Wait what???? is this supposed to be a funny? :/

nope. dead serious.

thoughts?

Its obvious Drake’s uncle hasn’t heard J.Cole yet….

I’m sorry but it has gotten to the point that I can’t take these ‘new’ ppl seriously

WHAT HAPPENED TO JUST MAKING MUSIC? why all this other shit? ughhhh just make some banging ass music and STFU. Oh wait, ppl with mediocre talent settle for gimmicks around their name.

They don’t let their talent speak for themselves….well I guess when there is NO talent how can you?

I could care less if he sells more than 500,000 copies of a debut album. Then wanna holler on the songs not to ‘judge’ him, but shit I have no choice when I read retarded shit about him online.

You know its like you WANNA root for him (Drake) and hope he does do something successful but its really hard to. LET THE MUSIC SPEAK FOR ITSELF. Everyone wanna be the next Wayne or whatever, and not trying to make their OWN imprint in Hip Hop and honing your craft DAILY so you will be blessed with longevity. Oh that’s too hard for these 2009 rappers pffft. Its like playing basketball. If you don’t practice then your game is gonna get weak.

I weep for Hip Hop daily *LOL* (but really…)

What’s good Bavu, keep the posts coming :D

damn a drake! damn a “wheelchair jimmy.” y’all are missing the point. i am so glad that mr. blakes has shed light on what’s REALLY important (because i did not even know this information before this post). aubrey’s freakin’ uncle is larry graham. have thou any idea who larry graham is?!?!?!? he is one of the best bass players EVER! aubrey (on the other hand) seems insecure to me. it’s like he’s a square peg trying to fit into a round hole. he’s a dork (which i champion) trying to fit in with people who pride themselves on being “street.” i’m sure that he can do more than what we see from him, but folks ain’t gonna let him be himself.

so…based on my observations, i have no choice but to say…

…more larry, please!

(sorry, aubrey!)

LOL My dad just informed me I am related to Larry Graham 2 years ago…I was like Who da F is dat? Didn’t know he played for Prince in a few of his concerts. In the words of the late Robin Harris(SMALL WORLD)

Drake is being herd because he has all the connections…. there are tons of rappers in the T-Dot that are better then him they don’t have the opportunities Drake does. shit if i was a child actor on a show that had a cult following of tweens a with a Jewish mother and a Black father that has connections in the record business i would be on the top of the charts too.

SO who bleevz my theory? will aubrey have the last gold (or better) rap debut EVER?

(btw larry graham invented slap bass, and did WAY more than play for Prince a few times…)

Graham Central Station FTW

“…the last gold (or better) rap debut EVER?” that is hard to tell. you probably will not get a quick answer to your question. since you added the word, “EVER,” i would say, absolutely not. things change very fast these days. people talk about “bringing hip hop back” a lot. so, i feel as if the person/people who manage to get credit for “bringing hip hop back” and accepted in the mainstream could definitely go gold, or better, for a debut (because aubrey ain’t bringing nothing but some sad, puppy eyes and guilt over people thinking that he was given everything that he has without paying dues – - due to all of the hype).

cool/insightful
lemme know when those people bring hip hop back and sell half a million records
i’ll be waiting … (evil laugh)

*golf claps Joy’s replies*

WOW I didn’t know all the other factors that makes Drake: The mixed lineage, the fam connects, [i knew about the Degrassi stint], and just WOW

I mean he’s like Urkel to me LOL but its COOL ya know if he’d just be HIMSELF! I’m street by all means, but when you keep reaching for everyone else’s approval; it just comes off as LAME.

Poor Drake (sorta) maybe he will find his niche one day. What is he? 21 or so right?

The problem is that he wanna do the rap thing just because its flashy and fast money (like the dope game) but your HEART has to be in it and not just for the money. Its a CRAFT (like his acting, which he might be more better at) and why not just stick to acting, Drake? I think you’d get laid either way (rapper or actor). Everyone can’t do both sweetie, just pick one and stick with it. I know you have the financial means and such but shit give the shine to someone who’s hungry and DESERVES to get their shit heard.

All I’m saying is that if you’re privledged or whatever, then embrace that. Don’t try to be something that you’re not. You can be ’street’ but not act like a fucking animal or acting or whatever the fuck BET tells you to ‘act’. Its all bullshit. *shrugs*

How can you imitate something you’re a product to? Come on Drake real talk you’re a rich, half Black dude whose a child actor. EMBRACE IT!!! The Real MC’s in my opinion studied (aka listened and applied) all sorts of sub genres in hip hop, basically learning from others in the past. Basically, DO YOUR HOMEWORK. Don’t jump in the game and you have little or no knowledge of the culture. That is why its in the shitter now. We know your uncle is a musician, but please, please put the Blackberry down for a second and learn your [hip hop] roots and how the shit originated! At least talk to your Unc, and not Wayne high/drunk ass.

question: Do you all think if he was on a different label, that’d he have more love? I think signed to Young Money or whatever is kinda….i duno creative differences? its two different personalities. ooooh its like when Slim Thug was signed to StarTrek (neptunes or whatever the fuck, Pharrael shit)….you see how that worked. I think the label and the artist’s personalities have to be on the same page. Maybe sign on a label that isn’t all into the other shit (like Wayne). He said he was offered a contract with Roc Nation. Not saying that is better, but I wonder why he didn’t take that?

I also see a trend of these mainstream rappers wanting to cater to the hipster crowd; yet they built their brand and fan base around the inner city ghettos. *coughJAYZcough* Nigga want Kanye’s fan base so damn bad (the college, hipster kids) FUCK them kids in the ghettos, right Jay? *snicker* Ain’t no Hard Knock Life anymore isn’t it nigga?

*stick with my old TIMELESS music*

I’m out…I keep getting drawn to this thead :D lol

-thehoustongirl

thehoustongirl –

like you…i cannot seem to let go of this post, either. : – )

i agree with you that aubrey needs to find his niche. i also agree that he is not focused, and has much to learn (like a whole lot of artists).

whether you are “street” (i use quotes because i am not always sure what that term means), or a nerd, things tend to work better for you, and you are more believable, when you stick to being yourself. i don’t think that his race has much to do with things beyond the fact that he said that his mother exposed him to different cultures (which can benefit him in many, positive ways).

to half-a** answer your question…i think that it is good to be signed to a label where there are more like-minded individuals because they may understand your vision better than those who appear to be a little less like-minded than you are. these days, it is hard to say which label might allow aubrey the most freedom to do “this or that.” labels are scrambling now, and are dipping their toes in everything, because they need to make money, by any means necessary.

regardless, it is still aubrey’s responsibility to “make it pop” (“i don’t wanna see your face…”) (copyright hustle skwad).

bavu -

just got word that A TRIBE OF SOULS CALLED DE LA just went platinum! LOL

j/k. i kinda see your point because it was hard as hell to get our favorite rappers to go gold in the 80s/90s.

i meant “quotation marks”

i would buy A TRIBE OF SOULS CALLED DE LA no questions asked

I believe your theory is right on……

i think its possible, no one ever buys cd’s anymore and everyone one is on his dick. Of course people will think 15 bucks ain’t bad for their favorite rapper out and actually buy his album

I don’t think he will be the last to have a gold debut because we all know some clown with a hit few ringtone joints will comw within the next couple years and do the same.

BUT people seem to jump on the Drake hate bandwagon a little quickly. I honestly think Drake is a pretty decent rapper and could really be something if he kept working on his crafft, but he’s definitely not as great as a lot of people hype him up to be. A lot of people were introduced to Drake via Lil Wayne (aka AFTER he shifted his style for a more mainstream appeal) and only know of his work from then on out. His earlier songs/mixtapes actually had a few nice joints with dope production and a lot of underground influences (beats by 9th wonder, working with Dwele, Slakah the Beatchild, etc.)

I can agree with people saying Drake is just trying to fit in but it could be because of his age (21) and he NEEDS to business-wise if he wants to stay relevent.

Short answer. Its possible. Long Answer haiokdnoiafnoiasdfnoisdfnioasdnfoinsdoifnoasindfoiasndfoiansdofinosdifnoisndfoinsdofinosdinfosadfnoisdnfoiandsoifnsodifnaoisndfioansdofinsaoidfnoasidnfoisadnfoisdfnosidnfoisdnfoiasdnfoisdnfoisdnffioasnfd and downloading and the lack of support of hiphop hjoinioansoidncpoinwoinsavfoanwoinavronvaoinv etc etc etc… Peace ~Thuro~

I see Drake as an opportunity missed. He made it to radio with no label and then signed with a label for what? The Internet is the new marketing department. And guess what people its free! How he managed to get everyone attention without a major behind him is an accomplishment as well as a sign of the times. Labels are dying a slow death. iTunes is to the record industry what Target and Best Buy is to independent record stores. It is an unfortunate truth. People think you ink with a major and get paid. No you get a loan and a boatload of problems. Drake appeared to have bucked that, but eventually got caught up in the tangled web they weave. I hope his spirit and passion for hip-hop is not suffocated in the process….

I believe his deal gives him all rights to his masters. That would argue the point of not signing with roc nation. If he got the buzz without a deal and signed a deal to have rights to all his masters then I believe he is pretty business savvy already.

Meanwhile J.Cole, who in my opion is more dope signed a 360 deal with Roc Nation. So Hov is picking his pockets on everthing he does. Drake not so much.

Drake-Owns Masters
J.Cole-360 deal

Google the difference and tell me who signed the better deal. But Im definately happy the J.Cole signed that deal because he has been a pleasent surprise so far out of all these young cats.

As far as him not knowing his history, that applies to alot of others as well. How quick we forget that Lupe didnt know all of tribe’s lyrics on the hiphophonors a couple years back. Then went and said he never really listened to tribe.

In conlusion, I am not a drake fan, I am not a drake hater, I will not buy his album, but I will say that I rather hear him on the radio vs his “mentor” weezy baby.

peace!

lol these replies really show y’all age or ignorant minds….

lets get shit straight.

Drake grew up with some money. So what. His father was NOT the one who got him his connections to get into the music industry nor did he help get him signed. His father is not rich (listen to the songs, he clearly states his pops hitting him up for money). His uncle did not get him signed. Nobody BUT his team Octobers Very Own / ATF had anything to do with So Far Gone….nobody.

We sit here and act like the “native tounge” artists all grew up poor. smh. A lot of them grew up in normal middle class neighborhoods. Who cares. It doesn’t make you less or more hiphop. MORE IMPORTANTLY it doesn’t make you more or less of an emcee. Majority of you sound salty that YOUR FAVORITE emcee is not the one who is getting shine. You guys brought up J. Cole. (stop trying to compare these two and let them become the 2 leaders of this new generation i fully believe they both will do that)….well guess what. J. Cole was JUST IN THE FUCKING STUDIO working with Drake. smh. If you actually sat down to listen to his songs, from when he first started out you would see that he is a hiphop head. He listened to the same shit you do, that you all call classics. I used to see D on RapCity at concerts outside of Elemental (anyone from Tdot would remember these shows)…He has opened doors for EVERY Toronto artist right now as all the labels eyes checking out more of our artists. I know this for a fact as many of my friends are being sought after by major labels….not discredting Kardi, Sauks etc…they opened the door for Drake to tear down the walls and let all of Toronto be seen.

What this discussion SHOULD have been about, is when are FANS and the ARTISTS themselves gonna realize that not EVERY emcee or “underground artist” is gonna blow up. A lot of them don’t have it to make it on that mega star status. Doesn’t make them less of an emcee. Just makes them good at what they are good at. People need to know what role they play and learn how to cake off just that. If none of you notice of the emcees who are still relevant today from the 90’s are the ones that pushed their artistry beyond the lines yall keep trying to make for them. Stop trying to box in your fav artists so they can keep being your great little secret. shit is fucking lame.

this became one hell of an essay contest
and i really threw ya’ll off by showing drake’s uncle, apologies for that
but it really was a simple topic, and a single question
will he be the last rapper to debut > 500K?
answer: YES
peace

the drake theory is referring to the last rapper to sell 500k on his DEBUT album ever. its not talking about the last rapper to ever sell an album that will sell over 500k…..

I just saw this post because it is Jay ElecHannukah, and on the upper right hand side of may screen, I see it’s drake day, too.
There is an interesting parallel to those two, no? They’re both like messianic figures in two total different worlds, two total different minds.
Exhibit C is some of the most honest,
the most beautiful and the most heroic
hip-hop music
I may have ever heard,
and just like all good things,
I recognize that in one sitting. But so is So Far Gone.
The whole thing.
I don’t get where all these people get information that Drake is tryna be somethin he’s not.
I mean the Degrassi thing is in his fuckin bio.
I have never in my life heard a lyric from Drake where he says he’s hard and will fuck you up,
or even that he’s street. The first time I seen him
or anything about him
in that vibe article with Algernod on the cover,
he says in plain fuckin english, “My lyrics are not street.”
Or something like that.
You niggas mad
cause a few too many street niggas got love for him,
and your girlfriend does,
and some of your good friends
that ain’t like shit that was new in years
won’t shut the fuck up about him and it scares you,
you’re threatened.
Then the guy who writes this blog goes and says crazy shit like this,
and now you outta pocket, typin your first comment ever in a blog.
I feel you.
What you need to realize though,
is that when someone does something as amazing as Drake is doing,
or someone drops something as amazing as exhibit C, you shouldn’t be threatened
you should be invigorated,
inspired,
because if they can do that,
what can you do?

Yonnas

I don’t get, why be mad at Drake, he does not need to better hs craft, he dope, he did a joint with Em, Ye and Weez and was not the worse on there, held his own against what some people call the best rapper alive (silly) and stole the show from damn near every song he on.

Check the track record, kid is dope, and his old mixtapes, were just that, old, So Far Gone, would of been the best album of the year if someone would of had the lawyers to get everything cleared.

He sold a free mixtape months after it came out, his loan for a Mill or two is damn near payed back, from his mixtape, remember they did not have to tell people about it, they already knew, and he sales 200k, at $5 a piece that is a million dollars there (I know sold for $7, label/store split) Half go to Universal/Motown leaving 500k for Young Money/Drake 250k and he has not put out a record, and the tour money is good, those features, are bringing in a lot of cash, do not be suprised if he on the cash king list 6 mill is not looking far, and if you do not like Drake music, you are officially out of touch, or just do not like his music, you decide

i just caught on to the fact that maybe someone is mad about the drake theory

that’s entertaining!

Jay Electronica will go gold on his debut.

I’ll go gold on my debut.

Drake is good, but he could stand to better his craft (diversify his flow, expand his topical depth).

I can see him sellin 500,000 due to this commercialism bug contaminating the public.. I feel that this gimic music has its place and the real will come to the light one day soon. I dont knock the artist of 2day because they have to be held accountable for there actions and what they say!(The Hate u made will in turn test its creator) Drake is a kid tryin to do what he sees his big brother doing and jus so happen his brother is lil wayne. We will see this time next year whether he will b around or if there will be a real shift in the game for the betterment of hip hop. Shots out to the new era of music being ushered in!!!!!! Keep um commin Bavezeee!!!! Dkutta signin out!!!!!!!!!!

Alright. There are so many people on here talking smack about Drake that obviously don’t know how the music industry operates and have no idea where it’s going.

Drake is the breakout story of the year. I had been listening to him before So Far Gone and was amazed by the creativity put in to that mixtape. A mesh of melodies, clever lyrics, great production FOR FREE was ground-shaking. As soon as it was posted in January or February people went bananas over it, myself included. I was tellin all of my people from across the country to check it out. I burned copies, sent download links and all of that and I didn’t have ONE person say anything bad about it. In fact, they started doing the same thing and giving it to THEIR people.

Drake was with BPE Management under Hollaback Slack as his manager and Krishane in an assistant’s role. They were the entity that booked the So Far Gone Tour beginning in March when there was a frenzy of promoters trying to book him, myself included. I had been in contact with Slack since March and had a date for the first Drake show in Houston, however, Jas got the show one day before I did. Now I woulda been pissed if it were anyone else but it’s Jas Prince. He’s the one that gave Weezy the Drake CD that piqued his interest so who would Drake give the show to. No love lost. Anyone in Houston knows that show was a quick sellout and a nice performance.

Next, Hip Hop Since 1978 signed Drake. They are Weezy’s, Kanye’s, and Jeezy’s managers. These guys, Cortez included, are some extremely smart and savvy businessmen that mold careers. Once they got hold of him, things kicked into high gear. Endorsements, collabs, studio time, press, interviews, etc.

As far as the industry goes, the model is damn near broken. Companies would spend millions of dollars promoting an artist, making videos, giving advances, etc in the anticipation of large numbers of CD SALES. They would recoup all the money they spent and then and only then break off profits in whatever point arrangement was made. NOW, CD sales are in the toilet because there is a segment of the market, especially in urban music, that downloads for free. I think we all know this. What most record companies are doing now to make up for lackluster CD sales is put artists in what are called “360 deals”. Where the company now has a hand in every money-making venture that the artist is in. From merch, to online sales, to movies, to publishing, to shows, etc, the record company is rearing their heads in there. What is so significant about the Drake situation is that he managed to retain sole ownership of almost everything and cut the major in on physical CD sales only. Basically, dude is gonna be stupid paid and THIS kind of a deal is pretty much IMPOSSIBLE to make today and his team got it done.

As far as making money as an artist NOW there are several aspects that you need to look at. 1.) The fact that there is a segment that does get the music for free, 2.) The fact that there are CONSUMERS that DO go and buy CDs, merch, etc. 3.) The fact that popularity and demand MUST be built in order to raise the fee for performances in more places. Drake’s camp (and especially Wayne’s camp) are probably the best people in the industry in regard to understanding where the industry is going and how to capitalize off of it.

1.) Make good music
2.) Give it to the downloaders
3.) Build popularity and promote as much as possible
4.) Raise performance price according to demand
5.) Expand coverage area and enter music in for ringtones and online purchase.
6.) Build that as much as you can in a short time with more good music and increase popularity
7.) If labels approach only take deals that involve only sales for CDs and iTunes, etc since you now have leverage. Otherwise keep it independent.
8.) If you get a deal, make the album and don’t leak it. Keep making mixtapes and appearances to maintain popularity. The label will take care of the consumers that follow what the downloaders do. Videos, radio, big promo, etc will entice them in the US and overseas.

Voila…the marketing campaign for Wayne and Drake.

Drake is not a stupid person and neither is the camp he is in. The circle he is in has managed to have THE top selling artist of ANY genre in the past 2 years and a couple of very successful artists who have consumer’s eye and the street’s blessing. Jay-Z hasn’t even done all of THAT (no hating). If that’s not a measure of success and intellect, you’re lookin at the wrong thing. at the end of the day this is about business and the business acumen that these people have is uncanny. So before you start making comments that he is too young, trying to fit in, is a flash in the pan, etc, take a look at the TEAM that is around him and what they have done too.

Like it or not, Drake is gonna be around for a lil while….he has a pretty damn tight flow, can carry a tune, has a look that a lotta girls like, he’s very well spoken and trained in media relations from Degrassi, has given some of the best interviews I have ever seen a rapper give, has a worldly outlook, is humble, isn’t a thug, and has one of the absolute BEST teams in the music industry.

This is not another essay contest entry, just a set friendly reminders in case you were going to post :

1.) Read the thread and answer the question/contribute to the topic.

2.) You are not the next great essayist so, don’t bother in attempting to “shut everyone up” with your “witty” slander. That’s just a presumption that you can’t back up because your name doesn’t exist on any definitive article/journal/magazine on music. If you read the thread, there are already too many people like you.

3.)If you still insist on having to show everyone on some online community that you view is definitive, please consider flexing your intellectual superiority on the rest of the criteria that make your diction authoritative. For example grammar, spelling, semantics, syntax.

4.) If not… just refer back to point one.

Thank you for reading this much, it was not my intention. To answer the question:

No, I do not think Drake will be the last hip-hop artist to sell 500,000 copies of an album. Art history will tell you that since all artists are products of their environments (whether rich or poor), they will always find a way to cater to their customer base. Music will continue to be made in some fashion, unless we humans lose our hearing sense. That said, the structure of albums might change, but somehow artists will find a way to get their product out in en mass to the masses.

…debut album. EVER!

I was just at the Hova concert. Drake tore it dowwwwn. The love from the city was amazing. Can’t even describe the feeling the building had when dude was on. Proud proud proud moment. yerp

@ Bavu: yes, to especially include the debut. You know that was it new is hot (or is it backwards?).

what about the decline of album sales? they don’t like they used to. if someone gets drake-hot in a year or two, how are they gonna sell > kid cudi’s debut < gold?

I think Abe pretty much summed up this whole discussion. Drake is going to be around. I can appreciate the depth of songs like “fear” & “be real”. It’s been a long time since I can remember an mc with so much sincerity. I’m tired of the braggin & extra metaphysical jaibberish nonsense. I’ll be the first to admit first on, I was annoyed by the Kanye-Weezy similarities but overall Drake’s team got shit on point. Artist need to take some notes!

DJ Jamad
The Afromentals Mixshow
Sirius XM – Hip Hop Nation
http://www.djjamad.com