Drake's new album, Honestly, Nevermind, has sparked a conversation in hip-hop about whether the project is actually hip-hop. Irv Gotti weighed in on the debate after being stopped by TMZ at LAX, and he hopes that Drake doesn't signal a new sound in hip-hop, given his huge influence.
Irv explained, "Personally, I love Drake. I think Drake is a great person, he's a great human being. But I listened to his album — and Drake can do whatever he wants as an artist … but Drake's new album is not Hip Hop."
Irv went on to explain why he hopes Drake isn't inspiring a new direction in hip-hop, stating, "I hope not! As long as I’m alive, it can never be the demise of Hip Hop. I gotta get back in the game and find me a n-gga. That’s what that album made me feel like. It made me feel like going and finding me a raw new DMX, new Ja [Rule], new Jay[-Z] and serving n***as and f**king bringing back great Hip Hop."
Irv added, "I just wasn’t expecting a whole album of that sh*t. He’s too powerful and too strong, and it made me feel like we need another n***a that’s as powerful and strong that’s gonna stay with this thing called Hip Hop."
