The big question in Sacramento’s hip-hop community this week: Is Task1ne a fraud?
Or, how much of a fraud is Task1ne? Or, is Task1ne’s career as an emcee totally over?
Task1ne (Corey Lakel Pruitt) has been a much beloved, respected rapper in town for years, taking home the Sammie for best emcee in 2012 and recently getting wider attention for cyphers on TeamBackPack. But a Youtube video that dropped last week with audio of Task1ne rapping the exact same bars as Detroit emcee ChrisCo is calling Task1ne’s credibility into serious question.
As you can hear in the video, Task1ne didn’t potentially accidentally use some of the same words in the same order as another rapper. It’s the bulk of a verse, lifted verbatim. Stealing bars is, many would argue, one of the worst things you can do in hip-hop.
A little context: Task1ne sold this verse to another rapper, according to the video’s uploader. The uploader also noted that Task1ne, when caught for stealing, claimed to a ghostwriter for the verse—also frowned upon in hip-hop.
Meanwhile, another video appeared on Youtube Monday, suggesting that Task1ne has a greater history of “biting” off other rappers.
We couldn’t reach Task1ne, which doesn’t exactly make him look any better. His phone is off; voice mailbox disabled; Facebook deleted; Twitter feed made private; emails unanswered. There’s a solid chance he’s done with hip-hop for good. We will update this post if he does respond with a statement in the coming days.
Meanwhile, a few thoughts from the hip-hop community, starting with the emcee who originally crafted the verse in question:
Everybody wants to spit like me! That’s why they’re stealing my verses!! Props to all y’all who called out the bitters!! #taxfree
— ChrisCo (@ChrisCo_TaxFree) April 13, 2015
It’s hard to watch your Heros die…but in hip hop you do NOT BITE
— Mahtie Bush (@Mahtiebush916) April 14, 2015
Looks like @TASK1ne is done as a Emcee but you can still be cool with the dude Corey. But in hip hop …it’s not getting any better
— Mahtie Bush (@Mahtiebush916) April 14, 2015
I would go and try to diss @TASK1ne but cant even consider him a legit rapper if he steals verses AND admits to using a ghostwriter
— Tank Sinatra (@hattymaines) April 14, 2015
@teambackpack you guys had a rapper @task1ne on a cipher who I thought was dope, but dude stole my lines and lots of other rappers
— IG: ApathyDGZ (@ApathyDGZ) April 14, 2015
#Truth @diabolichiphop though this caused major scrutiny in Sacs music scene, task knows what he did was wrong, but it shouldnt be glorified
— DylanPhillip.com (@DylanPhillip) April 14, 2015
Update 4/20: Last night, Task1ne reactivated his Facebook account and posted a video response to the explosion of allegations that he’s been stealing raps for quite some time.
“I am guilty of overworking myself and cutting corners, and by doing so, I broke hip-hop’s number one rule with these tracks and features,” he said. “I’m sorry. I felt that in order to advance my career, I had to take every feature that was offered to me.”
Task1ne goes on for about six minutes, diving into his issues with depression and appreciation toward those who are standing by his side.
“I still have a life to live… I will always be an artist—that’s not going to change,” he said. “And also, I will always be Task1ne.”
How are people responding to that response? So far, most say the apology is not sincere enough, and that they hope Task1ne doesn’t try to resurrect his hip-hop career. Here’s the video in full:
