Common Says Drake Beef Isn't Over Serena Williams & That He's Battling For Hip Hop

Common and Drake have been exchanging shots at one another over the past few weeks, with the former most recently releasing a scathing diss remix to Rick Ross’ “Stay Schemin.” Speaking with Sirius Hip-Hop Nation last night, the Chicago, Illinois native said that the battle is not because Drizzy was hanging out with his ex-girlfriend Serena Williams, but more because he took it to the next level.

“Well, the song ‘Sweet,’ for me, was a song where I was really talking about Hip Hop. A lot of the softer side of Hip Hop is just being the example of what people think Hip Hop is. To me, you can express yourself in many different ways, but I was just missing that hardcore Hip Hop, that raw Hip Hop sound, and I was just talking about it. I was saying, man, the song ‘Sweet’ was cats out there doing sweet music. Dude must have took offense to it, so he came out and said some things, and once he said something on record, I said something on record.”

Common asserts that he did not intend to specifically diss Drake, but once he responded in concert, the floodgates opened. “That was the first thing that he responded and said something. I was like, well, I wasn’t trying to address you specifically, but if you feel like you are that person and if you’re addressing this to me, then I have to address you back,” he continued. “But my whole mentality was that I’m doing this for Hip Hop music. I’m not trying to bring somebody down. At the end of the day, I just expressed what I felt about Hip Hop. And I’ma keep it on that level, just as an emcee. That’s how I battle. I don’t try to battle any other way than emceeing.”

Contrary to rumors on the Internet, the battle is not over Com’s ex-girlfriend Serena Williams. Though Drake was spotted with her following their breakup, Common maintains that it’s all because the Young Money rapper fired back.

“We know that things can get like that, but that’s not what we want for the culture, for ourselves as men. I think we learned enough from those days to be like, OK, if you’re going to challenge me as an artist, an emcee, I’ma let you know who I am.

You just gotta know what you in it for. I got in this because it’s Hip Hop. I was speaking up on the song ‘Sweet’ about, over and over we’re hearing a lot of singing. I listen to R&B, I listen to good R&B and soul music, so I’m not opposed to singing. I’ma be frank about that. But I just spoke up for the art of Hip Hop and what I feel about it, and I want everybody to know that Hip Hop is a diverse culture and it does have that boom bap to it too. Once he said something back, that’s when I said, aight, I guess you want to get in a battle with me. And if that’s what you want, then I’ll battle.”

Austin-Let's Occupy (SOS)

Austin Omokinwa performs under the mononym Austin, a perfroming artiste, songwriter, and social media guru. He drops this revolution themed song titled "Let's Occupy" as a response to the overall atmosphere in the country. An easy listening song dedicated to the thousand of Nigerians clamouring for a better and corruption free nation. To produce the track, he teamed up with a+ kid producer, Krackmix (@krackmix).

Enjoy and share.

Follow him on twitter @AustinJDee

DOWNLOAD 'LET'S OCCUPY'

BILDERBERG GROUP UNVEILS MASSIVE DEBUT SINGLE & PARTY ANTHEM “BIG LIFE” FEATURING PINKS PEREZ

 

 
With plaudits and co-signs coming from international music stalwarths - Labrynth (Tinie Tempah), Wiley and Mayhem (S.A.S) among others, emerging Nigerian production duo the BILDERBERG GROUP - made up of brothers Bode and Toyin - are fast becoming a production force to be reckoned with. Currently working with the likes of Show Dem Camp and Alaye, 2012 promises to be the year of the BILDERBERG GROUP.

 

What makes the BILDERBERG GROUP particularly eye/ear-catching is not only their ability to produce, remix (and mix) cross-genre hits, ranging from Urban and R&B to Dance, Electro and Pop, but also their ability to produce such hits in an original manner, breathing fresh life into the music they write and produce.

 

Their forward thinking sound is urban and edgy with a strong mainstream appeal and with their attitude of "making cool pop that makes pop cool", it is no wonder why many are calling them the next "chart-topping single" production team in music.

 

Introducing fast-rising Nigerian Afrobeat & Afro-Electro production duo - the BILDERBERG GROUP – with their MASSIVE debut single and party anthem “Big Life” featuring Nigerian/Jamaican singer Pinks Perez.

 

The bass and synth heavy Afro-infused Electro dance tune complete with an infectious bassline and catchy hook sees Bilderberg Group in outstanding fashion - showcasing the production duo’s exceptional production style and dexterity with emerging African/Jamaican singer Perez riding the musical milieu rather brilliantly and adding her own unique flavour to the sure fire dance floor filler that is set to get you moving your body and vibezing as soon as you press play on “Big Life” – the party anthem for 2012.

DOWNLOAD> BIG LIFE FT PEREZ 

PHOTOSPEAK: #OccupyNigeria: Protests-Day 10. National Strike-Day 3

Nigeria Fuel Subsidy Protest in Picture

 

 

Katsina Protesters

A Timeline Of Drake, Common Beef: 'Sweet' To 'Stay Schemin'

Over the past 72 hours, the tension that’s been building between Drake and Common since December finally peaked, thanks to Common’s retaliatory lines on “Stay Schemin (Remix).” Leaving his target’s verse on Rick Ross’ original song intact, Common delivers his blow, boldly calling Drake out by name, leaving no more room for “subliminal shots.” The gauntlet has officially been thrown and now Drake makes the decision to let it all rest, or dive in headfirst. For Common--who quieted Ice Cube's talk of him being a “soft” rapper in 1996 on “The Bitch In Yoo”--the battle is just a natural part of the game. “It’s just about MCing and once you step in there, you’re in the ring baby," Common says. “Especially if you’re gonna say ‘I’m the champion.’” Check out the timeline of Common and Drake’s beef.


Common is questioned about taking subliminal shots on “Sweet."
“Sweet” was the third single from Common’s ninth album The Dreamer/The Believer and a few lines on the track immediately jumped out ("Singing all around me man, la la la/You ain’t mutha----ing Frank Sinatra"), prompting questions and rumors about whether he was specifically calling Drake "soft" on the track.

Drake responds to Common’s comment during a live show.
During a December show in Las Vegas, Drake reportedly responded to Common’s verses and his interviews, saying, "I might sing, but I ain't no bitch. If Common got something to say, say it to my face."

Common confirms “Sweet” diss was directed at Drake.
After initially dodging a few questions about where exactly those shots on “Sweet” were aimed, Common finally gave a direct answer during an interview on "Sway in the Morning," referencing Drake’s reaction to “Sweet.” “He opened his mouth and said some things, so if that’s what he want—all that subliminal [talk]…you could do that too, but say it now," Common said. "The verse is about me but when you hear some of the stuff on the chorus it’s like you can’t help but think about dude and I guess that’s what he felt. So at the end of day he fits in that category, he already embraced it, so wear it.”
Drake’s producer Noah “40” Shebib weighs in on the tension via Twitter.
40 on Common calling Drake “soft”: @common, I remember being called a bitch in grade 9 cause I had your cd. Good thing I also had 456 by kool g rap on me. Now that's real After "one day it'll all make sense" came out I spent months arguing weather or not @common was hip hop. Everyone was saying it was too rnb. I'm not dissing, just facts. I love common. I also love swv and John b.” 40's tweets triggered a response from Q-Tip, who urged 40 to keep it light and not disrespect Common.
Drake officially responds to Common on “Stay Schemin.’”
Up until this point Drake had remained relatively quite on the “beef” but when Ross dropped his anticipated Rich Forever mixtape, Drake used the track “Stay Schemin’” to direct a verse at Common, spitting, “It’s feeling like rap changed, it was a time it was rugged/Back when if a ni--a reached it was for the weapon, nowadays ni--as reach just to sell their record."

Common calls Drake out by name on “Stay Schemin (Remix).”
Common’s swift response to Drake on “Stay Schemin’ (Remix)” officially made this the first legitimate rap battle of 2012. After going back-and-forth for a few weeks, Common specifically called Drake out by name--in addition to calling him Canada Dry--making it impossible for the Young Money rapper to ignore him.

Drake’s boy, The Weekend, plus Rick Ross and Scarface chime in.
Geto Boys frontman Scarface addressed the clash on Twitter, commenting on the negativity that surrounds rap battles--“There is a certain level of respect all men have to have for one another any form of disrespect means you are prepared to DIE #f--karapbeef"--which prompted a retweet from Rick Ross. The Weeknd, on the other hand, clearly took sides, writing: “That was the worst comeback ive ever heard,” he wrote. “Reminds me of someone’s drunk uncle."

Cash Money CEO Birdman adds his two cents: "It's Drake or Nothing."
During a radio interview, Birdman responded to a question about his position on the beef. He was clear in stating that Young Money isn’t in the business of profiting from diss records, but he also vowed to support Drake in whatever way he needed. “Drake the homie so we ride or die, ain’t no second questions about that, but we’ve never been a brand to make records and want to make money off of making records off other people, that’s not what we bout,” he said. “So to me, however the young homie deal with it, we behind him, we supporting him 100 percent with our life, so that’s just what it is.”

COURTESY OF MTV

STOP HATING ON DRAKE, HE'S ON HIS LANE

I have been reading about how 85% of  internet gangstas hate drake. I do not like drake's music but that doesn't mean I hate on him. Hiphop is about choice, if you do not like his music just move on and listen to your favorite rapper. Drake has never claimed to be a druglord or gangsta; of course he grew up in an afluent neighbourhood in TO- big deal. He just makes his music and the people that like it like it. I can't really understand this beef.

Common is 20years in this game and Drake is not even 5years in yet. Its either Common is bitter cause Drake messed around with Serena or hate(for no reason) or maybe he is just trying to sell records. Common is NOT in the position to call another rapper soft and sweet. He is one of the corniest rappers I've ever known and I am no new school head. I am 29 and have been following hip-hop all my life. All lot of hip hop heads know this, but would rather live in denial 'cos of their hatred for this kid.

Common had his time so he should let drake do his. He is making himself look like an ass. Wayne called himself the best rapper alive but you don't see Nas, Rakim and the other legends coming at him. Drake calling himself "the best ever" are just rhymes to me. Common need to sit his ass down cause he is corny too. Look at the Erykah badu shit and some corny videos and movies he made in the past.

Common's been in the game for long and has had battkle with N.W.A, Ice Cube...who told y'all he won the duel with Ice Cube anyways?
If you still hating on Drake after all said, then you must be hating cos he didnt grow up in shitty ghetto...or probably cos he's notn your average American boy.

Birdman Gives His Thoughts On Drake/Common Beef, Says There Will Be No Diss Records

Birdman stresses the fact that Cash Money isn't about diss records, but says Drake has their support.

Since the feud between rappers Common and Drake began late last year members of Young Money/Cash Money have remained relatively quiet in regards to their opinions on the beef between the two artists. But during a recent interview on Los Angeles’ Power 106, Cash Money Records co-founder Birdman finally voiced his opinion on the feud.

“Drake the homie so we ride or die. Ain’t no second questions about that, but we never been a brand to make records and want to make money off of making records of other people that’s not what we about,” Birdman explained. “So to me however the young homie deal with it we behind him, we supporting him 100 percent with our life so that’s just what it is. Ain’t no other way. Drake the lil’ homie that’s blood, that’s family, and ain’t no siding with that. It’s Drake or nothing.”

Birdman went on to stress the fact that his label isn’t about diss records or the profit that comes with releasing those types of records.

“We don’t do all that. We never did that,” said Birdman. “Never was about making money off of music off of diss records. That’s not how we operate. We try to give the fans – I mean when you get caught up in that to me you forget what this about. And it’s about the people and that’s what we do. We do our music for the people. We never been a brand to diss and diss records and try to make money that’s not us. But Drake the homie and we support him fully and whatever he ‘bout we ‘bout. However that turns out that’s just what it is.”

The beef between Common and Drake, which seemed close to being finished, was reawakened this week thanks to the release of Common’s “Stay Schemin Remix.”  

DMX Spits "Tales From The Darkside"

Since his July 2011 release from jail, often troubled rapper DMX has been testing the waters with a few guest features and live performances. Following his quite impressive Andreena Mill assisted comeback single “Last Hope,” comes an all new clip of the Yonkers bred rhymer spittin’ a verse off an unreleased track entitled ”Tales From The Darkside.”


“Its about loving what you do and doing what you do, for the pure enjoyment of knowing that you’re the best at what you do…” says Ruff Ryders​‘ long time franchise player DMX, before he launches into what seems to be the acapella backstage at a recent event. Below is footage of Dark Man X​ going in!

THE WORLD WELCOME BEYONCE'S IVY BLUE CARTER

R&B superstar Beyonce has given birth to a baby daughter. The Crazy in Love singer delivered little Ivy Blue Carter in New York's Lenox Hill Hospital on Saturday night (07Jan12) via a scheduled Caesarean section, according to U.S. reports.

She's the first child for Beyonce and her rapper husband Jay Z, who married in April 2008.
Umbrella hitmaker Rihanna was among the first to celebrate the new arrival, taking to Twitter.com to post, "Welcome to the world princess Carter! Love Aunty Rih."

Hip-hop mogul Russell Simmons also tweeted, "Congrats to my good friends Beyonce and Jay Z."

DEJiNiOUS- "Hustle Na Tha Main Tin

DEJiNiOUS (the Genius) aka Adebayo Ayodeji, an undergraduate of Federal University of Technology, Akure  is what we can call the DJ Khaled of the future. He has a talent of bringing to light unique concepts. In this track, he shares with us the daily struggle of an average Nigerian. With the lyrical prowess and contributions from acts like: M'Simo, Slick Sams, Rhook & Dablak, a vivid picture of the daily hustle, tussle  and challenges exprienced by Naija youths is painted in "Hustle Na Tha Main Tin

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