DRAKE'S INTERVIEW WITH VIBE

Between Thursday, February 12 and Friday, February 13, 2,541 comments were added to Aubrey “Drake” Graham’s blog, octobersveryown.blogspot.com. Remarks that were asking, nay relentlessly demanding what many had spent months waiting on—his new mixtape.

For an independent release, the 22-year-old’s third effort, So Far Gone, gained a level of anticipation that would make some label-hugging rappers blush. But even with a co-sign from Lil Wayne, an established television fan-base, and an online presence intense enough to freeze a PC, Drake isn’t daunted. The ex-Degrassi star won’t give you flashing lights or fragile facades, he’d rather just gift the truth. And with eighteen tracks bulging with sincerity and depth, Drake is indeed one of hip hop’s best wrapped presents. Currently in the process of sealing an un-disclosed label deal—noting that it will be finalized in the next two weeks—the Toronto native shares with VIBE.com his struggles, triumphs, and why honesty is his best policy.

ACTOR TERNT RAPPER:
There’s a shift in character from your first mixtape, Room for Improvement to your third, So Far Gone.

The first songs I made were all like “Replacement Girl” with Trey Songz. It was pretty straight forward, radio-friendly, not much content to it. And I thought that was the direction I’d go in. And then as life progressed, I grew and decided that to follow suit would truly be a waste of time.
I started to see my situation as more of an opportunity as opposed to a curse. Coming from Canada, coming from a TV show, it’s like “Wow. If I can really do something different, I may be regarded as the one of the first crossover film to music people to really be looked at as an artist.” Once I saw it like that, I started becoming more confident as a person. I started seeing my thoughts and feelings as something the world may want to hear, as opposed to some shit I just make up in my head. I think I did it a little bit on Room for Improvement. And Comeback Season was more of me proving that I had bars. Then So Far Gone was really my chance to open up and give people a true piece of myself because I had a lot going on in my life. Good things and bad.

Starting off unsure about pursuing a music career, what really solidified that this was the route to take?

I was friends with this kid that would put you on the spot all the time. I guess he read my rhyme books at my house and one day he just put me on blast at school. He told this kid I wanted to battle him and it became this big thing. So I went home and wrote all these rhymes for him—yeah, I cheated—came to school the next day and killed the guy. From there I just started getting into rapping and becoming comfortable with myself.

…GONE WITH THE WIND:
So Far Gone was such an anticipated mixtape. What was the creative experience like?

It was just cleansing. That’s been the key to me making music lately. It has to feel good. For every record I do, it takes something to truly spark that. On the album I plan to give people my all. I want it to be something enjoyable, I don’t know if I want it to be so personal. Which is another reason why I made So Far Gone, to just get that out of my system. Some people are like, “Why’d you do that for free?” If I released that as a retail album, I would’ve probably been criticized and scrutinized. It wouldn’t have gone over as well as the way I did it. Which is, “Go and download this for free because I truly want to give this to you. Before we embark on this journey together, this is something that you need to know.”

IN IT TO WIN IT:
Having worked so much with Weezy, do you see him as a mentor or a peer?

I definitely look at Wayne as a mentor just because I have such respect for what he does and am a big fan of his music. I didn’t let being around him change me and I think he respects me for that. I think the illest thing is that I see him as a mentor and he sees me as a peer.

Read the rest of the interview at Vibe