In a much-discussed New York Times article, titled “Rappers Are Singers Now. Thank Drake,” writer Jon Caramanica makes the argument that Drake paved the rapper/singer lane so many in the game are now driving on.
“[Drake] fundamentally rewrote the rules of what it meant to be a rapper in the 2010s," he wrote, hailing Drizzy's So Far Gone mixtape “the arrival of new path: singing as rapping, rapping as singing, singing and rapping all woven together into one holistic whole.”
Little Brother's Phonte, who was rapping and singing when Drake was still in a wheelchair, took issue with his erasure from Hip Hop history.
The more you try to erase me, the more that I appear. (c) https://t.co/vx00h53mhV
— Phonte (@phontigallo) November 26, 2019
I’m thankful to make a good living doing what I do and awards/accolades never meant much to me.
— Phonte (@phontigallo) November 26, 2019
But I refuse to let you motherfuckers rewrite history while the niggas who helped shape it are still breathing.
Drake was (by his own account!) working from @phontigallo's blueprint tho, so.. https://t.co/ESqtpoZtNL
— jay smooth (@jsmooth995) November 26, 2019
Also as @jsmooth995 said Drake based his whole style on Phonte who blended rap with singing. Also one of Drake's early successes came from rapping over an 808s and Heartbreaks beat which was a whole album of rap's biggest star SINGING
— David Dennis Jr. (@DavidDTSS) November 26, 2019
Drake has credited Phonte with influencing his style and has featured him on two of his songs. So Phonte's quibble probably isn't with the bard of Toronto.
Did the NY Times do Phonte dirty, or is he feeling himself here?
Lol. Kids say the darndest things. #MTLW https://t.co/UlQUyYC4ET
— Phonte (@phontigallo) August 20, 2019