Drake‘s Hip Hop credentials have been called into question by Glasses Malone after he complained about news helicopters circling his home.
The 6 God called out local Toronto news station CP24 on social media earlier this weekend, saying their helicopter flights over his mansion were keeping him awake.
“@cp24breaking news can we discuss the chopper flight times over the house cause I won’t lie I’m trying to sleep,” he wrote. “Anytime after 3pm works great for me.”
Drake’s Bridle Path mansion, known as “The Embassy,” had been a firm fixture in the news after being targeted by several trespassers, as well as a drive-by shooting that seriously injured a security guard.
After catching wind of his complaint, L.A. rapper Crip Glasses Malone added to the anti-Drake sentiments emanating from the West Coast by claiming the rap star is “not Hip Hop.”
Responding to a post on X about Drake’s complaint, Malone wrote: “reasons you’re not hip hop #102 u know how many nights we had to sleep with helicopters flying over the crib ??”
reasons you’re not hip hop #102
u know how many nights we had to sleep with helicopters flying over the crib ?? https://t.co/Zq9btdwAVf
— Glasses Malone
(@gmalone) May 11, 2024
After his bold statement caused a stir, the former Crip — who has collaborated with Drake’s fierce rival Kendrick Lamar in the past — dedicated several posts defending his stance.
When one user pointed out that Drizzy was most likely joking about the helicopters, Malone wrote back: “it’s all jokes […] except the part of him not being hip hop.”
Responding to another person who told him: “Hip hop don’t mean ghetto uncivilized people,” the Glass House MC bluntly replied: “of course it does lol.”
Glasses Malone also argued his case by pointing to Ice Cube‘s 1993 song “Ghetto Bird,” named after the “punk-ass” police helicopters that would patrol the skies over low income neighborhoods in Los Angeles.
it’s all jokes
except the part of him not being hip hop— Glasses Malone
of course it does lol https://t.co/FkWu0FgHX5
— Glasses Malone
ice cube – ghetto birdhttps://t.co/K2dDTLE5nnhttps://t.co/y6WY68uOlY
— Glasses Malone
Despite Malone’s harsh comments — and the larger conversation around Drake’s legacy following his perceived defeat to Kendrick Lamar in their recent rap battle — the Canadian has no shortage of co-signs from some of Hip Hop’s forefathers.
Speaking to HipHopDX at the Grammy Awards earlier this year, Grandmaster Flash praised Drake’s versatility as a rapper while arguing that he does belong in Hip Hop.
“What I admire about Drake is he’ll rap on all different styles of beats,” the 66-year-old said. “And back in the day, when I was DJing and cutting and a rapper was in front of me, he was rapping on all the beats I played!
“Sometimes, the beat was jazz, sometimes it was pop, sometimes it was rock, sometimes it was blues, sometimes it was R&B, sometimes it was disco.”
He continued: “So I think the kaleidoscope of music that he’s doing — his style — is absolutely excellent. This is why he’s so big! Because he’s not just staying on one particular style of beat; he’s rhyming on everything and that’s dope.”
Flash’s comments came after Yasiin Bey (formerly known as Mos Def) called Drake a “pop” artist whose music is “compatible with shopping.”
