Started from the bottom, now he’s here: Yes, Drake once made $100 opening for Ice Cube after leaving the group and making some hits with his own self-produced beats. But what’s truly impressive is his level of musical mastery that went into his debut album. Drake’s songs are so well-constructed and balanced that they almost sound like they were all composed by the same producer.
When I asked him if he felt that Drake’s success opened any doors, Drake said of his time with his mentor, “it was a blessing for everything to happen at that point in time. He was my mentor, and that’s the way it is. I feel blessed as far as my craft,”
He told me that he’d also worked with other notable producers who he felt, “would take you on a trip down the road of the soul.” Drake said, “It wasn’t a race thing. It was all of the ingredients, and they were all there to make good music.”
Drake also discussed his early life, his relationship with his father and his early use of the “dubstep” genre.
You’re probably familiar with Drake’s early life when your name is just starting to come up for a record deal. How did it all begin with him wanting to have his own rap group?
My background is that I grew up in the hood. I grew up with a lot of negativity. My childhood wasn’t easy, and I had a lot of problems growing up. I would say I definitely feel like I lived a life on the streets because I was there to play music. It’s been the best thing that ever happened to me. After growing up in a culture like that, it was a blessing to go out and make your own record, and be able to show people what you can really do in a positive way. I never had my own group. It was always for my solo career. I was always trying to be what the industry, or the public was looking for, you know, what was best for me.
Growing up, I think you wanted nothing more than to make tracks. Like, did I want to be a rapper or a singer? Well, I would always sing when I went to