They Not Like Us: A Drake Thinkpiece (Part 1)

When Toronto Raptors' DJ 4Korners released his refix/flip of Drake's "Worst Behavior" last week, on the "They Not Like Us" riddim I thought to myself: that's exactly it. Maybe Drake has been aware all along, because 10 years ago he said it was a fight to the finish. 

He remembered the days when no one cared, was catapulted into hip hop royalty, and most likely was preeing the entire situation carefully from start until...the other day. The perceived finish. The end of the historic hip hop battle to the top. The night Drake was allegedly buried, when west coast hip hop stars, gangsters, athletes, community members, and supporters came out in allegiance to cheer and chant "They Not Like Us" on repeat.

I couldn't enjoy the performance, although I can acknowledge Kendrick's appeal and intellect. The chants felt eerie, viewing as a Canadian. I still can't watch it all the way through.

What's odd is...they used to never want to hear us? Remember? And then suddenly, Drake was the shit.

I recall being in Houston back in the day, and thinking, they play more Drake here than they do at home in Toronto. Radio stations had Drake on heavy, steady rotation. Soon after, Toronto got on board too. It was nothing short of a phenomenon, and cool to observe over the years. Major collaborations, and classic anthems. We watched Drake link and kiki with everyone hot, and succeed. Hip hop, R&B, dancehall...he was legendary.

He was a likeable, fun guy. He was a great actor (which we already knew from Degrassi), but he was now showcasing those skills for ESPN and SNL. He was the consummate entertainer, and he definitely entertained. Until...the "culture" decided that he was an imposter. After all of the album sales, concert tickets, merch, and streams...African American hip hop fans collectively got the ick. Some Canadians too.

Now they're saying he is a capitalist, and opportunist. A corn ball. Sucker MC. He also better watch his back when he returns to the U.S., after his casual Canada Day posts yesterday, and an unfortunate event with Rick Ross in Vancouver literally 4300 kilometers (aka 2,700 miles) away from Toronto this past weekend. Drake's home was already shot at, but now he better watch his back in a country that literally helped him fund and build said home. Tons of threats circulating on line, from Average Joes, and Decorated Pros.

The beloved Raptors-affiliated OVO squad became goons, money launderers, and Hells Angels' bros overnight. I'm concerned. For "the culture," and particularly for the youth because these public and extraordinary media-driven scenarios tend to have very, very real repercussions. We've seen this happen over, and over, and over again. Previously it was localized; now it's cross-border.

I've been pondering, and writing, and fictionalizing, and researching Black/African Canadian-ness for decades now, and really wonder what is happening because suddenly there's bikers, and fights, and war cries, and Black-on-Black crime at it's fullest...against the Canadian mandem, eh? Ah lie.

I've already been to the U.S. a few times this year, as per usual. I love America. I loved clubbing in Atlanta. I loved chilling in South Beach, jumping up at Miami Carnival, and watching concerts and basketball games in amazing arenas from LA to NOLA. I've attended book fairs in Harlem, and writers' conferences in Brooklyn. Weddings and baby showers from Huntsville to Chicago. I've visited with family, travelled with groups, and taken solo vacations to explore. I went to school, attended church, and worked in Detroit. Many of my closest friends and dearest bredrens are Americans. I love America!

I have been as influenced and raised by African American culture and experiences by way of music videos, entertainers, writers, and thought leaders, as much as I've been influenced by their Jamaican counterparts. I love and appreciate it all, because that's what we as Canadians do! We enjoy culture because we are a nation of many, many cultures. It's not deliberate appropriation, or malicious cos-playing...it's in our nature to understand, empathize, enjoy, and relate to those around us because most of us/Black Canadians grew up in major Canadian cities, and have been doing that in our neighbourhoods and schools from time.

We are a multi-cultural and culture-appreciating people by nature. In fact, our culture IS multi-culturalism. Literally. Drake is no different.

But motherfuckers never loved us.

And it's strangely (and surprisingly) evident all of a sudden in the discussions, vlogs, social media posts, and the comments (Lawd! The comments!) ...that exclusive members and gatekeepers of the hip hop culture (in particular) in the American segment of the African diaspora, almost unanimously think that anyone or anything from Canada (regardless of skin colour, intellect, or heritage) couldn't possibly understand "their" culture, lyrics, experiences, or lifestyles.

They Not Like Us.

For the first time in my lifetime, I felt my Canadian-ness in a new way while visiting the U.S., post-Juneteenth Kendrick concert day. I've heard an abundance of rhetoric against political figures and celebrities, etc. over the years, but never heard such strongly opposing opinions on...us. African Canadians. Despite being literally just steps away from our African American brothers/sisters/cousins. And essentially, quite harmless and loving, might I add.

To make things worse, as I try to make sense of what is happening in hip hop, I find that my usual go-to hip hop experts and gurus (particularly from the African American community) are openly and aggressively shitting on Canadian culture and erasing any possibility that Black Canadians could have (and cherish) our own version of Black/hip hop culture.

They are heckling and disregarding the Diaspora of millions of Black individuals outside of the United States, who have also collectively grown up in and loved the music and style and mannerisms of not only African American culture, but also Caribbean culture, and Black British culture, and various continental African cultures.

We instinctively love Black cultures worldwide because we are Black people. Mixed race, or otherwise. Period. Appropriation and cos-play should be reserved for and assigned to others...but not us.

But it seems like they never loved US. Remember?

Despite the conspiracies, pizza parties, rumours, alleged allegations, spiritual rituals, nail polish, and hair barrettes that we theoretically see Aubrey flaunting or participating in (along with 75% of the hip hop/entertainment community, by the way) ...I couldn't possibly just start to discredit Drake as an artist after listening to and supporting his albums, live performances, and observing his career with amusement for well over a decade.

It just wouldn't make sense.

I would like to hear more voices from international hip hop experts. Black culture aficionados from the UK and from the islands. Africa: our collective Mother Land. As much as the African American delegation of Black culture experts have loudly declared that Drake is done, I reckon the global opinion on his relevance and long-term entertainment value would weigh heavily in his favour.

Unfortunately, what I'm hearing from the African American voices that continue to be the most widely circulated, pervasive, and dominating in music culture, is that the rest of the Black/African diaspora's opinions, personas, and experiences do not hold any cultural currency when juxtaposed with their own.

This is concerning for me. Particularly when our brothers and sisters in Kenya, and Haiti, and across the world are fighting to rally support and understanding for causes rooted deeply in colonialism, and capitalism, and require deliberate undoing and restructuring from hundreds of years of systemic, economic, and psychological damage.

The same systems of power that we [some of us] continue to use against one another, with a smile. Repeatedly. To no actual benefit...other than clout.

Is Drake that important, in the grand scheme of things? Maybe not. Is he a talented yute? Absolutely. I just wish folks would use this same energy to address real "enemies," historically, and currently. Use them lyrics and millions of views to educate and empower, I dunno.

It's a sad turn of events, but I am hoping that these minor controversies lead to significant discussions and subsequent discoveries. I am doing my part to communicate and share my personal perspectives as a Black Toronto-born Jamaican Canadian who loves and enjoys hip hop culture, in hopes that the more we learn and understand about one another's experiences, the easier it will be for us to overcome said confusion, and use the power of our Blackness and the infectious soul of our culture for the greater good.

 

To be continued. I'm currently reading "Caste: The Origins of Our Discontents" by Isabel Wilkerson (recommended by a friend, while discussing AubreyGate), and finding a few parallels and insights that I'd also like to interrogate, in relation to this topic.

Until then, thanks for reading!

P.S. My new teen novel Dancehall Rebel is available via Amazon and Indigo: music, culture, and activism all in one!