With a clothing line and a powerhouse group of artists under his umbrella, Lil Wayne claims he’s trying to stay above the fray.
The rapper says “there’s no beef” between himself and Pusha T, despite back-and-forth diss songs released in recent weeks. Conflict between the two, simmering for years, boiled over when Pusha T of the Clipse — signed with Kanye West’s G.O.O.D. Music group — released a track targeting Lil Wayne and his Young Money signee Drake.
Lil Wayne, who rarely responds in such cases, quickly released a brief song online called “Ghoulish” aimed at Pusha T “and anybody that love him.”
But in an interview at a Los Angeles Macy’s department store to promote his skateboarding-inspired Trukfit clothing line, Lil Wayne told the Associated Press he doesn’t plan to escalate the Pusha T conflict. He’s got business — and fashion — on his mind.
Q What’s next musically? And what happened in the beef between you and Pusha T?
A I just finished recording my “I Am Not a Human Being II” album. And we’re starting to work on the Young Money album. … It really wasn’t no beef, you know. It was just me. I just reacted. Just a reaction, a simple reaction. I don’t apologize for it because I’m human. But it was just my human reaction. I don’t take it back. But there’s no beef. Beef is a whole different thing. … I’ll move on.
Q Do you consider yourself the most stylish rapper out there? How has your style evolved?
A I do not consider myself the most stylish rapper out there. I’d say if I had to consider someone the most stylish rapper out there, I would definitely say that would be a Kanye West or a Andre 3000. … Yes [my style] has evolved because I was one of the guys that would “geek chic” it every now and then. … Now I’m just more into whatever works for me. I think that’s just age.
Q This is presidential campaign season. Do you plan to get political at all? Do you plan to go out and encourage kids to vote?
A I do. … And that comes from age, and that comes from my vacation on Rikers Island (the New York City jail where Wayne did time in in 2010). Now that I know how important voting and elections and all that is. … But everybody know that life is going to be life regardless of who is president.
