Yasiin Bey Calls Drake A “Talented MC” After “Pop” Critique, But Still Wants More Substance

Yasiin Bey created hysteria in the music community this month when he called Drake‘s music “pop” that is compatible with shopping, or should be played at Target. The 50-year-old has now followed up on these statements, explaining that while Drake is gifted, he requires more from artists.

The artist formerly known as Mos Def jumped on Instagram Live on Monday (Jan. 29) and revealed that he has reached out to the 6 God and also tried to connect with him via Dave Chappelle. “Drake, if you’d like to speak to me directly, you can at any point,” he said.

As for the Toronto superstar’s music, he had no issues admitting his talent before getting into his qualms with not only his music, but the general state of music. “You are a very talented MC,” he said. “But for me, I require more of myself and others than just talent or charm or charisma — particularly in times of urgent crisis. And what I would like to see in terms of creators or creative people in the world, as it relates to our culture, is for people to connect with us beyond the jukebox or the dance floor.”

Yasiin Bey closed off his message by intimating that while people support Drake’s music, they may not be loyal to him as a person. “A fair-weather friend can hardly be called a friend at all,” he said. “The people who party with you — that’s cool. But will they show up for you when you’re at the triage?”

This comes just a few weeks after Bey appeared on The Cutting Room Floor podcast and set the internet ablaze. The host asked him if the For All The Dogs artist was Hip-Hop, and he replied “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.”

The Grammy winner responded to Bey’s comments with an Instagram story, sharing a clip of Method Man describing what Hip-Hop was. “Hip Hop is a culture,” the Wu-Tang Clan member said. “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 responds to Yasiin Bey / Mos Def saying Drake is Pop not Hip Hop, he references the Mos Def song “Umi Says,” (Umi means mother) and he posted this older interview by Method Man explaining what Hip Hop is

“Hip Hop is the culture, way of life, way you dress, way you talk…” pic.twitter.com/lVyA2xWepA

— SOUND (@itsavibe) January 16, 2024