Sage Francis Talks About Originality, Says Drake Emulates Lil Wayne, Kanye West
Rhode Island rapper Sage Francis did a recent interview with the Toronto Star where he aired some of his beef — specifically, he mentions a lack of originality in hip-hop and names Drake and Asher Roth in particular as two exceptionally un-original names in the game.
“I’m not mainstream by any stretch of the word,” he admits early in the discussion, explaining how some of his fans have been upset with the sound of his latest record, Li(f)e, which dropped early in May. “I didn’t really have to give into anybody else’s demands or pleas,” he said, “I did it my way.”
When asked about the pressure to conform, he said he was able to skirt it for the most part, but that others seemed to easily fit right into place. “It’s almost encouraged for people to jump on trends now and sound like one another,” he told the Star, “People like Drake and Cracker Roth — I mean, Asher Roth — they slip through the cracks, and they don’t get the backlash from hip hop. But I think back in the day they just would’ve gotten laughed off the stage.”
He went on to say he thinks Drake “jacked people’s styles”, including Kanye West and Lil Wayne. “He followed the template that was set before him to sound like the people who sell the most records, so that he could steal that audience, which he did,” said Francis of the Toronto-born rapper.
“I think that’s cheap,” he said finally, before moving on to discuss his live show. Read the whole interview the Star’s website.
-
Fresh Tracks
-
Get Familiar
ProtomanMeet Protoman, one of Florida’s chronically-slept-on rappers. Steam an exclusive new track from his upcoming album.
