Drake — just what Hip Hop needs: another gay rapper
I bumped into the rapper Drake over the weekend while out & about in Atlanta. The fact that he was surrounded by a massive entourage of hard legs with thick necks didn’t conceal his gay tendencies not one bit.
Naturally, me being as out of the loop as I am, I had NO clue who this Drake was. So I turned to someone on the fringes of the chaotic scene, who chided me for not knowing this dude was up next. “Miss Rose,” he said. “Drake’s the next R.Kelly. He’s Lil Wayne’s protege… he’s…” — All I needed to hear were the words “Lil Wayne’s protege” and he was dismissed.
It figures that Drake is just another skeleton in the Hip Hop boneyard who achieved fame by following the same lame formula: get co-signed by the biggest name in the business and you’re on top just like that with 15 minutes to spare.
A little background on 22-year-old Drake: he’s a biracial, Jewish Canadian who grew up with a silver spoon in his mouth in a wealthy enclave of Canada. Not exactly the hardscrabble life that Hip Hop heads typically glorify. But of course his privileged past will be conveniently swept under the rug in light of his affiliation with Lil Wayne and other pillars of the Hip Hop community.
Drake got his start in show biz as an actor on the popular Canadian TV series Degrassi, where he played a disabled teen. Since 2006 he’s been putting in work on mixtapes — the last of which, So Far Gone — made a little noise before being crowned “Mixtape of the Year.” Drake is currently in the studio working on a full length album with Wayne, struggling R&B singer Trey Songz and old man Jay Z.
Drake’s Internet presence is strong, but that presence apparently doesn’t follow him offline. They say Drake’s Atlanta concert sold out in 8 hours on Saturday. But only 500 tickets were sold, and only 200 bodies attended his Atlanta after party. Those figures aren’t exactly major considering that the Velvet Room nightclub packs in 5 times that many on an average night.
This entry was posted on Monday, May 4th, 2009 at 11:19 am and filed under Down low, Music news, New artist, New music, video . You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed or Trackback from your own site. This site is Gravatar enabled. Sign up to upload your own avatar.
23 Responses to “Drake — just what Hip Hop needs: another gay rapper”
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I do not think Drake is gay.
His music is on point.
im not really into his music yet but i did happen to pass the concert on the way to atlantic station sat and it was a very long line waiting to get into the building i had to actually look up at the billboard to see who was performing to see who all them people was in line for. the numbers would match up though seems like it was about 500 people in line
sorry sandra i know you think you are “sheeding light” on this cat….but we already knew this ****….and if you listened to any of his music you would know that he never claimed to be a gangster…..everybody already knows he’s the cat from degrassi…and he is a rapper/singer….he is NOT lil waynes protege….he was rapping long before wayne got to him….wayne like everyone else heard his mixtapes and jumped on the chance to get to him….if anybody influences his music its Trey Songz…he sounds almost just like him when he sings…….we are living in a time where you dont have to be selling weed and and in a gang to ber a rapper…there is something for everyone… but anyway i know you thought you was doing something but uh…nah not really lol….love ya anyway tho
When I first listen to one of his mixtapes I thought this cat was my baby Trey Songz at first but he’s alright I dont see what the hype is about though my baby trey have waaaay more sex appeal then this drake guy…
@Mizz Trey was at the gym Sat and I missed him. My co worker told me this morning.
I heard from reliable sources in the ATL that the concert had many, many people. The 500 or less estimate sounds incorrect.
Drake has a huge following in Canada and among those in the know in the US. He’s feeding the pulse of Hiphop on the underground right here in the US and while he’s from a privelged background that shouldn’t stop him or any other person from putting their talents to good use or from following their dreams.
And what’s really wrong with not being from the hard, grimy side of the tracks? JADA KISS is one of the best lyricists out there and we all know he didn’t grow up “hard”. In fact he’s known to have gone to private school & his mom used to go pick him up from school nearly every day. Doesn’t make him soft or fake now, does it?
Big up Drake!
@daisy
Im just sayin when I come out there me & you are going to the gym and Im gonna be all up on trey Im sorry I love all of his chest n bones!! lol!
I must be missing the part where it states he is gay. Or is this Sandra just putting Monkeys on peoples’ backs again.
Come on Sandra!!! I thought you attend Sunday church services?? Why are you so negative!!
Drake is a breath of fresh air in hip hop amoungst all the Soulja boi’s, TI’s, and whatever wack artist that can’t sell out a concert in 8 hrs.
I would’ve given my right pinky to be @ Drakes show.
Keep doin you Drake because your fans will always have your back.
^ TI is far from WACK and should NEVER be mentioned in the same breath as Souljah boy
You didn’t tell us what makes Drake gay? I think that’s kinda messed up to just call him out like that with no facts or evidence. I don’t think Drake is gay. I also don’t think he is trying to portray something he is not. He was on Degrassi, how can he try to play like he was this hard kid that sold drugs or something?
I also think he got picked up by lil Wayne from his mixtapes….they are HOT and the guy can rap. He’s stated that it’s hard to get play and recognition in Canada, so why not put out mixtapes so others can hear?
look I don’t know Drake from a can of paint, but are you saying you have to grow up struglling and slinging? One of the best out right now is Ye who grew up priveleged. How bout basing opinions of artist on thier actual musical talent?
to hell what sandra is talkin’ bout…drake is HOT!! u hear me??? the best i ever had is the shyt!!
Just watched the video too…Trey is SO fine!
I’m convinced that SandraRose hates anything “BEAUTIFUL”…po’ thang.
Nahhh Auntie, You got it all wrong. Drake is the hottest thing in Rap yet, without releasing an album. His buzz is off the radar. And he doesn’t rap about being a Gangsta b/c he ain’t one and he ain’t tryin to be one. Btw I am Canadian, now living in T.dot and we LOVE Drake over here! I’m going to see him preform next week! He reps his city for sure!
I didn’t know he was Biracial. As in, half Black?? Hmmmm thought he was Spanish or something…
You should check out his music tho Sandy…and he ain’t gay!
Sandra is what you call a “miserable dream assassin”… She can’t stand anyone doing bigger things than just sitting behind a PC all day. And don’t let them be beautiful… all HATE breaks loose.
First he was just “a fan looking up to Trey Songz” now he’s “another gay rapper.” LOL. Please pick up your late pass by the door.
LOL @ the swipes at Trey & Jay-z. Sigh, Sandra, you’re so corny. Not even lame but just straight up corny. Thank god nobody comes on here for new music or to hear your rants about today’s music.
Oh and next time he’s in ATL, maybe you can have the honor of being the only photog there. EEK!
sandra you are so wrong he is not gay
he gay but marino’s not… not all of us are hood criters…..
T-Dot in the house. Canada getting love as Drake is our artist!! Sandra is a hater, I’ve learned to accept that.
Tericka83….
Sandra said, “he didn’t conceal his gay tendencies one bit”. Meaning his mannerism was obvious that he came across gay.
Some peeps you can pick out but what certified it for me, taking what Sandra said, that he is working Wayne [kissed Baby] and Jay-Z [Bee-ounce-say cover-girl].
Birds of feather flock together.
Damn Sandra, I got the chills just reading the post. What did this young man do to you?