Common Settles Rift with Maya Angelou, Gets at Drake
Common has been busy today. In less than 24 hours he has baited Drake into battle and had Dr. Maya Angelou call him a genius.
Earlier in the day Common was a guest on Shade 45’s ‘Sway In The Morning’ and essentially confirmed that his rant on the song “So Sweet” was aimed at Drake.
“You ain’t no motherf*&*ing Frank Sinatra,” barks Common on the song, which many thought was aimed Drake due to his tendency to sing as much as he raps.
Sway asked the Chicago MC if he was “inviting Drake into the battle ring.”
“He opened his mouth and said some things, so if that’s what he want, then…all that subliminal you can do that, too.” said Com, referring to Drake’s return shots during Power 106’s Cali Christmas Jam 2011. “But you might as well say it now,”
When Sway further pressed Common if to see if he was confirming “So Sweet” is towards Drake and whoever else want it, Com responded, “The verse is like about me. But Then when you hear some of the stuff on the chorus you can’t help but think about dude. I guess that’s what he felt, so yeah. At the end of the day he fit in that category. He already embraced it so wear it.” [more after video]
Yesterday, Dr. Maya Angelou had expressed disappointment at Common’s use of the N-word on a song she appears on, “The Dreamer,” on his new album The Dreamer/The Believer. During Common’s appearance on BET’s 106 & Park today (December 20), Dr. Angelou called in to discuss her thoughts on the song and Common. “I don’t think the word ‘disappointment’ quite makes it. I was surprised,” said the 84 year-old poet and activist of her qualms. “I know that Common is quite brilliant—he may, in fact, be close enough to be called a genius, I’m not sure. I know we’re all in process, and young artists are in process. It’s important to realize that all of you, all of us…there was a statement made by Machiavelli in the 15th century; he said if you want to control the people, separate them, you can rule them. Divide them, and you can conquer. I will not be divided from Common.”
Common relayed that he had spoken to Dr. Angelou this morning, adding, “She’s like a mother to me in many ways, through artistry, through just love and her spirit. We talking to somebody who is walking history…who helped changed the world. I’m just happy to have her on my album The Dreamer/The Believer.”
Should Common and Drake battle it out in rhyme?
