Phonte is a critically acclaimed underground rapper, while Drake might be the biggest pop star on earth while using Phonte flow. The least Drake could do is give him a verse or put him on an album.
It has to eat Phonte up Drake took his flow and became a global icon
- Thread starter EBK String
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It’s more than just flow though. Drake had a whole machine behind him. I’m sure he would like the money, but he might not want that level of fame and be good with where he at. I saw him a few years back at a foreign exchange show and he looked pretty happy.
Fanservice
Bih call me senpai
Rappers bite other rappers every day, b. 
Devil Plisken…CMS
Veteran
One guy runs a line by a girl and she goes for it
Next guy runs the same line on the same girl and she pulls out pepper spray
Next guy runs the same line on the same girl and she pulls out pepper spray
TheDarceKnight
Veteran
He actually doesn’t sweat it that much. I think he’s pretty comfortable with his position, and has said he’s glad he doesn’t have to get recognized in public.
I mean there’s no denying Drake kinda sharped his style. I completely agree. And I do think he was a little annoyed that Drake kept giving all this lip service about wanting to do a song with him, and kept dedicating awards to him, but never followed through. Phonte was gonna be on the Drake record with Rick Ross and Just Blaze, and then Drake was gonna be on the Not Here Anymore joint with Elzhi that 9th Wonder produced.
But it was all a long time ago, and I think at his age he’s probably let go of it.
I mean there’s no denying Drake kinda sharped his style. I completely agree. And I do think he was a little annoyed that Drake kept giving all this lip service about wanting to do a song with him, and kept dedicating awards to him, but never followed through. Phonte was gonna be on the Drake record with Rick Ross and Just Blaze, and then Drake was gonna be on the Not Here Anymore joint with Elzhi that 9th Wonder produced.
But it was all a long time ago, and I think at his age he’s probably let go of it.
darealvelle
Real Talk
I was just thinking about that earlier today when I was listening to the Chitlin Circuit Mixtape.
Phonte was supposed to be on Lord Knows.
not asking you to sell out your mans.. but did drake at one time have phonte's pen bro?Mindfield333
Superstar
The way Eminem lowkey took Masta ace voice is way more egregious
TheDarceKnight
Veteran
yep. A big thing with Phonte is that he does so many things. He works as a rapper, as a singer, as a producer, he works on Sesame Street, and he writes for television, and he also does some sketch comedy.
he pretty much has the ultimate artistic freedom, and I don’t think a lot of people realize how much Drake is restricted as of what type of music he canning can’t make, and what type of content he’s free to release as an artist outside of music.
i’m not saying this is a fact because I have no idea, but it’s very possible that Drake wants to make music that he’s more or less not allowed to make. Phonte doesn’t have that problem.
TheDarceKnight
Veteran
Honestly I don’t know man. I never heard anything and I also never asked. It would not surprise me but I don’t want that to be taken as me saying that it happened. But I do know when I listen to some of Drake’s earliest records they sound uncanny. If he wasn’t riding for Drake, then drake was pretty much using the flow step by step. I mean he sounds identical on think good thoughts. It’s crazy.
steadyrighteous
Veteran
I can't speak for Phonte because I don't know the guy, but I don't think Phonte would want to be Drake or be in Drake's position, but I do think he'd like a little more open recognition from Drake. Of all the people Drake has name-dropped on songs, from women to street cats to other rappers he's looked up to, he's NEVER shouted out Phonte in a rap, and that's probably the weirdest part.
To be so clearly influenced by someone to the point where you basically mainstream their style and approach to the content of your music, and to be so name-droppy, but the one name you'd never salute in a record is the nikka you basically looked up to then copied is weak on Drake's part.
@TheDarceKnight am I wrong? Has Drake ever mentioned LB or Phonte in a song?
To be so clearly influenced by someone to the point where you basically mainstream their style and approach to the content of your music, and to be so name-droppy, but the one name you'd never salute in a record is the nikka you basically looked up to then copied is weak on Drake's part.
@TheDarceKnight am I wrong? Has Drake ever mentioned LB or Phonte in a song?
Cole Cash
They took a hammer and sickle to my back
All this is basically accurate, I co-sign this from what i know as well. It’s never been jealousy it’s not following through.
TheDarceKnight
Veteran
You’re right. He’s never name dropped Phonte in a song. He dedicated his BMI Writer of the Year award to him, and he’s said in numerous interviews how much Phonte and Lab influenced him. But he’s never name dropped in a song.
I remember they asked Tay how he felt about the BMI Award dedication, and he did say, paraphrasing: “I appreciate it, but I think a more tangible way to show appreciation would be for him to finish any one of the several records we’ve started in the past couple years but not finished.”
Also, Kanye isn’t Drake, but I know Phonte was annoyed at Kanye for lying, by saying he didn’t know his name after they’d recorded music and even toured together. Kanye was asked circa Late Registration who his favorite rappers were, and he said something like “the one dude from Little Brother that also sings on their records, but I forgot his name.”
LB and Phonte in particular have a long history of being overlooked by cats they blatantly influenced.