In a two-hour interview with Rap Radar’s Elliott Wilson and Brian ‘B.Dot’ Miller, Drake addresses almost everything that has been the top of the conversations surrounding him and his meteoric rise.
Aubrey Graham, also known by fans as Drizzy Drake, first entered the entertainment arena as disabled basketball star Jimmy Brooks on the show Degrassi: The Next Generation. Later, he would transition from acting to rapping, linking up with Lil Wayne’s Young Money label. The result would be a rap career for the history books.
Sitting in his beautifully furnished Toronto home, Drake, 33, talks about social media, ghostwriting rumors, being booed at Camp Flog Gnaw, and his first-born child. Then, he extensively discussed his legendary beefs with rappers Meek Mill, Pusha T and Kanye West.
The conflicts with Chris Brown and Meek Mill are things of the past. Drake has worked with both artists in recent years. But, when it comes to Kanye West, Drake said he is always ready to go if West has something crazy to say, but he’s not looking forward to another round. Many attribute the bad blood to West being jealous of Drake’s fast rise to fame. Despite their beef, Drake still considers Kanye West his favorite rapper, with the exception of Lil Wayne and Jay-Z, of course.
For him, Pusha T is one person he wants nothing to do with. Yet, he admits that he used to be a huge Clipse fan in his childhood. Clearly still bothered by it, Drake talked about how he felt Clipse rapper Pusha T did not have any morals when he decided to reveal in a diss song that Drake had a baby that the world didn’t know about.
“There’s just some unwritten rules in the sport for some people, obviously not for him and that’s fine you know,” Drake said. “He’s made an entire career off of it and some people like his music I personally don’t because I don’t believe any of it and I like to listen to guys that I believe.”
At one point in time, social media used to be a nuisance to the superstar rapper. Now, he is learning to embrace the good and bad that comes with social media.
“Yeah of course people can start saying things that hurt you, that bother you, that fuck your day up and take you out of your character. They’re curated by a group of people that are ready for the downfall of Drake, in this case. It can be some hurtful stuff and when it’s completely false and rubs you the wrong way…”
Even with the overwhelming negative opinions that seem to plague social media, he refuses to leave the medium behind because it’s a necessary evil for his career of choice.
Drake became passionate when asked about appropriating “the culture” of Afro-beats and Jamaican-inspired music, such as Dancehall and Reggae Fusion.
“I make a point to give opportunity to people I respect,” he said.
With accusations of riding the waves of underground artists and bringing it to a mainstream audience without giving proper due or credit, some fans of hip-hop have voiced their disapproval with Drake being appointed the GOAT of hip-hop.
Drake defended his stance, “The chatter is one thing, but in the community amongst the real G’s that are really doing this shit I’m solidified for sure. You can ask anybody…It’s going to be the guys that didn’t get the look or are no longer relevant in that space [that make these accusations]…”
The OVO artist also discusses how he feels judgement for being a light skin, Canadian black man, often being told he doesn’t understand the plight of the black man and his experience.
He admits that he’s not the most outspoken person to use his platform for social causes, but he prefers to take action instead of post about it. He subtly points out the hypocrisy of other rappers who pretend to be socially conscious, but don’t actually leave a real footprint.
The interview takes a turn when Wilson and Miller ask Drake about the ghostwriting debacle in which it was exposed that a lesser known rapper Quentin Miller was writing his lyrics on If You’re Reading This It’s Too Late.
Drake called it a collaboration, something common in the industry that his peers often do.
“I really made my peace I have no embarrassment when it comes to what I did on that album,” Drake said. “I worked with somebody on I think four or five songs on that record, I pulled my weight… It wasn’t like I needed somebody to facilitate entire ideas. We worked together.”
The 6ix god perceived the period of time in his career as sort of a sacrifice that he had to endure alone on the behalf of the rap industry.
“If I need to be the poster child that took all those hits for all my peers hiding behind me that do the same thing every f**king album, that’s fine I’ll do that because there’s a lot of people that link up with other people that make records that you guys love. Music is a collaborative thing. I understand in rap it’s a different thing.”
Drake also told the story about that time he sent Trippie Redd his now hit song “God’s Plan” and the Ohio rap star was too busy to be featured on it! Ironically, the song was leaked sometime after it was sent to Trippie.
The Toronto-raised actor has many classic albums under his belt, but when talking about his favorite album out of his discography Nothing Was The Same was his favorite.
“There’s not too many songs on that album that I can look back on and say, uh I would’ve done something different there,” he told Wilson. “I really like that body of work.”
Always gracious in conversation, Drake shouted out the U.K. drill music scene and Atlanta artists Young Thug, Lil Gotit, Lil Keed, and Future.
At the end of the day, Drake doesn’t let the pull and tug of fame ruin his prospects for the future.
“I’m at a great place in my life. My life is about peace. My life is about drinking expressos and wine. I’m trying to make this album. I’m enjoying being a father.”
Check out the full Rap Radar interview HERE.
Wisdom of the day: When paying homage, give credit or give a check. Don’t talk about you’re honoring someone when you are the main beneficiary of the act.
