Yasiin Bey Seemingly Disses Kendrick, Drake, J. Cole Over Metro Boomin’s “Like That” Beat
Yasiin Bey has seemingly inserted himself in the war of words amongst Kendrick Lamar, Drake, and J. Cole, as the mercurial veteran appears to have taken shots at rap’s presumed “Big 3” in a recent freestyle.
On Wednesday (May 22), a clip of Bey, formerly known as Mos Def, spitting bars over Metro Boomin’s “Like That” beat surfaced, which included lyrics some listeners felt referenced the trio in a demeaning manner.
In the midst of his rhyme spill, which is said to have been shared on Anuar Khalifa’s Instagram account, Bey seems to cast a multitude of aspersions upon Kendrick, Drake, and Cole.
Yasiin Bey attends the Louis Vuitton Fall/Winter 2022/2023 show as part of Paris Fashion Week on January 20, 2022 in Paris, France.
Pascal Le Segretain/Getty Images For Louis Vuitton
“Greedy, seedy, and creepy/ Corny, horny, and boring/ Bougie, goofy, and moody/ Foolish, ruthless, and clueless/ Variations on a petty Big 3/ A whole lot to look at, but not much to see,” the Brooklyn native raps over the pulsating track.
Given Bey’s inconsistency in musical releases and his disdain for the current landscape of mainstream Hip-Hop, the timing of Bey’s freestyle and those particular rhymes have left many to deem the lyrical dislay as ill-intentioned.
The Black Star member’s new freestyle wouldn’t be the first time he’s seemingly took jabs at rap’s current superstars, as he previously referred to Drake’s music as “pop,” rather than Hip-Hop. “If I was in Target in Houston and I heard a Drake song…it feels like a lot of his music is compatible with shopping…or, you know, shopping with an edge in certain instances,” Bey said earlier this year.
Rapper, songwriter, and icon Drake attends a game between the Houston Rockets and the Cleveland Cavaliers at Toyota Center on March 16, 2024 in Houston, Texas. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement.
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Drake would later clap back on his Instagram account, uploading a clip of Method Man explaining his definition of Hip-Hop. “Hip-Hop is a culture,” the Wu-Tang Clan member said. “It’s a way of life, the way you dress, the way you talk, the way you walk. It’s the breakdancing, rhymes, stage show, DJ, mixing and scratching, the wordplay. That’s Hip-Hop.”
In the post’s caption, Drizzy jokingly referenced Bey’s signature hit “Umi Says” while getting his own dig in at the emcee. “What umi say again? Lemme shine my light king don’t change up now,” the 37-year-old said at the time.
Yasiin Bey attends the 22nd Annual Mark Twain Prize for American Humor at The Kennedy Center on October 27, 2019 in Washington, DC.
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Bey would later clarify his comments, making it clear that he has no personal grudge or disdain for Drake or his success, albeit while expressing his right to freedom of speech and thought. “My opinion is mine. It’s legal in all states, as far as I’m aware,” the Black on Both Sides creator said on his own Instagram account.
“It was not an opportunity to try to slander him, or to clown on him. I have reached out to him, I have no responses yet. I’m not keen to talk about people or to them through a screen, I prefer to talk to people directly. But I will say this. The young man is very talented, he’s been able to be very successful with that talent, and I have no issue with his success or anything that he’s been able to achieve as a result of his talent.”
See Yasiin Bey’s “Like That” freestyle below.