Snippets of Yasiin Bey’s conversation on meaningless music with The Cutting Room Floor podcast’s Recho Omondi have appeared online.
According to Revolt, the rapper connected Drake’s music with product consumption.
“Drake is pop to me.”
Yasiin Bey, formerly Mos Def, explained further.
“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, as you know, shopping with an edge in certain instances.”
He added that Drake’s music is likable but questioned if there was more to it.
The rapper also mocked a patron being convinced to shop by Drake.
“So many products! So many SKUs, look at all these SKUs. Oh, so many products! I love this mall! Look at this place. I mean, look at this place! They have everything! Everything’s here… Oh, this is great. It’s the new Drake, you hear it? It’s great.”
Yasiin Bey Was Critical Of “Consumerism” In Music
The rapper also had a reflective moment in the interview.
“What happens when this thing collapses? What happens when the columns start buckling? Are we not in some early stage of that at this present hour? Are we seeing, like, the collapse of the empire? Buying and selling — where’s the message that I can use? You know, what’s in it for your audience apart from, like, banging the pom-poms?”
Drake has recently faced criticism from fans arguing that his music no longer caters to hip-hop fans.
Instead, they claim he’s making quick hits to appeal to a younger demographic.
Yasiin Bey’s comments echoed this, and Drake fans criticized him.
But Bey’s fans quickly jumped to his defense.
“Maybe people don’t know who Mos Def is. [He] purposely sabotaged his OWN success so that he could stay true to his values. To say he is bitter towards Drake’s success is kinda odd.”
“You can take issues with what Mos Def said, but don’t lie and say that he can be easily out rapped because that is not true.”
Can Drake survive an Mos Def battle?? pic.twitter.com/d2X5q9JPDb
— DAYGENIUS (@DayGenius__) January 15, 2024
People are predictably ignoring the point here. Mainstream rap today is undeniably the soundtrack of late capitalism, an empty barrage of product placements.
Mos Def made The Ecstatic, probably the best rap album of the last 15 years. He can say what he wants about the culture. https://t.co/gVsXg6gX6I
— Cadence Weapon (@cadenceweapon) January 14, 2024
in 2008, Rappers like Jay Z & Lil Wayne started calling themselves the best rapper alive & Mos Def didn’t appreciate that & told them to grab their best & to challenge him & his best for that title. Otherwise, cut the shit LOL Who touching Yasiin Bey? i’ll wait pic.twitter.com/MFY54HST6c
— Tori Nicks 2.0 (@MajestyRia) January 13, 2024
