Mos Def

Drake Fires Back at Yasiin Bey (Mos Def) on Instagram: ‘Bohemian Bucket’

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Drake Becomes First Rapper to Earn $5 Million in a Single Arena Concert

Drake has taken an online shot at Yasiin Bey, formerly known as Mos Def, following the “Ms. Fat Booty” rapper claiming the Certified Lover Boy makes Pop Music.

In case you missed it, Bey was on The Cutting Room Floor podcast last week and compared Drizzy’s music to strolling through Target.

“Drake is pop to me,” Bey said. “In the sense, like, if I was in Target in Houston and I heard a Drake song… It feels like a lot of his music is compatible with shopping.

“Or, you know, shopping with an edge in certain instances.”

Drake showed his “edge” comment on an Instagram post breaking down the situation from a Canadian point of view: “Bohemian Bucket.”

The Boy also showed a microphone around a beautiful landscape, writing: “They’re always eager to go there and quick to forget how we got here.”

Do you think bars are on the way?

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The post Drake Fires Back at Yasiin Bey (Mos Def) on Instagram: ‘Bohemian Bucket’ first appeared on The Source.

The post Drake Fires Back at Yasiin Bey (Mos Def) on Instagram: ‘Bohemian Bucket’ appeared first on The Source.

Yasiin Bey Faces Criticism Online Following Fashion Week Performance

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Earlier this month Yasiin Bey, formerly known as Mos Def, found himself at the center of some online debate. That came after he claimed that the music Drake makes isn’t hip-hop anymore, it’s pop. “Drake is pop to me. In the sense, like, if I was in Target in Houston, and I heard a Drake song. It feels like a lot of his music is compatible with… shopping. Or, as you know, shopping with an edge in certain instances,” the rap legend said during a podcast appearance. The comments sparked tons of debate online over what does and doesn’t count as authentic hip-hop.

The difference between pop rap and so-called “real” rap has been discussed for a few years now. Perhaps most notably, rappers like Kodak Black and Nicki Mina took issue with Latto’s song “Big Energy” being nominated for various rap awards at the Grammys. In a response to Bey’s comments, Drake took to his Instagram story with a clip from an old Method Man interview. In the discussion Method Man implied that rap music is more about the culture and the impact than any specific sound. That sentiment was shared by other rappers, most notably NLE Choppa, who came to Drake’s defense. But a new video of Bey performing has fans bringing up his Drake criticism. Check out the full clip below.

Read More: NLE Choppa Backs Drake After Yasiin Bey Says The Canadian’s Music Is Perfect For Shopping

Yasiin Bey Performance Has Fans Calling For Drake

Newly released video of Yasiin Bey performing at a Paris fashion show has fans second-guessing. In the clip, he performs by himself on a small stage singing a new song that admittedly doesn’t sound much like the familiar vision of hip hop. Fans shared the video online calling into question how he could criticize Drake and then deliver the performance he did.

What do you think of Yasiin Bey’s comments about Drake making pop music rather than hip-hop? Did you opinion change after seeing the new video of Bey performing? Let us know in the comment section below.

Read More: Yasiin Bey Says “Thank God For De La Soul”

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Drake Quoted Method Man And Yasiin Bey Himself In Response To Bey’s ‘Pop’ Comment: ‘Don’t Change Up Now’

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Oy vey. We may be three weeks into a new year, but it looks like hip-hop fans are dead set on arguing about the same ol’ bullsh*t. Over the weekend, a clip of Yasiin Bey offering some… regressive takes about Drake surfaced online and the discourse rapidly spiraled into a very tired but seemingly immortal debate about whether or not Drake counts as hip-hop. Bey, who said “Me, you, everybody, we are hip-hop,” on “Fear Not Of Man,” the literal intro of his pivotal debut Black On Both Sides, called Drake “pop,” sparking the whole debate anew, like a Hollywood producer deciding Dracula needs another remake.

Well, Drake — who, it must be said, was a huge fan of backpack rappers like Bey (formerly known as Mos Def) at the outset of his career — addressed the comments with about as poignant a response as one could under the circumstances. Instead of throwing a shot at his one-time hero, he showed just how in tune he is with hip-hop culture, quoting two titans of the culture: Method Man and Bey himself. On his Instagram Story, Drake reposted a clip of Method Man defining hip-hop as such in an old interview:

“Hip-hop is a culture. It’s a way of life, the way you dress, the way you talk, the way you walk. It’s the breakdancing, rhymes, stage show, DJ, mixing and scratching, the wordplay. That’s hip-hop.”

Drake also wondered, “What umi say again?” referencing Bey’s Black On Both Sides hit “Umi Says.” “Lemme shine my light king don’t change up now.”

For what it’s worth, Bey’s comments seem to stem from a common complaint about materialism in rap music that goes back to… well… the ’80s. However, the philosophical schism reached a boiling point in the mid-’90s, leading to the so-called “backpack rap” movement and the emergence of Mos Def and similar acts like Talib Kweli, the Spitkickers crew, and labels like Rawkus, Def Jux, and Rhymesayers gaining prominence among rap heads dissatisfied with the “jiggy” disposition being embraced by hitmakers like Tupac, The Notorious B.I.G., Jay-Z, and Nas (who, let me remind you, are now all touted as about the “realest hip-hop” you can get).

Whether it’s just old head sour grapes or a legitimate concern about the direction of mainstream rap music (which… come on, man, you been banging that drum for 25 years), let’s all just hope this goes away quickly because there is absolutely no reason to still be pretending liking Yasiin Bey and Drake both is mutually exclusive in 2024.

NLE Choppa Backs Drake After Yasiin Bey Says The Canadian’s Music Is Perfect For Shopping

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Yasiin Bey, formerly known as Mos Def, made some headlines after comments about another “hip-hop” great went quite viral. In a recent interview with The Cutting Room Floor, the Brooklyn icon was inquired about his thoughts on whether Drake is within the hip-hop circle or not. “Drake is pop to me. In the sense, like, if I was in Target in Houston, and I heard a Drake song. It feels like a lot of his music is compatible with… shopping. Or, as you know, shopping with an edge in certain instances.”

Unsurprisingly, fans were quick to dismiss Bey’s answer and so did NLE Choppa. The energetic Memphis rapper was in the comments section and was there to defend Drake at the drop of a hat. According to HipHopDX, this is what Choppa had to say. “They hate on this man so much it’s ridiculous. Dude catalog more than respectable. He like the [Kool] aid man different flavors for each day of the month. He don’t know what he talking about!”

Read More: Yung Miami & Southside Party Together, Ironically Bump “F My Baby Dad”

NLE Choppa Defends The Boy

 
 
 
 
 
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You can certainly look at it both ways. Bey’s remarks could be a low blow to Drake, especially after all of the more rap-centric hits he has. Saying he makes “pop music” can come across as jealousy of how much success he has had combining rap and pop on numerous occasions. On the other hand, you can view it as an observation about the way he does things. Either way it is a good discussion that will have people defending their takes to the death.

What are your thoughts on NLE Choppa’s response to Yasiin Bey’s comments about Drake’s music? Do you think Bey took a shot, or was he just making an observation? If you believe it was a diss, should Drake respond back and how should he go about it? We would like to hear what you have to say about all of this. With that in mind, be sure to leave all of your hottest takes in the comments section below. Additionally, always keep it locked in with HNHH for all of the latest news surrounding NLE Choppa, Yasiin Bey, and Drake. Finally, stay with us for everything else going on around the music world.

Read More: Eminem Cheers On Lions During Team’s 1st Playoff Win In 32 Years

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Do Drake And Yasiin Bey Have Beef?

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The public should’ve been on high alert when the year opened up. First, Katt Williams aired out the comedy community during his appearance on Shannon Sharpe’s Club Shay Shay podcast. Although it wasn’t quite as explosive, Yasiin Bey’s (previously known as Mos Def) recent interview has reawakened a hotly debated topic in music.

During Bey’s sit-down with The Cutting Room Floor podcast, when asked if he felt Drake was “hip-hop,” Bey disagreed. Instead, Bey shared that Drake’s music should be categorized as pop. However, he didn’t stop his commentary there. He described Drake’s work as ideal for shopping in Target. This line forced users to ask whether Drake and Bey have beef.

Drake is no stranger to musical feuds, having had dust-ups with Pusha T, Meek Mill, Kanye West, and most recently, Metro Boomin. But, a beef with Yasiin Bey would seem odd to many. Based on newly surfaced screenshots, the answer could be yes. Last year, after Complex gave Drake’s poetry book a subpar review, he asked the publication for another lookover but with one stipulation.

“Can you do an article now where the baddest Instagram girls in the world review my poetry book,” he said in the message exchange. “Not the head of Mos Def fan club…thanks 😂.”

Well, that seemingly innocent joke must’ve made its way back to Bey, thus initiating the rumored feud. But there wasn’t always friction between the two. On songs like “Away From Home,” Drake thanked Bey for his support in the beginning stages of his career. Bey has even performed covers of Drake’s song “Hotline Bling.”

Watch The Cutting Room Floor podcast clip below.

@tcrfff

🎙Season 5 Episode 2 #yasiinbey

♬ original sound – The Cutting Room Floor

Some artists covered here are Warner Music artists. Uproxx is an independent subsidiary of Warner Music Group.

Yasiin Bey Had A Very Specific Way Of Describing Drake’s ‘Pop’ Music, And Users Online Are Having A Field Day

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Hate him or love him, Drake is one of the world’s most successful rap acts. As he so boastfully brags through his music, he’s surpassed several titans, such as The Beatles and the late Michael Jackson’s metric markers. Despite his record-breaking achievements to some, Drake still isn’t “hip-hop enough.”

On January 13, Yasiin Bey (previously professionally known as Mos Def) shared his thoughts on Drake’s music, and it sent users online into a frenzy. During an appearance on The Cutting Room Floor podcast, when asked by host Recho Omondi if he considered Drake to be a hip-hop act, Bey didn’t hold back.

“Why are you doing this to me,” he said. “Drake is pop to me, in the sense like, if I was in Target in Houston and I heard a Drake song… it feels like a lot of his music is compatible with shopping. Or shopping with an edge in certain instances… It’s likable.”

Bey went on to provide further context to his initial response. “What happens when this thing collapses,” he said. “What happens when the columns start buckling? Are we not in some early stage of that at this present hour? Are we seeing the collapse of the empire? Buying and selling, where’s the message that I can use? What’s in it for your audience apart from banging the pom-poms?”

@tcrfff

🎙Season 5 Episode 2 #yasiinbey

♬ original sound – The Cutting Room Floor

The response caused a ripple effect online, with musicians, critics, and fans alike chiming in. Read a few of their responses below.

Listen to the full episode of The Cutting Room Floor podcast on Patreon. Find more information here.

Yasiin Bey, F.K.A. Mos Def, Thinks Drake Makes Pop Music, Not Hip-Hop

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Yasiin Bey is a legend within hip-hop, and his decades of experience, knowledge, activism, social consciousness, and skill elevates his standards quite a lot. Moreover, he recently sat down with The Cutting Room Floor and, at one point, was asked by the program’s host whether Drake is hip-hop. Well, you tell me: do you think that the man behind Black Star and Black on Both Sides is a massive fan of the 6ix God? While Bey, formerly and best known as Mos Def, didn’t really diss him here, he did point to the commercial, agreeable, and non-remarkable nature of the game that Drizzy represents, for better or worse.

“Like, is Drake hip-hop?” host Recho asked the MC formerly known as Mos Def. “Why are you doing this to me?” Yasiin Bey replied, and you can tell throughout the whole segment, with some laughs in between, that he’s trying not to go full scorched Earth and be as clear as possible. “Drake is pop to me. In the sense, like, if I was in Target in Houston, and I heard a Drake song. It feels like a lot of his music is compatible with… shopping. Or, as you know, shopping with an edge in certain instances.

Read More: ASAP Rocky Might’ve Issued Drake Response On Kid Cudi’s New Album “INSANO”

Yasiin Bey Speaks On Drake: Watch

“Of course, I get it,” Yasiin Bey continued about Drake. “It’s likable. It’s likable… ‘Wooooo! So many products! So many SKUs! Look at all these SKUs (stock-keeping units, more commonly known as bar codes)! Oh, so many products. I love this mall! Look at this place. I mean, look at this place! They have everything, everything’s here! They have everything here! Oh, this is great. This is the new Drake, do you hear it? It’s great…’

“Okay. What happens when this thing collapses?” he concluded. “What happens when the columns start buckling? Are we not in some early stage of that at this present hour? Are we seeing, like, the collapse of an empire? Buying and selling, where’s the message that I can use? You know, what’s in it for your audience apart from, like, banging the pom-poms?” For more news and the latest updates on Drake and Yasiin Bey, stay up to date on HNHH.

Read More: Yasiin Bey, F.K.A. Mos Def, Gives Andre 3000 Flute Track A Rap Verse At Dubai Show

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Yasiin Bey, F.K.A. Mos Def, Gives Andre 3000 Flute Track A Rap Verse At Dubai Show

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Yasiin Bey, formerly known as Mos Def, is one of hip-hop’s all-time greats, a quality that he keeps on proving. Moreover, he recently held a show in Dubai on Saturday (December 9), and he had a very special surprise for the crowd, who seemed to be having an amazing time. At one point of the concert, the other half of Black Star began to rap over the opening track to André 3000’s new album, New Blue Sun. If you didn’t already know, this project is entirely instrumental and steeped in New Age, spiritual jazz, and ambient traditions. As such, it’s quite the treat to hear one rap legend give his own unique take, via a melodic and killer verse, to the new lane that another rap legend ventures into.

Furthermore, Yasiin Bey is not the first to engage in this kind of tribute and genre fusion. For example, Lupe Fiasco also rapped over New Blue Sun‘s opener, which gave Andre 3000’s song some uniquely creative and expertly rapped lyrics to go along with it. This was one point of contention for many in the hip-hop community: why isn’t one of the best rappers alive rapping?! That’s a debate we won’t engage in here, but perhaps it’s more important to celebrate how this new work is clearly still inspiring rappers left and right.

Read More: The Alchemist Premieres New Music With Yasiin Bey, F.K.A. Mos Def, At Los Angeles Show

Yasiin Bey Adds Verse To A New Blue Sun Cut: Watch

Meanwhile, there are other rap exponents in addition to Yasiin Bey and Lupe Fiasco who think that New Blue Sun holds some real weight in the game. One curious and interesting suggestion came from Paul Wall, who gave 3 Stacks major props for his new effort. However, he posited that a chopped-and-screwed version of the improvisational LP could actually be quite compelling and exciting. It certainly wasn’t the first thing that came to mind when we heard “Andre’s flute album,” but who are we to judge?

On that note, though, what do you think of Bey’s verse on this song? Where do you fall on the debate around whether this is an interesting or worthwhile thing for MCs to do? Whatever the case, let us know in the comments down below. Also, stay up to date on HNHH for the latest news and updates on Yasiin Bey and Andre 3000.

Read More: Andre 3000 On Fan Response To His New Album: “I Don’t Know What Else I Could Do”

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The Alchemist Premieres New Music With Yasiin Bey, F.K.A. Mos Def, At Los Angeles Show

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The Alchemist recently hosted a one-off show along with MIKE and Wiki to perform their new 2023 album, Faith Is A Rock. On Thursday (November 30), he and these two amazing MCs hit the Teragram Ballroom and performed together for the first time. However, one of the most exciting parts of the show happened when Uncle Al previewed new music with the one and only Yasiin Bey, which many of you might know better as Mos Def. In fact, it’s a bit of a left hook: rather than rap through the beat, he decided to take on a more melodic delivery as he muses through his themes. Regardless, it was still a great taste.

Moreover, The Alchemist and Yasiin Bey don’t have much of a collaborative history, which makes this all the more exciting. Still, the former has worked with the latter’s Black Star partner, Talib Kweli, so we can assume that they have a lot to love for each other. That legendary collaboration turned 25 years old this year, which also adds another touching angle to this premiere. Even after all these years, Bey remains one of the most respected, beloved, and influential MCs of all time.

Read More: The Alchemist Answers Kid Cudi’s Joint Album Tweet

The Alchemist & Yasiin Bey’s New Material: Listen

Of course, this also prompts some speculation– or rather, pipe dreams– about a joint project between him and Uncle Al. After all, the iconic producer is well-known for crafting some of the best collab albums in rap history, and keeps dropping excellent team-ups. Faith Is A Rock is just one example from this year, with another being the impeccably crafted VOIR DIRE with Earl Sweatshirt. With this history in mind, it’s only natural that fans want to see what he can unlock within any other MCs over the course of a full LP.

Meanwhile, the artist formerly known as Mos Def took some time earlier in 2023 to pay respect to some of hip-hop’s titans. Much like how the beatmaker is a pivotal part of so many careers, De La Soul is even more important, and he thanked them for paving the way for him and so many others. All these artists continue to make great strides today, and it’s exciting to see how legends keep growing. On that note, check back in with HNHH for more news and the latest updates on The Alchemist and Yasiin Bey.

Read More: Yasiin Bey Might Have To Send Tour Money To His Child’s Mother

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Today in Hip-Hop History: Mos Def Released His Solo Debut ‘Black On Both Sides’ 24 Years Ago

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On this date in 1999, Rapper/actor/social activist Yasiin Bey, who was formally recognized by the Hip Hop world as Mos Def, released his first solo album, Black On Both Sides on the Rawkus/Columbia imprint.

On his debut album following the Black Star album with Talib Kweli, Mos Def kept it all the way Brooklyn, with his lyrical gymnastics laced with social commentary for the technology-addicted Internet generation. Songs like “Mathematics” and “Mr. N***a” reflect the cultural climate of 1999 while his borough anthem “Brooklyn” and love interest story “Ms. Fat Booty” keep the ear in the streets tuned in.

Salute to Mos, and producers Diamond D, ATCQ’s Ali Shaheed Muhammad, Psycho Les, and Ayatollah, This certified gold classic is forever etched in the annals of Hip-Hop history!

The post Today in Hip-Hop History: Mos Def Released His Solo Debut ‘Black On Both Sides’ 24 Years Ago first appeared on The Source.

The post Today in Hip-Hop History: Mos Def Released His Solo Debut ‘Black On Both Sides’ 24 Years Ago appeared first on The Source.