Drake

 VIA: rapbasement.com

Nas is currently on tour and doing press to promote his shows. During a recent interview with the Omaha World-Herald, Nas talked about what who he is currently listening to and what he thinks of up-and-coming rapper Drake. "[I'm listening to] Drake and always Scarface," Nas revealed in an interview. "Drake is new. He's here to show anybody who questions him that he'll get at you. He's like fresh water right now on dry land."

Nas went on to talk about the respect he has for rap legend Scarface. "Scarface is the realist rapper. He's the most musically serious, besides Kanye [West], right now. What Scarface says in his rhymes is real. You can't get away from [Lil] Wayne right now. So that's what I'm listening to. I'm waiting on Dr. Dre's album."

 VIA: octobersveryown.blogspot.com

VIA: MTV.news.com

Mixtapes are a movement. For some, giving away music could mean much more than trying to sell their tunes — but Drake played the game right. He started giving away his mixtape So Far Gone earlier this year, and the word of mouth spread with fans, his peers and record-company executives: a recent New York concert found [Warner Music exec] Lyor Cohen in the crowd, standing among screaming fans, including Kanye West and Talib Kweli.

Well, the wait is over: After weeks of speculation, Drake has chosen to go with the home team and sign with Lil Wayne's Young Money Records, according to a source close to the situation. The deal breaks down as a joint venture between Young Money and Cash Money,with Universal Republic distributing. Drake's management was adamant that he should be viewed as an independent artist, although Universal will distribute the project.

"Today is a definitely a comfortable day for me, having my team now that's been in place for a couple of years. It's just a great day," Drake said. "It's something new, but it feels familiar."

Drizzy is excited about having a corporate push to help with the momentum he's gained independently.

"Independent is a funny term," he told MTV News on the set of his video for "Best I Ever Had." "I can go independent, but you need distribution, period. You need somebody to distribute your record and you need that army that a label has to really push the record."

So Far Gone became this year's most talked-about mixtape because, in effect, Drake combines the best of both worlds by being a strong singer and rapper. His singing talent is prominent on the tracks "HoustonAtlantaVegas," "Little Bit" and "A Night Off"; his rapping on songs like "Uptown" and "Ignorant Sh--" is as sharp as a broken bottle in a barroom brawl. He rhymes are just as strong: "The game needs change and I'm the muthaf----n' cashier" (from "Successful"); "Account's in the minus, yet I'm rolling round the f---ing city like your highness" ("Say What's Real").

His popularity has gotten so strong that Drake performed — along with Weezy and the Young Money crew — in a prime slot at the BET Awards on Sunday night.

Drake's official debut LP, Thank Me Later, is currently in production and due later this year, with Kanye West, Lil Wayne and Jay-Z listed as possible collaborators. This summer, look for Drake on tour with Lil Wayne, Young Jeezy and Soulja Boy Tell'em as part of the Young Money Presents: America's Most Wanted Music Festival. 

Pair tear through 'Best I Ever Had' and 'Every Girl in the World.'

By Jayson Rodriguez

LOS ANGELES — It's hard to disagree with Jamie Foxx when he calls Drake the rookie of the year.

The host of Sunday's 2009 BET Awards bestowed the distinct honor upon the upstart MC when he introduced Drake, one of the last performers of the night. The pair, Foxx and Drake, had performed together just weeks ago on The Tonight Show with Conan O'Brien.

Drake might have had to perform sitting, but he didn't disappoint. He launched into his breakout hit, "Best I Ever Had," sporting a burgundy cardigan, jeans and an all-around casual look. But the rapper was restricted to sitting on a stool for his performance as he recently suffered a knee injury, reportedly a torn ACL.

The crowd, however, rose to their feet for the Toronto-based star. 

After one quick verse, Drake then introduced his lyrical mentor Lil Wayne and the Young Money crew. The collective kicked things off with their new anthem, "Every Girl in the World." The young rappers onstage, Drizzy, Gudda Gudda, and Mack Maine, then gave way for Cash Money head Baby as he and Weezy performed their new track, "Always Strapped."

Drake is as yet unsigned, but the much-hyped rapper is expected to announce which record label he's joining very soon.

In the interim, he's worked with Mary J. Blige and he's rumored to be appearing on Jay-Z's not-yet-titled forthcoming single from The Blueprint 3.

"The Mary thing was set up as a single," he told MTV News earlier this month. "The Jay thing, I don't now how official that is. I just read that on the Internet. But it's cool. I'm glad the work I'm doing is something that people are even considering putting out as a single. 'Cause singles, you have to be confident in those songs when you're talking about singles. It's great. I'm glad that I'm delivering for people."

VIA: thestar.com

Media, marketers, major labels – and, yes, the ladies – are pursuing Aubrey Graham, alias Drake. The Toronto rapper without an album is stirring up a frenzy that will be felt on the red carpet of the MuchMusic Video Awards tonight

Jun 21, 2009 04:30 AM; Ashante Infantry Pop & Jazz Critic

He doesn't have a video of his own in rotation. He's never even made a studio album. But make no mistake: rapper Drake is one of the most anticipated guests at tonight's MuchMusic Video Awards.

"The red carpet is going to be bananas," said MuchMusic VJ Devon Soltendieck of Toronto-born Aubrey Graham's first local appearance since his sold-out show at Sound Academy last month.

Since his third mixtape So Far Gone was released in February, Drake (aka Drizzy) – who starred for eight seasons as paraplegic Jimmy Brooks on Degrassi: The Next Generation – has slowly become rap's hottest property.

"Hip hop has been hungry for its next big star," said New York-based Elliott Wilson, founder and CEO of RapRadar.com. "(Early in the year) people were talking about Asher Roth, Kid Cudi andWale, and no one put Drake in. But by April, it was all about Drake."

And it's been more about Drake since his storied May 26 performance at Manhattan's hipS.O.B.'s club, which was jammed with about 300 tastemakers, celebrities, journalists and record executives, such as Warner Music boss Lyor Cohen.

Each day seems to yield new chatter about the 22-year-old, who is working on his debut album for a fall release but remains unsigned despite being wooed by major American record labels. He says it himself on top track "Best I Ever Had": "Buzz so big I could probably sell a blank disc."

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