Drake, who pretty much avoids traditional media these days in favor of podcasts and streaming, has called out journalist Rob Markman after a clip resurfaced of him seemingly struggling to recite Lil Wayne lyrics during an interview with Tory Lanez.
The clip resurfaced on an Instagram meme account and originates from a 2019 interview with Tory Lanez for Genius. During the clip, Lanez recites some of his favorite lines from Lil Wayne's 2006 track "Cannon," and Drake dropped a comment on the clip indicating that he believes Markman couldn't finish reciting the lyrics. "Of course this goof markman couldn't finish the bar... free Tory," Drake commented.
Shortly after Drake's comment circulated on social media, Markman offered a response on X, formerly Twitter. "I could call him names too," he wrote. "But you know he love to sue."
Not long after Drake issued his response, Markman took to social media with words of his own for the Canadian star. “Know yourself,” he wrote alongside a post on X that contained a video of himself sharing his take on the situation. After Drake left a comment under the post, the exchange quickly spiraled into a larger story.
Reflecting on the moment, Markman explained that his critiques have always been rooted in music, not personal attacks. He pointed to his track record and noted that he expects increased attention following all of this.
"Then Champagne Papi leaves a comment on IG under the post: 'Of course this goof Markman couldn't finish the bar. Dot dot dot, Free Tory.' So I'm sitting there like, 'Oh, we got jokes. A little bit of name-calling, but we got jokes.' I got jokes too, but I gotta watch what I say ‘cause you might sue," he said to Drake. "Can’t call no names. Just saying. So I dropped my response, because it’s all jokes, right?"
Markman continued: "So here’s my thing, and anybody who watches me knows this. I also know there’s a lot of new eyeballs on this, but whoever’s been watching me knows I’m not really about disrespect. I may say I don’t like a song. I may say I don’t like a line. I may say, you know, you won or you lost the battle. I may say I don’t agree with the lawsuit. But it’s never coming from a place of disrespect."
Markman went on to say that while he doesn't "do personal attacks" and "call anybody out their name" he does "just call it like I see it."
"I also keep it all about the music. So all that abs, braids, family core—all that stuff? I stay away from it, unless it’s directly involved with the music. If not, I stay away," he continued.
"...You know, a great writer once wrote, 'Gotta know yourself.' And I know myself, man," he added. "After this, I’m not coming on here with no axe to grind or just being disrespectful, ‘cause that’s not me.But you’re not gonna catch me acting out of character. I know who I am."
He concluded: "And to the homie—man, I get it. It’s a tough time. It’s a crazy time. There’s a lot of stuff going on. It’s gotta suck, I know. This is not the way. But then again, what do I know, right? Peace."
Markman is referring to Drake taking legal action against Universal Music Group over Kendrick Lamar's vicious diss track, "Not Like Us." He accused the label, which also releases his music, of defamation for releasing and promoting a track that he says falsely depicts him as a pedophile. He also accused them of hiring bots to further inflate the popularity of the song, which peaked at No. 1 on the Billboard Hot 100.
Additionally, K Dot referred to Drake's legal action during his Super Bowl Halftime Show performance. "I want to perform their favorite song, but you know they love to sue," he teased before later playing the track and smiling at the camera when he rapped, "Say Drake, I heard you like 'em young."
Bootleg Kev has also taken issue with Drake calling out Markman, and referenced the Canadian rapper's aversion to radio and music publication news platforms in recent years. "Drake shitting on Rob Markman but embracing Adin Ross and Bobbi Althoff is the most on brand shit for him in 2025," he wrote alongside a crying-laughing emoji.
Drake has appeared on multiple streams alongside Adin Ross, who notably interviewed Donald Trump while wearing a 'Make America Great Again' hat during the 2024 election cycle. He also recently appeared in a teaser for Bobbi Althoff's new podcast, despite speculation that she and him feuded after he appeared on her previous podcast and the episode was subsequently removed.