S. Samuel
NCAA superstar quarterback Johnny Manziel has the Internet in a frenzy after showing off an OVO tattoo during his football season opener yesterday (August 31) in Texas.
The Texas A&M star’s ode to Young Money protégé Drake appears on his wrist.
With all the attention given to Johnny Manziel’s autograph celebration and his three touchdowns this afternoon, it’s extremely easy to miss the neat little tattoo on the quarterback’s wrist. Manziel still found time to get himself an OVO tattoo through all the adventures he’s had this past year. Now every time ESPN zooms into Manziel in action–which will undoubtedly happen multiple times this season because he’s Johnny Manziel and because it’s ESPN–you’ll see OVO right there in black ink. (Complex)
Johnny and Drake reportedly share a relationship dating back to earlier this year.
This isn’t a slick, subconscious way of advertising Drake’s upcoming Nothing Was The Same. Manziel has been building a relationship with Drake since the two met in Toronto during this year’s spring break. Apparently, the meeting has changed Manziel’s life for the better according to him, although it’s not exactly clear how yet if he’s getting benched for misconduct this early in the season. In July, Drake gave Manziel a shoutout after SEC Media Day for the way he handled himself, so the relationship between the two has goes beyond fandom. There’s also that “money finger rub,” which it’s actually not. It’s a reference to TOPSZN, a movement associated with OVO. OB O’Brien, who’s part of the movement and a close friend of the artist, shouted out Manziel on Instagram for the celebration. Who knew Manziel was this tied to Drake’s circle? This quarterback never ceases to surprise, and this is off the football field we’re talking about. (Complex)
Recently, Drake explained his resistance in signing a rapper to his OVO Sound label.
“I just sit at home every night and think about how I’m going to be the best rapper, so I don’t think I’m ready to sign another rapper yet. At the end of the day, I would never ignore anyone with talent. I’m not selfish. I would love to see another rapper thrive. It’s just that bars, at this stage in my life, are a funny thing to me. I have to hear something extremely unique and exciting to really be into it. We’re just assembling a label of great music. I don’t think people understand how talented Party [Next Door] is or these guys 40 signed. I’m very confident in the label we have right now. We only have two acts, but it’s very strong.” (XXL Mag)
While OVO Sound has a few artists like PartyNextDoor and Majid Jordan signed to it, Drizzy expressed an interest in inking former Bad Boy Ma$e a few weeks ago.
“Funny enough, me and Ma$e have just been talking about what the future holds, about what he wants to do and anything is possible man. I told Ma$e, ‘You’re Ma$e, at the end of the day so I don’t think you should end up on anybody else’s label. … I would love to be involved. I know Kanye took an interest in Ma$e as well, because Ma$e is like the original fly guy that made it all look extremely fun, dancing. … There’s a lot of rappers who get out there and take themselves super serious and it’s not fun like that. They don’t laugh. Those guys got out there and proved why there are who they are. Two kings doing what they were born to do. I’d love to work with Ma$e to be honest. I told him, ‘man I hope tonight’s not our last conversation.’ It’s been cool, we kicked it and just went out and and got something to eat.” (RapFix)
