Everything We Know About the Drake Blackface Photo Pusha-T Used For 'The Story of Adidon' Cover Art

This post has been updated.

Does Pusha T moonlight as a private investigator? Because that would explain a whole lot about “The Story of Adidon,” a brutal dis track he released Tuesday night that escalated his years-long (and recently reignited) beef with Drake.

The track, first heard on New York’s Hot 97, is set to the instrumental of Jay-Z’s “The Story of O.J.” and makes serious allegations about Drake’s personal life. It claims Drake, whose mother is a Jewish Canadian and father is an African American, is “confused” when it comes to embracing his blackness. Pusha brings up Drake’s absentee father and accuses the rapper of similarly abandoning a child named Adonis, who unproved rumors hold is Drake’s secret son with former porn star Sophie B. Pusha even targets the health of Noah “40” Shebib, Drake’s producer, who has multiple sclerosis.

And that’s barely skimming the surface. “The Story of Adidon” — unleashed after Drake mentioned Pusha’s fiancee in this past weekend’s “Duppy Freestyle,” which was itself a response to Pusha resuscitating the Drake ghostwriting drama on his recent album “Daytona” — uses an old (and apparently real) photo of Drake in blackface for cover art.

What ghostwriting drama, you ask? Oh, boy. There’s a lot to unpack, given that Drake and Pusha have been at odds with each other since 2011, which doesn’t even include an older beef between Drake’s mentor, Lil Wayne, and Clipse, a duo consisting of Pusha and his brother, No Malice. But we can do this. It all starts with . . .

Lil Wayne wearing BAPE (2006)

In a 2006 cover photo for Vibe magazine, the rapper wore clothing by BAPE, a Japanese streetwear brand often worn by Clipse and popularized by their frequent producer Pharrell Williams. The rap duo released the Pharrell-produced “Mr. Me Too” that year, which, according to Billboard, accused Lil Wayne of copying the Virginia group’s “style from the shoes to the watches.”

Complex asked Lil Wayne about Clipse’s allegedly claiming they started “BAPE and coke rap” later that year, and Lil Wayne vehemently denied rapping about either subject: “Stop coming at me about that . . . man. That’s how you get beef started man.” (Narrator: He was right.)

Self-proclaimed legend Lil Wayne eventually said Clipse had to do a song with one of Wayne’s Cash Money Records label mates “to get hot.” (Clipse was featured on the song “What Happened to That Boy?” by Baby.) Cash Money Records signed Drake in 2009.

After a few years, we entered an era of . . .

Pusha and Drake periodically insulting each other (2011-2017)

Pusha freestyled in 2011 over the beat of “Dreams Money Can Buy,” a single intended to be on Drake’s sophomore album, “Take Care.” Though Pusha didn’t name a specific target, many have theorized that certain lyrics refer to Drake’s ego: “Rappers on their sophomores, actin’ like they boss lords / Fame such a funny thing for sure.”

The next year, Pusha once again attacked both Drake and Lil Wayne in “Exodus 23:1.” Using words we cannot publish in this family-friendly paper, Pusha (presumably) criticized Drake’s contract with Young Money, Lil Wayne’s imprint under Cash Money Records. Lil Wayne responded with an equally profane tweet.

Drake finally responded in 2013 with “Tuscan Leather,” the first track on his album “Nothing Was the Same.” He warns anyone attacking Lil Wayne — so, Pusha — to stop: “I’m just as famous as my mentor / But that’s still the boss, don’t get sent for / Get hype on the tracks and jump in front of a bullet you wasn’t meant for / ’Cause you don’t really wanna hear me vent more / Hot temper, scary outcome.”

Pusha let that simmer for a few years before responding in 2016 with “H.G.T.V Freestyle,” which is short on the homeowner drama but filled with the aforementioned ghostwriters drama (!!!). The rapper revealed himself to be a ghostwriter truther when he questioned whether Drake actually writes his own lyrics: “It’s too far gone when the realest ain’t real / I walk amongst the clouds so your ceilings ain’t real / These [expletive] Call of Duty ’cause their killings ain’t real / With a questionable pen so the feelin’ ain’t real.”

Let’s break that down. The first line probably refers to Drake’s “So Far Gone,” while “the clouds” recalls the album cover of “Nothing Was the Same.” Pusha challenges Drake’s past claim to being “the realest” by pointing out the irony of his potentially not using his own words. (Again, this has not been proved.)

Drake followed a few weeks later with “Two Birds, One Stone,” which dissed both Pusha and Kid Cudi. (Cudi had criticized Drake’s alleged ghostwriter use as well.) Drake accused Pusha of making up fake stories about dealing drugs: “But really it’s you with all the drug dealer stories / That’s gotta stop, though / You made a couple chops and now you think you Chapo.”

And that brings us to . . .

The current Pusha and Drake debacle (2018)

On Friday, Pusha released his well-received, Kanye West-produced album “Daytona,” which notably uses an image of Whitney Houston’s drug-filled bathroom as cover art. The album’s last track, “Infrared,” revived the ghostwriting theory in the opening verse: “The lyric pennin’ equal the Trumps winnin’ / The bigger question is how the Russians did it / It was written like Nas, but it came from Quentin,” referring to rapper Quentin Miller. Basically, Pusha alleges Russians helped President Trump win the election just like ghostwriters supposedly helped Drake throughout his career.

Nicki Minaj — who previously dated onetime Drake nemesis Meek Mill, a rapper who also accused Drake of using ghostwriters — nevertheless voiced support for her Young Money label mate on Twitter: “Knock it off. Challenging the chosen ones only awakens the sleeping giant.”

Drake couldn’t possibly let Pusha get away with this absurdity, so he immediately responded with “Duppy Freestyle,” which he starts by saying: “I’m in shock. The nerve, the audacity.” He sighs, quite dramatically, and gets on with it.

It appears Drake might have contributed to Kanye’s upcoming album: “What do you really think of the [expletive] that’s makin’ 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 from me/ I pop style for 30 hours, then let him repeat.” (Kanye publicly thanked Drake in 2016 for helping him out on “Father Stretch My Hands Pt. 1″ and “30 Hours,” both from “The Life of Pablo.”)

Drake also acknowledges that he worked on lyrics with Miller, who was “at Kroger working double time,” to help his career. (Miller clarified on Twitter that he was actually working at Publix, but the sentiment stands.) Drake name-drops Pusha’s fiancee, Virginia Williams, and ends “Duppy Freestyle” by requesting money from Kanye and Pusha for the attention the dis track would bring to “Daytona.” Pusha tweeted that Drake should go ahead and send him an invoice, so, naturally, Drake did.

You’re welcome. 🦉 A post shared by champagnepapi (@champagnepapi) on May 25, 2018 at 6:08pm PDT

And that, readers, brings us to “The Story of Adidon,” which sent pop culture Twitter into even more of a frenzy Tuesday after a crazy day of “Roseanne” drama. Drake has yet to respond but, according to Fader, Pusha went on the radio program “The Breakfast Club” Wednesday morning and said that “all bets are off” because of “Duppy Freestyle” naming Williams. He dragged Drake for the secret baby allegations — “I don’t even hang with my friends who have child support issues; I’m big on kids” — and expressed no regret for the vicious lyrics.

“I definitely didn’t get too far with anything,” Pusha said. “I’m here for the sport of it, but when it gets personal, it gets personal. I’m not censoring myself, but there’s more content if it’s needed later.”

Stay tuned.

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Congratulations, you just survived the longest month in rap history

Pusha T’s long path to solo stardom

Image copyright Getty Images

Pusha T has released a new track taking aim at Drake while posting a photo appearing to show the Canadian rapper in blackface.

The photo was originally used as part of a promotion for a clothing line called Jim Crow Couture from Canadian fashion label Too Black Guys.

But Pusha T has used it to promote The Story of Adidon - the latest in a line of diss tracks between the two rappers.

He was responding to Drake's track Duppy Freestyle, released on Friday.

The photo Pusha T posted has now been removed by Instagram.

It seems that a lot of people didn't know the image existed despite it being taken years ago - reportedly for the Too Black Guys' 2008 ad campaign.

Van Lathan, who became known for challenging Kanye West after the rapper suggested that slavery was a choice spoke up about it.

One user compared it to Kanye's recent pro-Trump tweets - including one where he wore a Make America Great Again cap.

However, many are saying that the picture has been taken out of context and that it is actually part of a series of photos which, when seen together, make an artistic statement about race.

This new Pusha T track uses the beat from Jay-Z's song The Story of OJ - which features cartoon images referencing minstrel shows and blackface in its video.

In it the US rapper touches on Drake being mixed race, his producer having multiple sclerosis and a rumour that Drake is fathering a secret child.

He raps: "Confused, always thought you weren't black enough/Afraid to grow it 'cause your 'fro wouldn't nap enough."

Drake has spoken before in his songs about the issue - in 2015's You & The 6, he says: "I used to get teased for being black/And now I'm here and I'm not black enough".

Image copyright Getty Images Image caption Kanye and Noah Sebib have both been mentioned in the diss tracks

Pusha T has also taken aim at Drake's producer Noah Shebib in the rap after Drake dissed Pusha T's producer Kanye West.

Also known as 40, Noah Shebib has MS and is an ambassador for the National Multiple Sclerosis Society in the US.

Pusha T raps: "OVO 40, hunched over like he 80, tick, tick, tick/How much time he got? That man is sick, sick, sick".

The producer appeared to respond to the line on Twitter, posting that 30 May is world MS day.

Pusha T also fuelled rumours that Drake has a secret child with an artist and former adult film actress.

"A baby's involved, it's deeper than rap/We talkin' character, let me keep with the facts/You are hiding a child, let that boy come home".

He adds: "Adonis is your son/And he deserves more than an Adidas press run, that's real/Love that baby, respect that girl/Forget she's a pornstar, let her be your world".

Image copyright Getty Images

The lyrical beef between Pusha T and Drake goes back a few years, and appears to stem from a disagreement between King Push and Drake's one-time mentor Lil Wayne.

Pusha T chose to reignite the row on his new album Daytona, which was produced by and features G.O.O.D. Music label head Kanye West.

On its final track, Pusha accuses Drake of not writing his own lyrics.

It's an allegation he repeats in The Story of Adidon: "Drug dealin' aside, ghostwritin' aside/Let's have a heart-to-heart about your pride".

Newsbeat has contacted representatives of Drake, Too Black Guys and photographer David Leyes for comment.

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Everything We Know About the Drake Blackface Photo Pusha-T Used For 'The Story of Adidon' Cover Art

UPDATE: We've updated the article to add a statement from the founder of the Too Black Guys clothing line that Drake is wearing in the photos.

The feud between Pusha T and Drake escalated last night (May 29), when Pusha dropped the track “The Story of Adidon” as a response to Drake’s “Duppy Freestyle.” While the lyrics, which alternately accused Drake of fathering an illegitimate child and zeroing in on his producer’s multiple sclerosis, caused a stir, the headline was the cover art -- an unearthed photo of Drake in blackface.

Understandably, this has caused a frenzy on Twitter, with many in disbelief about the photo. Some have called for an outright “canceling” of the rapper, while others believe it’s been taken out of context from a photo series that deals with racism and Jim Crow in an artistic way.

Please stop referring to this picture as “artwork”...I’m not an internet baby, I don’t edit images...this is a REAL picture...these are his truths, see for yourself https://t.co/gd6vRS3HM8 pic.twitter.com/2el58HEZ8F — King Push (@PUSHA_T) May 30, 2018

The dust has yet to settle on this blackface instance, with no response from Drake at press time — but here is everything we know about the photo so far.

The photo's origin

It seems to have stemmed from a clothing line called Too Black Guys, dating from the summer of 2008. The theme was “Jim Crow Couture.” The image also appears to be part of a series; rapper Lupe Fiasco has suggested that along with another photo that isn't being circulated as much, it "presents a powerful duality of representation and race and its expectations on art." Similar photos can also be viewed at the October's Very Own Blogspot account.

The origin of Drake’s “Blackface” stuff is from a Toronto line called “Too Black Guys” and looks to be from 2008 https://t.co/FFXa63PsLv — Justin Davis #PatekTeeth (@OGJOHNNY5) May 30, 2018

The photographer

David Leyes, who took the photo, is said to have cited it as “Drake’s idea” that he merely “captured.” There are also screenshots depicting Leyes saying he was “proud … to be part of a strong statement made by a black man about the f---ed up culture we’re living in.”

Photographer David Leyes says the blackface photo shoot was Drake’s idea. (via @whiteyforprez) pic.twitter.com/ljllNzOweI — Complex Music (@ComplexMusic) May 30, 2018

The brand's intentions

According to Too Black Guys’ website, the aim was to “graphically represent the black experience in an unapologetic way.”

The brand responds

Too Black Guys founder Adrian Aitcheson released a statement on Wednesday night (May 30) explaining that Drake is wearing the brand in the pictures but that the photo shoot wasn't part of a Too Black Guys photo shoot. The statement, tweeted by The New York Times' Joe Coscarelli, reads in full:

"The photo in question was not from a Too Black Guys photoshoot however it did feature clothing from Too Black Guys' JIM CROW COUTURE/HOUSE OF CROW collection which was released in 2008. The collection featured several graphics that highlighted the painful and dangerous period of the Jim Crow Era.

"Too Black Guys has a history of representing the black experience in an unapologetic way. Although this was not an image from any of our photoshoots, we feel that Drake, who is a long-time friend of the brand, was brilliantly illustrating the hypocrisy of the Jim Crow Era.

"The subtleties of Drake, a young black man, mimicking how white men used to mimic and dehumanize black people may be lost in a rap battle but we should not be distracted from the issues that are still affecting our communities."

Drake talks

Finally, on Wednesday, Drake entered the fray. The Canadian hip-hop star posted an Instagram Story in which he brushed off the controversy and gave his side of the tale. The photos were taken in 2007, we were told, for a meaningful project. “The photos represented how African Americans were once wrongfully portrayed in entertainment,” he explained.

According to Drizzy, he and fellow Degrassi actor Mazin Elsadig were "attempting to use our voice to bring awareness to the issues we dealt with all the time as black actors at auditions. This was not to highlight and raise our frustrations with not always getting a fair chance in the industry and to make a point that the struggle for black actors had not changed much."

Image copyright Getty Images