S. Samuel
Young Money's Drake recently updated fans on the status of his OVO Sound record label and why he has yet to make a push to add a hip-hop stud to the artist roster.
According to Drizzy Drake, he is very picky when it comes to hip-hop artists, notably in respect to lyrics.
“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 his 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$e to be honest. I told him, ‘man I hope tonight’s not our last conversation.’ It’s been cool, we kicked it and just went out and and got something to eat.” (RapFix)
Toward the latter part of Drizzy’s star-studded OVO Fest concert this month, Bad Boy Records CEO Diddy and Ma$e shared the stage to perform hits like “Feel So Good” and “Mo Money Mo’ Problems.”
J. Cole and Miguel (the latter co-headlining a fall tour with Drake) swooned female fans with radio hits “Power Trip” and “Adorn” before the rapper-singer went into an acoustic cover of “I Get Lonely Too.” The moment lead into an appearance from TLC, who did a medley of “Fanmail,” “Waterfalls” (with Lil’ Mama), and “Scrubs.” After taking fans back to his early hits such as “Successful,” “Best I Ever Had,” “Forever,” and “Over,” it was time for a rare reunion as Diddy and Ma$e joined together on stage for the first time in years. The duo showed their chemistry of the 90s as they ran through No. 1 hits “Victory,” “Feel So Good,” “Mo’ Money Mo’ Problems,” and “All About the Benjamins.” (Miss Info TV)
Coincidentally, early August rumors claimed Drake may have inked Bad Boy’s Cassie to the team.
R&B singer and occasional model Cassie, who had one of the biggest 2006 rhythm-crossover hits with the minimal electro Ryan Leslie produced “Me & U” and has since then been signed under Sean Diddy Combs exclusive Bad Boy/Interscope distribution partnership, has now inked another deal with Drake and Noah “40? Shebib’s OVO Sound, their first big signing. Riding high on the release of her new mixtape RockaByeBaby, well-received by fans and critics, Cassie is now preparing for a new single later this year, followed by her sophomore LP next Spring. (Necole Bitchie)
