Drake Takes the Bait

Pusha T dropped a short 7-track album on Friday titled "Daytona". His first release since 2015 kept GOOD music fans happy, as he flexed the same clever bars he’s been pushing since the 90’s, this time exclusively over Kanye West’s production. The next day, Drake put out the Duppy Freestyle, an apparent response to the final track on Pusha’s project titled “Infrared”, that seemed to be aimed at Cash Money as a whole. For someone as calm and reserved as Drake, what made him respond so promptly and with such force?

Gone are the days of somebody on LL Cool J’s level of fame dissing a newbie like Can-I-Bus, or Nas taking roughly three months to clap back at Jay-Z. That level of penmanship, honor, and nobility left rap long ago, especially from a guy who’s been accused of using ghostwriters. It was probably sensitivity to those allusions in “Infrared” that prompted Drizzy to respond how he did:

There’s a complex equation going on in Drake’s head, if he’s pulling the strings at all (without a marketing team). If someone disses him, he must first decide if they are “relevant” enough for a response. That mentality alone eats at the very nature of hip-hop that assumes you crush all challengers on the spot. He seems more likely to ignore someone that can threaten his throne if his retort is perceived as weak. He also seems to be weighing their skill shortly after. Kendrick took some shots at Drake a while ago, and we barely heard a word about it. That’s too close. That Pulitzer-winning MC carries a fanbase and following big enough to make Drake sweat. As far as skill goes, he’s widely-regarded as one of the best to ever do it, and a battle with him could be a huge mistake.

So, Drake tends to play it safe. He sent some subtle shots at Common in 2012 and went back-to-back after Meek Mill in 2015, neither act big enough to take his title as rap’s top act.

But why this cowardly approach? Probably because he has so little to gain. He can easily dis someone with a much smaller commercial reach and whatever he says in a track will be considered a victory. He is extremely careful about who he commits punch lines and songs to, maintaining absolute silence against contenders with the requisite fame and talent to check him.

Maybe this time will be different. Pusha T is 40+. His best work is more than a decade behind him. But, he’s signed with somebody who’s cultural impact could almost rival Drake’s: Kanye West. With a large portion of Drake’s Duppy Freestyle directed at Kanye, that could be the collision we’re ultimately headed for. No matter how it goes, it’ll be interesting to see how this all unfolds. Pusha T, is no chump, a monster on the mic, and likely started this war for a reason. Drake is possibly stirring the pot in preparation for his upcoming album and taking full advantage of having the last word. Summer will be fun.