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Drake has never shied away from being one of the most polarizing figures in music, but his latest sit-down with Bobbi Althoff shows just how deeply the weight of constant critique sits on his shoulders.
The Toronto megastar appeared on the debut episode of Not This Again, Althoff’s new podcast, marking their first reunion since their viral 2023 interview mysteriously vanished after a falling out. Drake tried to explain why he decided to cut all ties with Althoff, saying that she made him feel like his interview was the source of all the problems in her life at the time.
“I experience a lot of guilt-tripping in my life where people are like, ‘No, this is your fault,’ essentially and my intentions are pure,” Drake admitted, tying the same frustrations back to how his music and collaborations are often framed.
“It’s the same way even in music,” he continued. “People will be like, ‘Oh, you’re a culture vulture,’ or people will describe the collaborative efforts that I’ve put forth and the artists that I’ve picked up and lifted up or shined a light on as me taking, you know? They’ll put a negative spin on it and try and tell me that it’s a self-serving thing. I think I get really sensitive about that.”
And while critics have built entire narratives around that “culture vulture” label, some of Drake’s peers are doubling down on his impact. Case in point: Young Thug, who in a leaked jail call weighed in on the Drake vs. Kendrick Lamar debate while talking about his 2023 album Business Is Business.
“You supposed to be blessing [people],” Thug said, arguing that Kendrick’s selective collaborations have limited his influence. “That’s why [they’ll] never be bigger than Drake, EVER in life.”
Thug’s words sparked plenty of conversation online, underscoring the long-running comparisons between the two megastars. Kendrick has earned acclaim for his carefully curated discography and lyrical depth, while Drake has taken a different path—one built on constant output, collaborations across genres, and an ability to keep himself in the center of the conversation year after year.
It’s that approach that continues to divide opinion. For some, it feeds into the idea of Drake as a culture opportunist; for others, it proves his role as a connector and a bridge within the industry. Either way, as Thug’s comments made clear, even those inside hip hop view Drake’s influence as too expansive to be ignored.
