Drake Covers ‘FADER’

Light Work

Drake is flossing on the front cover the new issue of FADER. In the cover story, OVO speaks on Views From The 6, his remixes, leaked reference tracks, his feud with Meek Mill and more.

“I’m just gonna bring it up ‘cause it’s important to me,” he says. “I was at a charity kickball game—which we won, by the way—and my brother called me. He was just like, ‘I don’t know if you’re aware, but, yo, they’re trying to end us out here. They’re just spreading, like, propaganda. Where are you? You need to come here.’ So we all circled up at the studio, and sat there as Flex went on the air, and these guys flip-flopped [about how] they were gonna do this, that, and the third.”

He recorded “Charged Up” that very night and released it the next day on the same episode of OVO Radio that saw the debut of “Hotline Bling.” “Given the circumstances, it felt right to just remind people what it is that I do,” Drake says, a proud smile creeping into his face, “in case your opinions were wavering at any point.”

When a reply to “Charged Up” didn’t come, Drake could hardly believe it. “This is a discussion about music, and no one’s putting forth any music?” he says, speaking with a furrowed brow, as if reliving his incredulity. “You guys are gonna leave this for me to do? This is how you want to play it? You guys didn’t think this through at all—nobody? You guys have high-ranking members watching over you. Nobody told you that this was a bad idea, to engage in this and not have something? You’re gonna engage in a conversation about writing music, and delivering music, with me? And not have anything to put forth on the table?”

As the days ticked by and a rebuttal from Meek Mill continued to not materialize, Drake became almost offended at the lack of hustle the other team was putting in. “It was weighing heavy on me,” he says. “I didn’t get it. I didn’t get how there was no strategy on the opposite end. I just didn’t understand. I didn’t understand it because that’s just not how we operate.”

It was then that he decided to just go ahead and do another song. “I was like, ‘I’m gonna probably just finish this.’ And I know how I have to finish it. This has to literally become the song that people want to hear every single night, and it’s gonna be tough to exist during this summer when everybody wants to hear [this] song that isn’t necessarily in your favor.”

That song became “Back to Back,” and in keeping with Drake’s plan, it became an instant radio hit. In the end, Drake never felt compelled to prove his chops in some grand or gimmicky way—by going on a radio show and freestyling, for instance, or putting pictures of his handwritten lyrics on Instagram. Instead he just acted like the leaked recordings didn’t matter. And a few days later, with a performance at OVO Fest—the star-studded concert he puts on every year in Toronto that opened, this time around, with a full-on sendup of his challenger—the whole thing was decisively over, with public opinion overwhelmingly on Drake’s side.

Full story here.

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  1. Megamind says:

    Sounds about right! LOL Meek and his team jumped out the window and didn’t plan it out at all. He didn’t speak with Hov or Ross or any of those OGz at Roc Nation where he could have/and would have be told to go hard or stand down.

    Only thing Meek gained was name recognition. So now the people know who he is…BUT that didn’t turn into streams or sales for him. Back to Back and Charged Up are up for retail and stream!

    Meek slipped…now if he just shut and make music he MIGHT be able to get some credibility back!

    Megamind

  2. engee00 says:

    Damn this was a really good article and not gonna lie I didn’t think Drake would own up to the reference tracks…
    Glad he didn’t make excuses or lies…
    The article was mostly about music and it sounds like he’s going back to his roots with 40.. this got me excited for Views and kinda explains why he put out the mixtape with future..
    As to how I feel about him collaborating? We need more insight into who else gets help and how much… this whole reference track thing has me really wondering and Angela Yee said she has seen it all the time and I trust her ..

    1. uh says:

      he has some reference tracks he made for Wayne that never got used on his ovo blog page. so that’s one popular rapper I guess

  3. SweetToadJones says:

    Drake is winning

  4. SweetToadJones says:

    Drake season he was right Meek didn’t wanna battle Drake nigga was scared

  5. uh says:

    Views sounds like it’s gonna be strictly produced by 40!

  6. polopolo1 says:

    Damn if I was meek mill reading this, this shit would hurt my feelings

  7. Straight Pride says:

    I just waiting for Drakes run to be over so rap can go back to rap and singing can go back to singing. The meek mill beef was as real as the Nicki Minaj beef with Miley Cyrus at the VMA’s

    1. Hiphopistrashnow says:

      definition of a hating ass nigga ha

      1. Straight Pride says:

        Nah I just respect the artform. I like Drake’s music but I don’t think he’s the best rapper alive when he’s never dropped a classic straight rap album

        1. mars says:

          I get what you’re saying.. He has yet to make any real classic. But why does it have to be strictly rap if he has a talent few have.. Limiting himself for the sake of hip hop fans is a waste of money and creativity .

          1. Straight Pride says:

            Dropping a straight rap album isn’t a waste of talent when you claim to be running hip hop. If Drake wants to be Sam Smith then let him be. My problem is the comparisons with the greatest rappers to ever do it who kept it 100% hip hop. You can’t compare them. They aren’t in the same league. M

            By all means let Drake make his pop music, just stop comparing him to the best rappers to ever do it. It’s disrespectful

          2. mars says:

            I see where you’re coming from..

          3. GetReal says:

            honestly you’re saying its not fair that drake can sing lmao

        2. Hiphopistrashnow says:

          closed minded.. There’s musicians who just happen to rap. Drake falls in that category. This is where kid cudi should’ve stayed. Don’t take it so serious and wish for his demise

          1. Straight Pride says:

            I’m close minded because I’m saying that you actually have to be the BEST rapper to be given the title? I like Drake’s music but I’m not doing hip hop justice when I put him among the greats when he hasn’t shown that he can do what the greats did before he compares himself.

            I’m not wishing for his demise, it’s not that serious but I will speak my truth

  8. el jim chapo guzman says:

    He’s from the Canadian version of Saved By The Bell – he is just a PRODUCT. He is a brand, not an artist.

    1. THE ALMIGHTY MIKEY ESCO!!! says:

      HES FROM THE CANADIAN VERSION? HUH? YOUR ONE IGNORANT BAMA!!! ALWAYS TRYING TO DISS BUT YOUR ILLITERATE!!! YOU STUPID FK!!! FK YO FEELINGS!!!

      1. el jim chapo guzman says:

        fuck you esco!!!!! by the way i know you sold your studio equipments yet?

  9. Strong Enough says:

    the higher you climb on the wall of success the more people try and shoot you down. and hate on you for no reason. don’t even know why. just have hate in their veins. its basic physics.

    He’s at a level few artists get too. and i think he’s smart enough to take it all the way. Elton John status. U2 status. he can do it.

    1. F*ck Drake says:

      Yep. He’s gonna down as one of the biggest names in music (my opinion). He has music for all types of listeners, which helped him skyrocket to the status he’s at now. Anything he puts out is going gold.

      1. Strong Enough says:

        I’m surprised you said that

    2. Huh says:

      Just like Nicki Minaj?

  10. Observer says:

    I was gna read the article but that thing was like war and peace – too long. Anything about his label situation?

    1. Kris Kompute says:

      We ain’t your cliff notes. Read the fuckin article lazy ass nigga.

      1. intelligentsoul says:

        To be fair….they could have summed the article into maybe 10 quotes. Seemed like I was reading more of Faders thoughts than Drake’s

        1. Kris Kompute says:

          It was definitely a slurpfest. But when your brand is that big and you tell magazines you are done, it’s going to have that type of slant.

    2. GetReal says:

      he admits to the ghostwriting

  11. Youngtapioca says:

    Fader actually stole this cover pic off of Sonic’s bedroom wall, icydk.

  12. Mr.Stealyogurl says:

    Meek Mill never was and never will be anywhere close to Drakes level in any capacity.

    1. The Haters Advocate says:

      MEEK MILL IS LIKE PIKACHU… ALWAYS BE A LEVEL 1 BITCH…HE NEEDS THAT THUNDER STONE TO BOOST HIS BARS UP

      #SUCKYOURMOM

  13. Sonic says:

    What a Time to Be Alive is an instant classic. The two legends Drizavelli the 6 God and Future Hendrix really run the rap game. Future now has two number 1 albums in 1 year. Dope trap rapper!

    Drake continues to make power moves. If he ever dies, hip hop would go down with it since there’s no one else. Drake can expand into more business and find success each time. He could even overtake Puff Daddy or that overrated Dr. Gay someday. Drake runs this rap shit. It makes the haters so mad. 2015 is Drizzaveli’s year, hate all you want.

    1. Iamstillmusic says:

      You have confirmed your homosexuality several times but this time takes the cake. Drake has never and will never drops a real classic rap album like all the greats before him.

      This social media generation puts Drake among the best rappers of all time when he hasn’t dropped straight rap classic like all the greats did.

      Whenever a Drake fan makes a post, they have to mention Kendrick because Kendrick will be a better rapper than Drake for Drakes entire CAREER. Kendrick would murder Drake and bury him.

      I’m a Drake fan but I’m a bigger fan of hip hop and this actor will never get deeper than heartbreak because he’s a pop star. He isn’t competing with Kendrick he’s competing with Sam Smith

      1. Sonic says:

        People are crawling to Drake for features and appearances. Even dope rappers like 50 Cent, Kanye West and Lil Wayne are crawling to him for features because he lifts at least the singles he does to mainstream success. He had the best selling hip hop album of 2013 and will have 2 of the best selling hip hop albums (if not in total sales) of 2015. Drake is the God of Rap. Drake makes rap relevant these days.

        Nobody’s crawling to Kendrick for shit. He sucks ass. His single won’t be a number one single. Kendrick did not have the best selling hip hop album of 2013, Drake did, and none of Kendrick’s albums are hip hop, so no.

        1. Iamstillmusic says:

          Listen to yourself! Drake doesn’t have ONE album better than GKMC and most likely never will.

          This Is Kendrick’s catalog
          Overly Dedicated
          Section 80
          GKMC
          TPAB

          Drake’s catalog is
          So Far Gone
          Thank Me Later
          Nothing Was The Same
          IYITITL

          Your conclusion? Because mine is that Kendrick shits on Drakes entire career. And Drake is supposed to be the better artist because of what? Album sales?

          Drake has no growth as an artist, it’s the same love songs he’s been singing for 6 years. That’s why he’s hot. Rnb. If Kendrick is better than why mention him? Because he would kill Drake.

          Kanye and Wayne are certified rap legends who have nothing to prove. Drake owes his entire existence to Lil Wayne putting him on in Wayne’s prime.

          1. Sonic says:

            Looks like somebody needs to hop the fuck off of Kendrick’s nuts. Nobody works harder than Drake! Kendrick is a fake character he’s not a rap artist. Do your history of what rap is, cause it’s obvious you know shit about rap music or a rap artist, fucking sellout! Drake is untouchable. Keeps hustling and making rap music for his fans, that’s why he’s so great. He is superior.

          2. Iamstillmusic says:

            So you basically didn’t address my argument whatsoever because you know you would sound stupid trying to put Kendrick over Drake.

            I’m a Drake fan and I respect his work ethic but his extreme fans like you ruin shit because you overhype him and half of yall are gay ass niggas and heartbroken females in disguise.

            Drake is an actor playing a rapper, this is a script to him. When views from the 6 it’s going to be the same shit

            I love these hoes
            I’m on top of the game
            I’m from Toronto

            No growth. No comparison to Kendrick. Never will be

          3. Sonic says:

            Lies. Drake is a better artist/MC than Kendrick overall. Drake sings and does his own Hooks while Kendrick gets featured singers to do hooks on his tracks and when he does his own hooks they are very plain, boring and just rapped hooks very bland and non noticeable. Drake Sings as well as Rap while Kendrick does not sing only raps. He is a better song writer than Kendrick, better structure and format and variety in topics than Kendrick, Drake is better at crafting songs and albums than Kendrick.

          4. Iamstillmusic says:

            Bruh this trolling has to stop! We are talking about hip hop, since when do rappers have to sing about loving females like a bitch? It’s been the same shit with Drake for six years. Kendrick is a superior artist by far because his album CATALOG SHITS on Drakes existence. Name the Drake album that has a better album structure than GKMC?

            Drake is a pop star who appeals to the heartbroken people out there but without singing would he be on top? Could Drake make a career off only rapping? The answer is hell no and j. Cole and Kendrick can do that because they are real artists. When views from the 6 drops its going to be the same heartbreak shit. No comparison to Kendrick with the best catalog of the new school. Only thing Drake has on Kendrick is album sales

          5. Music says:

            barley any hits, #1s, sold out tour runs, yet he is a better artist? in your dreams buddy. Kind of done arguing this. Even KDot fans deep down knows what it is.

            Sure KDot is a better artist. Drake sucks ass. He is just going to drop his 3rd #1 project this year like its nothing because everyone is doing it.

            Views From the 6 finna flop.

            K Dot’s new album (??????????) dropping soon whenever he comes up with a new hot gimmick I guess. Maybe the next album will be Neo Brazilian techno house or something.

          6. Iamstillmusic says:

            Kendrick Lamar is a hip hop artist, he isn’t defined by the charts he’s defined by the body of work. When it comes to putting together a body of work, nobody is better than Kendrick. Kendrick will continue to put out classic albums his whole career

            I don’t know why people feel like the most successful rapper is the best rapper? Drake selling out tours doesn’t make him a better artist then Kendrick nor does selling a million copies of an album. Macklemore’s single the heist went about 4 times platinum so that does that make him the best rapper alive? The answer is hell no

            The only argument Drake fans are going to make is success but that doesn’t define who the best rapper is. Both of us know that when it comes to rapping, Kendrick Lamar will crush Drake for Drake’s entire career

          7. AngryToad says:

            “I’m a Drake fan and I respect his work ethic but his extreme fans like you ruin shit because you overhype him” That is what u just did with Kendrick.LMAO

          8. Iamstillmusic says:

            Not at all bro my argument is that Kendrick is a far superior artist to Drake. Sonic on the other hand is a homosexual calling Drake Drizzaveli the rap god like. That’s extreme dickriding. Saying that Drake would murder Kendrick knowing that Kendrick would bury him alive is dickriding

          9. Music says:

            How is kdot a superior artist to Drake when Drake has bigger and better songs ? i just don’t get it.

            Kdot is great at rapping and lyrical stuff but Drake has better songs.

          10. Iamstillmusic says:

            Kendrick is a superior artist because he defines what an MC is supposed to be. He’s a great lyrical rapper with hip hop classics to prove it. That’s how every great hip hop legend did it.

            Drake makes good music but after Take Care the same heartbreak music got old for me. It’s been the same crying loves songs for 6 years.

          11. Music says:

            If KDot was a superior artist he would be doing arena tours no?

            Great artists have all done this.

            From Michael Jackson, Pink Floyd, The Beatles, Coldplay, Sade, Jay Z, Radiohead, Kanye, Drake, and now J. Cole. Females or not, they were selling out everything they did. Period.

          12. Iamstillmusic says:

            Selling out arena tours has never been te criteria for who the best rapper is. Tupac, Biggie and Nas weren’t known for selling out tours they were known for their art form.

            When it comes to the hip hop art form, Kendrick Lamar is leading the new school in terms of putting out the best hip hop material. Macklemore also sells out tours but that doesn’t make him a Better rapper. Success doesn’t equal the best

          13. jay says:

            you obviously didnt read the whole post, cuz i dont understand how you could say he’s on Kendrick’s nuts.

          14. AngryToad says:

            Sir Music is subjective I like Kendrick he is dope, but I would be lying if I said I prefer Kendrick over Drake, what you have to understand is just because Kendrick catalog is better than Drake doesn’t take away Drake success and how great he is as well. Drake and Kendrick are two in different lanes and serves two different purposes.

          15. Iamstillmusic says:

            That’s wassup bruh, and like you said they serve two different purposes because Kendrick is a real MC and Drake is more of a pop star. I enjoy both their music but if we are talking artistry then Kendrick has it hands down. No comparison

          16. JR says:

            How convenient that you left out the Grammy Award winner for Rap Album of the Year – Take Care. Not to mention Room for Improvement, Comeback Season, and WATTBA.

          17. Iamstillmusic says:

            Well if we are debating about Kendrick vs. Drake, Kendrick has 2 Grammys and Drake has 1. Take care was a great album but it’s not real hip hop. What a time to be alive was garbage

      2. Music says:

        No one mentions Kdot in Drake posts except Kdot stans.

        Kdot maybe more lyrical, but Drake makes bigger and better songs.

        There is a reason why Drake is doing full arena tours.

        1. Iamstillmusic says:

          Sonic is the one who was mentioning Kendrick tearing him down trying to big up Drake.

          Drake is doing arena tours because he’s a pop star and has much wider audience. There are females who aren’t hip hop heads who listen to Drake just for his pop love songs. Of course he’s going to sell out arenas. That’s not taking away from him, that’s just saying that a lot of his fans aren’t there for hip hop

          1. Music says:

            Drake is doing arena tours because his music is of very high quality.

            BTW, in business, people try to market their products to a wide demographic. That’s saying that the iPhone is successful because females buy it and they talk on phones a lot.

            Hip Hop is a dead art form and rightfully so. Lyricism cannot and will never outdo/outsell great song writing and actual music itself.

            You know music? Harmony, melodies, chord progressions, cadence & flow all in one package? Drake embodies all of that. and that takes more skill than spending a couple days writing the most complex verse.

            And I am glad the game is like this now. I’d rather have singing rappers than a boring lyrical corny rapper like Mr. Fiasco any time of the day.

            If Hip Hop was as popping and sought after and highly respected as an art form as you say, Slaughterhouse, & Wu-Tang wouldn’t be performing in the basement’s of clubs having local artist open up for them.

          2. Iamstillmusic says:

            Well that’s a good argument, Drake brings something new to the table and I like the he sings and raps. But calling Drake a superior hip hop artist to Kendrick Lamar is blasphemy.

            Putting together a classic rap album is much harder than singing love songs for the last 6 years. I’m not against the songs but how does singing love songs make you the best rapper in hip hop? That’s my argument. Sonic is saying that Drake is a better rapper than Kendrick Lamar and I’m saying no that’s not true, Kendrick would murder Drake.

            The whole singing and rapping died with me after Take Care because Drake isn’t going to top that and it seems like it isn’t authentic anymore. If Drake only brings heartbreak music to the hip hop table then he doesn’t with the greats in my opinion

      3. bigfoot2011 says:

        Yo, I almost spilled my coffee. Dude has revealed his homosexuality several times but this takes the cake?😂😂😂. Too funny. He does sound like a goofy

      4. radio raheem says:

        Did you miss his Default ? LMFAOOOOOO

    2. France Ortelli says:

      I hope you get paid to do this. Otherwise it’s sad. I wish you wake some day et get on with your life in a healthy way.

  14. gaz says:

    Propaganda? u did use a ghostwriter though drake? fake fuck

  15. The Haters Advocate says:

    DRAKE THAT JEWISH NIGGA, NOW HE GOT A STRONG ARM RIGHT ARM BITCH TO PULL HIS MEAT RIGHT AT NIGHT!

    #SUCKYOURMOM

  16. yorapper says:

    Now that Kanye and Hov seem to be riding off into the sunset, Drake is all we have left.

  17. BlackJays says:

    So yall aint quote the part where he admits that he has a man write a hook and a verse he re-records as “inspiration”……… SMH the machine really wants to see the tanned jewish kid win badly.

  18. thedeamkid19 says:

    there was so much dick sucking on that story that make it hard to read. drake is a fagg and everybody knows it

  19. GetReal says:

    wish you niggas would shut the fuck up comparing kendrick and drake, and i hope you niggas actually read this article he pretty much admits to having niggas write shit for him

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