Billboard requires a JavaScript enabled browser to get the full experience

Comments

Common Explains Feud with Drake

Artists in this Article

Ice Cube
Nas
Jay-Z
Common
Drake

Related Articles

Common: 'I'm to Hip-Hop What Obama Is to Politics'

Common returns with a critically acclaimed new album, a TV show on AMC, and a slate of film roles

Common Disses Drake on 'Stay Schemin'' Remix: Listen

Months after Common ignited a beef with Drake last November on "Sweet," a track off his album "The Dreamer/The Believer," the dissing continues.

Drake Doubles Up Again in R&B/Hip-Hop Top 10

"The Motto" jumps 13-9 on the latest chart, Drake's 22nd top 10 position.

PARK CITY, Utah (AP) -- The Sundance Film Festival became the unlikely center of hip-hop's latest feud when actor-turned-rapper Drake and rapper-turned-actor Common came to town.

 

Two Days at Sundance with Common

 

Common was promoting his role in upcoming family drama "LUV," while Drake was performing at one of the many late-night parties.

 

The two have traded insults recently via their raps, but Common said he didn't want to say anything else about Drake not in rhyme form.

 

"I feel like I said everything I really needed to say on the record. I just looked at it as like 'Hey, it's just a hip-hop battle,'" he explained in an interview this week.

 

"The time to talk is on record as far as I'm concerned. If we in the ring, then we just handle our business in the ring."

 

'Who's 'Softer'? Drake or Common: The Juice's Lyrical Breakdown

 

Common had the most recent entry into the battle, by adding his verse to a Rick Ross song and naming Drake directly -- a move that the Chicago native said he felt obligated to make.

 

" Ice Cube, when he was going at N.W.A., once he left N.W.A., you knew who it was. Jay-Z and Nas -- Jay-Z said, 'Smarten up, Nas.' And you just knew. Cats would say names," he continued.

 

"So that's just the way that I feel like you've got to do it. I don't want to like leave anything -I don't want anybody else to think I'm talking about them. I want you to know, 'Hey this is who I'm talking to.'"

 

Common, known more lately for his acting than his rapping, started the battle with a song called "Sweet" on his new album, "The Dreamer/The Believer."

 

"He (Drake) felt offended by it. And the song is really discussing how hip-hop has a softer side," said Common.

 

"And I made it clear that I'm not talking about anyone specifically. For me it was no different than when Jay-Z addressed with 'DOA,' he was talking about Auto-Tune. I was talking about, 'Hey, you know hip-hop is starting to become more just saturated with softer songs,'" he said. "And I don't see anything the matter actually with the love songs. I do love songs. So I don't see anything the matter with it, but when the music becomes saturated with it, I mean, I speak up. I love hip-hop music."

 

Up for Discussion

Jump to Forums

Sort By

Page:

Connect with

Other Columns on Billboard.com

Mashup Mondays
Photos of the Week
Tweets of the Week
ChartBeat
Tastemakers
The Hook
Uncharted Territory
The 615

More Features

All features

Listy

Billboard chart app

Billboard archives

Thanks For Joining Billboard

Log in to create your profile, speak your mind and connect with listeners like you.

Why Join ?

Don't just hear it. Live it. Go deeper than a casual listen: Voice your feelings, build a profile around your favorite music, connect with people who share your passions and discover new ones. Sign up for free.

Complete Your Registration at Billboard.com!

Haven't Joined Yet ?

For the full Billboard experience, you need to be a member. Sign up. It's free.

Join Billboard

Forgot your password?

Enter the e-mail address you used to sign up and we will email you the password .

Email Sent !

Your password has been sent to the email address you provided. Please sign in below :

Log In

Forget your password ?

Action Successful

We'd love to hear your feedback on the new Billboard.com!

Whether it's a feature request or a bug

We want to hear from you. Please use this form to anonymously give us your input.