Drake is not happy with Yasiin Bey’s attempt to dismiss him as a pop artist.
The chart-topping Canadian rapper took to his Instagram Stories on Monday, January 15, to respond to Bey’s recent criticism of his music by quoting Method Man and Bey himself.
Bey, formerly known as Mos Def, sparked a debate last week when he said in an interview with The Cutting Room Floor that Drake is “pop to me” and that his music is “compatible with shopping” or “shopping with an edge”.
He also questioned the message and value of Drake’s songs for his audience, saying “What’s in it for your audience?”
Drake, who has been a fan of Bey since his early days as a rapper, did not appreciate the shade and decided to remind him of his own words in a previous song.
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He posted a clip of an old interview where Method Man, one of the most respected MCs in the game, defines hip hop as a culture, a way of life, and a form of expression.
He also referenced Bey’s classic song “Umi Says”, where he sings “Shine your light on the world” and “I want Black people to be free”.
Drake captioned the video with “What umi say again? Lemme shine my light king don’t change up now”, implying that Bey has changed his views on hip hop and is being hypocritical.
He also suggested that he is shining his light on the world with his music, regardless of how Yaslin ‘Most Def’ Bey labels it.
Drake’s response was met with mixed reactions from fans and fellow artists.
Meanwhile, Bey has not responded to Drake’s clap back yet, but he might have more to say on the matter. The Brooklyn-born legend is known for being outspoken and opinionated about hip hop and its direction.