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PEOPLE & ARTS Thursday 20 december 2018

Pusha T on winning in 2018, Grammy nom, Drake and Kanye West

By MESFIN FEKADU my album was the most di-
Associated Press aled-in, and just laser-direct
NEW YORK (AP) — Pusha for a category. I feel like my
T has been on a winning album really hit the rap cat-
streak. egory directly. If you look
In a year where rap easily at the (Kid) Cudi project,
dominated as music's top Cudi and 'Ye project "Kids
genre, Pusha T's 21-min- See Ghost," or the 'Ye (solo)
ute, seven-track "Daytona" project, I don't know exact-
album moved the needle ly. I think those two projects
and became one of the could have danced in a
most successful hip-hop few different categories.
projects of the year, he AP: Were you surprised to
won his rap beef with Drake not see Drake's album in
and he earned a Grammy best rap album?
nomination for best rap al- Pusha T: No. I wasn't sur-
bum. prised. I think everybody
As the rap star reflects on needs to stay in their re-
the year, he says: "I really spective category. I don't
can look back at 2018 and think me and him are in the
really look at it as a total same category.
win." AP: When you released
"I didn't start 'Daytona' to "The Story of Adidon," were
let anybody down and I you afraid that it would
feel like we definitely ac- overshadow the "Daytona"
complished the mission," album?
he added. "'Daytona' is rap Pusha T: That was a concern
album of the year. No one during that whole time. That
rapped better than me in was a concern. I always felt
2018.'" that I had rap album of the
Pusha T, 41, has been mak- year. I always knew it. That
ing bold statements like was a bit of distraction in
those since he emerged regards to me being able
on the music scene as to campaign that from
one-half of the duo Clipse the day that I put out the
two decades ago, earn- In this Jan. 27, 2018 file photo, Pusha T attends the Roc Nation pre-Grammy brunch in New York. album up until something
ing praise for his raw lyrical Associated Press like the Grammys. That was
content and delivery. a bit of a distraction. We
He reached new heights remember hearing about nated, they went through unfulfilled. As I look at all were sort of strategic about
this year when he ex- it and saying, 'Damn, man, a whole boycott period. I these top 100 lists, top 50 that. Very strategic on how
posed Drake on "The Story that's pretty dope. I can't remember rappers boycot- lists, like, "Damn, 'Daytona' we discussed it and what
of Adidon" (Drake never wait to see how that turns ting the Grammys. Then, is always in the top 3, top 5, we talked about, because
responded to the burning out,'" he said. "I was really ultimately, time moves on 1, here and there." I feel like that wasn't part of the al-
diss track). The Kanye West- impressed with the effort and I got to see some great everybody was fulfilled. bum. That was extra credit.
produced "Daytona" soon of the Grammy committee ones — Jay-Z, Kanye West AP: What were some of AP: Have you been work-
followed, debuting at No. and how they were trying — receive a Grammy. To your other favorite rap al- ing on new music?
3 on the pop charts and to change the way of do- be nominated for what it bums that were not nomi- Pusha T: Yeah, for sure.
landing on several critics' ing things. Now when I look is that I do, and what I've nated? AP: How's that going?
year-end lists. at the nominees, man, we done — I've been very con- Pusha T: I actually liked Jay Pusha T: We'll see in 2019.
The album earned a Gram- got a tough category, and sistent for what I've done in Rock's album a lot. I prob- AP: Are you working with
my nomination for best rap all of those albums are al- the rap game — it's amaz- ably was on record with Kanye again?
album in a highly competi- bums that I rock with." ing. I don't know if there's that one, too. He's prob- Pusha T: For sure.
tive year, pitting Pusha T In an interview with The As- ever been any rapper who ably one of the ones that I AP: Have you talked to him
against Cardi B, Travis Scott, sociated Press, Pusha T dis- has embodied the streets felt like really put together since he sent those tweets
Nipsey Hussle and the late cusses his Grammy nomi- so much and with this level a really strong project, rap- last week, reigniting his
Mac Miller, and garnering nation, Drake's omission of content and this level of wise. feud with Drake?
a nod over acts like Drake, from the best rap category, pure artistry (that's been AP: Were you surprised that Pusha T: Yeah, I talked to
Lil Wayne, Eminem, J. Cole, West's recent tweets and nominated for a Grammy). none of the other Kanye him.
Nas, Migos, DJ Khaled, more. I don't know. This is really West-produced projects AP: Is everything cool?
Nicki Minaj and even West. AP: What does it feel like to just the streets talking right were nominated? Pusha T: Everything's beau-
Pusha T said when the Re- see "Daytona" up for best here. Pusha T: I felt like Kanye tiful.
cording Academy added rap album? AP: Was it surprising to get getting a producer of the AP: When he said Drake
a nomination review com- Pusha T: Man, for me the a nomination because the year Grammy nomination bought the first two rows of
mittee to the rap category Grammy nomination is album is shorter than most? is due in part to his output your concert — was that
last year to serve as an just the icing on the cake. Pusha T: Sometimes you and how he had to turn true?
additional layer of checks ...I remember, like, being have to change the silhou- into a chameleon to do all Pusha T: Certain things I'm
and balances, he felt like young, super-young and ette. I feel like that's what these albums. I definitely just not going to speak on
he had a stronger chance looking at the Grammys, we did, we changed the felt like Teyana (Taylor)'s al- because that's not part of
of getting a nomination. I used to never see my fa- silhouette. And I guess sev- bum was super-strong and my DNA. But, hey, Kanye's
"Maybe not never in my life vorite rappers up there... As en tracks isn't... time-wise, it could have definitely de- fine, man. He's fine. He was
had I ever thought about I got older, and my favorite does say it's eligible. I don't served a Grammy. just talking on Twitter, doing
getting a Grammy, but I rappers were being nomi- think anybody left feeling In being fair, I do feel like what he does.q