Earl Sweatshirt has revealed that a viral Drake meme from back in the day traces back to Tyler, The Creator, confirming that he saw it being made and unleashed into the cyberspace.
On Tuesday (October 31), the 29-year-old sat down with The Alchemist on an episode of Complex’s G.O.A.T. Talk. During their chat, the Odd Future MC talked about a classic Drake meme from a decade ago.
“Tyler, The Creator started the Drake meme,” he said with certainty. “I was there. We seen the picture — I think Tyler cut it out, he put it on something, he put it up … by the morning, it was like [viral].”
Check out the hilarious exposé below:
Earl Sweatshirt says Tyler, The Creator started Drake lean meme https://t.co/3Yh0bOWXIA
via @Complexpic.twitter.com/MBqnzB1ppL
— HipHopDX (@HipHopDX) November 2, 2023
In the 10 years since the meme debuted, both Tyler and Drake have expressed their admiration for one another. Last year, the Toronto native shared a chin-down selfie flick to his Instagram Story featuring a diamond encrusted chest piece that many saw as a shoutout to the IGOR era.
The piece was emblazoned in the likeness of the California MC’s blonde wig persona that was popularized following the release of his Grammy-winning album in 2019.
Tyler, The Creator Tells Drake “Send Nudes Bro”
In 2021, Tyler, The Creator kicked off the rollout for CALL ME IF YOU GET LOST with “LUMBERJACK.” He mentions Drizzy on the song’s opening verse, which made some fans think back to the OVO boss’ 2019 appearance at Camp Flog Gnaw, during which he was booed off stage. He was forced to cut his set short after thousands in attendance were upset with his surprise headlining spot at the Dodger Stadium event as they had been hoping to see Frank Ocean instead.
“N-ggas ain’t really on the type of shit he on/ I hit Drizzy and told him I had a milli’ for him,” Tyler raps on the song mentioned above.
Fans attempted to make sense of the bar, with some suggesting that booking Drake for the annual carnival cost a million dollars whereas others were more hopeful, reading it as the Le Fleur visionary hinting at a collaboration.
