Rapper French Montana’s comments in an interview last month touched a nerve with many other hip-hop stars and Danny Brown has been quite vocal in his criticism of the New York-based Montana. While speaking with Power 105.1, Montana said that he isn’t interested in complaints about a lack of lyricism from New York City rappers and fans who have a problem with newcomer Bobby Shmurda.
“Hip-hop is at a confused state. I was one of the last people to come out and go big out of New York. Everybody’s like, is it real hip-hop? This, this, and that,” Montana said. “I feel like the hottest new kid that just came out, [Bobby] Shmurda, he sounds like he’s from down south. That’s because we’re doing different things. All lyrical rappers I know are broke. The ones that make it an issue. Jay can hop on either/or. Just like I can do either/or. I just feel like you gotta make people enjoy the music.”
After Montana’s comments, Brown hopped on Twitter and blasted the rapper’s perspective, stating that non-lyrical rappers won’t be around in three years. In a recent interview with Complex, Brown elaborated.
“Nah, the point of it is, I guess, the whole thing [in relation] to the French Montana thing…is that I wouldn’t want to promote that to the kids,” Brown said. “Because what does that leave for the future of rap music as a genre if you tell them that you don’t have to be good, you don’t have to be a great rapper to make money out of this. I think that’s just the total wrong way to look at it. It’s just my opinion on it. I could be wrong. But for the most part – I would want to promote at best you have to be really good, you have to be really talented and step your foot into this ring of rap music. It should be that competitive. We have Kendrick Lamar. We have Danny Brown. No. You know what I’m saying? Nah, you gotta know how to rap.”
