[HILLARY] When you’re as big of an entertainer as Drake, collaborating with another artist
can single-handedly change the trajectory of their entire career.
While some have skyrocketed on the wave of a Drake feature, others have had mixed results.
So we’re taking a look at some of Drizzy’s most pivotal collabs to see just how powerful
the Drake co-sign really is.
Back in 2012, Drake recruited Compton’s Kendrick Lamar and Harlem’s A$AP Rocky ” as
openers for his Club Paradise tour, putting them on to flocks of new eyes.
[DRAKE] There’s people I could put on here that the label wants me to put on here, but I fight
for this one reason like I fight to promote what I love.
I fight to promote the music I truly love.
[HILLARY] The two were riding the success of their recent projects ‘Section.80’
and ‘Live. Love. ASAP.’
Both highly credit Drake for their stardom.
[KENDRICK LAMAR] You know it’s a lot of artists out there, man, that could’ve
been on tour with dude.
And for him to just sit there and respect my music and get the same mutual respect,
it’s a blessing within itself.
So shout-out to Drizzy.
[A$AP ROCKY] The only person that put on for me when I didn’t have nobody was Drake...
He didn’t want to sign me.
It was just like, Yo, that’s raw talent.
You gotta shine.
I’ma see to it.
I forever, forever owe Drake.
[HILLARY] They all appeared on Rocky’s 2013 smash “F***in’ Problems.”
Drake later canonized the moment on 2016’s “4PM In Calabasas.”
[HILLARY] In 2013, Migos landed their first Billboard Hot 100 spot when Drake joined them
on a remix of their track “Versace.”
[TAKEOFF] We been it before he got on.
We just needed that little extra push, and that’s what brought to the table.
[HILLARY] But Pierre “Pee” Thomas, CEO of Migos’s Quality Control Music label,
had mixed emotions on the Drake feature, saying in an interview quote:
[HILLARY] But such a rapid rise in success can be overwhelming and sometimes fleeting.
Like Drake remix of ILoveMakonnen’s 2014 cut “Tuesday.”
[MAKONNEN] I was the one to get blessed with the Drake feature, and so having that type of
exposure puts you into a whole other lane and stuff.
[HILLARY] Makonnen later signed to Drake’s“OVO Sound with Canadian acts PARTYNEXTDOOR,
Majid Jordan, Roy Woods and more.
At the time, fans were awaiting the project
‘I LOVE MAKONNEN 2’ which the label delayed and
in 2016 he split from label after some fireworks. And later spoke on how he didn’t feel like
he wasn't really the best fit.
[MAKONNEN] They was just looking at me like almost like, Damn, you too talented or some shit.
[HILLARY] Drake’s 2015 “Hotline Bling,” was directly inspired by Virginia artist DRAM’s
debut single, “Cha Cha.”
“Hotline Bling” peaked at No. 2 on the Billboard Hot 100 and remained in
the Top 10 for 19 weeks, eclipsing “Cha Cha” which was DRAM’s debut single.
He spoke out on Twitter, saying quote:
[HILLARY] In an interview, Drake compared the rewrite to the dancehall tradition of
multiple artists recording over one riddim or instrumental.
"You know, like in Jamaica, you’ll have a riddim and it’s like, everyone has
to do a song on that....Imagine that in rap, or imagine that in R&B.”
[HILLARY] Even the now successful artist, The Weeknd, found his early work with Drake
to be a mixed bag.
Many of the songs he had written for his debut project ‘House of Balloons’
ended up on Drake’s 2011 album, ‘Take Care.’
In a 2013 interview, The Weeknd said quote,
[HILLARY] Memphis’s BlocBoy JB had a life-changing 2018 with the Drake-accompanied “Look Alive,”
but has yet to replicate the success.
[BLOCBOY JB] A song with Drake,
nobody can’t get that.
And for me to get it for free, that shit just love.
[HILLARY] Miami’s City Girls got an all-star treatment from Drake in 2018 with a guest
spot on his megahit “In My Feelings" and its viral music video.
Drake even shouts out members in the chorus.
[J.T.] He been in the game for a long time , he is a legend.
But he still is hip with what's coming.
[HILLARY] Drake’s latest alliance is with
R&B starlet Summer Walker on a remix of her song, “Girls Need Love.”
Her newly released debut album ‘Over it’ even inspired Drizzy to write two new songs.
[SUMMER WALKER] Think he slid into the DMs and was like, ‘I saw your video on a bowling alley monitor
and thought it was cool.'
[HILLARY] As time shows, again and again, the Drake co-sign is a music industry
stamp of approval.
The 6 God’s even tapped into international markets, from collabing with Jamaican dancehall
artist Popcaan, to Nigeria’s WizKid, working with the UK’s Skepta and Jorja Smith and
speaking Spanish with Puerto Rico’s Bad Bunny.
And while it’s up to these artists to keep their flame going,
it's always keeps the heat on for Drake.
I’m Hillary with Genius News, bringing you the meaning and the knowledge behind the music.