Common and Drake have been firing shots at one another over the past few weeks, and many people have assumed it’s over Drizzy hanging out with his ex-girlfriend Serena Williams, but Com says that’s not it.
“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 said that he didn’t intend to specifically diss Drake, but once he responded in concert, that was it.
“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.”
Common insists that Serena has nothing to do with the beef.
“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.”
Do you believe Serena Williams has nothing to do with the beef? I don’t don’t, I just think Common put Sweet on the hook and Drake took the bait for whatever insecure reason.
Source: HipHopDX.com
1-14-2012
NAhh Serena old news…Drake = DEAD
Common Been Here When Hip Hop was at itz prime and even before that. but drake is just a stunt double for wayne trynin to act like he got all these bitchxxes and kant get minaj,,,
when shit go down ill remember common not drake im sick of hearing his shit on the radio and lil wayne’s “jail voice” RIP WEEZY lol
ALSO CHOzen word is Out Hiphop and r&B is going TECHNO… sad fist pumping p.s. RIP USHER XD
1-15-2012
To be I fill like drake is all around better than Common but lyrics wise Common would be put over drake any day. Over all drake is a more versatile artist, but Sweet was a drake diss no matter what he says. He probably just didn’t want to be to blame for throwing the first diss. Drake ain’t beefin’ with anyone you either just hatting, or you fill that he is a threat to your ego.
1-16-2012
To be frank,Common got beef with all da hype around Drake….I mean Drizzy is doing his thang rite now.Dat Serena ish…Dats old news.Its just dat at tym’s niggas dont knw how to act…(Tip to common:Dude feature da kid on ya track..fr dat sake of exposure)
1-19-2012
On the cool Drake got murdered on that flow! but to be real Drake is owning his moment why you trying to shoot him down common? I really do think your hurt cuz of a FEMALE bro come on now but your still so inspirational common! and Drake Drizzy Bring that fire next time big homie
1-30-2012
U out yo mind ta think Drake better than Common, Period! Drake Canada Dry Lmao at that when I saw da drink at da store
2-12-2012
Common has never been relevant…stick to acting lol….he better hope weezy dont get on it….rip common….o wait he NEVER WAS lol
2-24-2012
Better hope Weezy dont get on it? LMFAO LMFAO Whats weezy gonna do? Say random words? OOOOOOO. Common would Shit on YM all at once. Niggas needa stop dick riding the mainstream artists, and show some respect to the classics of REAL HIP HOP
3-5-2012
Yo I’m from Louisiana and its about time I’m really happy u pointed that out wAYNES hella talented but like most of the stars the art displayed is in vain not used for progressive thinking. Lil London bwoi
3-15-2012
I dont care what anybody says Drake is relevant right now, I’m not saying i”m a huge fan but he makin hits whether you like his music or not and growing up I never knew who common was jus saying, nothing against the dude but I’m just not a fan of his music, I get tired of mainstream music too but I still listen to it sometimes so the face that its less hip hop and more pop in mainstream is because of the fact that pop sells, Anybody that wanna stay relevant in the record label’s eyes is gonna make pop music in some form or another at some point in their career that just has a broader fan base. Nobody can hate on artist for doin what they gotta do to maintain the lifestyle they love, I mean where is common nowadays, I haven’t heard a common song on the radio in years nor have i seen a video on tv and its because he sticks to what he likes. I dont have a problem with it but he cant say someone elses music isnt hip hop because its not “HIS” hip hop. he just doesnt like drake’s music and thats his opinion but record sales dont lie.