Is Drake Really That Egotistical?

Recently Drake did an interview with Rolling Stone where I’m sure he talked about a lot of important world issues and how those situations affect his life. Wait, nope nevermind. He talked about Macklemore texting Kendrick Lamar, the lyrical content of Kanye West’s Yeezus, and other hard-hitting issues that we had all been impatiently waiting for Drake to weigh in on.

I’m not mocking the artist formerly known as Wheelchair Jimmy, because Rolling Stone is obviously a music-based magazine so these topics aren’t completely ridiculous. What was absolutely mind-blowing was what happened after the interview.

Before the issue of Rolling Stone ran, Philip Seymour Hoffman tragically passed away. Obviously something of that magnitude would take precedence over an R&B singer complaining about a text message exchange between two other rappers. Apparently that wasn’t as obvious to Drake who took to Twitter to vent his feeling. The tweets have since been deleted, but NY Daily News was among many who took screenshots of the rant:

Really Drake? You’re disgusted that a respected magazine would pay respect to an award winning actor that unexpectedly died rather than yet another mildly interesting take on a hip-hop feud that doesn’t even involve you? TMZ reported that Rolling Stone warned him of the cover change, but does it really matter?

I know a lot of you might read this and think it’s just another self-important entertainer forcing everyone to feel his diva-like wrath, but something about it just feels troubling. I can’t imagine hearing the news of someone’s death and thinking, “Oh great, this is going to take away from my spotlight.” Have we become so self-absorbed as a culture that our regards for others are so small? Drake actually said he was disgusted that Rolling Stone would take his picture off the cover in favor of honoring a respected actor that passed away. I wonder if he would have felt the same way if the death were of someone in the hip-hop community.

The feeling of entitlement that so many people have is truly astounding, and the internet gives them a platform for that voice to be heard. This doesn’t just apply to celebrities either. Any website that allows comments or user reviews allow anyone to voice their displeasure with something, even if that person has no clue what they’re talking about. Have you ever read a Yelp review? So many negative reviews are clearly from people that have no idea what they’re talking about. It’s crazy to think that I know absolutely nothing about curling irons, but I could get on Macy’s website and write about how the Conair Curl Secret SUCKS BIG TIME!

It doesn’t matter if you’re Drake or if you’re a guy who insists on writing 1,000 words on your most recent brunch experience at a local restaurant, your words make an impact. In a time when it’s so easy to have a knee-jerk reaction that could be associated with your name for the rest of your life, don’t forget to step back and think about what you’re saying. I highly doubt that Drake doesn’t care about Philip Seymour Hoffman’s death, but when you’ve shared such vile thoughts, it’s hard not to think less of you. Let’s all just try and think about the repercussions of our words before declaring them to the world.