Drake's Latest EP Hints at His Distaste for Kanye West, Pusha T, and Joe Budden
Drake's latest EP delivers scathing shots at Kanye West's fake reconciliations, dismisses Pusha T as a mere statistic, and mercilessly disses former musician Joe Budden A hard-hitting release that showcases Drake's unrelenting lyrical prowess
Drake, Kanye West, Pusha T, and Joe Budden. Getty Images (4)
Drake opted to revisit the past and aim some verbal attacks at his longtime foes Kanye West, Pusha T, and Joe Budden in the process.
In a span of less than a month from the release of his latest album For All the Dogs, the 37-year-old rapper unveiled For All the Dogs Scary Hours Edition on Friday, November 17. This EP, which marked his third installment in the Scary Hours series, showcased verses specifically directed towards his adversaries.
In "Red Button," Drake publicly criticized Kanye West for being insincere in resolving their ongoing conflict. Drake expressed his frustration, pointing out that whenever West needed his support, he was always there without hesitation. However, every time West initiated a truce, Drake felt deceived and believed that West was just boosting his own ego. Drake hoped that they would finally come to a peaceful resolution and rise above the animosity, only to realize that it was all premeditated.
Drake and West's relationship has always been complex. They started off as close friends and colleagues in the mid-2000s, but over time, things took a turn for the worse. The rivalry between them intensified in the 2010s, with occasional attempts at reconciliation. However, in 2018, things reached a breaking point when Pusha T, a rapper affiliated with West, released the West-produced track "Infrared." In this song, Pusha T accused Drake of not writing his own lyrics. This led to a series of online insults between Pusha T and Drake. Eventually, Pusha T released "The Story of Adidon," revealing that Drake had fathered a child with Sophie Brussaux, which further fueled their feud.
West and Drake publicly ended their feud in 2021 with a joint performance at the "Free Larry Hoover" benefit concert. However, it appears that the two are once again experiencing a falling out.
In his new EP, Drake also uses the opportunity to call out Pusha T. On the track "Wick Man," Drake raps, "I am currently focused on my success and indulging in the Miami lifestyle. It's amusing how people used to mock me, and now that rapper is financially struggling. He's become a mere statistic."
The verse makes a reference to a line from Pusha T's song "The Story of Adidon," in which he mocks Drake's OVO Sound cofounder Noah "40" Shebib, who has been living with multiple sclerosis since 2005. Pusha T raps, "
The retirement of the rapper-turned-podcaster has caused upset for Drake since the release of For All the Dogs in October. Budden, aged 43, expressed his longing for the Drake that focused on rapping for fellow musicians. Additionally, Budden remarked that For All the Dogs seemed to cater more towards a younger audience, prioritizing streaming numbers and recognition rather than appealing to him. Budden accepted this shift in Drake's style.
In response, Drake took to social media to deliver a lengthy message. He claimed that Budden had failed in his musical pursuits and alleged that the "Pump It Up" rapper had retired without officially ending his career, therefore leaving no lasting impact.
Drake made a surprise announcement about his new EP shortly before its release. In an Instagram video, he expressed that he had no intention of pleasing anyone and had full confidence in the body of work that he had just released. Although he acknowledged the option to disappear for extended periods for the sake of mystery, it was not his preference. He compared the feeling he had while creating the EP to the time he made "If You're Reading This" and described it as being in a mentally elevated state without the use of drugs.
Furthermore, Drake revealed that he had written the songs within the past five days and had not written down a single line for them on the night his previous album, "For All the Dogs," dropped. He emphasized that he was not continuing from any unfinished material, but rather, the creative process was flowing naturally. Ultimately, he concluded that he saw no reason to resist this creative flow.
