So things seem to be looking more than great for the rising star but this was not always the case. Back in 2007 when Drake wasn’t the most sort out new artist by the fans or labels he made a record called “Replacement Girl“. Which he believed in so much that he went and got a 30,000 dollar bank loan to finance and promote the single, which featured another new R&B artist signed to Atlantic Records named Trey Songz. I remember the day it aired for the first time on 106 & Park because the hook and artist flow captured my attention, but after that the video pretty much fizzled and that was that. Trey Songz went on to do big and better things but I never heard back from the other artist which was Drake until the now classic “So Far Gone“(which got a 60,000 downloads within a day of its release) but I did see him in a video cameo in “Wonder Women“. It’s actually rumored that Drake won’t even perform “Replacement Girl” any longer and that record actually left more then a bad taste in his mouth but it went on to leave him in debt from the $30,000 dollar bank loan. Making  the transition from modeling for Wal-Mart and then acting which lead him to a teen drama series called “Degrassi:The Next Generation” then to breaking into the music world, I’m sure it had its up and downs. Not to mention his parents divorce and supporting his father morally while in jail. Drake even made a statement that sums it all up best “I’ve had money. Spent it all. Been broke, worked regular jobs”. Drake also dropped out of school in the 11th grade to focus on his love for acting/music.

                                                                         

Then one day Drake got his big chance when Rap-A-Lot CEO J Prince’s son Jas Prince played a Drake freestyle over the “A Milli” beat for Lil Wayne. From there on things just started to fall into place perfectly. Drake ended up joining Weezy on his “I Am Music” tour with his Young Money crew. Where he even began performing nightly a song called “Ransom” and the hook for “Ms.Officer”. Now he is touring by himself with his successful “So Far Gone Tour“. Drake even brought out the likes of artists such as Usher at his Atlanta show, Justin Timberlake to Kanye West and Ryan Leslie at his NYC show to name a few. So with a mangement team of Cortez Bryant (who is Lil Wayne’s manager as well) and Gee Robinson & Hip Hop of Hip Hop Since 1978(who also manages Kanye West/Just Blaze/Lil Wayne) it’s not too much of a shocker that Drizzy has been turning down rumored 2,000,000 deals from the leading labels in the game such Def Jam, Atlantic Records, Universal, and Interscope.

But outside of all the numbers and hoopla lies Drakes ‘Good Music’! Which is something none of this would be possible without, imagine if there was no “Good Music” involved with his project. Not many artists understand the simple things about music such as knowing your voice pitch and what type of records you should be on and not on. Most up and coming artists just wants to get the beat to the latest Rick Ross or Jeezy single and do a freestyle over it where as Drake took records from Lykke Li, Peter Bjorn to Cold Play’s “Viva La Vida” and came out with “Congratulations“. Or doing a duet with LLoyd on “A Night Off” and  Omarion for “Bria’s Interlude” then knowing what records to rap on such as “Lust For Life“, “The Calm“, to “Successful” featuring long time friend Trey Songz, and “Uptown” featuring Lil Wayne & Bun B is what separates him from many up and coming artists in my eyes. Not too many up and coming artist would even think of turning down 50,000 as an advance and the rumor is 2,000,000, so just imagine.
 
I think being yourself can go along way as well and Drizzy Drake showed that more then ever at a time when every new artist may have felt like he or she need to either make a “Trap Song” or a “Dance Song” to get on. And it wasn’t since 50 Cent and his G-Unit Team from SouthSide Queens to Young Jeezy “Trap Or Die”  was there this much gossip about a “Mixtape“! I still can’t really believe that it’s a mixtape that has Drake in the spotlight that he’s in but it shows you where hard work and a great team around you can get you in life period! So through my eyes and in my own opinion I will go ahead and say all of the hype is “Overdue” and well deserved. But do I think Drake is one of the best up and coming artist when it comes to plain lyrics… not at all. This is why when ever in a debate about Drake I say I look at him as more of an artist then a rapper so on that note I will leave you the reader with enough information to form your own opinion and decide for yourself.