Although Drake has had a string of hits on radio and in the club, from his own “Best I Ever Had” to collaborations like “Forever” and “Say Something,” the pressure was on for the first official single from Thank Me Later to deliver. And, judging from the reaction he’s getting from some of hip-hop’s biggest tastemakers, Drizzy has another smash on his hands with “Over.”

Over is real dope,” DJ Statik Selektah said. “He could have chose to run with a soft, candy-coated record, but he didn’t. The beat is crazy. I’m looking forward to his album!”

I love this record,” DJ Khaled told MTV News. “It’s amazing! It’s special! Drake did it again! It’s a hit!

I think Drake’s record is dope,” said host of MTV2’s “Sucker Free” and Power 105.1 on-air personality DJ Envy. “I know he had a lot of pressure and the world staring at him, but I think he delivered. He did it his way — outside the box.

Drake’s song talks about how he’s dealing with his fame since coming on the scene last year. • Read full story

After laying down tracks for his debut album Thank Me Later in his hometown of Toronto and traveling to Hawaii to record with Kanye West, Drake’s globetrotting brought him to Jamaica, where he’s reportedly working with dancehall artist Mavado. Drizzy has been holed up at Geejam Studios, but took a little time to pose for photos with fans and even received some herbal “gifts.”

He also shared a photo of a computer screen displaying the file name for the final mix of his first single “Over” under the heading “Almost Time Again.”

The wait is almost over. Drake has selected the first single from his highly-anticipated debut album.

The first offering from Thank Me Later will be called “Over.” Drizzy exclusively tells Rap-Up.com that the track was produced by fellow Canadian Boi-1da, who is responsible for two of his biggest hits, “Best I Ever Had” and “Forever.”

The Young Money signee went through a painstaking process before choosing the right single. “Before I start working a single, I need to get about 10, 15, 20 songs done so I can pick from a batch of music as opposed to just committing to something right now,” he told Rap-Up.com in November. “It takes a lot for me to put a song onto that list. It’s gotta be a real great song. It’s gotta be something that I feel is timeless and is better than anything that I’ve ever done.”

The album, due this spring, is expected to feature collaborations with Jay-Z (“Light Up”), Young Jeezy, Lil Wayne, and The-Dream (“Shut It Down”), as well as production from Kanye West, Noah “40” Shebib, and Tone Mason.

Source: RapUp

Listen to the new (old, but just released) song featuring Drake entitled, Mambo with the host artist being Fito Blanko.

Audio: Fito Blanko ft. Drake – Mambo (download?)

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Audio: Drake – Zone (Untagged courtesy of All Things Fresh) (download?)

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Audio: Drake – Baby Come With Me (download?)

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Future The Prince is Drake’s Official DJ. He just released a podcast to promote his upcoming website launch (designed by me of course). Expect many more to come and we will share them all with you either here or on our Twitter page. Enjoy it and share it with your friends!

Audio: Future The Prince – Podcast Vol. 001 (download?)

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Audio: Download: Drake – It’s Been A Pleasure(download?)

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Most successful pop musicians will eventually make a song or even a full album about the drawbacks of fame and fortune. Drake is a little unusual. He tackled the subject even before his debut album was done.

What might have looked like hubris in someone else, however, turned into prophesy for the 23-year-old Toronto singer, actor and rapper. Since the beginning of 2009, Drake has become hip hop’s new golden boy. His mix tape So Far Gone was one of the hottest music releases on the Internet this year, his single Best I Ever Had became a No. 1 hit last summer, and he’s competing for two Grammy Awards against the likes of Eminem, Jay-Z and Kanye West. All this, and Drake still hasn’t finished making his first album. • Read full story

Shout out to all the new artists we introduced you to this year such as Young Jeezy’s CTE members Boo Rossini, Bama and BW. We also can’t forget the GS Boys, the New Boyz and the cat with the craziest name in rap right now, Waka Flocka Flame.

The Mixtape Daily Fire Starter section has long been a hub for the up-and-comers in the game. We’ve seen some alumni such as Triple C’s, Masspike Miles, Big Sean, Kidd Kidd and Donnis make noise in 2009. Rap’s future is in great hands. All the veterans still doing their thing out there don’t have to step down. They don’t even need to make room; the rookies with staying power will carve out their own niche. And of all fresh talent we’ve featured in Fire Starter this year, there’s one who proved that he belongs at the head of the class. • Read full story

1. DRAKE “So Far Gone” (mixtape; octobersveryown.net) It’s not interesting because it’s a self-released mixtape, or because he’s a former Canadian child actor, though knowing those things makes the achievement of this record that much more impressive and unlikely. It’s that Drake is an architecturally precise rapper and a plaintive singer all in one, a combination others have tried and failed at. More important, it’s that this collection of songs about fame and love, and how the two don’t play well together, is cocksure but still poignant.

Love ‘em or hate ‘em. Listen to ‘em frequently or never dare to include ‘em on a playlist. Through strategy or sheer coincidence, Young Money are the 2009 Rolling Stones. With their debut compilation, We Are Young Money, set to hit stores in weeks (and the internet even sooner), the posse’s go-to-acts, Lil’ Wayne and Drake, stand at the forefront of the movement. Using a similar format as the Jay-Z/Kanye West installment from months earlier, the extensive lyrical history between these two is examined.

NOTE: Only records containing verses from both Drake and Wayne were used. Then again, that was still 17 records. Be prepared, this is long-winded.

1) Drake Feat. Lil’ Wayne – “Brand New” (Remix)

Drake: “Is this going to last?/Are we up on a pedestal?/ Are we moving too fast?/I feel like I’m in crazy competition with the past…”

Wayne: “This here is on some remix shit/It seems like everything I do they’re leakin’ it…”

Synopsis: Granted, Wayne used Drizzy’s flow (and recorded his verse after the original), BUT he used it damn near perfectly.

Drake: 0
Wayne: 1 • Read full story

Drake speaks about his collaboration with Jay-Z before it even happens. The track, titled “Light Up” was recorded for his 2010 debut album “Thank Me Later“. Do you guys think it’ll happen? Let’s wait & see.

Drake sits down with RollingOut TV to talk about his So Far Gone mixtape, the new album, Thank Me Later, and his loyalty to Lil’ Wayne. Keep reading for part two of the interview where Drake speaks about the “Best I Ever Had” music video. • Read full story

Drake’s ‘Best I Ever Had,’ actually garnered two Grammy nominations — but the streets love it too.

If Drake is not a household name for everyone just yet, the 23-year-old is on the front porch, ringing the bell. That he’s done it without even putting out an official album shows just how far he’s come in 12 months. What a journey it’s been for the Toronto native in 2009. • Read full story