Prior to signing with RCA Records, Bryson Tiller was offered the chance to ink a deal with Drake’s OVO Sound imprint.
During an Bryson Tiller’s interview with Rob Markman for the Red Light Special podcast, the Louisville, Kentucky artist recalled how Drake’s offer came about.
“Nah, that was a real thing,” Tiller replies when asked whether the opportunity to sign with OVO Sound was a reality or just Internet speculation. “Drake and [Noah ‘40’ Shebib] had been talking to me and one day I got a text from Drake. I sent him a few songs, he listened to it and was like, ‘Yo, I love this song.’ And then the next text, before I could even text back, was, ‘I really wanna sign you to OVO.’ I stared at it for a long time and then I text my manager Neil… Those were his exact words, ‘I really wanna sign you to OVO.’”
Later on in the interview, Bryson Tiller spoke on passing up the offer.
“It was hard for me,” Tiller says. “As much as the whole Timbo thing made me feel like, ‘I’m buzzing out here, I’m about to do it,’ there was a lot of times where I really got discouraged and was just like, ‘Man, this ain’t gonna work. I don’t even wanna be an artist,’ just thinking negative things. I’m a real pessimistic person at times. So I just started thinking, ‘I need to sign to OVO or else I’m not gonna be anybody. I need to go ahead and do this, this is what I want. This is how it’s supposed to happen. I did the songs, the dope songs, Drake heard them and now he wants to sign me.’ I thought that was the plan, or God’s plan, but everything just went differently. That was one of the biggest decisions I ever had to make in my life. I’m super naïve when it comes to making business decisions. I signed to two independent labels before and neither of them worked out. This time, I had a whole team… We talked to 40 about it and even 40 was like, ‘This is not a bad deal from RCA’ so we just did it.”
Bryson Tiller’s interview with the Red Light Special podcast can be heard below:
For additional OVO Sound coverage, watch the following DX Daily:
A year from now: “Bryson Tiller…whoever he is….regrets not signing to OVO Sound when he had the chance”
Lol nope. You’re wrong. I bet he’s glad he didn’t sign to OVO. I like drake a lot but he was just gonna use Bryson for his talent and just ruin his career
Lol nope. You’re wrong. I bet he’s glad he didn’t sign to OVO. I like drake a lot but he was just gonna use Bryson for his talent and just ruin his career
Career suicide must be what bryson tiller craves because no one in their right mind would turn down a chance to work with drake.
This was a smart move. None of the guys who signed with Drake has had their album drop, despite Drake saying they would this past spring. In fact, you don’t hear anything about them at all. Not a good sign
Fuck you talking about, AJ? ILoveMakonnen, Majid Jordan and Roy Woods all had EPs drop this past year. OVO is the best in the game right now. #DrakeIsLoveDrakeIsLife
Exactly. In addition, hotline bling rose to no.2 this week and there are serious talks about it being the no.1 song in america next week. When’s kenny lamer gonna have one?
Roy Woods is way better than Bryson Tiller anyways.
None of the OVO artists dropped any albums. OVO sucks. Plus, Hotline Shit will never be number one. And nobody even knows who Roy Woods is.
You’re dumb af. Roy woods has one hit song with drake and that’s Drama. Al of a sudden he’s better than Tiller? Nah bro, Roy woods is wack compared to him
I wonder if Drake wanted to sign him as a ghostwriter. A new Quinten Miller, if you will
Nah, that was dr dre that wanted to sign bryson as a ghostwriter.
Dr Dre has nothing to do with Bryson Tiller, though. Drake needed a new ghostwriter.
Why can’t I post my comment, DX?! Huh?! #DrakeIsLoveDrakeIsLife
Rca is a major label ,,,,, ovo is not a major label ,, it’s just a lot of different people that’s going to get a cut of the money before the artist ,, so good job on turning it down and signing with rca
you dont know the music bizz. you’ll see much more of your money signing to a independent. major labels are the ones who suck you dry. they just make you famous.
Finally Louisville Got Somebody To Put On The Market. S/O To My 502 Niggas.
All you guys saying he made the wrong move just don’t understand how things work. Most of these big name artists start labels just feed off other artists creativity. I mean lets be honest Roy Woods, ILoveMakonnen and PND will never be as big as Drake (well maybe PND has a chance but I doubt it), but Drake feeds of their creativity and ideas. That’s why The Weeknd didn’t sign to him
Now every now and then an artist will sign another artist and they will become a star but that’s not what happens most of the time. Do you think Cozz, Bas etc. will ever be as big as Cole? Of course not, but Cole will just feed of the creativity and ideas for his future albums. I know you guys thing rap crews are about your homies on and showing love to upcoming talented artists but its not, its all smoke and mirrors just to feed ideas to the top dude.
Bryson made the right choice, he already has similarities with Drake and if he signed to OVO, he would have to take a back seat and will Drake would feed of his creativity. Now he can grow into his own artist and become a star in his own right
Totally true bro , they use people for their creativity and nothing more, kanye west is a perfect example. The weekend made a smart move to leave and do his own thing.
Except Lil Wayne though. He took Drake and Nicki Minaj in and now they’re the biggest stars in the game.
first and foremost 502 stand up and salute my lil homie….I known dude so since he was little…he been dedicated…been a studio rat, I remember when he started out recording in my home boy living room real talk…and to all yaw haters…little do you already know, dude been ghostwriting for Drake…he done wrote at least to hits for him on the low…that’s old news over here…But youngin got talent so don’t hate on the young man…glad he didn’t sign w Drake cuz the streets don’t really roc w Drake over here…we don’t mess w Mills either…but definitely ain’t listening to no mushy ass drake….nothin but G shyt gets play in the Vill
What hits?
exchange and sorry not sorry are two of them.
Nigga, most of your “lil man’s” music i mushy. Not saying its bad, but the fuck do you mean? Like, reason why people like Bryson is cause the nigga sounds like a young Drake.
but who tf is roy woods??
Next On OVO
”C O N S E Q U E N C E S O F A P R E S E N C E (E P)” By Canadian Producer/Artist :
Silk E .
OVO rocks bruhhh….tiller will fit in
how can I get some one to listen to my daughter music.
can someone help with that?
Eddie Smith
Love Bryson Tiller no matter wat label… Lord plz Save him fa me