Saw a video today where Jay was speaking about warning everyone on Roc Nation in 02 that 50 Cent was coming. And it's long been speculated that a part of Jay's retirement in 04 was due to 50's rise to supe om. Then his unretirement coincided with 50's fall off.

50 Cent then had a very public fight in 07 against the man attempting to supplant him and his style of rap at the top of the game.

And we all know Kanye's very well documentated obsession with Drake replacing him and the conspiracy theories of sabotage on Drake's career. And the fact he's admitting to making Watch the Throne with Jay because he was feelling pressured by Drake's rise.

A burden of wearing the crown is the knowledge that one day someone younger will come to remove it from your head and the paranoia this brings. But we're in year 5 (at least) of Drake's reign and has there ever been a legit challenger? There's a few right now that might have the potential to remove him from his spot one day, but none of them are really close at the moment.

I don't think this says much about Drake though as much as it does about the generation that's come after him. Honestly, I think someone gettting hot enough to challenge him might actually lead to an uptick in quality. It's not a coincidence that what's generaly considered to be his best work was when he was fighting for the top spot (Take Care) and when he was trying to fend off Kendrick (NWTS and IYRTITL) and everything after people tend to call uninspired

yeah from this nigga

Chance in 2016 maybe but he fumbled his own bag

Man just cause it's got Drake in the title don't make it specifically a Drake thread

No; its mostly media perception that creates "pressure"

no

nah

Chance was bubbling then. Wasn’t directly a threat imo but he was definitely setting himself up to be next in line

never would've been Drake big, his voice is too annoying imo

tarvis $cott

Fair point ironically enough that’s why I disliked him but I got over it eventually and became a fan of his. I think he just had the “good guy” image that drake has that allows to have crossover appeal. It’s really sad to see how far he has fallen tbh

I guess you could make the case that the "If I had left this s*** to chance" line was because he thought Chance might be coming for him after Acid Rap blew up

I never could get past his voice, that's a good point tho

No doubt. He’s a student of a game so I know he’s seen how the hierarchy can come and go. I guarantee it was a topic of discussion back then within his camp but bro probably is an afterthought now

Maybe. But he wasn't even close until Astroworld and I don't think it's outrageous to think that was his peak as far as cultural relevance

ya i mean ur right b drake talented af but corny and is destined to fall off if not taken out by some scandal similar to when he got caught texting milly bobby brown

68 plus 1

Kendrick wasn't beating him from a commerical standpoint, but he was the only one who bothered Drake.

Chance and Travis both have rivaled his success at some point, but definitely haven't reached it.

There hasnt been a rapper to put that pressure on him. All these new rappers been on his d***.

truth hurts

I think NWTS and IYRTITL were in large part shaped from trying to beat out Kendrick for the crown.

Then Kendrick dropped TPAB a month later and Drake realized there was really no competition because Kendrick was going into a completely different lane. If he had stuck with the GKMC sound I think he absolutely could've challenged Drake for the throne.

drake’s voice is super f***ing annoying for the most part and this is coming from someone that loves a lot of his music lol

Stans gonna deny this but it’s true. If he dropped another decent project with a few hits like coloring book instead of that flop wedding album, he would’ve set himself up to be this decade’s new superstar