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Oct 9, 2009 Drake Confirms The-Dream Collaboration, Back To Recording After Knee Surgery By Gary Graff Getty Images With his knee nearly healed from a July stage injury, Drake says he's ready to get back to work in earnest on his debut album, still tentatively titled "Thank Me Later" and due out in February. "I'm able to walk around, so I'm working very hard on the album," the singer-rapper-actor tells Billboard.com, adding that his rehab period impaired his writing as well as his mobility. "I've been out of the scene for so long because I've been off my leg," explains Drake, who's planning to head out to Los Angeles on Oct. 11 for more writing and recording. "Sitting at home in your apartment and having a doctor come over every day and eating healthy and going to the gym -- there's not much of a rap album to be made off that. I have to get my inspiration and start seeing things and going to dinners and meeting people again and just finding stories to tell for this album. I'm trying to make something timeless." Drake -- who's EP, "So Far Gone," debuted at No. 6 on the Billboard 200 in September -is planning to release the album's first "story," the single "Shut it Down," in the near future, though it might not come out until January. Drake describes the track which, as first revelead on Billboard.com last month, features The-Dream, as "an R&B song...it's sexy. It's slow, but there's an energy to it. I rap on it. Me and Dream both sing on it. It's cool." It also has a "message that's never really been explored by male singers," he says. "This song is sort of like an anthem for women, like pre-the club. It's like an anthem for you to be at your house with your girlfriends getting ready, what you listen to before you get there. It's a song for the non-famous woman to make her feel special and just to let you know that even though I'm up here and have the option to mingle wtih these 'upper-echelon' women, if you will, that sometimes I'd rather be with the girl from back home or a student or a girl that works at Wal-Mart. They don't have to be a star or rich or anything like that; that's kind of the gist of the song. It's an empowering song for all women."
As he prepares to get back to the album, Drake says Jay-Z, Kanye West and his Young Money label chief Lil Wayne are still slated to be on it, and he promises "a couple of guest that may be very much surprises for a hip-hop album. I just want to give people a musical experience. I like to open up the minds of the fans in my genre." But even as the highly anticipated album looms, Drake is also plotting his next acting move. "I'm working on that right now," the "Degrassi: The Next Generation" star confirms. "One of my best friends in this industry is Jamie Foxx...so hopefully we'll get to do a movie together. And I'm a big Judd Apatow, comedic timing fan. I love all those movies that they do. So, yeah, I really want to get back into acting. It's definitely something I'm interested in and always will be." http://www.billboard.com/news/drake-confirms-the-dream-collaboration-back- 1004021058.story#/news/drake-confirms-the-dream-collaboration-back-1004021058.story
October 11 th, 2009
Interview Drake Sun, 11 Oct 2009 13:36:21 Drake sits down with ARTISTdirect.com editor and Dolor author Rick Florino for this highly exclusive interview about So Far Gone, requirements for stardom, cooking, kicking it with Ellen Page and why he can't see horror movies... Interview: Drake "One second, I've gotta order a burger," laughs Drake as he pulls through a Toronto drive-thru. Even though he's at the top of hip hop right now, Drake's a pretty normal guy. He's friendly, funny, genuine and always looking to learn something new. However, he happens to have one of the year's biggest singles, "Best I Ever Had," the most successful mixtape in recent memory, So Far Gone, and a spot on 2009's hottest posse cut, "Forever." So Far Gone was officially released in September as a retail EP, and it's been burning up the charts. Drake's not stopping there though. In between hitting the drive-thru and stunning listeners, he's cutting tracks for his highly anticipated 2010 full length, Thank Me Later. Drake sat down with ARTISTdirect.com editor and Dolor author Rick Florino for an exclusive interview about how hip hop has changed, his hidden culinary talents, hanging with the real Juno, why he loves Californication and the reason he can't take girls to scary movies. Is hip hop more difficult than it's ever been? These days, you can't just rap over soulful sampled beats and have it sell millions of records anymore. It doesn't work that way. A lot of people will say, "Oh that means hip hop is dead." I don't look it that way at all. I feel like people are asking more of us. They're tiring of the formula. That sound is becoming repetitive, and fans want something more. Then, there are people who love that same sound and will stand by it forever. I think the majority of people want something more though, which is great. Do you find inspiration outside of rap? I'm trying to make my album right now, so I'm listening to a lot of indie rock. I feel like that's where the greatest music is coming from these days and where a lot of the soul originates from. A lot of the best melodies and soul that I'm able to reference come from indie rock everything from Passion Pit to Kings of Leon. You're rumored to be quite the cook Yeah, I'm alright [Laughs]. I'm not that good compared to some of my friends. I have a friend that can cook way better than I can cook, but I'm alright. I'm learning. Maybe my culinary skills aren't the best, but my palette for food and wine is unmatched I would say. I'm such a wine connoisseur. Sometimes, I shock 60-year-old men working in the liquor store's wine section that try to stunt me. They'll tell me what vineyard a bottle of wine is from and the way it was prepared, and I'll know details about it and they'll be taken aback [Laughs]. It's my thing. I don't know why but I'm really interested by wine. What's your favorite dish to cook?
Anything Italian! I really like Italian food. My favorite dish to eat is nothing that I cook. All of my favorite dishes come from this restaurant in Toronto called Sotto Sotto. It's a very intimate Italian restaurant, and I enjoy it every single time I go. It always feels like the first time [Laughs]. It sounds like you're going to have to open up your own restaurant and wine bar soon. Yes, well that's definitely in the works! I actually used to privately invest in an Italian restaurant. I really like going to Jay-Z's spot in New York Spotted Pig. I like it because it's not really hyped up as "Jay-Z's Restaurant" or anything. It's not going to The 40/40, where you know it's a Roc-a-fella place and it's Jay's. You wouldn't even know the Spotted Pig was Jay-Z's place unless you read about it or asked about it. I like the vibe of it. It's very rustic, and I'd love to open up a place along those lines that just served Italian food. Given the cinematic nature of So Far Gone, have you seen any recent movies that you really liked? I was in bed for a long time because I just got out of surgery, so movies passed by me really quickly. I haven't really explored too many films, but I really get into watching full television series, because they take about 12-14 hours to finish. I watched both seasons of True Blood, and that was interesting. I had heard everyone talking about the show, and it was really good. My favorite television show of all time is David Duchovny's Californication. David actually sent me all the seasons autographed the other day, and it was possibly one of the best things in my life [Laughs]. I'm watching the new season of Californication as it comes on as well as Dexter. But movies, I'm kind of excited see this LeBron James movie, More Than a Game. I did "Forever" for the soundtrack, and I haven't seen the movie yet. So I want to see that. I basically sit around and watch Juno all day. I don't know what that says about my character [Laughs]. I went to school with Ellen Page. She used to have a shaved head when we were in school and I used to call her "G.I. Jane" [Laughs]. We used to sit next to each other. I hope she let it go [Laughs]. Go see Paranormal Activity. That looks extremely scary, is it legitimately scary? I'm still shaking from it, and I saw it over a month ago. No, see I can't [Laughs] not my thing. I have problems watching those shows on A&E where they go in people's houses and look for ghosts. Those are made up! Seeing horror movies is traditionally a chance for you to be masculine, and I can't answer the call [Laughs]. So every time I take a beautiful girl, I lose points for covering my eyes with my shirt or making weird noises that I didn't know that I could make if shit gets too jumpy! It never benefits me. I stay away from the scary movies [Laughs]. I like the Judd Apatow comedies, because they're all humor that I can understand and laugh at. Rick Florino 10.11.09 http://www.artistdirect.com/entertainment-news/article/interview-drake/6153471
July 27, 2009 Drake 'Fears Wayne's Creativity,' But Isn't Scared of Vulnerability by Keith Murphy These days you can't escape Drake. About the only thing to slow down the omnipresent chick-friendly rhymer is a torn ACL. But that won't stop him from appearing on the opening date of the America's Most Wanted tour with Lil Wayne, Young Jeezy, and Soulja Boy, which kicks off today in Scranton, Pa. The BoomBox caught up with the 'So Far Gone' artist to discuss his upcoming trek, dealing with the opposite sex in the face of stardom, and why he wants Kanye West to be a featured producer on his upcoming studio debut album' Thank Me Later.' The BoomBox: You are still relatively young in your career, yet you have done some pretty high profile performances. What has your preparation been like for the upcoming America's Most Wanted Music Festival tour with Lil Wayne? Drake: It's been crazy. But I've gone out with Wayne before. It's always an experience. The BoomBox: Was there ever a moment when it became surreal for you in terms of the mammoth size of the crowds during shows? Drake: There were some defining crowd moments in my career. That first night of the I Am Music tour was just overwhelming. There were 13,000 people in the audience and I had never done anything like that in my life. The other moment was the Hot 97 show in New York. I didn't know what was going on. I just knew Jeezy had hit me up and was like, 'Man, I want you to come out.' I saw Jeezy backstage and then I saw Jay- Z. And Jay was like, 'I come out right after you.' It was so funny because we were supposed to have this moment where it was me, Jeezy and Jay-Z onstage. But I got so nervous. I had a moment where I thought 'Am I really large enough to be standing on stage with Jeezy and Jay?' [Laughs] I just walked off stage after my performance. I'm like, "Man, I'm wearing Air Yeezy's and like a pink sweater and s--- and these n----s got on all black and are about to perform the Death of Auto-tune ('D.O.A.'). That was a pretty funny moment. The BoomBox: There were well over 50,000 people there. That had to be an overwhelming image, right?
Drake: To be honest, there were so many flashes and such a vast amount of people that I can honestly say I blacked out. I just remember my heart never beating that hard. I felt like it was going to stop. The Boombox: Much of the buzz around your mixtape 'So Far Gone' has been the mix of hip-hop with R&B. When did you decide to take that chance musically? Drake: About 10 shows into the tour Wayne asked me to start singing 'Mrs. Officer' because Bobby Valentino wasn't coming on tour. So that was nerve-wracking also because he'd heard me sing and I really didn't think I was going to be an R&B singer singing onstage. But it was one of those moments like, 'Wow, this man just asked you to step up. Are you going to say no?' I started singing and it brought a whole new element into my career. That's why I was able to do 'So Far Gone'... why I was able to do R&B songs and rap songs without people looking at me like a cornball. I found a way to really balance it out. When I rap, I rap with a melodic tone. But this album will primarily be a hip-hop album. The BoomBox: There was a lot of talk about the unprecedented recording deal you signed with Young Money/Universal Republic. Beyond the $2 million advance, as a new artist you retain your publishing rights and masters to your songs and only cede 25 percent of your music sales revenues to the label. What kind of say did you have in the negotiation of that deal? Drake: I didn't really care about the advance money. That's what's cool to the public because they think, 'Oh, s---, he has $2 million dollars.' But your advance could be a million dollars and you may never make money after that because you got f---ed so badly on the back end. But my biggest thing is having creative control. I don't want anyone telling me, "Oh, you can't put this single out or you can't shoot the video until this day. That's why I signed with my managers Hip Hop Since 1978. I didn't really care what they give me up front. My biggest thing was owning my music. I just wanted all my masters and I wanted Canada, as a country, as my own territory. Instead of signing to a label what I'm trying to do is sign to a phone company. The BoomBox: What are you trying to do? Destroy the record companies? Drake: [Laughs] I'm just trying to do something that has never really been done. I want to distribute my album in Canada over cell phones so everybody on the network will get a text the day my album comes out. In everybody belongs to one phone company. Really, what I would love to do is sell a million records out here because that has never been done. Platinum in is 100, 000 records. So if I could sell a million records, which I think it's possible, to go 10 times platinum in would be crazy. The BoomBox: I did an interview with Lil Wayne a few months ago and he said that the only person he was worried about in the rap game this year has been you. And he said that's precisely why he made sure that you were on his team. What do you make of a statement like that? Drake: It's an honor for Wayne to say something like that. Someone would really have to come to the studio to see me and Wayne together and how we work to understand what he's really talking about. It's the same sort of thing. I fear Wayne's creativity. It's endless. It's a scary beast. He never takes one day off. When we get into the studio it is very competitive, but in a good way. You can't just use a line you wrote Tuesday. Every line has to be thought out. The BoomBox: A running theme throughout 'So Far Gone' has been the dramatic way the music business has affected your relationship with women. Has that changed even more since your fame? Drake: It's definitely made it harder for me. At this point in my life I don't know what I want from a
woman. I think a lot of the women from my past that cared about me kind of feel like they can't deal with me anymore even if I don't make them feel that way. They feel that I'm out of reach. I did a song last night which I'm looking to place on my album called 'Darling Baby.' I know a lot of dudes when they rap they say things that everybody expects them to say. I'm honest with myself. There's a certain confidence that comes with vulnerability. In the song me and Wayne go back and forth about being in love. About us finding a woman who we are confident in. I wonder if women ever know that we think about these things? The BoomBox: Before we get into your solo project, could you talk about how the Young Money album has been going? Drake: I just got back from Atlanta last night. I did three songs for the Young Money album and I'm very excited about it. The next single is stupid. And then there's another song I did with Wayne and Nicki Minaj that's incredible. We don't have a name for it yet, but it's dope. The BoomBox: How far along are you in recording your new album 'Thank Me Later'? Drake: I'm about two songs in. I really haven't even started. The tour is really throwing me off, so I probably won't start really working on it until September. It will probably come out Valentines' Day next year. The BoomBox: Are you sticking with the same musical concepts as 'So Far Gone'? Drake: I love 'So Far Gone.' I'm very proud of it as a project. So I don't want to stray away from that method of creativity, but I've sat with 'So Far Gone.' I pulled the parts that worked because there were parts that didn't work. People may have appreciated it, but it didn't go as recognized as other things. I also started listening to other artists' albums and plucking pieces that I like from there to put together a masterpiece. I want my album to make you feel the same way Kanye's, Jay-Z's and Wayne's albums make you feel. This will not be a 10 to 13-song album. I plan to put 17 songs on there. I have a lot of genres of music to cover. As far as production, 40 (who engineered and produced many of the tracks on 'So Far Gone') will be on it. Obviously Boy Wonder, who did 'Best I Ever Had' and 'Uptown.' I'm also looking forward to Kanye taking charge of the project. The Boombox: That's pretty ambitious, huh? Drake: Well, I want him to do what Kanye does best. Go to Hawaii and stay cooped up in that studio. I want him to have a strong presence on the record. I've done some work with Pharrell and me and Swizz Beatz are doing some work. I'm also looking forward to Timbaland. I hear that he has really reinvented himself. So really, it's just what works. http://www.theboombox.com/2009/07/27/drake-fears-waynes-creativity-but-isnt-scared-of-vulnerabil/
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