On an episode of "The Cutting Room Floor" podcast, the host asked Yasiin Bey if Drake was Hip-Hop.

He responded by saying Drake was Pop to him and that Drake's music is compatible with shopping.

Here's a snippet of the interview.
https://youtu.be/gLnlXAIdWw0?si=I4zr0Mw_vsjqYsWv

IG: @illharmonic.orchestra
Youtube: www.youtube.com/theephantom

of the songs i would imagine he's heard, i can see why he'd feel that way.

<--- Big Baller World Order

But I don't for some reason.

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http://mistagoodbar.com
Twitter/IG: mistagoodbar
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>But I don't for some reason.

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"Fuck aliens." © WarriorPoet415

Drake's main goal in music has been to be a pop artist since he started. He chose rap bc rap is popular and easy to get into. Idk why anyone would be offended. That last album with the mediocre house music is proof that he goes in the direction of the most popular music he can achieve with his talent level. It is what it is.

Funny thing is Mos touches on the disconnect from the end of capitalism near the end of the clip. He's concerned with Hip Hop's messaging and always has been. I remember when Fat Joe was mad at him for questioning guys calling themselves "Crack". His own content earned him the right to speak on such things imo. The very name of his debut album speaks to his loyalty to the culture, and he never lost that. Ain't like he's being a hypocrite.

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>Drake's main goal in music has been to be a pop artist since
>he started. He chose rap bc rap is popular and easy to get
>into. Idk why anyone would be offended. That last album with
>the mediocre house music is proof that he goes in the
>direction of the most popular music he can achieve with his
>talent level. It is what it is.
>
>Funny thing is Mos touches on the disconnect from the end of
>capitalism near the end of the clip. He's concerned with Hip
>Hop's messaging and always has been. I remember when Fat Joe
>was mad at him for questioning guys calling themselves
>"Crack". His own content earned him the right to speak on such
>things imo. The very name of his debut album speaks to his
>loyalty to the culture, and he never lost that. Ain't like
>he's being a hypocrite.
>
>

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"Fuck aliens." © WarriorPoet415

and this proves to me that a lot of y'all are either just young or got into Hip Hop later in life and haven't reached certain chapters of your Hip Hop History books.....smh..

"Get ready....for your blessing....."
"Bury me by my Grand-Grand and when you can come follow me"

R.I.P. Loud But Wrong Guy
Dec 29th 2009 - Dec 17th 2017

and not a diss either. It’s the direction he went and what he wants. Drake fanboys will tout his incredible streaming numbers to justify their love…...so fuck they even mad about? He makes music for Target shopping and streaming playlists, and he gets that type of love accordingly.

I do find super passionate Drake fans who get mad over this stuff to be kinda odd though. Drake doesn’t even pretend to be that passionate about this shit.

"Shopping with an edge" lmfao

>and not a diss either. It’s the direction he went and what
>he wants. Drake fanboys will tout his incredible streaming
>numbers to justify their love…...so fuck they even mad
>about? He makes music for Target shopping and streaming
>playlists, and he gets that type of love accordingly.


So true.

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>"Shopping with an edge" lmfao
>

That was so good.

I was gonna say "doesn't even sound like a diss" but you beat me to it. Agreed in full.


>and not a diss either. It’s the direction he went and what
>he wants. Drake fanboys will tout his incredible streaming
>numbers to justify their love…...so fuck they even mad
>about? He makes music for Target shopping and streaming
>playlists, and he gets that type of love accordingly.
>
>I do find super passionate Drake fans who get mad over this
>stuff to be kinda odd though. Drake doesn’t even pretend
>to be that passionate about this shit.

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"Fuck aliens." © WarriorPoet415

<--- Big Baller World Order

Nothing wrong with calling what he does, what it is though.

It wasn't about wanting Drake to do anything. He just (reluctantly) answered the question of how he classifies the guy as an artist.

Also, from about the middle of the clip to the end, he's addressing how it's all about consumerism and product placement during late stage capitalism, and I don't think this applies solely to Drake. He asks what happens when it all falls apart and what's in it for the listener aside from pumping the pom poms. Now he didn't say he wanted that from Drake, but if you're asking that rhetorically instead of asking "what would make Drake Hip Hop to Mos Def", he just told you.

Keep in mind Mos has been talking about these things since before Drake came along.

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Days like this I miss Sha Mecca

is going to get shits thrown at them

Nothing for Drake to do but keep cashing checks and singing those awful 1 note bangers over afro beats with a salsa twist.

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TBH the fact that you're even a mod here fits squarely within Jag's narrative of OK-sanctioned aggression, bullying, and toxicity. *shrug*

If Black Thought was outselling everyone with what he does, I don't think anyone would deny that he's Hip Hop. He'd just be a Hip Hop artist who happened to cross over.
Drake is a Pop artist who used rap as his vehicle. Intention is everything here. Just like you said...

>Nothing for Drake to do but keep cashing checks and singing
>those awful 1 note bangers over afro beats with a salsa twist.

He does those because they're the wave right now. He rides waves, because his aim is to be Pop, which makes him a Pop artist. Hip Hop is rebel culture that was born out of "fuck that popular American culture shit, this is what we doing over here". It's more than what the music sounds like, it's an attitude, spirit, and intention. That's why ppl separate Hip Hop and rap. I know you know all this, I just think it's worth articulating in this post. Mos is about Hip Hop culture like that, sinceriously (c)Phonte.

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Days like this I miss Sha Mecca

for obvious reasons..

because he IS real hip hop.

Aint no white girls spitting Black Thought lyrics in the club at 1AM. BT is way too lyrical miracle spiritual for the masses.

edit: and I’m pretty sure the Roots biggest hit is You Got Me where they traded out Jill Scott for Badu for commercial appeal, and also added Eve to get the women, but still didn’t put her in the video.

Prime example of what you have to do to be commercial success in this industry when you spit hot shit.

I think Kendrick Lamar might be the closest we get to it, and even Kendrick early on had some amazingly clever and simple hooks you could sing. But his run was short because he is reap hip hop and IMO he sacrificed pop charts for a rebel message.

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TBH the fact that you're even a mod here fits squarely within Jag's narrative of OK-sanctioned aggression, bullying, and toxicity. *shrug*

I was just saying that if he did, by some miracle, crossover, he'd still be called Hip Hop, because he's Hip Hop... but he won't, because he's Hip Hop.

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there is a formula

but the real will never stay on that lane.

Like, I’m real cool with BEP due to my people working with them. They some Bboys and real hip hip when they started. But Will made a conscious decision to go pop when they were about to get dropped.

He caked up, made mad loot.. but now dude is struggling artistically IMO because he sold out. Once you go there, its hard once that run ends because real hip hop fans looking at you sideways and pop fans aint loyal..

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TBH the fact that you're even a mod here fits squarely within Jag's narrative of OK-sanctioned aggression, bullying, and toxicity. *shrug*

I like your point about having to do certain things to attain and retain pop success. It's a very conscious effort to walk that line, and Drake is very measured and intentional about his balance there. Even when he stumbles, he very obviously tries to regain his balance. He's a Pop artist through and through.

About Kendrick, he definitely sacrificed pop success for that last album. I recall an interview where he talked about always wanting to say something under all the flashy wordplay or catchy melodies of his previous albums. He gives a damn about his community and just spoke to them on his latest effort. This is what Mos was talking about in the clip. Drake couldn't care less about the ppl lol. He's in the club encouraging some small child rapper who's wearing chains while his white child is in Paris somewhere painting, and this is after he wore blackface himself.

Overall tho, I don't even think Mos Def hates Pop music. I think he actually likes it. If he hates anything, it's probably Pop artists being labeled Hip Hop.

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Days like this I miss Sha Mecca

>Overall tho, I don't even think Mos Def hates Pop music. I
>think he actually likes it. If he hates anything, it's
>probably Pop artists being labeled Hip Hop.

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"Fuck aliens." © WarriorPoet415

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wsnwZT_bkns

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Just further proof he's not "hating" or whatever.

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"Fuck aliens." © WarriorPoet415

and most rappers can’t do it because you have to strip down the content.

My homie was trying to work on a solo project with one of the Black Eye Peas and had him SPITTIN’ HOT FIRE and Will.i.am. was like… “yeah, its aight but ummm, this ain’t gonna work. We need a lot less words. The kids have to be able to rap along to it, make it easier to digest.”

This is why tons of lyrically gifted MC’s cant make albums. When they are held to the formula of radio and 16 bars and a hook, they struggle to do it.

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TBH the fact that you're even a mod here fits squarely within Jag's narrative of OK-sanctioned aggression, bullying, and toxicity. *shrug*

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"Fuck aliens." © WarriorPoet415

Complaining ? He was asked a question and answered.

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"Fuck aliens." © WarriorPoet415

and taking it personally?

lmao

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TBH the fact that you're even a mod here fits squarely within Jag's narrative of OK-sanctioned aggression, bullying, and toxicity. *shrug*

But, who really gives a fuck.

The poignant part was Mos point regarding late stage capitalism.

both artists are "hip hop" and good at what they do and their fanbases are gonna ride for them.

>But, who really gives a fuck.
>
>The poignant part was Mos point regarding late stage
>capitalism.

Right. That part was more than people want to deal with tho. So its gonna be 'OHHHHHH! MOS DISSED DRAKE! SHOPPING! LMAO!'.


>both artists are "hip hop" and good at what they do and their
>fanbases are gonna ride for them.

So many people like both of them and know what to 'expect' from both musically. But that input is too boring to draw attention so we already know what its gonna be: lazy content farming and self-segregation on the socials. And it'll linger on way longer than it should.

And years from now something else will be pop. smh.

I hope you really dont believe that.

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TBH the fact that you're even a mod here fits squarely within Jag's narrative of OK-sanctioned aggression, bullying, and toxicity. *shrug*

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Days like this I miss Sha Mecca

umpteen years. may not be outselling country at the moment, hard to keep saying it's counter culture.

there will always be overtones of commercial (drake) vs underground (nas), but it's all for sale.

Y'all buy those labels, I was born supreme

etc being used in commercials/movies/TV shows

Yeah not every artist that comes out is going to have a hit or even make an impact but Hip Hop has been like THE dominant music genre over the last 20 years or so

R.I.P. Loud But Wrong Guy
Dec 29th 2009 - Dec 17th 2017

because we are now the generation with careers and 401K’s.

they aren’t playing this music to grab the teenager’s attention which is what pop music is targeted towards.

and I hope you aren’t talking about Fight the Power being in DTRT or SAC being in the movie.

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TBH the fact that you're even a mod here fits squarely within Jag's narrative of OK-sanctioned aggression, bullying, and toxicity. *shrug*

Older hip hop songs showing up in Netflix series' that don't have anything to do with hip hop. Remixes/remakes/reuse of 80s/90s hip hop beats are a thing with young people.

These older hip hop songs weren't made to be pop music, but that's what a lot of it has become as the times and way that music is consumed have changed.


>they aren’t playing this music to grab the teenager’s
>attention which is what pop music is targeted towards.
>
>and I hope you aren’t talking about Fight the Power being in
>DTRT or SAC being in the movie.
>
>

Or still fighting the good fight of trying to separate what you like or don’t like in hiphop as “real” or “fake”. Its ALL pop. Pop is whatever is popular in culture, its almost like thats where the word came from LMAO. Thats how words work. Nobody says you have to like everything under that umbrella, but that doesn't mean what you don’t like isn’t part of the culture. You are having 1990’s arguments in 2024.

The shitty songs or albums in Mos’ catalog doesn’t mean its not part of his catalog LOL

terrible argument.

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TBH the fact that you're even a mod here fits squarely within Jag's narrative of OK-sanctioned aggression, bullying, and toxicity. *shrug*

Been pop for a few decades at least, and social media like TikTok has made hip hop even more pop than ever.

Even if the old songs weren't pop back in the day, the Overton window has shifted and they definitely are.

Digiable Planets song on a Porche commercial: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Xdz22boKoQg

The fact that Drake can spit doesn't change the fact that you can throw a dart at his catalogue and hit something that sounds like it's tailor made for a shopping mall far more often than anything that sounds like it's made for headphones under hoodies.

-Sig-

“Why didn’t you do this in your own god damn country?"

-All Stah's view on undocumented immigrants wanting to be treated like human beings.

about 3 years ago....

for playing keys on the song.

Will laughed and said nah, its cool

then he turns and says “a year later that shit was on a Nike commercial, I had no idea.. “

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TBH the fact that you're even a mod here fits squarely within Jag's narrative of OK-sanctioned aggression, bullying, and toxicity. *shrug*

but Mos Def most definitely is...



"Get ready....for your blessing....."
"Bury me by my Grand-Grand and when you can come follow me"

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TBH the fact that you're even a mod here fits squarely within Jag's narrative of OK-sanctioned aggression, bullying, and toxicity. *shrug*

Y'all buy those labels, I was born supreme

Nah. You right. lol.

<--- Big Baller World Order

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TBH the fact that you're even a mod here fits squarely within Jag's narrative of OK-sanctioned aggression, bullying, and toxicity. *shrug*

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"Fuck aliens." © WarriorPoet415

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TBH the fact that you're even a mod here fits squarely within Jag's narrative of OK-sanctioned aggression, bullying, and toxicity. *shrug*

is it pop just because it got more spins than some of his other jawnts?

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TBH the fact that you're even a mod here fits squarely within Jag's narrative of OK-sanctioned aggression, bullying, and toxicity. *shrug*

Remember those? That ONE track a rapper would have on their album for the ladies. Song was unoriginal (about meeting a chick in the club and falling for her) combined with the beat + singing sample made it kinda hip-pop.

Not pop like Color Me Badd, I'll admit, but pop like the One More Chance remix by B.I.G.

The first time I heard Umi Says was in a sneaker commercial wayyyy back when

R.I.P. Loud But Wrong Guy
Dec 29th 2009 - Dec 17th 2017

As mainstream as Hip Hop is worldwide…Mos Def is pretty high up there in popularity.
He can’t go out in public and blend in
He can’t just say anything he wants without getting push back…case in point here.
He is very much a household name….in 35-48 year old households

I’m not saying he’s on the same level as Drake….but he definitely ain’t a nobody.



"Get ready....for your blessing....."
"Bury me by my Grand-Grand and when you can come follow me"

there is a difference.

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TBH the fact that you're even a mod here fits squarely within Jag's narrative of OK-sanctioned aggression, bullying, and toxicity. *shrug*

"Get ready....for your blessing....."
"Bury me by my Grand-Grand and when you can come follow me"

to become very popular. It's not a Pop song tho. The man is literally singing about wanting black people to be free, wanting a quiet life with his woman and children. Just happened to connect bc sincerity. Intention is everything when talking about what a Pop artist is. An artist who happens to have a very popular song is very different from an artist whose business is making a career of making Pop music.

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Yasin Bey can afford to not be Mos Def anymore because he’s a pop icon.

There’s levels to the shit….and he’s on one of them levels



"Get ready....for your blessing....."
"Bury me by my Grand-Grand and when you can come follow me"

>Yasin Bey can afford to not be Mos Def anymore because he’s
>a pop icon.


This doesn't make sense.


>There’s levels to the shit….and he’s on one of them
>levels


Profound.

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dude can afford to not be Mos Def? wtf does that even mean?

Anyone can change their fucking name

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TBH the fact that you're even a mod here fits squarely within Jag's narrative of OK-sanctioned aggression, bullying, and toxicity. *shrug*

to be on some "Hey, remember me?"

All i'm saying is this whole negative connotation that folks are putting on "Pop" isn't really applicable in current times. Folks think they're slighting or dissing someone by labeling them "pop" is just silly....
Hip Hop has BEEN pop for a while now. You can talk culture and roots and "realness" all you want...but THAT version of Hip Hop BEEN dead....

being a pop act will always have some negative attached to it because its POPular music

only a few get to pop levels in any genre.

A diss is a diss regardless of how its labeled. That ain’t changed because rap sells a
lot of records now.

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TBH the fact that you're even a mod here fits squarely within Jag's narrative of OK-sanctioned aggression, bullying, and toxicity. *shrug*

more subtle than people are giving him credit for. It's not just that Drake's music is pop, it's a product of, and a facilitator of late stage capitalism. There is no dissent or disruption in his music.

It's a really interested way to put it.

What's also kind of interesting is that Drake just shouted out Mos Def for helping him and paying him for a show on his last album. I bet Yasin ain't even hear it.


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"Everyone has a plan until you punch them in the face. Then they don't have a plan anymore." (c) Mike Tyson

"what's a leader if he isn't reluctant"

https://twitter.com/XXL/status/1747314751305089094

that is what's funny about this - Drake probably bumped Black On Both Sides and Black Star as a young man.

lol

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TBH the fact that you're even a mod here fits squarely within Jag's narrative of OK-sanctioned aggression, bullying, and toxicity. *shrug*

"if you're heartbroken and it's distressing, that means you are sane. You're a functioning individual."

https://youtu.be/oEiodyQlfKQ?si=tojKn-8rIomqjaQU


I agree with his assessment of Drake, but I'm in mourning the lack of empathy in this world. where majority of artists and the public are trying to ignore a genocide away....I guess it's on brand with trying to wish a pandemic away...or wishing environmental collapse away, or rising fascism.