Meek Mill Reveals the Ghost Writer He Claims Wrote Drake’s R.I.C.O. Verse (Video)

July 23, 2015 | Published By
Ambrosia For Heads

From The D.O.C. to Royce Da 5’9″, Skillz to Ice Cube, Hip-Hop has a long line of famous ghostwriters. High profile albums such as Dr. Dre’s 2001, Salt-n-Pepa’s Very Necessary, and Kanye West’s Yeezus are assembled around raps written by artists besides those who voiced the words.

Drake, who has made a handful of Hip-Hop’s most talked about releases over the last six years, was called into question this week, regarding his songwriting. Collaborator-turned-skeptic Meek Mill announced the belief in a series of tweets.

From Funkmaster Flex to Meek himself, many are claiming that Drake is using the writing of Atlanta, Georgia MC Quentin Miller on If You’re Reading This It’s Too Late.

Miller, according to a Complex report regarding Funkmaster Flex’s HOT 97 radio show today (July 22), wrote “10 Bands” in particular. A Soundcloud reference track, by Miller, of the subsequent Cash Money Records release, was discovered—then deleted by its poster. Complex News was able to trace Miller’s credited ties in the inserts of I.Y.R.T.I.T.L., as well as proven relationships to various members of Drake’s OVO crew, and production team—including Boi-1da and others:

Flex, who has worked with Dr. Dre and Puff Daddy (both admitted users of ghostwriters) reportedly touted, “If Drake does write everything, everyone owes him an apology. If he doesn’t, I go on the record as [claiming that] he’s a fraud.” While Drake has yet to respond to Meek Mill, or the reports publicly, one of his closest allies and collaborators has. Noah “40” Shebib, longtime producer and OVO executive, spoke out on Twitter, defending Drake’s creativity, and confirming Quentin Miller’s less-than dominating involvement in If You’re Reading This…:

 

In the full series of tweets, Noah contends that Drake is a trend-setter, having honed the singing-rapping style since 2008. He also deemed Drizzy “Maybe the most personal rapper ever,” presumably arguing that Drake’s intimate aesthetic to his songs negates the likelihood of an an extensive ghost-writer. He added, “Never has someone spoken about themselves or there own perspective so vividly… ever.” The producer continued that a critic would be “smokin’ that shit” to think Drake did not write the same self-deprecating and emotional bars that he’s oft-criticized (and praised) for. In the onslaught of attention given this week, Meek Mill clarified his remarks to a crowd of Virginia Nicki Minaj concert-goers.

Meek states that his frustration comes from the belief that Drake’s verse on Meek’s Dreams Worth More Than Money third single “R.I.C.O.” was written by Quentin Miller. “When you want be labeled as the mothafuckin’ ‘best,’ you’ve got to be puttin’ that pen-game in all the mothafuckin’ time” he said, claiming that Jay Z, Nas, Beanie Sigel, Tupac and The Notorious B.I.G. set the standard. Mill added that his girlfriend, and show head-liner Nicki Minaj writes all of her material, prompting crowd applause. “I was just upset, as a fan, that a nigga gave me a verse he ain’t write. Shout out to Drake. Let him be great in all that mothafuckin’ lanes he great in, but I’m gonna still be the realest nigga in this bitch!”

According to Meek’s remarks, it appears he received the “R.I.C.O.” verse from Drake unaware that it was not written by the Grammy Award-winning, multi-platinum MC/singer.

Whether true or not, will Miller—an MC with less than 10,000 Twitter followers get the kind of shine once reserved for elite rhyme-writers like Royce, Skillz, and D.O.C.?

Puffy once rapped, “Don’t ask me if I write rhymes, I write checks.” Should one of Rap music’s similar stars tow the same line, or is the former TV star better off to challenge Meek’s skepticism and mass-criticism with unassisted bars?

Check out one of Miller’s more popular songs:

Check out Complex’s full report on Funk Flex’s theory.

Related: Meek Mill Says Drake Does Not Write His Own Rhymes. Pillow Talk?


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