Drake: Love him or hate him, there’s no denying he’s an international and emotional force to be reckoned with. Proven with the release of his latest album Views From The 6 – which set both streaming and sales records in it’s first week – the former Degrassi star turned emcee certainly won’t be leaving the limelight anytime soon.
Now, before you guys freak and question our angle here as we don’t usually (or ever) touch on the top 40 world, we promise we have good intentions.
Since we here at The Noise know little to nothing about sir Drizzy (or whatever his fans call him), we wanted to reach out to some artists and understand what it is that makes him so damn popular – especially with certain artists in the “heavy” music scene.
So, below are a few answers from our trusted Drake enthusiasts shedding some light on why Drake’s super stardom is both warranted and legitimate. After reading what bands like Volumes, Crown The Empire, PUP, Palisades and The Word Alive have to say about Mr. Aubrey Graham, if you’d like, you can join the masses and check out Views here – and if you don’t, that’s totally cool too.
Lou Miceli of Palisades
Why Do You Like Drake?
Drake is just on a whole different playing field. He’s never been afraid to get deeply emotional and caught up in his feels. Where other artists in his genre may stray away from that, he embraces the “heart on your sleeve” mantra and flourishes. He also has a great way of making such complicated emotions into lyrics by making lyrics so clever yet so simple. Its truly a gift. He’s like the hip-hop Jesse Lacey. There’s a certain conviction in his voice and melodies when he raps and sings. You just really believe him.
Why Do You Think Drake Gets A Lot Of Heat As An Artist?
Drake is the token “sad boy” of hip-hop. He gets a lot of heat because he’s comfortable with talking about his feelings while a lot of others in that genre choose the more cliché route. I always make the joke that Drake and a lot of other hip-hop artists right now must have gotten a hold of a Dashboard Confessional or Brand New album and been like “Yo, this is fire.” He kind of made it okay to be emotional again in hip-hop and sell it in a way that doesn’t seem like he’s a pussy. The best part is if you’ve ever felt some type of way about something, there’s most likely a Drake song for it.
Favorite Drake GIF/Meme?
My favorite Drake memes are the ones that he made for Meek Mill after he buried him in “Back To Back” and had it playing behind him at OVO fest. Also, the If You’re Reading This It’s Too Late generator, not to mention the Views Mini Drake generator was awesome [laughs].
Favorite Drake Song?
Man, there’s too many that I have. I really resonate with “Marvin’s Room” though.
Raad Soundani of Volumes
Why Do You Like Drake?
Many artists were successful in combining singing and rapping but Drake did it in a way that was very catchy and still unique in its delivery and content. He comes from a place where not many rappers are from and that brings a sense of mystery.
Why Do You Think Drake Gets A Lot Of Heat As An Artist?
This is just my word on it – correct me if I’m wrong – [but I think it’s] because he sings along with his rapping. Many rappers will think that’s soft and diss him for that. Also the fact that he rose to the top so quickly, people will throw shade at you no matter what. He was the kid from Degrassi who under [Lil] Wayne, became one of the most popular and successful artists today. Wayne is a business man and I’m sure he knows singing is one of the most popular ways of artists expressing themselves and Drake could do that plus rapping. Win win situation for both parties.
Favorite Drake GIF/Meme?
I guess it’s the one where he’s in character form from the Degrassi show, he’s got his teeth photoshopped out and looks like a fucking frog or some shit smiling. It’s pretty fucking hilarious.
Favorite Drake Song?
I’m gonna have to go with the entire If You’re Reading This It’s Too Late tape, ‘cause it was a fire mixtape from Drake. Oh and “Big Rings” ‘cause it brings out the champion environment.
[Ed. Note: Sorry guys, this was the only “Big Rings” video we could find. Still pretty sweet though. The power is yours! (And if you didn’t get that quote, look it up.)]
Andy Leo of Crown The Empire
Why Do You Like Drake?
He’s the perfect bridge between rap and new age hip-hop. He appeals to every demographic because he’s got a cool urban spin to genuinely good songs.
Why Do You Think Drake Gets A Lot Of Heat As An Artist?
Being submerged in a rap culture that glorifies partying hard, doing drugs, getting violent, and suddenly BOOM! He’s the dude who’s singing about feelings and thought-provoking, introspective ways of approaching some subjects that weren’t your run-of-the-mill hip-hop. I think when these kinds of shifts in what’s popular come about, there will always be people there saying it’s wack.
Favorite Drake GIF/Meme?
100% Drake the type of…
Favorite Drake Song?
Off the new album “Child’s Play” and “Redemption” and “Shot For Me” off of Take Care.
Zack Hansen of The Word Alive
Why Do You Like Drake:
I’ve loved Drake since before a lot of people really fucked with him, and yes I got an OVO Owl on my guitar [laughs]. I think Drake is ahead of the game and it inspires me ‘cause he was kind of the underdog before Lil Wayne picked him up. It makes musicians like me, who have to fight for a chance, feel like I can make it.
Why Do You Think Drake Gets A Lot Of Heat As An Artist:
I think any artist getting “heat” is doing something right, despite what people say about him – at least they are talking about him!
Favorite Drake GIF/Meme:
Honestly, I don’t really play into the whole meme thing but I will check them out and find a favorite!
Favorite Drake Song:
It’s probably a tie between “Worst Behavior” and “Summer Sixteen.”
Steve Sladkowski of Pup
Why Do You Like Drake?
It’s impossible to overstate how important it is for Toronto to have an artist of Drake’s stature representing the city on the global stage. While Toronto is known in many underground circles as a hotbed for music and culture, we’ve never really had a musician/pop culture figure that has had as much influence as Drake does right now. Plus he writes fucking bangers.
Why Do You Think Drake Gets A Lot Of Heat As An Artist?
He’s an emo rapper. Think about how patently ridiculous that premise is and yet, he’s gotten richer off of bearing his feelings and emotions than most rappers who act hard as fuck. It must be infuriating for people. Not me though.
Favorite Drake GIF/Meme?
Favorite Drake Song?
“Take Care” feat. Rihanna. It’s absurd to me that there could be a Top 40 crossover hit where the bridge samples Gil Scott-Heron. Also, big shout out to Jamie XX for getting paid twice on that track (one for production and once for the use of that Gil Scott-Heron sample that he… also produced).
