I went ahead and created a category for this guy, because he’s not going away anytime soon. I don’t know if that’s a good thing or a bad thing just yet, but I know he’s way more talented than people realize.
Backseat drivers, start your engine.
Last night, I realized that there is really nothing new about these guys anymore. When you consider mixtapes, touring before you have a single, and (yes, Freeway) the blogosphere, your average rapper who is getting any kind of play can stop using the term freshmen after just a few months. But since the summer is here, that means that the school year is officially over, and when we come back in the fall, you’re in class with the big boys. So go ahead and drop your album on the same day as Hov and 50; you’re not a freshmen anymore.
That being said, let’s not start making our way for the new class just yet, because there is just a little more hazing to do. Let’s give out the year-end awards for the first-year (or so) standouts who actually passed a test or two this year, then maybe we can stop calling these people freshmen.
So, Drake has had every girl in the world thinking that they were the definition of the “Best I’ve Ever Had” ever since his mixtape dropped. At first, it appeared that the light skinned boy wonder from Toronto could do no wrong in the eyes of the female demographic he was (successfully) targeting. And who could blame us for loving it? When was the last time a hip-hop song came out that was specifically for us carriers of estrogen that didn’t include the words “hoe,” “bitch,” “slut” or any variation of “I just wanna fuck you tonight”?
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Oh, hey. Drake here urging all the fellas to enclose their dangler in a thin rubber sheath when making sexytime. That’s right, kids, don’t ever say that rappers never promote safe sex.
I listed the Young Money performance as one of the worst moments of the BET Awards partly because I thought it was a terrible idea for Drake to perform when he wasn’t in a position to give 100% energy. Drake seems to agree. Oh, and the less said about those 5-year old female backup dancers, the better.
Says Drake:
“That, actually—to be honest—was a terrible idea that I’ll never do to myself again. [Laughs] But I was being pressed from different areas to perform, and I think what really happened at the BET Awards is with the passing of Mike, the climate really changed, as far as the award show goes. I don’t think it called for us to perform “Every Girl” and “Always Strapped,” and I think it was an award show filled with tributes and music and these genuine heartfelt speeches. And to sort of climax out of a very tongue-in-cheek point, and then people misconstruing Wayne’s daughters and her friends coming out on stage…”
I rest my case.
Directed by: Kanye West
Says The Real:
“Not sure how those women can expect to win if they’re carrying the basketballs on their chests.”
“Breast I Ever Had” would’ve been a more appropriate title.
I guess 50 was right about Universal’s strategy. Billboard is reporting that Universal won the bidding right (against who?) for the new hip-hop sensation, who was recently cosigned by Nas.
Says Billboard:
While sources close to the deal predicted Universal Motown was the closest to snagging him, the Toronto-born rapper officially signed to Young Money with distribution through another Universal label — Universal Republic — yesterday (June 29). His debut album, “Thank Me Later,” with reported collaborations with Kanye West, Lil Wayne and Jay-Z, is slated for a late 2009 release.
“Just know that whatever label we sign to it’ll be because they’ll add to what we’ve created on our own,” Drake, told Billboard.com last month. “I am very happy in my situation now, which is signed to Cortez [Bryant] and Gee Roberson at Young Money and management through ‘Hip Hop Since 1978.’ The most important thing for me is being around my team – they are stronger than any label.”
On a related note, proceed for a few pics from Drake’s “Best I Ever Had” video shoot.
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Boo Boo seems to be in agreement with Nahshon when it comes to Drizzy Drake.
In fact, Curtis blatantly attributes Drake’s buzz to payola:
“When you hear a song on the radio it means it’s being worked,” he explained. “Ain’t nothing there just because, enough for it to be playing every hour on the hour. That song is being worked like he’s on a label. You know I’m sure Sylvia Rhone or Universal — they’re spending money to get the record played. They got the public feeling like its just happening.”
In somewhat related WTF news, Wale compares Drake to Zach Morris.
[Raise 50 bottles of Lawry's to: XXLMag.com]
