Drake criticizes Jay Z

• Posted on February 14, 2014February 14, 2014
• by Nana Kwesi Coomson
• Comment

Drake criticizes Jay Z’s art references and Kanye West’s “questionable bars,” but says the two rappers are “gods” to him.

Yesterday (February 12), Drake criticized Macklemore’s Grammys text message to Kendrick Lamar in an excerpt from the rapper’s upcoming Rolling Stone feature. Today, more has been revealed regarding the article, which also features Drake criticizing and celebrating the work of Jay Z and Kanye West.

Drake critiques Jay Z’s references to art, for instance. “It’s like Hov can’t drop bars these days without at least four art references,” Drake says in the article, as found on  DDotOmen. “I would love to collect [art] at some point, but I think the whole Rap/art world thing is getting kind of corny.”

Drake also finds flaws in some of Kanye West lyrics, citing content on the rapper’s most recent album,Yeezus. “There were some real questionable bars on there,” Drake says, before also referencingFabolous. “Like that Swag-hili line? Come on man, man. Even Fabolous wouldn’t say some shit like that.”

Drake has made comments about Jay Z and Kanye West in some of his raps in the past, though at times indirectly. “I’m just feelin’ like the throne is for the taking” Drake raps on “I’m On One.” “Watch me take it.” Rolling Stone notes that this line appears to reference Watch the Throne, an album crafted byJay Z and Kanye West. When asked about a past rift between Drake and the Watch the Throne duo, Drake admits that tension once existed. “It was a lack of communication paired with natural competitiveness,” Drake says. “But those two are gods to me.”

Kanye West, specifically, Drake says, has been an integral influence in his work. “Kanye’s the reason I’m here,” Drake says. “I love everything about that guy.” The respect appears to be mutual. In December 2013, Kanye West referred to Drake as “Rap God.” 

Drake, who says he is planning to work with Kanye West on an upcoming project, also speaks about his recent “Saturday Night Live” gig as the show’s host and musical guest. In the Rolling Stone interview, Drake says he hopes the appearance reopens doors to his career as an actor and he shares more about other goals he had before agreeing to do the program.”I wanted to prove that there’s a distance between me and the people you consider to be my peers,” he says in the piece. “I have something special.”

-hiphopdx