Jackson, Jay Z, Biggie, Dre, Beasties, and Run DMC. The Nelly/Ja Rule comparisons are fair and accurate. Your problem is that you look too deep into his music and trying to find innovation that doesn’t even exist. Everything Drake has done has been done before by other rappers previously.
If you’re going to use the same standard you apply to Drake, you should be mad at Jay Z for you some many credited writers on his songs and albums.
Of course the guy that wrote one of the biggest rap singles back in 97 would defend Drake..
a true emcee writes his own rhymes. Hip hop is not pop where singers get their songs written for them and all they gotta do is lay down the vocals.. This is HIp HOp its about be original and unique having your own competitive style, trying to be one up on all your competitors by putting out something YOU created, hence any one who has their shit ghost written for them aint no true emcee and I couldn’t take em serious. Shit I could be a millionaire right now if someone wrote songs for me and I just rapped over some hot beats #TRUEEMCEESWRITETHEIROWNRHYMES# SMH this dude telling me writing your own shit aint important GTHOH
I tend to agree with you but….lets just be clear by your definition the Beastie Boys, Run-DMC and Ol Dirty Bastard are not true MCs as they have all rhymed songs that were written by someone else…boy oh boy…u hiphop nerds need to stop reading and start living it…
joke,
Why don’t you tell us “hip hop nerds” a thing or 2 since I’m pretty sure I’ve been listening to this shit before your ignorant ass. The first hip hop song I had was the Message on vinyl, so I’m pretty sure I know what’s what. You really don’t know wtf you’re talking about as far as what’s what. Hip hop is like every other genre where that label boss wants some hit records,and if you can’t make them, they will send somebody in to jog your mind or outright write for you. That you don’t know this is your problem. I suggest you go read credits for some of your favorite rappers because 9 times out of 10, they have other people in the credits besides themselves, and that’s if they’re being honest about how they came up with a song. It’s like some ignorant ass shit that bothers me about hip hop fans because you are out of touch with reality. Prince is one of the greatest artists of his time, and he notoriously controls everything about music he has always put out, but if you talk to people in his bands and circle…yeah, he gets collaborators and comes up with songs, melodies, lyrics, hooks, etc, etc. Hey, but these A, B, C mofos in hip hop who can’t play instruments don’t do that after they’ve rapped about the same dumb shit for 40 songs back to back. GTFOH.
Ok – go and be a millionaire. I double dare you.
@ Silent-Partner. Not sure why ur mad at me. I agree with everything that you said. Ive been listening to hiphop since grandmaster caz. no need to argue. I was pointing out that the heavy criticsm of collaboration and ghost-writing is a new phenomenon that has never been an issue historically in hiphop. Love all the artists I mentioned.
So, Jay Z isn’t a real rapper because he uses credited writers?
hip hop is suppose to be like golf. your lyrics are the swing and the producer is the caddy. ball out nigga
WHERE IS SAUSE MONEY???- Cam’ron lol
I think Drake and Kanye changed the game. Before I used to be strict about writing, but now I would almost prefer if a rapper has a team behind him.