(ThyBlackMan.com) Here’s an unlikely duo for rap beef: Common and Drake. A guy once known for wearing crocheted pants versus America’s most successful emo-rapper. And yet, somehow against the odds, Common has pinned Drake in his cross-hairs as a fortuitous enemy to hip-hop at-large, taking shots at the Canadian rapper for his rapping style. Unfortunately for Common, this rap battle has him looking more like the fool than the victor.
According to Common, Drake is making hip-hop “soft”. He raps on the song “Sweet” from his recently released album The Dreamer, The Believer that hip-hop has lost its heart and that he’s annoyed by one particular singing rapper who’s promoting an edgier lifestyle than he’s actually lived.
Many say these shots were aimed at Drake, known for popularizing both rapping and singing on a track.
Drake fired back at Common’s insults with a somewhat vague defense via a verse on Rick Ross’ new single “Stay Schemin.” By diss record standards it was fairly harmless; more of a precarious comeback than an all-out attack. He defended his wealthy lifestyle, while reassuring that he has street credibility. 
Undaunted by his opponent’s lackluster retort, Common has forged ahead with his own remix of “Stay Schemin,” rapping again that Drake is “sweet,” lacks a unique rapping style, and is simply the rapper of the moment. As hip-hop beefs go, this is shaping up to be a very boring peacocking of two poorly matched adversaries.
Common isn’t unfamiliar with the rap beef — in 1994, he released “I Used to Love H.E.R.” — a song reminiscing on his love for hip-hop, and its perceived downfall at the hands of West Coast gangsta rap. Naturally, rap outfit Westside Connection answered the call, and the beef grew heated until a truce was mediated by Nation of Islam Minister Louis Farrakhan.
However, it’s not 1994, and Common isn’t a young rapper trying to find his way. He’s an established entertainer, fielding White House invites and Hollywood movie and television scripts — why is Drake even on his radar?
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