Drake

When you’ve worked with Eminem, Jay-Z, and Mary J. Blige, who else is left? Drake tells Rap-Up.com which three artists he would most like to collaborate with.

Drizzy desires to connect with a certain “Smooth Operator” for his full-length debut Thank Me Later, due in early 2010. “I really, really wanna do a joint with Sade,” he shares.

He also has another elusive rapper and a rock band on his short list. “I really wanna get André 3000 on the record. And I really wanna do a song with Kings of Leon.”

The “Successful” 23-year-old has already reached out to some of them about making his dreams a reality. “Yeah, slowly, but surely. We’ll see…”

Shouts to Rap-Up.

Drake discusses Thank Me Later

One year ago, Aubrey Drake Graham was best known for playing Jimmy Brooks on “Degrassi: The Next Generation.” Fast forward to 2009 and the Canadian actor-turned-rapper has a No. 1 record (“Best I Ever Had”) and Jay-Z, Kanye West, and Eminem on his résumé. He’s also readying the most-anticipated debut from a rapper since 50 Cent with next year’s Thank Me Later. The Young Money rookie has been holed up in Toronto over the past couple months recovering from knee surgery, but checked in with Rap-Up.com for an update on his eagerly-awaited album.

How far along are you in the recording process?
I’m still in an early stage. This is my first album and it takes a lot for me to commit to a song and be like, “I like this enough that I’m gonna put it on the album.” Every artist will have their album list, like these are the songs I’m considering. It takes a lot for me to put a song onto that list. It’s gotta be a real great song. It’s gotta be something that I feel is timeless and is better than anything that I’ve ever done. Towards the end, you listen to it as a full body of work and start to appreciate certain songs that you may not have seen the vision for initially. I’m gettin’ there though. I’mma get it done. Next few months, it’ll be done.

Who have you worked with so far?
I haven’t really worked with that many people. I sat down with Pharrell for a couple days, but it was very, very early in the recording process, so I wasn’t sonically sure what I wanted. I’m about to sit with Timbaland. Kanye and me have a lot of work to do together, and then other than them, just [Noah "40" Shebib] and Boi-1da who did the majority of the mixtape [So Far Gone] with me.

There are reports that “Shut It Down,” featuring The-Dream and produced by 40, is the first single from the album. Is that true?
No, it’s not the first single. It deserves to be a single at some point, but it’s not the first single.

Have you selected a first single?
No, not yet. I have trouble doing that. I’d say I have about six songs done and to pick from just six is hard for me ’cause I don’t know what else is going to come. With So Far Gone, before “Best I Ever Had” became the single, the entire project was done and it just happened to be the most commercially viable, catchiest song. I like picking my singles like that. Now obviously my management hates that because that doesn’t give them much time to work it. But I’m a big believer that everything should happen organically and if it doesn’t then something’s not right, and I don’t really want to change my formula. Before I start working a single, I need to get about 10, 15, 20 songs done so I can pick from a batch of music as opposed to just committing to something right now.

Does the album have a release date?
Not right now, but I’m hoping for February.

Rihanna and Drake

Rihanna’s fans are not the only ones rooting for her. One of her most famous supporters, hip-hop star Drake, has heard his peer’s new music and is sharing his excitement over her fresh start exclusively with Rap-Up.com.

“Rihanna has a great album,” the 23-year-old rapper said after hearing the pop singer’s fourth effort Rated R. “She’s got great records that she’s using, she’s got great records that she’s not even using that she has for a later date. I’m excited for her. She deserves everything that she gets.”

Although he has nothing but positive things to say, Drizzy was surprised by the selection of “Russian Roulette” as the album’s first single. “It’s a cool little record. I don’t know if personally that’s the route I would’ve gone for a single choice,” he told Rap-Up.com. “I can only say that because I’ve been around and heard the music that she’s coming with other than that record.”

But he doesn’t fault her for the decision. “We all make personal choices. It’s like the same way I shot a certain type of video for ‘Best I Ever Had.’ Maybe that’s where she’s at emotionally right now,” he offered. “I think if I heard it in the mix with the other ones, I would probably find more appreciation for it as opposed to it being the only thing that people are hearing from her right now after so long.”

While the Stargate production he recorded with Rihanna didn’t make the final cut, he hopes it will eventually find a home. “We did do some great work together and hopefully it’ll find it’s place on some project one day. The record we have is great. It’s a special record, so for it not to make it, I know something had to click. It’s all good. I think the project’s gonna be great no matter what.”

According to Drake, his fashionable friend is ready to start anew after dealing with the intense media scrutiny of the past nine months. “There’s been so much media attention swirling around her, that in order for her to get back to the music, she couldn’t have any ties to any of the stuff that’s been going on. I think she just wants to start fresh.”

Spotted at Rap-Up.com via ATF.

Drake responds to Lil Waynes sentencing

Not even jail time can faze Lil Wayne. The rap superstar is keeping his head up in the wake of his expected year behind bars over attempted gun possession. He is scheduled to be formally sentenced in February. Wayne’s Young Money affiliate Drake speaks exclusively with Rap-Up.com about how his friend is coping with the news and how he’ll be holding down the fort when his boss takes leave.

Weezy is not dwelling on his impending prison stint and is instead using his time to focus on what he does best, making music and money. “He’s dealing with it well. Wayne’s not usually gonna open up emotionally and tell you how he’s really feeling about anything,” Drizzy tells Rap-Up.com. “He’s kinda more concerned about getting as much music as he possibly can, so that when he’s in there, people are still satisfied musically with Lil Wayne product, and that’s just the mind of a true businessman.”

Drake, who’s set to release his debut album Thank Me Later early next year, will keep business booming in Weezy’s absence. “I’ll just do what I can to keep the whole Young Money/Cash Money team going, and I just want to play my part as a team member and keep the brand strong until the boss gets home.”

Despite the circumstances, Drizzy’s cohort remains in high spirits. “We spoke last night, but it wasn’t about that though. He was making jokes. He was in a good mood. He’s always in a good mood when he’s in the studio making music,” shares the 23-year-old Canadian. “He’s like superhuman. I don’t think anything could really break his concentration or his zone when he’s in there.”

The rappers will link up next week when Young Money shoots the video for “Bed Rock.” “I get to see him next week, so hopefully I’ll be able to gauge where he’s at mentally, but I think he’s alright.”

The sentencing came as a surprise to Drake, but he believes the end result will be beneficial. “I definitely didn’t think this would be the outcome of it, but I hope it will add to him selling a million records again.” He has faith that Wayne can turn a negative into a positive. “It’s an unfortunate situation and I hope that he’ll be able to position it where his release is a day where everyone’s excited and they’re just excited about his new album. I hope he manages to market it the right way.”

Before he checks into prison, Lil Wayne will drop his long-awaited Rebirth album and the Young Money compilation, We Are Young Money, on December 15. His mixtape No Ceilings is available now.

Shout outs to Rap-Up magazine. Let us know your thoughts below in the comments section.