Lil Nas X‘s country-trap song “Old Town Road” has caused quite the hubbub over the last month or so, although it was released in December 2018.
First, it was the only song in history to make Billboard’s Hot 100 list, the Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs list and the Hot Country songs list. Then it got removed from the Hot Country list because someone at Billboard deemed it not country enough.
Some chalked that decision up to racial discrimination, others to music discrimination.
“Old Town Road” also broke the single-week streaming record of Drake‘s “In My Feelings” on the week ending April 11, and Nas X recently recruited country singer Billy Ray Cyrus for the remix.
And if all of that wasn’t enough surrounding the out-of-the box cut, New York rapper Dave East got blasted for criticizing it.
“This f—ing ‘Old Town Road’ sh– is f—ing wack,” he said in a video that surfaced on Thursday. “I don’t know what the f–k is going on with hip-hop, with rap. I ain’t no hater, man but that sh– is wack with a cape on it. It’s super wack.”
Black Twitter instantly lit Mr. East up for what he said.
“Dave east said old town road wack like he got a hit record or something Lmaoooo,” someone tweeted on Thursday.
“Dave East hasn’t created one song that’s better than Old Town Road. Opinion is voided,” another wrote.
“Turn on that Dave East.” -Said nobody ever,” tweeted another Lil Nas X supporter.
But there were also a bunch of people who defended East and made the point that he makes a different brand of rap music than “Old Town Road,” so chart positions may not be the best way to measure how good it is.
“You mfs better leave Dave East alone,” one person wrote. “He is not an extension of this wack ass music generation…. he’s of the cloth of people like Nas, styles P and them, and he speaking facts.”
“Dave East is one of the most talented and lyrical rappers out right now,” another person chimed in. “Just doesn’t get credit cause he doesn’t talk about what’s popular. But dude tells a story with every song.”
After the backlash, Dave East uploaded a video to his Instagram story seemingly supporting the song, but fans still had some choice words for him.
” 😒all that hating, just to bop to the song lol I’m going back to sleep”
“Haters be ya biggest fans🤣🤣🤣”
