Drake and University of Kentucky basketball coach John Calipari have been friends since the Canadian superstar was 20 years old and obviously have a close relationship. The two took some time to catch up for the Hall of Fame coach’s Cal Cast podcast recently, where they discussed everything from the 30-year-old’s fears to announcing news of him hosting the first NBA Awards ceremony.
Here are six things we learned from Coach Cal’s nearly hour-long interview.
1. The 6 God’s Biggest Fear
Surely someone who refers to themselves as a “God” would be fearless right? Wrong. Drizzy opened up about what he fears the most, which is more than likely why he is one of the more successful Hip Hop artists of our generation, whether you respect him or not.
This is how Mr. Graham stays on top:
“At the end of the day, it’s all about the time you’re willing to put in. And my biggest fear is always when I’m not doing it, there’s someone else that’s doing it,” he explains. “That’s my biggest fear in life. When I’m not doing it. When I take a night off for my personal life. When I choose to decompress or relax, not in the back of my mind, in the front of my mind, my biggest fear is if somebody’s not relaxing right now and they’re going to stumble upon something. When you get in the studio you have these moments that ultimately propel your career, you have to ask yourself how many of those did I miss by not going in on this given night or that given night. Because creating music is sometimes all about timing. It’s all about me texting this producer at this certain time. It is truly stars aligning, music is. And it’s scary to think of all the opportunities you miss because you didn’t sit in there. You know? So I try to not let myself have that fear.”
The approach seems to be working for him. The Grammy Award-winning artist’s VIEWS sold more than 4 million equivalent album units and performed with a vengeance all last year as he toured across the country with his What A Time To Be Alive partner Future for their Summer Sixteen Tour. It was the highest-selling album of 2016 in the U.S.
Drake has yet to take a break and now we know why.
2. Sade Chose Jay Z Over Drake
One person Drake has always had aspirations of collaborating musically with is Sade Adu, a major influencer of his distinguished OVO vibe.
Despite buying him a present for his 30th birthday, when it came to collabing with the Nigerian songstress things didn’t go the way he expected. He was hoping to appear on Sade’s remix to 2010’s “The Moon and the Sky” produced by Drizzy’s go-to producer Noah “40” Shebib but the part went to Jay Z instead.
“I was this closing to being on it,” Drake reveals. “But my star wasn’t there yet for her to hear me out.”
In 2009, the OVO boss was trying to get Sade to lend her ethereal vocals to his Platinum-selling Thank Me Later album, to no avail.
3. He’s Producing & Hosting The 1st NBA Awards
Drake is no stranger to hosting award shows and he did such a memorable job when he hosted the ESPYs in 2014, with skits featuring Blake Griffin and former nemesis Chris Brown in the popular and hilarious “Drake vs. Griffin” skit. Now he’s taking his MC talents to the NBA.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cP6vaDuIm1U
“I’m actually producing and hosting the first annual NBA Awards this year,” he reveals. “Yeah, I pray you [John Calipari] can come, it’s only right. I get to take the reins on it – the ESPYs let me do great things, and I thank them a lot for that — usually awards shows are a bit restricted, but they let me do a lot at the ESPYs. [At the NBA Awards] we’ll just expand on that concept. I love hosting. I love being in a room full of iconic legendary people that I look up to, and having that pressure to make them laugh, and enjoy their evening, so hopefully that’ll go well.”
4. He Wants His Own Late Night Show
“I’m going to really start to position myself in the acting world and, hopefully, take some great roles,” Drake disclosed before discussing his dream of hosting a Johnny Carson-style late night talk show.
“My end goal, crazy enough is Johnny Carson and the appeal of that sexy late-night TV that’s funny,” he continues. “I hope to get there one day where I put on amazing suits every night. Just put on Tom Ford every night, sit with a glass of wine and laugh with people that I’ve spent years with, in the business or friends of mine, and give people something to watch every night that makes them feel good and laugh.”
The Tonight Show Starring Drake coming soon?
5. Why He’s Releasing “More Life” As A Playlist
An important part of Hip Hop is innovation and Drake wants to be part of that with the release of More Life. It’s not a mixtape and it’s not a studio album, it’s a playlist in collaboration with Apple Music that he refers to as “a body of work that [he’s] creating to bridge the gap between [his] major releases.” The goal is to give something for fans to listen to in between projects and keep them excited.
“I’m doing it to be remembered as a forward thinker. I want to be remembered … as an emotion-evoking artist,” he says.
Drake producer Ninteen85 spoke to Billboard recently and shared a similar sentiment when explaining why More Life is a playlist.
“That’s why he’s trying to call it a playlist because he has a bunch of people in a space, hanging out he’s so aware of what everybody else is doing musically that he likes to introduce new music and new artists to the rest of the world,” he said.
More Life was rumored for a 2016 release but has now been rescheduled for sometime in 2017.
6. The College Basketball Team He’d Play For
As far back as 2014, Drake has been spotted on the court hooping with the University of Kentucky basketball team and has rallied behind them through every single game.
Many accused Drake of being a bandwagon Kentucky fan because, how can a guy from Canada go so hard for a college basketball team that he appears to have no affiliation with?
Coach Cal set the record straight in the beginning of the podcast and revealed that he and Drizzy have been friends since the Canadian rapper was 20 and that he played the role of mentor for the budding star, so naturally he’d play for the Wildcats.
Listen to Drake’s full interview University of Kentucky basketball coach John Calipari below.
i aint reading
Jst finished reading, Drakes really an innovator.
Other people write his rhymes and make his beats for him. What exactly does he “innovate?” He uses Texas/Atlanta/New York slang, and sometimes sings with a Jafakin’ accent. He is from Canada. Could you elabotrate on his inovation?
Nice to peep into a winner’s mindset
Yes. He wins every other people write my rhymes and how far in the closet is he contest. He also has made ridiculous amounts of money, which 85% of ended up in Baby’s pocket. His pimp.
1. He’s gay 2. He’s trying to pretend he isn’t gay by pretending to date random irrelevant hos. 3. He wears turtlenecks to keep his throat warm in case a dick sucking contest breaks out. 4. He doesn’t write his own gay ass music (gay). 5. He uses a Jamaican accent and Texas, Atlanta and NY slang on tracks and when talking, when he is from Canada (again, gay). 6. He was an actual dark skinned black man. He was pumped so full of Baby’s semen while being bum battied over royalties that he became this mocha latte with too much milk in it color. P.S. He is GAY!!
sounds a lot like you’ve got cock on your mind. we see right through you, hypocrite.
Says the Canadian wearing a turtleneck with a semen milk mostache…
Lmao in case a dick sucking contest breaks out hahahahahahah
Sharath Cherian this is the guy we have to thank for all of this gay drake shyt. Your site name is hiphopdx. Drake is not hiphop. He’s a pop star, fix your site or Trump will deport you.
Trump should keep immigrants like Milli Vanilla here out…
7. He is still afraid to step out of the closet
Good looking out. Thanks for the assist.
Some people just understand how the world works. They accomplish many things. Drake, MJ, arnold schwarzenegger, Will smith…You either understand energy and how the universe works or you don’t. Usually the ones that don’t stay broke. They stay hating. It all comes down to dedicating time to get better. Understand and identify negative influences, they may be closer than you think. Never let their negativity infiltrate your mind and stop you from grinding and staying positive. Do you value 100 likes of your gucci belt on instagram? Or do you value being able to negotiate. Where are you putting your time…….
Right. So dude was a Nickelodeon actor. They out him in a studio, wrote his rhymes and made his beats. They have kept OVER 80% of his money. He is a negotiator? What exactly does he understand? Please elaborate.
Practicing Negotiating was just an example of time well spent, not pertaining to drake. But to answer your question I don’t think he’s doing any of the negotiating at this point. Im sure his manager and advisors connected to handle the jordan deal, apple deal, toronto raptors deal etc.
He understands where to put his time. Are you going to stay hustling in your dirty city or are you gonna hop a flight to go meet lil wayne. Thats what he did and look where he’s at. Who are these “they” you speak of?
They=Baby. He is no longer meeting with Wayne, dummy. Wayne isn’t fucking with any of the Young Money artists because they are all being reamed by Baby over royalties (like Wayne was). Do you live in a Cave? Why has Wayne and Niki disappeared practically? Dummy. Cold in Canada huh? My “dirty city” is Venice beach, Los Angeles. More actors and rock stars per square inch than anywhere on the planet. You are putting a Nickelodeon actor, who doesn’t write his rhymes or beats, in the same category as Michael Jordan or Majic Johnson and Arnold? I have never seen Arnold talk like a thug from Texas/Atlanta/New York and then give a speech with a Jamaican accent when he is from Austria. Fucktard. Let the people with a college education make the points here. Maybe study up on the Milli Vanilla Ice idiot you are supporting. You blind consumer POS. Hip-Hop has become garbage because of morons like yourself. Thanks. You are probably 13 years old.
Bodied. I was referring to him flying out to see wayne before his cash money deal. You’re very passionate about this and maybe you should be. Re-read what I wrote as I didn’t say I even like drake. No one called your city dirty, you should be proud living in Venice beach – Save this energy and put it somewhere useful, it will pay dividends $$$
Oh so you’re one of those Captain Save A Hoe guys, where you say you don’t like the guy but still wanna defend him. Gotcha.
Dude. Makonnen already owned up. It’s 2017 Aubrey. Time to live your life the way you really want to. Be the person you are inside. All of your fans are on the same page as you are, or at least curious. Just make out with Shabib and proclaim your love dude. The world is ready. Your community needs you! It would explain the haircut, turtlenecks, the ventriloquism of other people’s accents (work those lips and throat). We all no why you do the Kardashian lip shit while taking Instagram selfies. You do too. We also know why you like watching basketball games so much. Canadian. Doesn’t ice hockey exist anymore, or are their sticks too small? You are a REAL diva!
bla bla bla bla bla your music fucking sucks!
Someone wants Drake to be gay so bad wonder why
Says the flip top head maple syrup anus…
Drizzaveli has been running shit for the past 8 years. Every diss or insult you miserable haters can come up with clearly isn’t affecting Drake’s career in any way. Back in 2010, y’all were saying his 15 minutes were almost up. Well, this is the longest 15 minutes I have ever seen. The 6ix God ain’t going nowhere, bitches. #DrakeIsLoveDrakeIsLife #MoreLife
I wondered when this queer would tune in. Number 1 Drake dick sucker. O matter what. Saying Drake Fucked JLo. Frake doesn’t have to get back a t Buddens. Saying Drake doesn’t use ghost writers, then when someone posted the interview where he himself admitted it he changed his tune. Batty boy!!
Could one of this guys supporters please explain how they justify his existence. He doesn’t write his rhymes, he doesn’t make beats and he lip syncs at shows. Facts. He also uses American street slang and sings with a Jamaican accent etc. when he is a child actor from Canada. Seriously.
Drake dose write his own music first off , Drake is a highly relatable person in the realm of vibes experience in real life situation ,he has sound defining albums which go deep into topics that rappers never went into other then Kanye given very personal experiences with a very surreal sound that puts you in a certain mood ,A lot of street slang yes he has used and created himself ,not all people ave to make there beats, He brought us The Weeknd so he gets W for that period, etc….. listen toTake Care or So Far Gone to of his best albums ,his music isn’t to brighten the world in a new way its to sit in reflect on the memories you had trials and tribulations of the highs and lows of life giving you confidence and also showing you confidence isn’t something only you go through …its relatable
He dose right his music? Spelling? He says that his music writing is a “collaborative experience” between himself and others. He was sued more then once for credits on “Views” and settled. He HIMSELF has admitted he doesn’t write his own rhymes. His “experiences?” Started from the bottom? He has been rich since a teenager, he lived in a gated community with his mom. Again. Things he has admitted to. He talks about moving slow (lean) uses terms like “feeling me” and hater” hyphy whic is all Valifornia slang. In “one dance” and all throughout that garbage album “Views” he uses a Jamaican accent. He is not Jamaican. He is not American. He is Canadian. There are over 50 people credited on his album. Over 50. So basically you are convinced that a Big Mac is a rea hamburger, and the world’s greatest because of sales. you are a blindfolded consumer sheep idiot. Probably 13 years old. He will be exposed as gay soon, or will do something stupid and everyone will turn on him. Ten years from. Ow the one semi friend you have will be like “you used to be the biggest Drake fan.” You will say “no I wasn’t, I liked one song, I knew he was fake.” LOL. Dumbass.
gated community with his mom? LOL man im from where hes from….aint no gated community hahaha, houses are small, but expensive cause of the location. million dollar houses, Toronto is one of the most expensive places to live! so funny.
Sharath Cherian this is the guy we have to thank for all of this gay drake shyt. Your site name is hiphopdx. Drake is not hiphop. He’s a pop star, fix your site or Trump will deport you.
bitch ass pop puppet doesn’t have to worry about taking time off because he has 100 others living down in the ovo sweatshop writing his songs and working on projects while he’s out with j-lo. because he was a shitty child actor doesn’t mean he has what it takes to be be a REAL actor or a talk show host…idiot, whoever writes his rhymes might as well hold his mic too. #DRAKEISFAKEDRAKEISWACK