Universal Music Group (UMG) nearly scrapped the release of a Pop Smoke track due to a controversial verse from Pusha T that executives believed aimed at Drake. The revelation came from Steven Victor, Pop Smokeâs label head and Pushaâs longtime manager, during a recent Billboard interview.
The situation stemmed from Pusha Tâs appearance on Pop Smokeâs track âParanoia,â slated initially for Shoot For The Stars Aim For The Moon deluxe edition. Victor explained that UMG raised red flags over lyrics they interpreted as subliminal shots at Drake, one of their marquee artists. âUMG thought he was dissing Drake on that song,â Victor told Billboard. âHe wasnât, but they thought he was.â Despite the verse having no direct connection to Pop Smoke, Victor was told in no uncertain terms: either Pusha T altered the lyrics or the label would halt the albumâs release entirely.
Caught between his roles as Pop Smokeâs label exec and Pushaâs manager, Victor found himself in a tight bind. âPop was signed to Victor Victor, my label, and I manage Pusha. So when they came to me like that, I was stunned,â he said. âIâm thinking, what happened to freedom of speech? Heâs not dissing Drake. But they basically said, âChange the verse or the song doesnât come out.ââ
Ultimately, the label prevailed. The final version of âParanoiaâ that appeared on the album featured Young Thug and Gunna instead of Pusha T. This wasnât the first time the Clipse rapperâs sharp lyrics stirred label nervesâheâd also been pulled from Rick Rossâ âMaybach Music VIâ over similarly perceived disses at Drake. Still, Pusha has remained unapologetically defiant. When Def Jam expressed concern about his Kendrick Lamar collaboration on his upcoming Clipse reunion project, Let God Sort âEm Out (set for July 11), Push refused to back down. The label ultimately lost rights to release the album.
While UMG may have succeeded in suppressing one verse, Pusha Tâs pen continues to strike nervesâproof that his presence in the rap game is as provocative as ever.