Lil Pump is a controversial figure in the rap community. Mainly because his style of music is sometimes referred to as ‘unimaginative’. His fame started through his SoundCloud career in the late 2010’s. His track Gucci Gang is one of the most recognisable rap songs from 2017 and is Lil Pump’s highest charting single so far. Despite this hit, his music recieved alot of controversy due to the style he raps in. Some have said his ‘lazy’ approach to rap music undermines those rappers who spend hours writing tracks with thoughtful and meaningful lyrics. One of the more notable critisisms came from Eminem, who is known for having personal beef with mumble rappers. In his 2018 track The Ringer, Eminem states how these ‘lil’ rappers are an imitation of Lil Wayne:
'Lil' Pump, Lil' Xan imitate Lil' Wayne
I should aim at everybody in the game, pick a name
I'm fed up with being humble'
Ironically, Lil Wayne features on one of Lil Pump’s more successful albums: Harverd Dropout. Overall, the whole album seemed a bit unimaginative and boring. Personally, In terms of lyricism, Lil Wayne carries this by featuring on Be Like Me. His verse is genuinely of my favourite Lil Wayne features of recent times. The clear vocals and lyricism, both compliment Lil Pump’s vocals in this song. The majority of Pump’s lyrics in this track is just him repeating lines constantly, which can get boring after a while.
‘Be Like Me’ Music Video
Lil Wayne’s Verse:
I'm me, I'm me
So who you? You not me, urp
Everybody wanna be like Tune
Grow up to be like Tune, throw up the B like Tune
No one can be like Tune, know why? 'Cause he tycoon
And if the shoe fits, wear it, I can't if these not new
Lil' n****, please, y'all my mini-mes
But the kid is not my son, shout out Billie Jean
You followin' my lead, my chopper isn't clean
And Lil Pump, he got the pump, I got the M-16
My pockets stuffy, they gon' need some antihistamine
N***** always bit the stee, the bitches never bit the D
I'm pullin' out the facts, so tell your slime relax
And she a catfish, and he a copycat
What the fuck, though? Well, if you must know
I see these look-a-likes, it's kinda sus though, yerr
Young n**** from them hood with a plan
One foot in the street, one foot in the sand
One foot in the cleats, one foot in the Vans
One foot in your ass, one fourth of a Xan
Follow my footsteps, I give you instructions
Swallow, don't belch, you just drunk quintuplets
On my one-of-one shit, I keep it a hundred
Boy, I talk my shit, then wipe my shit with hundreds
You can't stunt like me, rich as fuck like me
Lil' black ass nappy head n****
Let me shout out India. Arie, and ain't none like me
Mr. Dwayne Carter, only got one ID, yerr
I know that's right, you don't know that life
Stay in your own lane or make me bowl that strike, yerr
Everybody wanna be like me
But there's only one I in my e-y-e (yeah)
Yeah
This album was home to some popular songs such as Esskeetit & Butterfly Doors. However, Be Like Me carried this album just from the fact that Lil Wayne’s feature carried so much depth and emotion. I would like to see a similar collab in the future.