Common is coming to Drake’s defense in the feud between him and Yasiin Bey.
On Wednesday, Common added his two cents to the beef between Drake and Bey, formerly known as Mos Def, while speaking with Hot 97’s “Ebro In The Morning.” According to the Chicago native, Drizzy is very much a hip-hop artist despite his crossover into other genres.
“To me, I think Drake comes from Hip Hop. When I first heard him rhyming, I was like, ‘Yo, this dude rhyming.’ And if he goes out and makes songs that are popular, then that’s what it is. He’s still an MC. The dude is an incredible songwriter, he’s an incredible artist,” Chicago explained.
Common’s input comes after Bey said Drake is more of a pop star than a rapper. He even likened his music to shopping tunes, much like what is played in Target stores. These comments were made during his appearance on “The Cutting Room Floor” podcast, sparking a vicious music debate online. Many sided with Bey, pointing out some of Drizzy’s more pop-adjacent records, such as “Hotline Bling” and “Take Care.” However, die-hard Drake fans pointed to his bar-heavy tunes such as “First Person Shooter” and “Tuscan Leather” as proof that Drake has never strayed far from rap roots. It seems Common has sided with OVO fans in this debate, explaining that Drake’s ability to reach different fanbases is a bonus.
“You can’t touch that many people, for as long a time as he’s been doing […] This man has touched different aspects of culture and been able to continue to do it. You gotta have some respect and know that this dude is a very talented artist,” Common added, also giving major props to Bey, calling him a “genius” who has mastered the art of “poetic rap.”
