Over the weekend, a generational hip-hop meme made the rounds online. The split-screen photo finds Lil Uzi Vert under a caption that reads “Your Hip Hop” and Esco under a tag that reads “My Hip Hop.” Waka Flocka Flame didn’t seem to approve.
Taking to Instagram, Flockaveli bashed the meme for its alleged inaccuracy.
“This post ain’t bool,” he wrote. “@liluzivert is Rock not HipHop! This generation has #Logic #Jcole #Meek #KDot etc. let my era be great!!! Side note rock artist always been edge.”
https://www.instagram.com/p/BUF1JH4l7UX/
Flocka’s statement about Vert isn’t without merit. In the past, Uzi has dubbed himself a “rock star” and he’s shunned traditionally-celebrated aspects of hip-hop. During a now infamous 2016 interview with Hot 97, he refused to freestyle over the legendary instrumental for Gang Starr’s “Mass Appeal,” a classic single off the duo’s heralded 1994 album Hard to Earn.
“I don’t care,” he said. “I’m too young. I’m not into that…If you pull out one of them old beats, I’m not rapping on it. You see me, bro, I am a rock star. I’m not rapping on that type stuff.”
Uzi’s latest “rock star” moment took place earlier this month, when the rapper jumped off a 20-foot high platform into a festival crowd. More recently, Vert teamed up with A$AP Rocky, Frank Ocean, and Quavo on “RAF.” He is now working on the long-awaited Luv Is Rage 2.
Meanwhile, Waka is readying Flockaveli 2, the sequel to his 2010 debut and the follow-up to 2012’s Triple F Life: Fans, Friends & Family.