Why Is Everyone So Mean to Drake and Ray J on Twitter?

Two musicians appear to be favorite social media punching bags, with Twitter topics such as #drakecrieswhen and #thingstougherthanrayj

By Leslie Gornstein Sep 24, 2011 3:01 PMTags
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Why are people always picking on Drake and Ray J on Twitter?
—Doba, via the inbox

Both Drake and Ray J have been trending on Twitter lately, particularly Kim Kardashian's crooner ex. In fact I had no idea how many #thingsthataretougherthanrayj until I hopped on Twitter recently. (Thank you, Twitter, for informing me that jeggings are tougher than Ray J.)

Teen music fans are some of the harshest Tweeters on Earth, and now I know why:

Let's start with Ray J. His teasing is a more recent phenomenon. It all started, I am told, with a fight.

Ray J reportedly got into a tussle recently with rapper Fabolous—or maybe he didn't, depending on which top 40 radio morning show you listen to. Regardless of what happened, it didn't end well for Ray J, at least, imagewise.

"Based on his music, child acting background, upbringing, and his reality TV show with his sister, Ray J is not seen as the toughest guy in the world," says youth marketer Jason Stein, who has worked with Drake's Young Money label.

"But on the other hand, Fabolous can pull it off, and everyone knows that from listening to his mix tapes.

"Hip-hop fans don't mind if you pretend to be something or someone, as long as you are good at playing the part. Ray J is not."

And now, on to Drake.

This teasing campaign is a little more long-simmering, and also stems from the type of music Drake does. (And his eyebrows. Geez, the kids love to talk about Drake's resplendent eyebrows.)

Anyway. The deal with Drake. Recent Twitter trending topics have included stuff like #drakecrieswhen.

"Drake is a very emotional rapper, bordering R&B melodrama, and was a child actor," Stein posits. "When you couple that with being on the Young Money label, which is considered a pretty tough group, and his swagger or braggadocio, there's are unusual juxtaposition that people start to question, and then poke fun at."

Also, it's Drake's own damned fault, dammit.

"Drake...lets the audience know that Twitter is a channel that he personally reads, not his assistant," social media strategist Stephanie Weingart tells me. "People think they can reach him on Twitter so they go after him."

And, lastly, there's a video that just keeps feeding the fire.

"It didn't help that Drake fell down while performing and hurt his knee; that video is Twitter roast gold. Also, Drake has good skin. Not sure why, but people like to make fun of how smooth his face is and how much work he must put into taking great care of it." (Indeed: Drake's Knee has a Twitter account.)

Want to see that Twitter gold? Of course you do.

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