With a staggering 150 million records sold worldwide, Drake has undoubtedly amassed a massive following for his music. However, his actions off the stage often leave a sour taste in people’s mouths, leading to raised eyebrows and criticism. Today, we’re diving into some of his most publicized celebrity feuds and dissecting why some folks are starting to lose faith in him.
Now, if you’re the type who cringes at getting into other people’s business, tough luck because we’re about to dive deep. No holds barred. But hey, you might want to grab some snacks for this ride. Head on over to rrgsnacks.com, our online snack shop, for some mouthwatering beef and bacon jerky, green apple licorice, and butter toffee peanuts. Trust me, those peanuts are addictive. His loyal fans have got your back, though.
The buzz was real when Drake teamed up with SZA for their 2023 collaboration ‘Slime You Out.’ However, things took a sour turn when controversy erupted over the cover artwork. Featuring a photo of Halle Berry drenched in green slime from the 2012 Nickelodeon Kids Choice Awards, the image stirred up quite the storm. Berry herself took to Instagram, revealing Drake’s attempt to obtain permission to use the photo, which she vehemently denied. Despite her clear refusal, Drake went ahead and used it anyway, igniting a fiery debate. This situation is shaping up to be messier than a food fight.
The song delves into the unsettling reality of women taking advantage of well-intentioned men for their material wealth, epitomized by lines like ‘Me, me, me, me, me, me, me, me, me, and change you like American slaves.’ But wait a minute, let’s pause there. Drake’s attempt to spin these lyrics as a clever double entendre, reflecting his penchant for splurging on women, fell flat on its face. Bringing up slavery in such a casual manner? That’s a big no-no. Did Drake somehow miss that memo? Are history books a rarity in Canada? Despite the controversy, the song still managed to climb its way to the top of the Billboard Hot 100, proving that people are willing to tune in to just about anything these days.
But Drake’s troubles didn’t end there. He found himself in hot water with his collaborator, SZA, too. She disclosed to The Wall Street Journal that she had submitted two vocal drafts to Drake, only for him to choose the first one for his album. She quipped, ‘If you accept my first draft, I won’t trust you.’ It left SZA wondering if Drake intentionally opted for her initial draft to undermine her.
Now, let’s talk about Charlamagne.
Drake’s rocky relationship with Charlamagne traces back to 2013 when Drake released ‘Hold On, We’re Going Home.’ Charlamagne, speaking to Vlad TV, expressed that while the song was decent, he believed Drake should have handed it over to a bona fide R&B artist. He also opined that Drake wasn’t skilled enough to juggle both the rapper and singer personas, urging him to pick one and stick with it. But Drake wasn’t about to take that lying down. In his 2015 track ‘Back to Back,’ he cheekily promised to buy Charlamagne some bottles, and true to his word, he sent over six bottles of Dom Pérignon with a note reading, ‘Let’s be friends, Aubrey Graham, classy guy, man.’ Their camaraderie seemed solid as they were pictured popping bottles together in a club. However, the good vibes didn’t last. In 2018, Drake took a jab at Charlamagne in his song ‘Sandra’s Rose,’ rapping, ‘Like Charlamagne, I see the light and see the darkest patches.’ Charlamagne, who had been vehemently denying rumors of skin bleaching, wasn’t impressed. He later described his relationship with Drake as a love-hate dynamic on Watch What Happens Live and asserted he wouldn’t have anything positive to say about him. Their relationship continued to sour as Drake released tracks that Charlamagne openly despised. Charlamagne even declared on his ‘Brilliant Idiots’ podcast that radio hadn’t caught up with the street’s pulse, dismissing the notion of being in a “Drake era” for the past few years. After Drake dropped ‘Slime You Out’ in 2023, Charlamagne unleashed a scathing critique, prompting Drake to accuse him of being obsessed and even suggesting Charlamagne wished he could be him. Drake’s tirade concluded with him likening Charlamagne to an off-brand Morris Chestnut. The drama never seems to end with these two.
We all remember the intense beef between Drake and Pusha T, right? It reached its peak when Pusha T dropped the bombshell that Drake had fathered a child with an adult film actress. Talk about scandalous! The feud dragged on for ages, with both artists throwing shade and taking shots at each other. But the most shocking moment came when Pusha T dug up an old photo of Drake in blackface from his early career days. It was a major revelation! Pusha even used that very photo as the cover art for his diss track against Drake in 2018, causing quite a stir. People were furious and demanded answers from Drake. So, Drake finally spoke up, explaining that the photo was from a project he did back in 2007. He said it was meant to shed light on the struggles faced by young black actors trying to make it in the industry. Drake stated, “The photos were a commentary on the misrepresentation of African-Americans in entertainment.” And while Drake tried to move on from it, the cultural backlash was relentless. That cringeworthy photo still haunts us to this day, serving as a reminder of the challenges and controversies in showbiz.
And oh, Aaliyah.
Aaliyah’s passing left a void in the hearts of many, and Drake’s ongoing admiration for her has stirred mixed feelings among fans. Some find his affection for her a bit unsettling, considering they never crossed paths and never collaborated professionally. Drake has woven references to her into his music since he rose to stardom. However, in 2010, things took a peculiar turn. On the ninth anniversary of her passing, Drake penned a heartfelt guest blog post on Rap Radar. He chose to address Aaliyah by her middle name, Dana, a choice that caught many by surprise. The most poignant part of his letter was when he confessed, “I’ve never experienced a loss like yours, but the day I learned of your passing, it hit me like a punch from Muhammad Ali.” Drake openly declared his love for her, despite never having met her in person. He expressed regret over the missed opportunity to collaborate musically, given his young age at the time of her death. Drake also shared his hope of meeting her in the afterlife and vowed to honor her memory through his music. One can’t help but wonder if there are restraining orders in heaven, given Drake’s intense devotion. The following year, Drake posted a photo on Twitter showing his earpiece adorned with Aaliyah’s image. In his caption, he wrote, “RIP baby girl. You’re with me at every show, guiding my next move. Love you.” Such gestures might be seen as eccentric by some.
Could someone please call 911? Back in 2012, Drake got fans hyped on Tim Westwood TV with promises of exciting news about Aaliyah. But the big reveal? Just a song called ‘Enough Said,’ featuring previously unheard vocals from Aaliyah. To top it off, Drake got tagged as one of the co-producers for Aaliyah’s posthumous album. And he wasn’t stopping there; he was gearing up to drop some tracks on the album alongside heavyweights like Snoop Dogg, Ne-Yo, Future, Chris Brown, and The Weeknd.
But the fan base wasn’t exactly thrilled. They weren’t just mad about Drake’s involvement; they were downright ticked off that all the featured artists were men, and some had sketchy pasts. One person on Twitter summed it up perfectly, saying, “They went and put abusers, misogynists on this album when Aaliyah dealt with that kind of stuff when she was alive. They had so many talented Black women to choose from who look up to Aaliyah, but instead, we get these shady dudes.” Can I get an amen?
And then there’s the whole mess about Aaliyah’s uncle, Barry Hankerson, cashing in on the album instead of the money going where it should, to Aaliyah’s estate. So close, Drake, yet so far from making music with his dream girl. But last I heard, the album’s on ice until everyone involved gets their act together.
As for Drake’s Aaliyah obsession, it’s still burning bright. Rumor has it, he’s got not just one but multiple tattoos of her on his body. Yeah, you heard that right, multiple tattoos. So, what do you think? Is all this hate on Drake unfair, or are you just as tired of his antics as everyone else? Sound off below!