(L) John Phillips/Getty Images (M) CHRIS DELMAS/AFP/Getty Images (R) Michael Kovac/Getty Images for Billboard
UK grime artist Wiley continued to target Drake with insults on Thursday, and added pop artist Ed Sheeran into the mix. The celebrated rapper spoke with host Dotty on BBC Radio's 1Xtra Breakfast show and labeled Drake a "pagan" and once again accused Sheeran of being a "culture vulture."
"Drake is a pagan," Wiley insisted during the 15-minute conversation. "He is the worst. I swear to God." Wiley points to when Drake surprised a London audience with J Hus's first post-prison performance as an example of how he believes the rapper uses other artists to further his own career. "My man is bringing out people like he is Jesus Christ the savior... Mandem who are not from the hood come to places and try and get involved with man from the hood." When Dotty asks if Drake aligning with J Hus is a mutually beneficial arrangement, Wiley strongly disagrees: "He's not embracing the scene, he's doing it for himself."
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Wiley also took issue with what he saw as Sheeran's appropriation of grime music to further his career. His issue hinges around the grime remix of "Take Me Back To London" featuring Stormzy. "I'm mad at Ed Sheeran because he said 'You need me man, I don't need you'," Wiley said, "But Ed, the other day mate, you had to use grime to tip your song over the edge."
After calling Sheeran a "culture vulture," Wiley needles the songwriter for his recurring plagiarism allegations. "I've listened to you rip off Marvin Gaye, I've listened to you rip off everything. I see you do a tune the other day with Justin Bieber that sounds like a ragga tune from Sting. No one is saying nothing about that, though. So I'm not listening. I'm finished with these people. I swear to God."
Wiley summarized his message to interested musicians thusly: "Artists, stay away from culture vultures, stay away from pagans, and stay away from people who wait until you're blown to stand next to you and collect money."
It's the second time in two days Wiley has attacked Drake. On Wednesday Wiley took aim at Drake's record label OVO Sound, claiming it offers artists "shit record deals."
Listen to the full interview below:
