DJ Drama & Don Cannon Strike Back at Lil Uzi Vert Critics: "I Don't Believe in Mumble Rap"

Two of the individuals responsible for Lil Uzi Vert‘s current dominance in the rap game are defending the self-proclaimed “rockstar” against the recent wave of criticism. Speaking to Pigeons & Planes‘ Gavin Godfrey for a new feature, DJ Drama and Don Cannon lash out at critics of the “Do What I Want” artist. “I think every generation gets criticized for something, especially when you’re rebellious with your sound,” DJ Drama says. “I think the more and more with Uzi’s artistry and peoples’ respect he’ll grow out of that term and box. I remember Lil Wayne being criticized early on in his career. I think we’re just breaking the tip of the iceberg of what people can come to and have seen with Uzi’s talent and his work. Those terms don’t really bother me because I see beyond it.”

Expounding on DJ Drama’s defense of Lil Uzi, Don Cannon adds:

I don’t believe in mumble rap. When I was young, they tried to box out Das EFX, they tried to box out Ultramagnetic MCs—it’s just a term in rap. Every time artists turn the page in rap it’s always going to have some kind of criticism. I think the criticism comes from rap being so competitive and changing so many lives, they’re always trying to coin it something different every single time: Trap music, EDM, rock-rap. Then you have hardcore hip-hop when Mobb Deep and everyone was coming in. Then we had the jiggy period. They just need to put some kind of name on what’s going on for the time period of rap. That’s just us as culture.

Earlier this week, Lil Uzi also defended himself from his detractors. “You know what it is? They’ve never felt these fabrics before,” Lil Uzi told Sway, responding to recent remarks about his sartorial choices.

On the music front, Lil Uzi Vert recently linked up with A$AP Rocky, Frank Ocean and Quavo for the massive new single “Raf.” The Luv is Rage artist is currently on tour, with plans to drop a new project in the near future.