Hey everyone, welcome. Today, there’s a lot to unpack. First up, let’s dive into the ongoing drama between Kanye and Drake. But before that, let’s address the recent feud involving Azealia Banks and Doja Cat.
Now, for those unfamiliar, Azealia Banks is a multi-talented artist known for stirring up controversy. She’s never been one to shy away from targeting female artists who outshine her. Recently, her focus has turned to Doja Cat. While she’s previously praised Doja as a star, she’s also taken shots at her, criticizing her appearance and music videos.
In a recent exchange, Azealia reposted a tweet questioning her previous criticisms of Doja, asserting her own status as the true star. She didn’t hold back, calling Doja’s music derivative and questioning her lyrical ability. Azealia also took aim at Doja’s cultural impact and criticized her for what she perceives as lackluster bars and attempts at adopting different styles.
Furthermore, Azealia criticized Doja’s recent photo shoot with Interview magazine, expressing disappointment in the background of the images. Overall, it’s clear that tensions between these two artists are running high, with Azealia unapologetically voicing her opinions on Doja’s work and image.
That was quite a mouthful, wasn’t it? One thing about Azealia is she’s fearless in speaking her mind, which I can respect, but her tone often comes off as overly critical, dripping with jealousy and animosity. While she does make valid points about Doja’s influences, such as Katy Perry and Nicki Minaj, I can’t ignore the envy in her words, which puts me off.
Now, Doja Cat, on the other hand, is undeniably talented. Despite some controversial moments, her focus on music sets her apart. Her dedication to her craft, outstanding performances, and ability to maximize her talent make her stand out in today’s industry. She may not excel as the best rapper or singer, but she does what she does exceptionally well. I disagree with Azealia’s claim that Doja adds nothing to music; she elevates the standard in pop music, countering the prevailing mediocrity. Doja embodies the essence of past pop stars, and I appreciate her for that.
Regarding Doja’s rapping skills, she demonstrates prowess in tracks like “Rules,” “Woman,” and “Better Than Me.” Although she might not reach Azealia’s level, who is undoubtedly talented, her constant controversies overshadow her gifts. Despite recognizing Azealia’s talent, her problematic behavior makes it hard to support her. Her actions have alienated many, hindering her career progression. Constantly attacking peers only exacerbates her situation.
Upon catching wind of Azealia’s remarks, Doja took to Twitter with a playful response, sharing, “japit in normandment,” a French phrase translating to “I’m farting in a big way.” Adding to the whimsy, she mused, “What would you do if you were living in a gangster’s pair of dice?” Doja’s light-hearted retort showcased her reluctance to engage in a feud with Azealia, whom she admires. Responding further might tarnish her image, so she opted for a quirky dismissal, understanding Azealia’s tendency to critique fellow artists.
Drake’s Certified Lover Boy Release
Transitioning to the ongoing drama between Drake and Kanye West, it’s disheartening to witness them dragging Andre 3000 into their squabble. However, before delving into that, let’s touch on Drake’s latest album, Certified Lover Boy.
Amidst much anticipation, Drake unveiled his album last Friday, sparking widespread discussion and acclaim. Yet, I can’t help but echo sentiments akin to my feelings towards Kanye’s Donda; it fell victim to overhype. If I were to compare, Donda edges ahead for its intriguing elements. Certified Lover Boy, while not devoid of highlights, left me underwhelmed. Despite expectations of a love-themed opus with anthemic potential, it felt like a diluted iteration of Scorpion, recycling familiar formulas. Admittedly, I found myself skipping through numerous tracks.
However, amidst the mediocrity, several tracks stood out. “Champagne Poetry” emerged as a standout, alongside “Fair Trade” featuring Travis Scott. The melodic undertones of “Pipe Down,” “IMY2” featuring Kid Cudi, and “Get Along Better” resonated with me. These tracks hinted at the R&B direction I had hoped for, given the album’s title. Yet, the overall execution fell short of expectations, leaving me yearning for coherence. Nevertheless, “Poppy’s Home,” “No Friends in the Industry,” and “7AM on Bridalpath” showcased Drake’s prowess, particularly when he delves into raw rap, the latter highlighting his ongoing rift with Kanye.
The feud between Drake and Kanye West is quite intricate. In essence, Kanye harbors jealousy towards Drake, feeling threatened by Drake’s surpassing popularity and sales. Conversely, Drake once idolized Kanye, aspiring to emulate him, but as his own star rose, he began to compare himself to Kanye, which Kanye didn’t appreciate. This clash of egos, competitiveness, and envy has fueled their tension over the years.
At one point, they seemed to reconcile and collaborated on music. However, Kanye’s actions, like dropping a track called “Lift Yourself” with nonsensical lyrics to taunt Drake, and his artist Pusha T’s diss track “Story of Adidon,” intensified their rift. Drake felt betrayed when private information about his son, which he had shared with Kanye, was used against him in the diss track. This not only disrupted Drake’s Adidas line rollout but also threatened his album “Scorpion’s” release. Drake blames Kanye for this debacle, although both Kanye and Pusha T denied leaking the information, claiming it came from Drake’s own camp
I never disclosed any info about Drake’s personal life to Pusher. But Drake believed Kanye orchestrated a scheme to disrupt his career. Despite still achieving success with “Scorpion,” Drake’s pride was wounded, driving him to seek vengeance. He subtly insinuated involvement with Kanye’s wife and threw shade at Kanye and Pusha T in Trippie Redd’s track “Betrayal.” Kanye retaliated by leaking Drake’s address and dissing him on “OK OK” from the “Donda” album. Drake fired back with “7AM on Bridalpath,” slamming Kanye’s duplicity and asserting his dominance. Kanye attempted a response with “Life of the Party,” featuring Andre 3000, but Andre was unaware it contained a Drake diss. Kanye’s maneuver backfired when Drake leaked the song, dragging Andre into their feud unnecessarily. The ongoing drama between these two artists has become tiresome and petty, overshadowing their talents.
Drake seems fixated on seeking revenge against Kanye, while Kanye appears equally obsessed with Drake. It’s like they’re both caught up in this cycle. And Kanye’s inner circle isn’t helping matters; some seem to be not only leaking his personal information but also stoking the flames of this beef for publicity. It’s concerning because Kanye lacks a solid support system and seems mentally unstable, making him prone to erratic behavior. Plus, his recent talk of affiliating with the Gangster Disciples doesn’t align with his Christian image – it’s bewildering. And his demand for Drake to essentially become his ghostwriter is both ludicrous and disrespectful. The entire feud between them is just a chaotic mess. It’s slightly amusing at times, but mostly just irritating. Dragging Andre 3000 into the mix only made it worse.
“Andre recently issued a statement regarding his involvement with the ‘Donda’ album by Kanye West. He shared that Kanye had approached him a few weeks back, seeking his contribution to the project, which was intended as a musical tribute to Kanye’s late mother. Feeling a personal resonance with the theme, as he had also lost his own mother in 2013, Andre felt compelled to support the concept.
However, Andre clarified that he was unaware of the plan to create a clean version of the album until after he had written and recorded his verse. Realizing that his verse wouldn’t translate well into the edited format without the raw version also available, he made the difficult decision to step back from the original album release.
Expressing disappointment at the turn of events and the ensuing conflict between artists, Andre expressed his desire to collaborate with those who inspire him, mentioning his interest in working with Kendrick Lamar, Lil Baby, Tyler, and Jay-Z.
It’s evident from his statement that Andre was innocently caught up in the situation, and it’s unfortunate that he had to face such circumstances. Nevertheless, fans can still hope for exciting collaborations in the future, such as the potential partnership between Andre and Kendrick Lamar.”
Let me just express my thoughts on Kendrick Lamar’s recent statements. When Kendrick declared his intention to outshine others in the top 5, he meant business. I have a strong hunch that his upcoming album will receive more praise than those of Kanye West and Drake. While both Kanye and Drake have seen success with their recent releases, their ongoing feud seems to be overshadowing their music. Kanye’s decision to undermine a potentially standout track on his album just to fuel his feud with Drake was disappointing. Meanwhile, Drake’s attempt to provoke Kanye may have backfired, as his own album release fell short of expectations. In the midst of their conflict, Kendrick has remained on the sidelines, yet I believe he’s poised to deliver the standout hip-hop album of the year. It’s not about drama or quantity, but about the sheer quality of the work, something Kendrick consistently delivers. So, while Drake and Kanye are caught up in their feud, Kendrick is set to rise above, proving once again why he’s a force to be reckoned with in the industry. When Kendrick declares he’s coming for your top 5, you better believe he’s going to deliver.