Pusha T talks Jay-Z, Kanye West, “Watch the Throne,” and Jay-Z vs. Birdman and Lil Wayne
Pusha T weighs in on Jay-Z and Lil Wayne’s lyrical feud
G.O.O.D. Music’s Pusha T is stepping into the center of hip hop’s most talked-about topic — the lyrical sparring between Jay-Z and Lil Wayne. In a conversation that has captivated fans across the globe, Pusha gives his unfiltered perspective on the brewing tension between two of rap’s biggest stars.
Jay-Z kicked things off with his now infamous “baby money” line on the H.A.M. track. That lyric was widely interpreted as a subliminal aimed at Birdman and Lil Wayne. The clever jab questioned the financial weight of Cash Money and left many wondering if the statement was merely artistic or a calculated shot.
Pusha T, who recently signed to Kanye West’s G.O.O.D. Music label and shares deep industry ties through Pharrell and The Neptunes, is no stranger to dissecting bars. And from his vantage point, Jay’s swipe packed a punch.
“I thought it was a mean swipe,” Pusha tells Funkmaster Flex on Hot 97. “Wayne’s reply was hot too, don’t get me wrong. But Jay’s felt real. It felt personal, like it came from the heart.”
Lil Wayne fires back with “It’s Good”
In response to the perceived diss, Lil Wayne unleashed a fiery verse on “It’s Good,” which features Jadakiss and Drake. Wayne didn’t pull any punches, taking a more direct approach in what many believe was a targeted retort to Hov.
Despite the aggression in Wayne’s bars, Pusha T believes there’s a difference between hard-hitting rhymes and authentic intent. “Wayne’s was clever. But when I listen to bars, I think about who’s really standing on what they’re saying. That’s where Jay’s edge comes in — it feels grounded in reality.”
Pusha T defends Jay-Z’s longevity
Not long after the back-and-forth, Birdman claimed Jay-Z was “on his way out,” suggesting the rap mogul’s time at the top was fading. Pusha T disagrees completely.
Having spent time with both Jay-Z and Kanye West during the recording sessions for Watch the Throne, Pusha sees no signs of decline. If anything, he sees elite creativity in motion.
“To be in the room while they were creating? Man, it was inspiring,” Pusha says. “Jay isn’t going anywhere. That level of lyricism? That’s timeless. You can’t count someone like that out — ever.”
Watch the Throne earns Pusha T’s stamp of approval
For Pusha T, Watch the Throne is more than a collaboration album — it’s a masterclass. Released earlier this year, the joint effort between Jay-Z and Kanye West has been praised for its ambitious sound, socially conscious lyrics, and genre-defining production.
“The album is hands down the best of the year,” Pusha says. “From the beats to the bars, it’s unmatched. It’s what hip hop should aspire to.”
He adds that being able to witness the process firsthand only made the final product more special. “When you hear records like ‘Murder to Excellence’ or ‘Otis,’ you realize this isn’t just music — it’s legacy being built in real-time.”
Hip Hop’s Competitive Nature Fuels Greatness
As the industry watches the Jay-Z and Lil Wayne saga unfold, other artists are chiming in. Cash Money’s Bow Wow compared the lyrical battle to classic sports rivalries, emphasizing the value of competition in keeping the genre sharp.
“Why not let two giants go at it?” Bow Wow said in a recent interview. “Rap is a competitive sport. And these are two of the best to ever do it.”
Pusha T echoes that sentiment, though he’s quick to note that not all competition is equal. Authenticity, he insists, is what separates good disses from great ones.
“Everybody can write a hot bar,” he says. “But if it doesn’t feel like it comes from a real place, it won’t resonate. Jay’s verse felt like it had some real weight behind it.”
Steve Stoute says Jay-Z has transcended beef
While some are calling for a full-blown diss track exchange, music executive Steve Stoute believes Jay-Z has nothing to prove. Stoute suggests that Hov has evolved past lyrical spats and operates on a much larger playing field.
“For Jay-Z to do anything that resembles moving backwards right now would be insane,” Stoute told You Heard That New. “He’s a movement, not just a rapper. And nobody’s on his level. Nobody.”
Pusha T stays focused on his solo journey
Even with the ongoing drama in the hip hop world, Pusha T isn’t letting distractions get in the way of his own rise. Since signing to G.O.O.D. Music in 2010, he’s dropped the critically acclaimed Fear of God mixtape and is gearing up for the release of his Fear of God II: Let Us Pray EP later this month.
He’s also locked in on his debut solo album, working with top-tier producers like Kanye West, The Neptunes, Bangladesh, and Alex Da Kid. “Everything I’m doing right now is about building,” he says. “The goal is to create music that stands the test of time.”
The G.O.O.D. Music movement strengthens
Pusha’s presence on G.O.O.D. Music is part of a larger momentum shift for the label. Kanye’s vision for the imprint includes assembling elite lyricists and pushing creative boundaries, and Pusha T fits that mold perfectly.
His collaborations with fellow G.O.O.D. artists on My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy and the G.O.O.D. Fridays series showed immediate chemistry, proving he’s more than ready for the next stage of his career.
“I’ve always been about bars,” Pusha says. “And with G.O.O.D., I get to be surrounded by other artists who feel the same. It’s about legacy.”
Final thoughts on Jay-Z, Lil Wayne, and the state of hip hop
When asked if he expects Jay-Z to respond directly to Wayne, Pusha T doesn’t give a definitive answer. But he doesn’t need to.
“I think Jay’s already said enough,” he says. “Real ones know. And Watch the Throne says more than any diss track ever could.”
At the end of the day, Pusha believes that true greatness speaks for itself. And when it comes to Jay-Z, his catalog, business empire, and enduring relevance all speak volumes.
As hip hop continues to evolve, Pusha T stands firmly rooted in its core values — lyricism, authenticity, and competition. And in his view, there’s room for the entire culture to grow, so long as artists stay true to the art form.
“It’s all love at the end of the day,” he says. “But that doesn’t mean we stop pushing each other to be better.”