G.O.O.D. Music President Pusha T Unleashes Previously Vaulted Drake & Meek Mill Freestyle, "R.I.C.O." On Dr. Dre's The Pharmacy (Beats 1)
"I'm the poster child for alleged drug dealers. These n***as mention my name with their little rumors and their little jewelers. That's no threat, that's no sweat," former Virginia Beach drug dealer and Clipse emcee Pusha T ferociously rhymes on his latest solo single; a Dr. Dre-sanctioned freestyle over Meek Mill's "R.I.C.O," which notoriously kick-started Mill and Drake's ghostwriter allegation-slinging beef. For the record, whether he in fact endorses and makes use of ghostwriters or not, Drake's rapid-released double-header "Back to Back" and "Charged Up" absolutely slayed and effectively obliterated Meek Mill's abysmal retaliation diss, "Wanna Know." "Real money ain't shy. No, lay it out... get a tan on it. They say numbers don't lie. Well, dope boy, put your bands on it," Kanye's "Runaway" protégé poignantly rhymes elsewhere on "R.I.C.O," which Dr. Dre premiered on his latest Beats 1 radio transmission, The Pharmacy this past weekend. Numerous times throughout "R.I.C.O." Pusha T seemingly makes subliminal allusions to "the sequel" to My Name Is My Name, better known as his long-awaited Neptunes-produced sophomore solo album, King Push; thus far, having only been preceded by last year's pummeling, tribal drum-laden Kanye-helmed single, "Lunch Money."
It was announced at press time Monday morning that G.O.O.D. Music founder Kanye West has hand-selected Pusha T and his long-time manager Stephen Victor to serve as the Def Jam sub-imprint's newly-delegated G.O.O.D. Music President and A&R. Pusha told Billboard, who exclusively announced the news, that Kanye "basically just [wants him] to manicure the label, make it profitable, and be very business-oriented about it going forward in a manicured type of way." President Thornton will likely help groom and condition G.O.O.D. Music's unique artist roster including Q-Tip, Big Sean, John Legend, Mr. Hudson, Evian Christ, Hudson Mohawke, Travi$ Scott, Yasiin Bey (aka Mos Def), and newest signee Kacy Hill. Pusha T additionally made sure to reassure eager fans that his tenure as G.O.O.D. Music President won't inhibit the recording and imminent release of his nearly-finished King Push; "I don't think so. I got sort of a head start... I've been working on [King Push] for a minute in between touring and everything else. I got a head start on the album, so we're good. You'll be seeing that very shortly," he candidly revealed to Billboard. Prez Push most recently appeared on Puff Daddy & The Family's celebratory street album, MMM – managing to hold his own alongside veteran emcees Jadakiss & Styles P on Diddy-orchestrated posse cut "Everyday (Amor)."