CROSS-EXAMINATION BY KHALID STRICKLAND a.k.a. BLACK PACINO
As the world turns & my Kush burns, I was just thinking…
You know who reminds me of LeBron James? Drake.
They’re both prematurely-crowned kings. Drake is the “Chosen One” for backpackers and light-skinned suburban niggas (they’re back in style now).
Both James & Sweetcake Drake were nice guys anointed by The Machine to keep their industries relevant. In order to become champions, the two poster-boys took the path of least resistance by aligning themselves with other megastars.
Aside from his music on the radio and guest appearances, I don’t listen to Drake much. He’s talented and his beats are tight but his whiny voice annoys me. Jean Grae spits harder.
However, Drake was comparable to Neo in The Matrix. From the jump, he had a monster buzz without a major label backing him. Drake’s success as an independent may have been the deathblow to The Machine as we know it. In that respect, I cheered for him.
So with the weight of the universe on his shoulders what does Drizzy do? He signs with Young Money so that another megastar, Lil’ Wayne, can get a cut of the action. Like LeBron’s decision, this move can be interpreted as genius or short-sightedness.
In my opinion Lil’ Wayne, or should I say Lil’ Wade, came out on top by co-opting the one star who may have outshined him. Baby is a platinum-toothed Pat Riley.
Hopefully Drake’s mom won’t fuck Lil’ Twist or another second-rate Young Money dependent.
Your out of control hahahahahahaha
and isn’t Lil Flip the kid from Houston who Battled T.I. and ha the GAME OVER song? I think young money is Lil Twist but Whateva
That’s what I thought I wrote, Lil’ Twist. He just sent his aunt to slap the shit outta Kat Stacks & videotape it. Goes to show that they’re all the same to me… Yikes! I sound like an Arizona lawmaker.
I just fixed that right quick. Lil’ Twist needs his name mentioned every chance he gets. He’s at the end of the weed-carryin totem-pole.
Yeah Flip battled “The Tipster.”
I wouldnt say drake was indie already, dude had a single & video with trey songz 2 years prior to even dropping So Far Gone. At the end of the day the machine was working with him to set him up properly and force feed him down our throats(no homo) as that future legend in the same category as Jay, Big, Pac, Eminem, 50, Kanye. This was supposed to be his Get Rich Or Die Tryin’ era I Guess. I’ve never seen a debut album with such a star studded list of guest appearances. Drake is really the last hope for the music industry to let everyone know we still need them(which we really don’t)
P.S.-EVEN THOUGH IM 21, I MOTHAFUCKIN HATE THIS NEW GENERATION
“I wouldnt say drake was indie already, dude had a single & video with trey songz 2 years prior to even dropping So Far Gone. ”
So I gave him too much credit, eh? Instead, he was “planted” amongst the ppl so he could win us over easier. Hmmm, makes sense…
“Drake is really the last hope for the music industry to let everyone know we still need them(which we really don’t).”
Yup. I been sayin that for the longest. He’s actually The Chosen One for The Machine. He & Lady Gaga were rolled off the same assembly line .
You just reached drinking age? Congratulations! Go get smashed. You’re wise beyond your years, bruh.
Steverelli, just defined it. Drake, Lady Gaga and Nicki Minaj.
Drake is a transplant. He already had a following from being on the show Degrassi High. He was the kid in the wheel chair. I’m not saying he didn’t put in work… but i doubt i’d call it hard work.
Aubrey Drake Graham and lil wayne have a lot in common. They both were practically brought up from teenagers directly into the business. drake was on Degrassi when he was around 14 and wayne was on at 14. They both already had “questionable” family connections to the music world. No homo but they’re both a lil odd in the face. No wonder they’re such good friends.
With enough start up capital, guest stars and publicity even shit will sell like solid gold. It looks like a plan to set up successful indy artist. “Fine, fine, you sold a lot of records on your own but sign with us like Aubrey Drake Graham and watch you career soar.” – just sign on the dotted line.
You make great points, Naj.
I always figured that Drake didn’t care about givin Wayne a chunk of his profits cuz he ain’t in this shit for the money. It’s not like Drake was a starvin artist, he still had Degrassi money stashed under his wheelchair. He was in the burbs chillin. So he had no problem being Robin to Wayne’s Batman cuz it would boost his visibility. Money has nuthin to do with it, like LeBron claims.
“No homo but they’re both a lil odd in the face.”
LMFAO!!!!!!
THIS IS A REAL AS ARTICLE BLACK!!!!!
Thanks, Purp.
These are the kinds of articles that got me banished from the music media. Maybe I should start givin a fuck.
Then again… Nah.
All of the points being made here are very true. As far as bron-bron goes, I could careless; Orlando Magic all day. And one day, Brooklyn Nets (Fuck Jersey, no joey!). But I digress.
First of all, to add to the conspiracy, let me just say that I doubt Drake is 23. He’s on some Dominican birth certificate tip. That nigga is a good 26-27. With that said, I will not lie, it’s a hit or miss with that dude. Sometimes I feel his music, lot of times I don’t. Kinda like rick ross. The beats are nice, the flow is straight most of the time, but something is a bit off. His authenticity. Not that I need a nigga to have risen from the ashes of a Brazilian favella. But stop acting like it was a struggle for you to get here.
@Steve thanks for pinpointing it. @Naj thanks for putting it into perspective.
FULL DISCLOSURE: I love that Aston Martin Music remix, or is it Paris Morton Music? Whatever the fuck it is, that joint rides clean in my 99 Oldsmobile!
LMAO!
’98 Oldsmobile? That’s whassup.
You oughtta bump “You Gonna Get Yours” by Public Enemy…
I like Rick Ross as a rapper & I think he’s got some of the best music out right now. He’s a liar fa’sho. But 95% of the rappers out there lie about one thing or another, so I can overlook that. Some of the best gangsta rappers ever, like Ice Cube, never been to jail a day in their life.
And every rapper I dig ain’t lyrical either. I can listen to Project Pat all day, that’s my nigga. Drake ain’t terrible & I can see why his fans dig ‘im. Like you said, it’s the intangibles that keep me from gettin into his music. Just ain’t my cup of tea.
@ Rawsee Drake is Jewish and Black…? He’s the hottest jewish rapper in the game!
Insane comparison, works on so many levels! So does that make Nicki Minaj the Chris Bosh of Young Money?