Memphis Bleek is setting the record straight after Tony Yayo suggested Jay-Z doesn't look out for him the way 50 Cent looks after his longtime friend.
Appearing on Drink Champs earlier this month, Bleek addressed Yayo's comments at the top of the year, which compared Bleek's relationship with Jay-Z to his own bond with 50 Cent. Bleek made it clear that Jay-Z has never been obligated to bankroll him; instead, he emphasized his independence, stating that what fans see from him comes from his own grind, not Hov's wallet.
"I seen something Tony Yayo said Hov don't look out for me like 50 look out for him.I just want to clear that up, Hov don't have to. You know what I mean," said Bleek. "I'm chewing a lot on my own. If Hov look out, I'm telling you, I'll be up there. So when y'all see me out here, that's the Blizzo budget. I just want to let n***as know Hov don't have to."
Yayo originally made the remarks on Million Dollaz Worth of Game, explaining the difference between Jay-Z and 50 Cent's relationships with their protégés. According to Yayo, his relationship with 50 is more genuine, unlike Jay and Bleek, which seems to be all about business.
"It's a difference. Jay-Z, never really like [...] Memphis Bleek, you would say he was his friend, but it was different for us.Me and 50 was more friends [...] I'm not saying them n***as wasn't friends, but when you look at me and Fif, it's like alright cool," said Yayo. "Jay and Bleek did they sell drugs, like in the same area? I was on the block with [50 Cent]. I can compare us to Jay and Bleek. What I'm saying to you is I feel like me and Fif have more of a friendship because Jay-Z is more business."
That wasn't the first time the Queens rapper has mentioned 50 taking care of him, unlike his fellow elder rap peers. In a VladTV interview last year, Yayo noted that many artists don't receive the kind of treatment he gets from 50.
"You gotta understand, lot of artists don't get treated [well]," Yayo said. "People think that Fif is a bad guy, but when you're staying in the Four Seasons, you got the Eiffel Tower there, you staying at the W in Bahrain sipping Ranis on the water."