Drake is at the top of his game at the moment thanks to the enormous success of Certified Lover Boy. Ask some rap fans, and he’s already in the G.O.A.T. conversation. But rewind to before he released his debut album, and Drizzy was a hungry, buzzing upstart with lofty aspirations.
In the latest segment released from his VladTV interview, Hip Hop legend Ed Lover recalled a conversation he had with Drake on a plane trip from New York City to Washington, D.C. during his early career. Even back then, the Toronto native aspired to be mentioned alongside rap greats such as Biggie, JAY-Z and Nas.
“I remember one time I was going to D.C. and I was leaving out of JFK, and I saw Drake!” Lover said. “It was early in his career, before he was this big superstar. He had the mixtapes out and he was bubbling crazy. And it just so happens he was going to D.C. for something and we ended up sitting right next to each other on the plane.
“We had a nice conversation for the 40-minute flight and I asked him ‘What is your ultimate goal? When you’re done in your career and you’re an OG, how do you want to be remembered?’ And he said, ‘I just want to be remembered in the same breath as JAY-Z, Biggie, Nas, Rakim, [Big Daddy] Kane and all of them.
“And I think for his generation, that’s who he is.”
Drake has certainly put in work to achieve those expectations he placed on himself all those years ago. He continues to break Billboard records left, right and center and is a force to be reckoned with on music streaming platforms. Spotify even placed him on their 2010s Hip Hop Mount Rushmore alongside J. Cole, Kendrick Lamar and Nicki Minaj.
Drake Crowned Biggest Rapper Of 2021 - By Spotify
Earlier this month, Drake notched another Spotify accolade after being crowned the biggest rapper of 2021. He landed at No. 4 on their “Top Artists of 2021 Global” list behind Bad Bunny, Taylor Swift and BTS, with the late Juice WLRD being the only other rapper on the list.
As for the most-streamed artists in the U.S. this past year, Drake took the top spot, with Taylor Swift, Juice WRLD, Kanye West and Bad Bunny trailing him.
I don’t care what no one says Drake is not a hip-hop legend, he a singing rap legend, Drake didn’t bring anything special to hip-hop nor did he reinvent himself with his own ideas all he does is Jack other peoples swag and call it his own. no Innovation nor creative imagination like his ancestors, (non melanin side)
Only drake I like was b4 he got signed by ymcmb.
Drake is a calculated formula, consumed for mass consumption. A non threatening light skinned guy who sings, caters to women an people who really don’t like hardcore rap, and get him an occasssional feature with artists who have street cred. They could have taken any one of a 100 dudes and made “Drake.”
100 people is a small amount. as much as you might hate him, his longevity is really all that needs to be said. A lot of dudes are manufactured, but not all of them have the same run this guy had.n
“Non melanin side” lol is that you Nick? Why you have to be racist about it? Highest voted comment so you’d think this site would see it yet not removed. Hmm funny how that works. Black guys just cant be happy. Why you guys always mad and jealous? Can’t be happy for a guy even if he’s half black? What if I were to say that half non melanin side was the smart half of him and the reason he’s at where he is at on the charts? Making smart moves. Black people fight against racism and then become racist. Dumbest thing ever.
ya i hear you bro. i mean im black and i agree with your comment. the melanin comment was out of line. it probably is nick lol talking about how people with no melanin are evil which is obviously a racist statement and then next thing ya know hes out on the streets in a black lives matter protest.
That’s impossible because he didn’t go through everything everyone he wants to be compared to went through. He’s a good performer, has great music that I don’t listen to but he doesn’t have street credit like the rest. Wish him more success but he’s not of that caliber or cloth. I’m surprised he hasn’t won an academy award for his ongoing performance.
It’s not about hating but Drake isn’t up there with the rest of the big boys because he is fake.
Drake is for girls, acts like he’s hard when he clearly isn’t, and doesn’t even write his own lyrics which are bad anyways. He’s not even hip hop. Why we acting like this guy deserves to be in a goat conversation? Because of sales? Because of girls buying and streaming his music? If we went off of music sales in general then BTS and Taylor Swift are basically the greatest thing ever in recent history. Stop bringing up sales. Means nothing. If you bring up sales and longevity in rap then Eminem is the best rapper ever with that mentality. Drake is still not even close.