Drake -- 'Best I Ever Had' On The Set Photos
VIA: octobersveryown.blogspot.com
Drake Signs With Young Money Records
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.
Drake, Lil Wayne Rock BET Awards
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."
