Anderson .Paak shared a scathing response to a bizarre Instagram post from indie rapper-singer GoldLink that claimed deceased rapper Mac Miller copied his work.
GoldLink, who was in the news last week for calling the Grammys racist, wrote a lengthy Instagram post on Tuesday night about his relationship with Miller, who died tragically of a drug overdose in September 2018.
GoldLink's comments about Miller's last album The Divine Feminine enraged fans and other musicians. He starts the missive off by claiming he wasn't surprised to hear that Miller had died.
"I think what made you and I special is that we weren’t always on the best terms. So I didn’t always have great things to say about you. When we were on the GO:OD AM tour, I played you my album 'and after that we didn’t talk,' and you thought it was absolutely incredible. I released it under the “Soulection” label and the single for my album was called “Unique” ft. Anderson .Paak, and that was your favorite song at the time. You loved it so much that you made the entire tour party listen to it, and surprised me with a cake after my set. I always thought you drove yourself insane about your own music. So much that, you would adopt styles as homage to those around you that you loved. That’s where our problem started," he wrote in a caption of a photo of Miller.
GoldLink went on to say that Miller's album "was an actual blueprint" of his 2015 mixtape And After That, We Didn't Talk. He said when he asked the late rapper about it, he never got a response.
"A close mutual friend ended up just hittin’ my DJ saying 'listen man, we love Link, but we just had to do what we had to do. And Mac said if he needs a verse at anytime, he got him.' We are family, you could always call me. Afterwards, we seen each other at Coachella, and you put your head down like an innocent child, but I told you to pick it up and I hugged you like the brother you are to me," GoldLink said.
He lauded Miller's work at the end of the post, but that did little to quell the backlash against him from musicians who worked with Miller, including .Paak whose name was mentioned in the Instagram caption.
GoldLink turned off the comments on the photo, but .Paak created his own post. In a now-deleted Instagram post, the 33-year-old artist said GoldLink's comments were "disrespectful, narcissistic, jealous and grossly unnecessary."
"Why you would do it I can’t even understand it. Maybe your belt was wrapped around your Gotdamn waist too tight or maybe it was the choker cutting the circulation off to the brain but since you felt it necessary to bring me up twice and my boy ain’t here to respond ima say it like this. You ain’t the first to make an album inspired by a relationship, you ain’t the first to make a song featuring Anderson .Paak but you are the first to disrespect my friend who is no longer here for absolutely no reason and I can’t stand for that," .Paak said.
"I’m not a tough guy I’m not about negativity but this bugged me bad bro. I’ve called you and dm’d and you haven't responded. So since this is what you like to do in order to get attention we can do it like this. You’re not surprised huh? Well I’m in disbelief!!! If Devine feminine was such a blueprint of your record then tell me where the plaques are for whatever your s**t was called!! Mac brought your ass on tour and opened up his fan base to you when you had nothing and this the type of appreciation you give? You should of just been grateful for the op!" he continued.
The singer also criticized GoldLink for publicizing his problems with Miller instead of addressing it personally or keeping it to himself.
.Paak wasn't the only musician who called out GoldLink. Critically-acclaimed jazz musician Thundercat, who worked extensively with Miller, had some choice words for GoldLink.
Don’t nobody give a fuck about what goldlink said about Mac, it’s Bruce Lee’s birthday pic.twitter.com/2IaxJ9MdVk
— ashy daddy (@Thundercat) November 27, 2019
We only watching Bruce Lee and listening to @MacMiller and Jimi Hendrix today.
— ashy daddy (@Thundercat) November 27, 2019
Best part of all this is Mac never talked down anyone. @MacMiller was the equivalent of the “like” button on here. Ego death is important AF. We all growing.
— ashy daddy (@Thundercat) November 27, 2019
Goldlink ????????♂️… you gotta chill my brother.
You couldve wrote that in a journal…
Its Mfers not gon let that post slide like u thought they would…
— CHUCK ???? (@Chuckisdope) November 27, 2019
Can’t be the same person who was paying tribute in January now talking shit in November…
— Karen Civil ???????? (@KarenCivil) November 27, 2019
"Some things simply have nothing to do with you but when you have a God Complex I'm sure it’s easy to think everything comes from you or was inspired in some way," .Paak wrote in his Instagram post. "Whatever it is I ain’t giving it no more energy. I pray you get back to the music and spreading good energy, ima do the same. Mac Miller forever, love to his family and y’all have a blessed one.”