La Roux x Bulletproof

I'm super-duper late....but this is fucking dope. Not fuckin' dope....FUCKING DOPE!

Power Live! x kanYe

Bow.

Why I am Thanking Him Now & Later...

Look. I know that everyone has their own opinions on the man pictured above. I felt compelled to share mine. Thank you, Drake. Yep, I said it. I thank you for bringing a new brand of excitement, love, hate, conversation, cheers, tears, new tabloid headlines with random R&B chicks, showmanship and authenticity to the music world. I don't plan on naming any names, but I get so irritated when I hear people say (especially true hip-hop heads) that Drake has no connection to hip-hop or that he's just a rich kid that ain't have to pull a whole buncha strings to get to where he is. STFU! *Ahhh* in my best Drake impression*



I first got introduced to Drake back in 08, when I first heard "Ransom," with Lil' Wayne. When I first seen dude, I ain't think he looked anything like he sounded on that track. Either way, I thought he was ill. Granted, Wayne destroyed that track, but Drake held his own as well. After that song, the next one that caught my attention and "won me over," was "Say What's Real." I already loved Ye's production on the original "Say You Will," track from 808's. I felt that Drake truly gave that beat justice, more so than any other MC that tried to go in on it.



At that point, I started listening to some of Drake's stuff prior to SFG. I instantly admired his respect and love for true hip-hop. I say that in reference to his collaborations with the likes of Little Brother and Slum Village, and even paying homage to Dilla on a track titled "Where To Now," on his "Comeback Season" mixtape. You can't deny his ill wordplay, and ability to where his heart on his sleeve (almost a little too much in my opinion).



Then there's "So Far Gone." I look at what "So Far Gone," did to the mixtape game, and compare it to what "Who Wants To Marry A Millionaire," did for reality TV. It changed the game! Not only did Drake go in on industry beats, but he incorporated his own in-house T-Dot production fam (40 & Boi-1Da) to create a new and unique sound that had not been displayed at that point in music. He also showed he (like myself) has a diverse taste in music with some of the choices in songs chosen to jump on (i.e. "A Little Bit," by Lykke Li, "Unstoppable," by Santigold, and "Call It Off," by Peter, Bjorn & John).



I instantly gravitated to Drake at that point because I saw a lot of myself in him. Now I was not born into a wealthy family by any means, although I DID grow up in upper-middle class suburbia. However, I too have not only a true love for hip-hop, but a truly diverse taste in music. Drake is added on to the number of artists that I feel have elements of SoulKlap in them (Kanye West, Lupe Fiasco and KiD CuDi round out the list). I believe that the true element that me and Drake share also is our upbringing, being raised in predominantly white areas. As a result, we were looked at funny, called corny or square for being articulate or all around different from everybody else. I'd like to send a big FUCK YOU to those individuals, you know who you are. Fortunately for me, Drake did that.



He truly is the LeBron of Hip-Hop. Had a number 1, Grammy-nominated single before even releasing a debut album. The same mixtape that he put out for free in one year, has almost SOLD 500,000 retail. That shit is unheard of. Now that he has released his debut, "Thank Me Later," which faired well in it's first week numbers (440-something thousand, these numbers they reporting keep bouncing around), only time will tell whether or not Drake is worthy of the hype. I don't believe in hyping somebody up like that before they get to legendary status, but I do believe in Drake. So much so that I wrote a mini-essay for readers to dissect, criticize, agree or just comment on.

Whew...that felt good. Carry on.


Edit: Oh, and NO I'm not 'Stan'in Drake. I'M JUST SAYIN!

REVOFEV x CuDi

This is your big brother....

Thanks Cudder

REVOFEV

Power x SoulKlap

Power_SoulKlap

You could say I'm startin to feel myself.

Cassidy X Praise

Wow!!!!

All praise due to GOD!

Light Up x SoulKlap

"They say a true genius needs no company/

Well I accompany myself/

But I wanna thank all the true fans

Out there

For helping me/

Become a company

Myself/"

Light Up_SoulKlap

Weatherman x Raps

This shit is actually illy....not even messin wit you. Peep.

Power x kanYe

I know I'm late but....

Power_KanYe West (Produced by S1 & Kanye West)

Update: Mixed and Mastered Version in link above.