About “Duppy Freestyle”
“Duppy Freestyle” takes shots at G.O.O.D Music artists Pusha T and Kanye West. The word “duppy” is Jamaican patois for “ghost.” Kanye is set to release an album with Kid Cudi on June 8th titled Kids See Ghosts.
The song was released the same day as Pusha T’s DAYTONA—in response to his track “Infrared,” which brought up Drake’s alleged ghostwriter Quentin Miller:
It was written like Nas but it came from Quentin
Skepta made the original “Duppy Freestyle” when he dissed fellow U.K grime artist Megaman in 2006.
The track is produced by long-time faithful Boi-1da and first-time collaborator Jahaan Sweet, as confirmed by the latter in a tweet.
Drake Hits Back at Pusha T's Diss Track With 'Duppy Freestyle': Listen
The longtime feud between Drake and Pusha-T just keeps on boiling. Just a few hours after Pusha's "Infrared" was released with a subliminal line shading Drake, the "God's Plan" rapper has a response of his own.
"Infrared," the closing song off Pusha-T's latest project, Daytona, released Friday (May 25), features the lyrics: "Your hooks did it/ The lyrics pennin' equals to Trump's winnin'/ The bigger question is how the Russians did it/ It was written like Nas but it came from Quentin." The verse was widely received as taking a shot at Drizzy using ghostwriters on his songs.
On "Duppy Freestyle," which Drake posted to Soundcloud later Friday, he opens with the words, "I’m in shock. The nerve, the audacity." He then dives into a three-minute flow mentioning GOOD Music label founder Kanye West directly, and hitting everything from Pusha's age to his dying career.
"I had a microphone of yours/ But then the signature faded/ I think that pretty much resembles what’s been happening lately," Drake raps.
He also puts a twist on the line that shaded him in the first place: "Whoever supposedly making me hits/ But ain’t got no hits sounds like they need me/My hooks did it/ My lyrics did it/My spirit did it."
Listen to Drake's new "Duppy Freestyle" below.
Pusha T and More Hip-Hop Stars React to Drake's Diss Track 'Duppy Freestyle'
Drake didn't hold back on "Duppy Freestyle," his response to Pusha T's diss track "Infrared." Pusha, as expected, wasn't so thrilled about the SoundCloud track.
In the freestyle released Friday (May 25), Drake calls out Kanye West and GOOD Music by rapping, “Tell ’Ye we got an invoice comin’ to you/ Considering we just sold another 20 for you.” Pusha took to Twitter in response, tweeting, "Send the invoice for the extra 20..."
The hip-hop community as a whole seemingly grabbed their popcorn to watch the feud unfold. Questlove, Crime Rhyme, Birdman and more took to social media to share their thoughts. See the tweets below.
Send the invoice for the extra 20... https://t.co/41rd4OJeMF — King Push (@PUSHA_T) May 25, 2018
long as the fights are clean I love a good battle. — T'Questlove (@questlove) May 25, 2018
Earlier today, Pusha T released his new album DAYTONA, produced entirely by Kanye West, to much fanfare. King Push takes aim at everyone, especially on the track “Infrared” where he seemingly calls out Drake, rapping “Your hooks did it/The lyrics pennin’ equals to Trump’s winnin’/The bigger question is how the Russians did it/It was written like Nas but it came from Quentin.”
Within the same day, Drake has responded with the track “Duppy Freestyle” where he drops the lines “If you rebuke me for working with someone else on a couple of V’s, what do you really think of the nigga that’s making your beats?/I’ve done things for him, I thought that he never would need/Father had to stretch his hands out and get it for me.”
Later in the track October’s Very Own even calls out Yeezy by name saying “Tell ’Ye we got an invoice comin’ to you/Considering we just sold another 20 for you.” Drizzy doesn’t stop there, however, extending his critical words for G.O.O.D. Music (“You’re not even top 5, as far as your label talent goes”) and even accusing the two of being afraid of Virgil Abloh (“I could never have a Virgil in my circle and hold him back, ‘cause he makes me nervous/…You niggas leeches and serpents”).
Listen to the track below and let us know what you think in the comments.
Drake’s next album, Scorpion, is set to drop in June.
Words by Brock Cardiner Director of Content Strategy Brock Cardiner is Highsnobiety's Director of Content Strategy. He oversees Highsnobiety's editorial approach across platforms & mediums. Brock splits his time between Berlin, Los Angeles and New York.
