Meek Mill is facing criticism from fans over a leaked verse referencing Kobe Bryant. The unreleased song, reportedly titled “Don’t Worry (RIP Kobe),” features Lil Baby and leaked online last night (Feb. 17). In his verse, Meek makes a reference to the helicopter crash that killed Bryant, his daughter Gianna and seven others, which fans are calling insensitive.
“Yeah, and if I ever lack, I’m goin’ out with my chopper, it be another Kobe,” Meek reportedly raps on the song.
After making rounds on social media through the night, the leaked snippet was taken off Twitter and other platforms Thursday morning (Feb. 18). Genius, which originally published the song’s lyrics and alleged title, also removed the track.
Later on Thursday, Meek seemingly addressed backlash from fans about the controversial lyric on Twitter.
“Somebody promo a narrative and y’all follow it,” he wrote. “Y’all internet antics cannot stop me… shit like zombie land or something! Lol.”
In a follow-up tweet, he added, “They paying to influence y’all now… [it’s] almost like mind control ‘wake up.’”
Earlier this month, investigators revealed the cause of Bryant’s fatal helicopter crash. As reported by REVOLT, it was determined that the pilot violated federal standards when he took flight despite there being heavy fog that day. According to investigators from the National Transportation Safety Board, pilot Aga Zobayan experienced “the leans” during the flight, which refers to the spatial disorientation that happens when pilots think they are flying straight but are actually traveling downward. As the helicopter began to descend, investigators said, the pilot made an abrupt turn and tragically crashed into a Calabasas hill.
Investigators concluded that pilot Zobayan, who perished in the accident, and the Island Express Helicopters Inc. were responsible for the crash. They added that the helicopter company failed to oversee sufficient safety measures and that the pilot ignored his training by flying with low visibility.
See Meek’s response to the controversial Bryant lyric below.