Pusha T & Kanye West Beef, Explained

Pusha T and Kanye West have been a extremely acclaimed musical duo for nearly the entire 2010s. The G.O.O.D. Music alumni made dozens of songs collectively, a number of of that are thought of classics in modern hip-hop fan circles. Nevertheless, a rift between them opened of their remaining years collectively after more and more vitriolic statements from West on the expense of a number of marginalized communities, leading to Pusha’s full departure from the label and West’s inventive orbit. 

In current months, Push has made his ideas on West painstakingly clear, with a transparent lack of respect for the person West has develop into in the previous few years, and has been emphatic in his disinterest in a possible reconnection. After fellow G.O.O.D. Music alum Consequence not too long ago claimed that Pusha T was dissing West to attract consideration to Clipse’s comeback album and that any public disrespect was nothing greater than an act, we’re going to look again via the connection between the 2. How did they arrive collectively? And the way (and why) did issues get so bitter between them?

Clipse beforehand rapped over Kanye West’s beats within the mid-2000s for a few of their mixtape cuts. Nevertheless, it was not till 2009 the place they’d get the person himself on a music. West appeared on the observe “Kinda Like A Large Deal,” the primary time the eventual co-workers formally rapped collectively. In September 2010, after months of teasing, Pusha T signed with G.O.O.D. Music, turning into a fixture of the now-iconic G.O.O.D. Fridays string of singles launched forward of West’s opus, My Stunning Darkish Twisted Fantasy. On the album itself, he offered options on “So Appalled” and, famously, “Runaway.” In 2012, he made appearances on the G.O.O.D. Music compilation album, Merciless Summer season, most notably on the tracks “Mercy” and “New God Movement.”

By 2015, Pusha T turned the president of G.O.O.D. Music, a place he held for the remainder of his time on the label. In 2018, he and West linked for his third album DAYTONA, a seven-track LP from the notorious “Wyoming Periods.” 2018 was additionally the yr the place West started to dig deeper into his right-wing politics, calling slavery a “selection,” aligning himself with Donald Trump, and parading round his “Make America Nice Once more” hat, which Pusha likened to a Ku Klux Klan hood in an interview with The Guardian. Push didn’t instantly condemn West, however he talked about that the 2 didn’t speak politics within the studio fairly often. Upon launch, DAYTONA obtained instant acclaim, with a number of shops calling it considered one of the perfect hip-hop albums of that yr. The undertaking additionally netted Pusha his first solo Grammy nomination, for Finest Rap Album. However, the seeds for a cut up had already been planted. By 2022, it turned fairly clear that the run was coming to an finish. G.O.O.D. Music, as followers had recognized it for practically twenty years, wouldn’t live on for for much longer.

In April 2022, Pusha T delivered It’s Nearly Dry, his fourth solo album. Half of the album was produced by Pharrell, whereas the opposite half was dealt with by Kanye West. It was the second-to-last album to be launched as a part of the G.O.O.D. Music/Def Jam partnership. In October of that yr, Def Jam minimize ties with the label following a number of controversies with West on the middle, together with the promotion of the “White Lives Matter” t-shirt and blatantly antisemitic ramblings in varied movies and tweets. In a November interview with the Los Angeles Instances, Pusha T addressed West’s string of hateful remarks, calling them “very disappointing.”

“Positively affected me,” he stated in response to West’s antics. “To explain it, I’d say it’s been disappointing, very disappointing. , simply as a Black man in America, there isn’t any room for bigotry or hate speech or something like that.” The interview was the primary time Pusha T instantly criticized West’s phrases, and signaled a shift of their dynamic going ahead. 

In early 2022, Pusha T fueled hypothesis that he was leaving G.O.O.D. Music after making a submit thanking Kanye West for releasing him from his contract. That was not the case, as per Pusha’s supervisor, Steven Victor, he’d solely fulfilled his obligations to Def Jam. Nevertheless, after the discharge of It’s Nearly Dry, Pusha T confirmed that he’d really accomplished the phrases of his take care of G.O.O.D. He was now not on the label, ending a partnership that lasted over a decade. Push additionally revealed to XXL that he and West weren’t on talking phrases on the time. 

“He’s not talking to me. When you ain’t with it, you ain’t down. And I ain’t with it,” he instructed the journal. He additionally stated that he’s by no means had a filter with regards to talking with West, nor have been these new statements the primary time the 2 disagreed politically. “It is nothing to faucet dance round. It’s incorrect. Interval. However to me, it’s simply me and him having a distinction of opinion but once more. ’Trigger we performed had this for years.” Nevertheless, it appeared as if their working relationship got here to an amicable sufficient conclusion, as Pusha stated that West expressed gratitude for Push by no means operating to the media to “kill him in public,” regardless of their disagreements. Although the cut up appeared (publicly) on good phrases, it nonetheless marked a disappointing finish to what had been a extremely productive musical rapport for many of the previous 12 years.

In February 2023, a photograph of Pusha T and Canadian private coach Harley Pasternak having dinner collectively surfaced. Pasternak has labored as a coach to many celebrities, together with Kanye West. Pasternak beforehand known as emergency companies on West throughout a 2016 exercise, which contributed to West’s eventual hospitalization and bipolar dysfunction prognosis. 

West believes he was incorrectly recognized, and later shared messages from 2022 he claims have been from Pasternak, during which the coach reportedly threatened to have West institutionalized a second time. He additionally talked about West’s youngsters, allegedly saying that future play dates gained’t be the identical in the event that they “medicate the crap out of” him. Their feud continued via the remainder of 2023, after either side accused one another of stalking, and Pasternak reportedly known as safety on West at a Dubai resort. We are going to by no means know the reality of their state of affairs. Nevertheless, Pusha T having dinner with a person West has lengthy been feuding with and doesn’t really feel comfy round felt like an indication that the rift between the ex-collaborators was even worse than initially thought.

In 2018, a documentary about Kanye West started manufacturing, however by no means noticed the sunshine of day in an official capability. 5 years later, a clip from the unreleased undertaking hit social media. Within the temporary, 90-second excerpt, West criticizes a number of artists whom he believed have been utilizing him for collaborations throughout the “Wyoming Periods.” He didn’t title Child Cudi, however he did converse on Teyana Taylor, Pusha T, and Nas.

“The f*ck I’m doing giving [‘Gonna Love You’] to f***ing Teyana? What the f**ok I’m doing giving that DAYTONA album to Pusha?” he stated. “That s**t was three Darkish Fantasies that I gave away. ‘Cops Shot The Child’, Nas rapping all godd**n offbeat on it, don’t even wanna shoot a video, then shoot the video, don’t even inform me. These motherf**ers don’t recognize me. All these motherf***ers is tryna use me.” West has been candid about individuals in his life utilizing him for cash or fame, however it was nonetheless disheartening to listen to him counsel that even these he thought have been there for him could have solely been within the image as a result of they noticed aligning themselves with West as advantageous because of his celebrity standing, regardless of how previous the video was on the time of it being leaked.

In January 2024, an alleged textual content Pusha T despatched to Kanye West leaked to the general public. The precise date of the message continues to be unknown, however we all know it got here after “The Story of Adidon” as a result of Pusha instantly talked about the conflict with Drake. “I put out the music as a result of he dissed me and talked about my spouse in a music,” Pusha allegedly despatched to West, referencing their beef and prolonged historical past with the Toronto rapper. “You let Drake disrespect you, your spouse, and your loved ones. That’s why you possibly can’t get your spouse to respect you. Don’t blame me, Kanye. I might by no means shoot anyone for you, you’ll snitch on me. Shyne modified his title to Moses and turned Jew. Please don’t evaluate me to him. Puff was higher off with out J. Lo., she was a whore. I’ve held you down, and also you don’t recognize me.”

The textual content was the signature brutal honesty that Pusha T is understood for, a noticeably totally different strategy to dealing with conditions involving West than those that proceed to defend his actions. The leaked message additionally confirmed that the 2 had a way more tough dynamic to know than what followers believed they knew. It isn’t fully clear the place Drake and West stand after Drake sneak dissed him for a number of years straight, however the two did come collectively for the “Free Larry Hoover Profit Live performance” in 2021 and West confirmed $ome $exy $ongs 4 U some love on X when it dropped earlier this yr, so they might at the least be cordial to a point. Push not too long ago confirmed that he had no want to re-engage with Drake except he wished to. 

In April 2024, Kanye West appeared on Justin LaBoy’s podcast, The Obtain. LaBoy requested him the place issues stood with Pusha T, following Pusha’s departure from G.O.O.D. Music and the leaked textual content message. West revealed that they’d spoken considerably not too long ago. “It was good to speak to him. It was the primary time speaking to him in a pair months. We made G.O.O.D. Music collectively,” he stated. “I believed that in some way as a result of I made beats and made music for any individual that after I couldn’t see my kids, these individuals would use their platform, ‘trigger I used my platform on their behalf. Now I notice nobody owes me something. When you rely upon any individual who isn’t supplying you with what you want, you’re the one which’s within the incorrect.” The surprisingly reflective response additionally got here off as if West was suggesting that these in his circle weren’t as actual as he thought.

In an interview with Advanced, Pusha detailed why he believed artists continued to work with West, even after he embraced the alt-right. He gave West props for his musical chops and continued stardom, conceding {that a} West co-sign nonetheless got here with elevated seems from the general public. “I imagine that there’s a degree of visibility that comes together with being subsequent to any individual like Ye,” he defined. “On the finish of the day, it’s a degree of musicality and genius-level manufacturing that comes together with being subsequent to him. So that you get a number of issues that I believe artists are in search of today in being subsequent to him.” Although he and West weren’t on the perfect of phrases, Pusha nonetheless gave him some moderately diplomatic reward, even in any case they’d been via.

In April, Kanye West went stay to specific his displeasure at being left off of Playboi Carti’s then-forthcoming album, MUSIC. After beginning his erratic rant by directing his feelings at Carti, he shifted the main target to as a substitute take digs at Pusha. “Pusha T, all that robust man s**t. The place the robust man s**t?” he requested. “I bled for you. I requested for one factor: Use your voice, your stability. Folks do not suppose you are loopy. Folks respect you. You stood on my shoulders to take Drake out.” These have been West’s first direct phrases for his former good friend in over a yr, they usually noticed him voicing what he considered as a scarcity of appreciation from Pusha T. Perceived lack of appreciation from one aspect to the opposite was a little bit of a recurring piece of their breakdown in communication, from the leaked clip to the alleged textual content.

Within the lead-up to Clipse’s Let God Type ‘Em Out, their first new album as a duo since 2009, they dropped “Ace Trumpets,” the primary correct style of what followers might count on from the undertaking. On the observe, Pusha mentions Kanye West. “Have a look at them, him and him, nonetheless ready on Yeezy / I hope you bought your squeegee,” Pusha T raps. “At your interviews, I simply kee kee, life’s peachy.” Shortly after the music dropped, West took to X to increase a partial olive department, although it didn’t include something that would resemble an apology. “I miss me and Pusha’s friendship,” West wrote. The remark opened the door for reconciliation between the 2, however that door solely opened a technique. As proven shortly after West’s tweet, Pusha didn’t miss his previous musical associate in any respect.

Through the rollout for Let God Type ‘Em Out, Pusha T and Malice sat down with GQ to debate the brand new launch. When the query of the place issues stood between him and Ye arose, Pusha put forth a scathing takedown of his former collaborator. He began by saying that his cut up from West was on the horizon for years, and that the previous few months of their partnership have been Pusha taking part in the “business sport.” He then made a extra direct remark towards West. “It is like, bro, you’ve got been mentioning me, screaming about me…. You bought each soul believing that I’ve performed such an incredible injustice to you. And that is a lie […] So when he will get up there and together with his KKK masks and he is screaming behind it like a professional wrestler—he bought to scream behind a masks. He do not speak to me like he talks to others.”

The feedback didn’t cease there, as Pusha continued the smack speak. The Virginia MC stated, point-blank, that he doesn’t suppose West is “a person,” a extremely private jab that exemplified simply how unhealthy issues bought between them. “He is aware of I do not suppose he’s a person. He is aware of it. And that is why we won’t construct with one another no extra. That is why me and him do not click on, as a result of he is aware of what I actually, actually consider him. He is confirmed me the weakest sides of him, and he is aware of how I consider weak individuals.” In a later interview with the New York Instances, he additionally asserted that he and West by no means bought alongside when it got here to something besides music. “Exterior of that, his morals, his rules, his mindset […] We don’t see eye-to-eye infrequently.”

Pusha and Malice sat down with Ebro Darden for an interview with Apple Music launched the day earlier than Let God Type ‘Em Out, the place Push went into even better element about his falling out with Kanye West. “I really feel like me and Ye, we don’t gel,” he instructed Ebro. “The place I’m proper now in my life, I’m not with anybody who ain’t on my staff, particularly after I’ve been in your staff.” He additionally pointed to Kanye going again on his phrases and judging the music they made collectively. “He clearly, for no matter cause, has a difficulty. I don’t even care what his concern is,” he acknowledged. 

In a separate interview with Advanced, Push was requested for his emotions on West saying he missed their friendship. “I don’t care about that in any respect,” he stated. “It’s fantastic. I’m certain. I might miss me too, I actually would.” He additionally recommended that West lacked rules and loyalty, including that he doesn’t wish to get entangled with him once more as a result of he’s again to creating with Malice and Pharrell. Push additionally addressed the leaked textual content from the earlier yr, saying that he didn’t leak it himself. Nevertheless, he had an concept of who did. The brand new feedback recommended that he’d outgrown West and moved on as a result of their friendship/partnership was now not productive. It seemingly turned simpler to take action as a result of he bought again to creating music together with his household.

Clipse spoke with The Guardian in early August, and Pusha T as soon as once more reminisced on the G.O.O.D. Music period. “Simply as a rap aficionado, effectively, being there was particular!” Pusha instructed the newspaper. “Creating ‘So Appalled’ and ‘New God Movement’ have been a few of my favourite recollections. The G.O.O.D Friday collection, that was loopy, too. The albums I dropped throughout that point, like DAYTONA and It’s Nearly Dry, they’re very, very sturdy choices. It goes with out saying that me and Ye made nice issues collectively.”

Nevertheless, he reiterated that It’s Nearly Dry could be their final outing collectively. “Yeah, that’s up to now, that’s undoubtedly up to now,” he stated when requested if working with West once more would ever be a risk. “If I diss somebody, it’s a really actual factor to me. I watch different rappers use disses as a gimmick and s**t like that, however that ain’t what that is to me.” After saying that he didn’t imagine West was a person and the flippant response to West saying he missed Pusha’s friendship, it could be very shocking if Pusha went again on his phrase. Nonetheless, followers of each artists weren’t any much less dissatisfied within the affirmation.

Consequence entered himself into the Pusha T-Kanye West feud throughout a Scorching 97 interview on August 15, the place he known as out Pusha instantly. He shared extra alleged texts from a bunch chat that includes himself, Push, and West. The chat apparently began in 2021, shortly after the discharge of Donda. West reportedly stated that he and Push have been nonetheless not “100% in the appropriate” with one another. He cited the “psychological hurt” that “The Story of Adidon” induced. 

Pusha allegedly apologized for any trauma attributable to the observe. He additionally reportedly stated that harming West and his household was not a objective with the music. Cons implied that Pusha does really respect West, opposite to his current interviews, as a result of he gave him an apology. In a later tweet, Consequence doubled down on his new points with Pusha T. He known as Pusha a “liar with no integrity” and stated he stabbed West within the again for “clout.” He claimed there are extra texts on the market, although, as of writing, he has not shared any of them. 

In 2011, Pusha T launched “My God,” the lead single for his first mixtape, Worry of God. After the one dropped, New York rapper Consequence took to Twitter to say that Pusha stole his stream from an unreleased music, titled “The Final Supper.” Cons then adopted that by releasing a music known as “The Plagiarist Society.” There, he took extra jabs at Pusha, insinuating that he was mendacity about being a coke seller. Push responded to the music on the Chicago-based WGCI. He stated that nobody was checking for Consequence, and that he’d get nothing out of it if he really despatched a music in Cons’ course. Later that day, Consequence dropped “Everyone Instructed Me 2 (Straighten It Out),” the place he dissed Pusha and the G.O.O.D. Music roster at massive. Pusha responded on the remix to Ace Hood’s “Go ‘N Get It,” the place he made enjoyable of Consequence’s tooth.

The 2 briefly squashed the meat on the finish of 2011, however Consequence reignited it in early 2013, after a Breakfast Membership interview the place he known as the G.O.O.D. Music roster “p***ies.” Pusha T adopted that by showing on Scorching 97, the place he doubled down on the declare that Kanye West purchased Consequence’s tooth after initially mocking him for it on Twitter. He then did an interview with the ThisIs50 YouTube channel, the place he responded to Consequence’s biting allegations by saying that Cons didn’t have a method to chunk. “Who the f**ok is he?” he requested. The pair as soon as once more put their variations apart in 2015 to work on West’s album, the eventual Life Of Pablo, however clearly, there’s no love misplaced.