Common originally sparked the feud last year, when he dropped the song “Sweet,” which partially took shots at Drake. The Young Money emcee retaliated by dropping a subtle diss verse on the original “Stay Schemin,’” which appears on Rick Ross’ mixtape, Rich Forever.
The remix, which Common released on Shade 45’s “Sway In The Morning” and MTV’s RapFix, features a photoshopped cover the reads “That Hoe A– Nigg%” where Drake’s name should be. In perhaps the only show of respect for Drake, Common leaves Drizzy’s verse intact on the track, but follows right behind with a vicious onslaught of lyrical jabs.
“My motto is: Chicago, b–ch/ Everybody know you sweet, what the problem is/ Don’t play dumb, I’m the one that acknowledged it/ Son of a b–ch, I imagine what your father is,” raps Com.
Continuing on with his verbal attack, Com takes at few shots at Drake’s new harder-edged mentality.
“Acting all hard when he hardly like that/ You gon’ mess around and make me catch a body like that, ooooh/ Don’t do it,” raps Common, before going in on Drake and his sometimes-criticized penchant for singing. “‘Cause every song you make Joe is really h— music/ I heard you said you wasn’t a b–ch because you sing/ You a b–ch because you cling like a b–ch that’s eighteen.”
As many have noted, the feud between Common and Drake may have partially been sparked by Drizzy’s (possibly) romantic relationship with Common’s ex, Serena Williams. And on the track, Common takes the diss to a seemingly personal level when he appears to refer to Drake and Williams’ relationship.
“Can’t say my name, but rap about a n—a’s wife/ You so black and white tryna live a n—a’s life,” raps Com, before throwing another grenade at Drake’s semi-tough guy image. “I’m taking too long with this amateur guy/ You ain’t wet nobody, ni–a, you Canada dry.”
Before the track fades into a sample of Destiny’s Child singing the chorus to “Say My Name,” Common makes it clear that Drake is the intended target of this verbal barrage.
“Soft ni–a, make no mistake, I’m talking to Drake/ It’s the remix. Rick Ross, Common, and that hoe a– ni–a,” Com says.
There’s clearly no turning back now as Common has basically declared war against Drake. Now the wait begins to see how Drake will fire back at his new enemy. And if the two continue to sling jabs at each other as good as this one, they’ll no doubt craft a beef as memorable as the five major hip-hop feuds below. –nicholas robinson
