Hip-hop and Twitter have a complicated relationship (see also: athletes, politicians, humans.) Every week, another divisive topic pops up, creating torrents of Tweets that feel like millions of impassioned armchair critics shouting into the wind. Whether it’s Kendrick’s verse on “Control,” the Rock the Bells holograms, or Kanye’s most recent “rant” at the Pusha-T party, arguing in 140 characters or less about rap bullshit is its own trending topic.
The Twitter sideshow has become the new version of the hip-hop skit. It’s funny the first time, but then it becomes increasingly annoying—until it’s eventually skipped.
Drake is the latest MC to have the crosshairs aimed at him. When you drop a single called “Wu-Tang Forever” and your name is Drake, what do you expect?
The best reactions came from within the Wu Tang family. Uncle Rae laughed it off, saying it was “all luv” to quiet the haters.
U-God threw a curve: the Wu was not only in on the joke, but apparently have a remix ready with verses from every member:
“They wanted us to remix it and get on there [so] you gon’ probably hear another one with us on it. Meth did his verse—we all did our verses. I wrote my rhyme in probably 15, 20 minutes.
“We were moving so fast we only had about four hours of studio time. If I had some time to really sit down and get juicy with it, I probably could’ve got juicier with it. But I still do a nice one, I still do a real banger.”
Deck was ok with it at first, but then he actually heard the joint and felt a little salty. Apparently, he didn’t think Drake’s darts were from the heart.
GM fam! Woke up to a lot of @Drake disses… WTH? The homey did a song about us right? Is that not love/respect? Or did I miss sum’n?
— Inspectah Deck (@INSpectahDECKWU) September 13, 2013
After listening to the @Drake song, I agree with u… It is in no form a tribute to WU and SHOULD NOT wear the title Wutang Forever!
— Inspectah Deck (@INSpectahDECKWU) September 13, 2013
And neither did much of the Internet. The hive mind is a bit too black and white sometimes for its own good, especially when it comes to “real hip-hop heads.” When a pop rapper reaches into the Wu catalogue for a boost, there’s always going to be a backlash. The “us vs. them” mentality is too ingrained.
Drake tried to pull a Common, using an “It’s Yourz” sample to make his own love letter to the game. Unfortunately, “Wu Tang Forever” can’t hold an oowop to “I Used to Love H.E.R.”