Advertisement

Ed Sheeran shares open letter to Wiley as he breaks silence on 'culture vulture' criticism

Jemal Countess/Getty Images for Global Citizen Festival: Mandela 100
Jemal Countess/Getty Images for Global Citizen Festival: Mandela 100

Ed Sheeran has responded after Wiley branded him a “culture vulture” and a “clout chaser.”

The grime pioneer criticised Sheeran’s collaboration with Stormzy, titled Take Me Back To London (Remix), in a series of tweets posted last month, which have since been deleted.

He has since called the Shape of You singer a “pagan” and tweeted that Sheeran and rapper Drake are “the 2 worse [sic] culture vultures on the planet.”

Speaking to BBC Radio 1Xtra last week, Wiley said that the singer “had to use grime to tip [his] song over the edge” and claimed that Sheeran did not sufficiently support grime musicians by featuring on their tracks.

Criticism: Wiley didn't hold back as he called out Ed Sheeran (Getty Images)
Criticism: Wiley didn't hold back as he called out Ed Sheeran (Getty Images)

In a statement posted on his Instagram story, Sheeran said that he wanted to “clear a few things up” and claimed that he “never” refused to work with Wiley.

“I never said no to doing a song for you after we made ‘You’ for no.5,” he wrote, alluding to their 2011 collaboration.

“You wanted to release ‘if I could’ the same week as my debut single on a major label and I merely asked if you could move to a week before or a week after, which you did, the song came out, and I’m still very proud of it.

“I’ve said yes to 90% of the features I’ve been personally asked for, unless I’ve been on a break or I haven’t known the artist personally.

“The only time I can think of that I didn’t let my name get featured on a song that I was on, was on Chip’s league of my own part 2, he asked me to sing backing vocals, which is did [sic], and I didn’t feel comfortable being a featured artist when I hadn’t written or performed properly on the song.”

Sheeran said that he has “a deep love and respect” for the grime scene and for Wiley and added that he is “excited to hear” the rapper’s next release.

Stormzy previously defended Sheeran’s work with grime artists in response to Wiley’s initial criticisms, replying to his tweet with: “No Wiley you know Ed been doing this from early, been a real one from early, can’t question that, you know I love you and respect you brother but nah don’t do that.”

The rapper has since name-checked Wiley on his new track Wiley Flow, with fans confused as to whether the lyrics are intended as a diss or a tribute to the godfather of grime.

Read more

Wiley reignites Drake feud and drags Ed Sheeran into row

Ed Sheeran met with Bond producers and is 'open' to recording theme

Ed Sheeran announces '18 month break' after finishing world tour