Originally posted this in a different thread but I thought it deserved its own thread:

The thing I hate most about the rhetoric about how Drake “should be” behaving and expressing himself at 37 is how hypocritical it is given America’s obsession with equalism, liberalism, and silencing or “cancelling” those who reject those ideals

In this politically correct landscape, we often hear a lot about equality and people being free to express themselves, even if it means challenging established social norms and binary gender roles but it seems that these sentiments only apply to women and members of the LGBTQ community.

As soon as we discuss a straight male, especially a black male, all that s*** goes out the window. You are pressured to conform to established masculine norms of your age group, and if you deviate from it in any way they vilify you and super impose your face onto women’s body’s in an attempt to attack your individual expression of masculinity. S*** is absolutely disgusting. The same cancel culture whistle blowers are retweeting this trash, s*** is mind boggling.

We still have a long way to go in allowing men to be truly themselves in society, especially black men. Regardless of anyones age, race, or sexual orientation (STRAIGHT BLACK MALES INCLUDED) no one should be confined expressing themselves via predefined gender roles and social norms. WEATHER THEY ARE A FAMOUS RAPPER OR NOT. All this talk about Drake’s age is just a facade that misdirects the conversation away from a much deeper issue that’s much bigger than Drake. I honestly think on some level Drake understands this and intentionally challenges these social norms for this very reason tbh. He’s quietly championing individual expression of Masculinity. For all this talk about being woke this is one are where we area still very much asleep as a society.

You're spot on about how the straight male isn't extended the same level of freedom expression in this era. its really been about the emasculating of the straight male in every way. I have nothing else to add because, you made a strong enough point

op

Y’all out of your minds. Kanye was wearing kilts in 2011. Thug was wearing dresses in 2015. Drake’s problem is wanting to be championed as this toxic alpha mob boss heartbreaker while also painting his nails and acting in ways that contradict that heteronormative image.

“We still have a long way to go in allowing men to be truly themselves in society, especially black men.”

Is f***ing hilarious to read considering how successful AND respected Uzi and Carti are. I’m not even gonna dip into my history bag and bring up Prince, Kid Cudi or Dennis f***ing Rodman. Maybe just don’t be a fake nigga

How are Carti and uzi successful and respected lmao

Well... they are unless you live under a rock

Your mention of Uzi and Carti actually lends to my point here

The reason society considers it acceptable for them to challenge social norms is because is written off as adolescent/young adult angst. It’s not true acceptance of masculine diversity that extends to all age groups and backgrounds.

Also even though they have their niche fan bases they are just as vilified by the general populace

Drake fans not having fun anymore

He’s making music to target audiences for more streams. He’s 37 making music teenagers make. I don’t think it has to do with him being black tbh, a white man would be treated the same if he did that. Mgk gets mocked for his age and the music he makes (for example). I really think people just want better music from drake…

And considering how forward thinking he used to be with NWTS and IYRTITL, it’s hard to believe that this is what he’s doing rn (for streams again)

Maybe amongst teenagers (their target audience) yeah but not really by most music listeners idt. I think they’re still way higher regarded than most people within their genres

He’s making bitter sugar daddy music and niggas are trying to paint it like it’s deeper than what it is.

He’s not challenging any norms and people have a right to not like the content

BUT you do raise some interesting points and yeah, I’d say people should be allowed to simply be themselves. The judging is a part of the culture and a part of the problem but we’re idealists to think we’ll ever live in a world that doesn’t judge

I never said people don’t have a right to dislike the music the title clearly states what this discussion is about

Thug wears dresses and is battling RICO charges, so sounds like the "heteronormative" image needs to catch up to the times

You’re saying the criticism of it is ageist and is indicative of a deeper issue in society. And then go on to say he’s intentionally challenging these said issues with his content. These are all massive reaches

Thug is actually all the s*** he claimed he was and was just doing him when he wore the dresses and s***.

He didn’t wait till he was late 30s to get on some other s*** and portray an image

I did not say that brother. I said PEOPLE WHO SPECIFICALLY CRITICIZE HIM IN REGARDS TO HOW HE CHOOSES TO EXPRESS HIMSELF AT HIS AGE NOT JUST MUSICALLY BUT ALSO AESTHETICALLY are ageist and THAT is indicative of a deeper issue in society. Neither is a reach

It’s nothing ageist about it nigga. Drake himself criticized pusha t for “running behind a nigga younger than him”. Fast forward a few years later he’s painting his nails and styling hisself after a 26 year old nigga in his late 30s.

Nothing ageist about it bro. People can have different opinions. Someone could be like nah that’s lame or I don’t f*** with it. That doesn’t make it ageist or a issue with our society

OP old as f***

Telling someone how they should or should not conduct themselves based upon age is textbook ageism

If I painted my nails and I went to work and my manager said “you are a guy and you are too old to be wearing nail polish remove it” and I report it to HR the nigga will loose his job what are you talking about lmao

And in response to your reference of the Pusha T bar I definitely see there being some agism there too but just because Drake spit an ageist bar during a rap battle in 2018 doesn’t mean his freedoms should be negated. Tyler the Creator used to use homophobic slurs in every song, now he counts himself among the very community he used to slander and also paints his nails. Should he not be allowed to live his truth in the moment just because of what he rapped about in the past? Of course not.

Drake is free to do whatever the f*** he wants and express himself how he sees fit.

Just cause some listeners don’t f*** with the s*** he’s rapping about or doing doesn’t mean he’s not allowed to keep doing him. Y’all go too far with these think pieces and labels. Like at what point does it end.

If a nigga my age came up to me and said his favorite show is Sesame Street imma look at him as a f***ing weirdo. That doesn’t make me ageist. I’m not taking away his freedom to do that.

Ageism is s*** like denying someone a job or discriminating against them because of their age. If you’re the type to throw around Twitter labels at everything then yeah not liking the new Drake s*** is ageist lol. In real life you’re getting laughed out the room for suggesting that