Drake On His New Album, Versace and Returning to Acting
By Marcus Holmlund
Photographs by Marco Ovando
Last night, we braved the "DRIZZY!"-screaming throngs of Drake fans outside the 5th avenue Versace
boutique, where the 24-year-old Torontonian TV star-turned-emcee was guest DJing at Fashion's Night Out. Our eardrums are still paying for it. Of course, the evening was completely worth it, insanity and all, and the former PAPER cover star was kind enough to chat with us about his eagerly anticipated sophomore effort, Take Care, to be released on his birthday, October 24th.
It's been one year since Drake and his major label debut LP, Thank Me Later, changed the hip-hop soundscape entirely. Just listen to the melodically submerged, moody sounds currently flooding R&B (Frank Ocean) and hip-hop (Kid Cudi, Big Sean) and it's relatively simple to identify its root. "It's Toronto. One hundred percent," says Drake modestly when we ask if he's played a hand in R&B's resurgence. "I wouldn't say I created it, it's just the sound of my city. Same for [Abel Tesfaye of] The Weeknd. He's just out there writing music, making music that comes from the most beautiful city in the world. Why wouldn't it sound beautiful, you know?"
Mixtape track, "Marvin's Room," has been creating internet buzz for Take Care thanks to the slew other artists revamping and covering it. Early-aughts tween pop-star JoJo had one of the most popular, in which she, for the first time, delved into adult territory. And Drake took note. "In JoJo's case, she actually took the time to write really potent new lyrics," he says. "It was really shocking, I think, for her audience since throughout her career she's been kind of stereotyped as this teen pop star and then she comes out with this different kind of substance. It's very rare that people take your song and do it over like that."
His connection to Versace, you ask? "I'm a huge Versace fan," he declares. "I love the history: the class, the regal sort of feel; there's just something about it that possesses this characteristic that I think I stand for, too, something that my mother and her friends instilled in me growing up in Forest Hill. I grew up seeing women in Versace, the women of class around me. So, I was just floored when they asked me to do this. For me personally, it's one of the most exciting calls I've gotten in a while."
Fans of the emcee's Degrassi days run will be excited to learn that he's interested in returning to his previous trade. "As soon as I submit this album, I'm in the process of signing with an agency and starting my acting up again."
The first single off Take Care, called "Headlines" is now available for download on iTunes.
PAPERMAG's Complete Spring 2012 Fashion Coverage
It's been one year since Drake and his major label debut LP, Thank Me Later, changed the hip-hop soundscape entirely. Just listen to the melodically submerged, moody sounds currently flooding R&B (Frank Ocean) and hip-hop (Kid Cudi, Big Sean) and it's relatively simple to identify its root. "It's Toronto. One hundred percent," says Drake modestly when we ask if he's played a hand in R&B's resurgence. "I wouldn't say I created it, it's just the sound of my city. Same for [Abel Tesfaye of] The Weeknd. He's just out there writing music, making music that comes from the most beautiful city in the world. Why wouldn't it sound beautiful, you know?"
Mixtape track, "Marvin's Room," has been creating internet buzz for Take Care thanks to the slew other artists revamping and covering it. Early-aughts tween pop-star JoJo had one of the most popular, in which she, for the first time, delved into adult territory. And Drake took note. "In JoJo's case, she actually took the time to write really potent new lyrics," he says. "It was really shocking, I think, for her audience since throughout her career she's been kind of stereotyped as this teen pop star and then she comes out with this different kind of substance. It's very rare that people take your song and do it over like that."
His connection to Versace, you ask? "I'm a huge Versace fan," he declares. "I love the history: the class, the regal sort of feel; there's just something about it that possesses this characteristic that I think I stand for, too, something that my mother and her friends instilled in me growing up in Forest Hill. I grew up seeing women in Versace, the women of class around me. So, I was just floored when they asked me to do this. For me personally, it's one of the most exciting calls I've gotten in a while."
Fans of the emcee's Degrassi days run will be excited to learn that he's interested in returning to his previous trade. "As soon as I submit this album, I'm in the process of signing with an agency and starting my acting up again."
The first single off Take Care, called "Headlines" is now available for download on iTunes.
PAPERMAG's Complete Spring 2012 Fashion Coverage
Your Comment
Posted at 1:06 on Sep 09, 2011
Love it!! He looks like a sweetheart.
Posted at 1:32 on Sep 09, 2011
LOVE ME SOME DRIZZY! So cool abt him and Versac and that he's gona be acting againn!!!! So ecited for it
Posted at 1:33 on Sep 09, 2011
He is the ONLY rapper that speaks so intelligently. RESPECT!!
Posted at 6:56 on Sep 10, 2011
This is really big news, he's going to be acting again
So cool
Posted at 7:22 on Sep 10, 2011
No. He definitely actually isn't the only rapper that does; at all, and he's not the first. that's insulting and not true. You're either in hip hop or in denial. TI speaks just as eloquently, Mos Def, Common, Q-Tip, Eminem, David Banner, Andre 3000, Big Boi, Pusha T, etc. just to name an extreme few. So that was the stupidest comment I've ever read.
Posted at 6:29 on Sep 11, 2011
All I have to say is if he's not the best that ever done it right now he will be. And to me it seemed like me being on the outside looking in it seemed like I watched him as he became more and more famous because I watched him since degrassi and now he is my favorite rapper. Also i'm not trying to be on his jock or anything but hey I'm 18 now and I like the songs he be making because some kind of relate to me even the versus when he be on other people songs.
Posted at 9:01 on Sep 13, 2011
So cool Paper got Drake!
Posted at 11:43 on Sep 16, 2011
I get being proud of where you come from, but he's getting obnoxious with the Toronto stuff. Seriously. If that's the case, why did he need to venture out to become famous? Why sign with Lil Wayne? Why not just let his city hold him down?
Toronto is NOT the most beautiful city and not even the close to the most influential in R&B or hip hop. If you think so, you really really need to get out more--and that includes you, Drake. GTFOH I don't even remember Prince going about his city the way Drake does and he really DID create a "Minneapolis sound" look and feel.
And "Free Spirit" is misogisnsitc garbage. He can keep that ugly stuff right up that city he's so proud of!
Posted at 11:43 on Sep 16, 2011
I get being proud of where you come from, but he's getting obnoxious with the Toronto stuff. Seriously. If that's the case, why did he need to venture out to become famous? Why sign with Lil Wayne? Why not just let his city hold him down?
Toronto is NOT the most beautiful city and not even the close to the most influential in R&B or hip hop. If you think so, you really really need to get out more--and that includes you, Drake. GTFOH I don't even remember Prince going about his city the way Drake does and he really DID create a "Minneapolis sound" look and feel.
And "Free Spirit" is misogisnsitc garbage. He can keep that ugly stuff right up that city he's so proud of!
Posted at 7:02 on Sep 16, 2011
LUVVVVVVVVV that he's going to be acting again, makes me so happyyyyyy YAY!!
Posted at 12:05 on Sep 22, 2011
OBSESSED