M.I Abaga Speaks Out: ‘Hip-Hop Fans Danced On His Grave’ Amid Drake-Kendrick Clash

Reflecting on the harsh criticism Drake has faced, M.I shared how he relates to the situation, recalling how the Nigerian rap community once dismissed his music as “boring.” Speaking on Afropolitan, M.I highlighted how the backlash against Drake went beyond just the music industry, with critics from different sectors eager to discredit his career.

M.I said, “If Drake is able to make a comeback, it will elevate him above everyone. Not just the music industry, but even tech guys—everybody came and danced on his ‘grave.’”

Despite the negativity, the veteran rapper expressed confidence in Drake’s ability to bounce back, praising his talent for creating impactful music.

“If there’s one person who has the talent to make a comeback album, it is Drake. He knows how to put music together,” M.I asserted. “If the first part of listening to Drake’s music was about his journey to becoming a rap star, now life is giving him a second story. And he is the best storyteller there is. That opportunity is there.”

M.I also acknowledged that the Kendrick-Drake feud had reshaped his opinion of Lamar, now considering him one of the greatest in the game.

“Kendrick wasn’t in my top 10 before this moment. But I think this has put Kendrick, at the very least, in the top 3,” he admitted. “I don’t see how, objectively, you can place Kendrick above Drake just because they were active at the same time. Drake was consistently dropping hits for 15 years. You can’t deny what Drake has done.”

Drawing from his own experiences, M.I shared how he too faced similar criticisms in Nigeria despite his influence on hip-hop.

“I felt a little bit of sympathy for Drake because I’ve had a similar experience,” he reflected. “At a certain point, no matter what I did, the ‘rap community’ in Nigeria would say it was boring. The American hip-hop face-off was great and entertaining. Shoutout to Kendrick and Drake.”