Stephen A Smith has something to say about every topic. It's what he does for a living. He has covered the Drake vs. Kendrick Lamar battle with the same vigor that he's discussed recent sports controversies. It's a topic that has dominated most of media in the months since the battle kicked off. That said, Drake did not appreciate what Stephen A Smith had to say, in particular. Smith claims that the rapper reached has voiced frustration regarding his coverage behind closed doors.
Stephen A Smith shared all this on his self-titled show. "I understand that Drake's a bit sensitive in these times," he posited. "He's in his feelings." The analyst then let the cat out of the back with regards to the 6 God's awareness of his show. "Don't ask me how but I know he's seen this show," Smith noted. "And I know that he has seen some of the things I have said about him on this show." He then decided to speak to Drizzy directly regarding his coverage of the battle. "I did not say or echo a single negative thing about you," Stephen A Smith asserted. "What I said was fact. 'Not Like Us' got you."
Stephen A Smith Voiced Disappointment In Drake's Actions
The analyst went on to recount his opinion of the Drake diss, and the belief that Kendrick Lamar simply bested him on record. He then turned his ire towards Drake's decision to take legal action. "You take it to the studio, you take it to the streets," he explained. "It's not a crime for somebody to say, 'He got you.'" Stephen A Smith framed Drake's legal action as a weak response, and to deny the success of "Not Like Us" would be, in his estimation, to deny the truth. The analyst assured Drake that he is a great artist and he has "nothing but respect" for him. He simply wants Drake to "come back" with a song instead of a lawsuit.
During his rant, Stephen A Smith repeatedly stated that he is not pushing a "negative" slant against Drake. "That's not negative," he said. "That's facts." He claims that the music industry would be much more supportive of the 6 God if he kept things on record instead of taking Lamar and UMG to court. "If you gon' rely on lawyers," Smith posited. "Then it's not a good look. That ain't what hip hop is." Smith's take has been shared by most music fans online. We will see if Drake heeds the analyst's advice.