NEWS
A$AP Rocky has finally released Don’t Be Dumb following years of build up and repeated delays. It is a project fans have been anticipating for a long time, and there is little question that Rocky came through with a fully realised body of work.
The response to the album has been divided so far, which was always likely. Much of the conversation online has been shaped by Rocky’s long running tension with Drake. Fans of Drizzy have reportedly organised themselves to criticise Don’t Be Dumb, and the reasoning behind that reaction is not hard to understand.
There are several moments on the album where Rocky appears to direct pointed remarks at Drake. Although he recently suggested that listeners should not overanalyse his lyrics, the hostility between the two artists still feels present and unresolved.
The earliest hint of Rocky’s frustration with Drake surfaces on the track “Stole Ya Flow,” which appears near the start of the album. On the song, he raps about stolen styles, cosmetic surgery rumours, and having his reputation dragged through the mud. The parallels are hard to ignore, especially when paired with references that many listeners link to Rihanna, making the verse feel particularly cutting.
"First you stole my flow, so I stole yo' btch / If you stole my style, I need at least like ten percent [...] Nas getting BBLs, lucky we don't body shame / Throwin' dirt on Rocky name, turn around and copy game [...] First you was my bro, py n**a switched / Turned into a opp, fck his block, he a btch"
Rocky continues down this path on “No Trespassing,” where he alludes to Drake’s relocation to Texas and frames it within a wider narrative of rivalry and distrust.
"Nas lookin' jealous, see it in his eyes Nas actin' desperate, you ain't gotta lie / I might move to Texas, roll 'round with protection, pull up to your section, hit 'em with the fire"
Later on “Playa,” Rocky shifts the focus to themes of fatherhood and stability. He boasts about raising his child and avoiding messy personal situations, topics that critics have frequently used when discussing Drake.
"Takin' care of your kids, boy, that's player sht / One btch, boy, that's player sht / No baby mama drama, no new friends, boy, that's player sht"
All signs point to lingering tension between the two artists, and it does not seem likely to disappear anytime soon. Whether Drake chooses to address the situation publicly or musically is still an open question.
NEWS
There is no question that Clipse’s Let God Sort Em Out made a serious impact and continues to hold weight. The project showed that hip hop is not limited by age and proved that a long-awaited return can still land in a major way regardless of the time away.
If you need a reminder, the Virginia duo’s fourth studio album debuted comfortably within the top five of the Hot 200. It secured the number four position and moved an impressive 118,000 units in its first week.
On top of that, it picked up a win at this year’s Grammys, earning Best Rap Performance for “Chains & Whips.” The album also received four additional nominations, including Best Music Video, Rap Album, and Album of the Year.
It is hard to believe the project will officially hit its one year mark this summer on July 11. Even so, Pusha T is making it clear that both supporters and critics should not be overlooking it anytime soon.
While performing at Coachella yesterday, King Push told the crowd that LGSEO still sits at the top, regardless of genre.
He said, “‘Let God Sort Em Out’ is still the album of the motherfckin year. Whole new year, still album of the year,” per Kurrco. “Album of the motherfcking year until we drop again. We don't care who dropping. It don't matter.”
That is a strong statement for obvious reasons, especially considering the recent claims surrounding Push himself.
Over the same weekend, hip hop social media lit up after several alleged reference tracks connected to Quentin Miller and Push began circulating. Three tracks surfaced in total, but one that drew the most attention was an alleged record titled “Real Gon’ Come.” It is said to come from the DAYTONA era, around 2017 to 2018.
The situation gained traction because fans remember the past tension between Drake and Pusha T before Drake’s clash with Kendrick Lamar. During that feud, Pusha accused Drake of using ghostwriters on tracks like “Infrared,” which appears on DAYTONA. On that song, he raps, “The bigger question is how the Russians did it /
It was written like Nas, but it came from Quentin.”
Reactions have been mixed. Some people argue it is not a major issue since Miller’s alleged contributions were limited to hooks. Others point out that the songs were never officially released, so they see no real problem. Meanwhile, critics view it as clear hypocrisy on Pusha T’s part, a perspective that DJ Akademiks has also supported.
