Drake Denies Being A Culture Vulture

After years of being labeled a culture vulture, Canadian rapper Drake is speaking out about his use of foreign genres (and vernacular), including dancehall and afrobeat.

It’s not just Dancehall he’s been accused of appropriating but the ever-popular Afro beats as well.

Drake addressed this question during a Christmas Day Rap Radar Podcast. He flatly denied the accusations and said that he couldn’t be the poacher he is described as because he always recognizes the artistes he works with and also helps them to expand whatever genre he works with.

He added that he is not guilty of appropriating any culture, as he collaborates with artistes within the respective culture, and supports them by appearing at their events, vice versa.

This is proven true as Drake performed at Popcaan’s inaugural Unruly Fest concert in 2018, and Popcaan appeared at his OVO Fest early this year.

Drake’s show also featured a host of afrobeat artistes.

“The definition of appropriating a culture is not supporting that culture. Doing songs with people who are deeply rooted in that culture, giving opportunities to people who are in that culture, that’s not appropriating,” he said. “Appropriating is taking it for your own personal gain and denying that it was ever inspired from this – that’s the true disservice that somebody could do to the UK, to dancehall, to afrobeats.”