Drake was presented with the key to Memphis in recognition of his deep connections to the city. Having spent summers in Memphis with his father, Drizzy’s ties to the city were referenced in his song “Look Alive.” The Chairman of Shelby County, Mickell Lowery, praised Drake’s influence and the global impact of Memphis music. In […]
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The Boy is collecting keys to cities like platinum plaques. Drake has been honored with the key to the city of Memphis.
Drake was on hand in Memphis on Monday, receiving the key to the city. He often credits Memphis as his second home, and it is where his father is from. Shelby County Chairman Mickell M. Lowery awarded the key.
“We always say Memphis music touches the world and like I told you, you got a lot of Memphis blood in you, and you’re definitely touching the world,” the chairman said. “Not everybody has a key to the Shelby County. We only give that to our own that we love dear.”
The post Drake Awarded Key to the City of Memphis: ‘Not Everybody Has a Key to Shelby County’ appeared first on The Source.
If you haven’t heard, Drake’s a published author now. Drake released a poetry book titled Titles Ruin Everything: A Stream Of Consciousness By Kenza Samir & Aubrey Graham over the weekend after giving fans less than 24 hours notice. Drake also reportedly took out a newspaper ad in the New York Post teasing a companion album for the book.
One person who had no trouble getting his hands on the collection was DJ Khaled, who naturally posted his “unboxing” of the gift from Drake on Instagram. Pulling out the book, accompanied by a personal note, he read several passages to the camera, revealing a Rupi Kaur-esque commitment to minimalism. Drake’s words read like mantras or kōan, with a simple statement on each left page and an answering one on its mirror. Khaled calls them “keys” but seems bemused by the simplicity of the construction, repeatedly cracking, “The man wrote a book!” At one point, he even notes, “He wrote a sentence!”
Khaled wasn’t the only one baffled by Drake’s doings this past weekend. On Sunday, he was awarded the key to Memphis, his second home, leaving some fans frustrated — after all, despite all of Drake’s love for Bluff City, he still largely resides in his hometown, Toronto, when he’s not in Los Angeles, where he also has a home. He also co-signed Toronto’s NBA team’s newest pickup; after Raptors draft pick Gradey Dick gushed about wanting to be friends with Drake, the team’s official ambassador graced the rookie with a follow on Instagram.
“We The Best Music” collaborator DJ Khaled knows how to merge art forms and artists. Whether it’s a bopping new song with three features or social media content with special guest stars, the music producer is down to spread the love. Most recently, he’s spreading the love to one Aubrey “Drake” Graham and his new book of poetry, Titles Ruin Everything. The Toronto-based hip-hop icon gave DJ Khaled a copy of his first published work, with a notecard that said, “Courtesy of The Boy.”
“Life isn’t fair… but karma helps,” DJ Khaled says in an Instagram video showcasing the gift. He’s quoting from a random page he flipped to, offering a brief nugget of Drake wisdom. He continues: “Some days I got it all figured out… but most days I never learn.” Khaled turns the book towards the camera, claiming he isn’t making these lyrical couplets up. He continues to call “The Boy” Drake something special and different. “The minute you think you figured out The Boy,” Khaled says, “he writes a book!”
Read more: DJ Khaled Previews Upcoming “Royal Reimagined” Air Jordan 1
The infamous DJ is incredulous when reading this latest endeavor from Drake. The poetry is sparse, with single lines gracing each page, but the impact is palpable. “I charged the game… and paid the bill,” is another pithy quote Khaled reveals during his impromptu reading. He ends the video by giving us one last page worth of wisdom: “You’re nothing to write home about.” DJ Khaled says he’s taking his time reading the book — even if it’s very short — because each phrase makes you pause and think deeper about what’s actually being written.
Titles Ruin Everything is available on the website Drake Related. This isn’t the first time a rapper decided to get into the publishing game. Logic back in 2019 launched a short novel, Supermarket, accompanied by a full-fledged album soundtrack for the book. That same year, Russ crafted a self-help book, titled It’s All In Your Head. When you’re someone who has used their words to shape the culture vocally, it only makes sense to put those special thoughts down on paper. And then have DJ Khaled promote those thoughts.
Read more: DJ Khaled Reveals Doctor Visit After His Surfing Mishap
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Today (June 27), marks Jamell Demons’ ninth day in court amid his double murder trial. At this time, it remains unclear which way the death-qualified jury will lean in the nail-biting case. It could result in the rapper receiving a fatal sentence with a minimum 8-4 vote thanks to new state laws. Demons – better known as YNW Melly – seems calm, confident, and even playful amid proceedings which have been live-streamed by Law & Crime throughout the month.
Much of the focus remains on the 23-year-old and his alleged victims, YNW Juvy and YNW SakChaser. Nevertheless, it wouldn’t be a true hip-hop trial if other artists weren’t also brought into the conversation. Boosie Badazz is the only public figure to set foot in Melly’s courtroom so far (though he was arrested on federal charges of his own shortly after). This week, we’ve been hearing several names referenced during the testimony of undercover Detective Danny Polo. On Monday, he suggested that Juelz Santana is a member of the Bloods while also noting that he’s unsure if French Montana is gang-affiliated or not.
Read More: Young Thug, Juelz Santana, French Montana, And Other Rappers Referenced In YNW Melly Murder Trial
The next day, Polo answered questions from YNW Melly’s attorney, David A. Howard, regarding two other famous lyricists. The first was Drake, who the gang expert confirmed has made references to violence throughout his songs. Elsewhere the lawyer brought up Kevin Gates’ “4:30 AM,” on which he raps, “No regrets for the shit I did.” As per journalist Bryson “Boom” Paul, Howard replayed a video the prosecution presented of his client reciting the same lyrics.
Being dragged into yet another trial likely isn’t how Drake wants to spend his summer. Thankfully, the Canadian has other major projects underway to keep his mind occupied from the drama, such as his It’s All A Blur tour and his recently announced For All The Dogs album. See what Drizzy has said about the latter so far at the link below, and check back later for more hip-hop/pop culture news updates.
Read More: Drake Announces “For All The Dogs” Album To Accompany New Poetry Book
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The post Drake & Kevin Gates Are Latest Rappers To Be Name-Dropped In YNW Melly Double Murder Trial appeared first on HotNewHipHop.
Drake raps about riding through the 6 (slang for Toronto, Canada) with his woes and attending Toronto Raptors games, but he has love for another North American city. The “Parade On Cleveland” rapper was just awarded the key to Memphis — more specifically, to the county in which the city falls into, Shelby County. However, fans immediately took issue with it as he’s not a native of the city.
As the clip of Chairman Mickell Lowry presenting Drake with the honor hit social media, users shared their confusion.
Drake receives the key to the city of Memphis. pic.twitter.com/spqcp9QE88
— Rap Alert (@rapalert6) June 27, 2023
One user wrote, “A Canadian? *no offense *.”
A Canadian? *no offense *
— Ace Milan (@_papiace) June 27, 2023
Another hinted that this key should have gone to a host of other native rappers, posting a meme with the caption, “Every Memphis Rapper Right Now [crying emoji].”
Every Memphis Rapper Right Now
pic.twitter.com/zyyRosJgy3
— DIABLO DA SLEEZE
(@LosTexasDiablo) June 27, 2023
While one person alleged that Drake doesn’t truly care for Memphis or the greater area after he pulled out of a prior commitment. “But rescheduled our concert in Memphis that was THIS Thursday ……oh okay,” penned the user.
But rescheduled our concert in Memphis that was THIS Thursday ……oh okay ??
— Drake is NOT on our side (@DopestOddFuture) June 27, 2023
On the other hand, some users didn’t care about the honor per se but rather that Drake didn’t bother to dress up for the occasion. “When you got the key to the city ceremony at 12 and pick up game at 12:30,” posted a user.
When you got the key to the city ceremony at 12 and pick up game at 12:30
— Damian (@damianmcfly) June 27, 2023
Although Drake isn’t a native of Memphis, his father, Dennis Graham, is. Drake has, as Chairman Lowry pointed out, shown Memphis a deal of respect in his solo music as well as in his collaborations with native Memphis acts. In 2013, he shot his video for the single “Worst Behavior” off the album Nothing Was The Same in the city. The visual, directed by Director X, featured appearances by hometown heroes Turk of the Hot Boys, Juicy J, Project Pat, and MJG from 8Ball & MJG.
Also, in his 2018 collaboration with native BlockBoy JB, “Look Alive,” Drake highlighted his family home in the city by rapping, “901 Shelby Drive / Look Alive / Look Alive.”
Young Thug and Drake is a duo that’s given us no shortage of fire collaborations over the years. “Way 2 Sexy” with Future and “Sacrifices” with 2 Chainz are definite standouts, though we also frequently revisit “Ice Melts” and “Bubbly” with Travis Scott. Though Thugger remains behind bars as his YSL RICO trial wages on, his team managed to drop an album on his behalf, BUSINESS IS BUSINESS, which has the Atlanta-based artist on top of his game once again.
Opening the 15-track effort is “Parade on Cleveland,” a nearly four-minute long song that features Drake and finds him showing off his singing chops over Metro Boomin’s dreamy production. “Ayy, soon as I’m fresh out the box like a Tic-Tac / We havin’ sex soon as I get my b**ch back / It ain’t gon’ be sexy when I get my lick back,” the 36-year-old cleverly rhymes shortly after the song begins. Later we hear a phone call between Thug and his friend, during which he seemingly throws shade at Gunna.
Read More: Drake Announces “For All The Dogs” Album To Accompany New Poetry Book
“Uh, I ain’t doin’ s**t, man / Just pushin’ more Peter, more sweeter, more completer / Than any Peter pusher around,” the So Much Fun hitmaker tells Drake from Cobb County Jail. “See what I’m sayin’, twin? Ha (Ha-ha-ha),” he added as both men laugh. Of course, the track follows Gunna’s a Gift & a Curse album, which put him back in the good graces of many hip-hop heads after being outcast for taking a plea deal in the YSL RICO case.
Learn the lyrics to Young Thug and Drake’s “Parade on Cleveland” in the video above, or add it to your playlist on Spotify/Apple Music. Who has your favourite feature on the YSL rapper’s BUSINESS IS BUSINESS album? Let us know in the comments, and check back later this weekend for more HNHH release recommendations.
Read More: Young Thug Debunks Saweetie Diss On New Album “BUSINESS IS BUSINESS”
Quotable Lyrics:
Made a jail call to your b**ch, she say you down
You a bug in the grass, finna get ate by my cow
I’m just livin’ my life on the jet, ridin’ ’round
Two h*es with me, one white, the other one Bobby Brown
The post Young Thug & Drake Plan A “Parade on Cleveland” On Their New Fan Favourite Collab appeared first on HotNewHipHop.
Drake‘s new poetry book — which he wrote alongside songwriter Kenza Samir — has hit shelves today (June 24). In tandem with the new book Titles Ruin Everything: A Stream Of Consciousness By Kenza Samir & Aubrey Graham, it appears we may also be getting some new music.
The book is currently available for purchase via Drake‘s officially online merchandiser, DrakeRelated, as well as select retailers, however, members of the press who received their copies early noted that the front cover of the book contains an image of two puppies with a caption reading “For All The Dogs.”
An insider told Complex that “the image serves as a QR which takes you to a landing page announcing drake has an album on the way. While there is no release day we’re inclined to think this image in the book will be the communication point for ongoing updates.”
https://twitter.com/ComplexMusic/status/1672679294034640897?s=20
The QR code has also appeared in some of the newspaper ads Drake has taken out to promote the album, according to fans on social media. The code reportedly takes fans to a page, which shows a message from Drake.
“I made an album to go with the book,” reads the message. “They say they miss the old Drake girl don’t tempt me.” Subtext below reads “FOR ALL THE DOGS” in all caps.
At the time of writing, there is no confirmed release date for For All The Dogs.
Even this deep into his career, Toronto native Drake always finds new ways to surprise his fans. After giving us two incredible features on Young Thug’s new BUSINESS IS BUSINESS album, the father of one has mostly been focusing his energy on preparing for his quickly approaching It’s All A Blur tour. Prior to that kicking off in Houston next week, Drake gave fans an update on the poetry book he’s been working on in tandem with Kenza, revealing that it’s called Titles Ruin Everything.
To share that news, Drizzy took out ads in papers like the New York Times and the Toronto Star, and it wasn’t long before fans noticed a QR code on them. As Complex notes, scanning will take you to titlesruineverything.com, where the Scorpion rapper confirmed that along with his book will come a new album called For All The Dogs. No official release date has been shared at this time, but the news is making waves across the hip-hop community this afternoon.
Read More: Drake Reflects On “Honestly, Nevermind” One Year Later
Drake has a new album on the way titled “For All The Dogs”
pic.twitter.com/7tXYkWoJA8
— DailyRapFacts (@DailyRapFacts) June 24, 2023
“I made an album to go with the book,” Drake wrote on the webpage confirming his future plans. “They say they miss the old Drake, girl don’t tempt me,” he added, referencing his often-quoted lyrics from Take Care‘s “Headlines.” It’s worth noting that when the multi-talent first shared his desire to release a book of poems last summer, he told Table for One listeners that he was also planning to drop Scary Hours 3.
“I got another Scary Hours pack coming too, in a little bit. Maybe not right now; I need you to just take this in right now,” he declared following the debut of his Honestly, Nevermind album. “But I’m gonna slap some head tops off with the Scary Hours pack. I love this s**t.” Are you looking forward to Drake’s For All The Dogs album? Let us know in the comments, and see how the 36-year-old is preparing for his quickly approaching tour with 21 Sav at the link below.
Read More: Drake Looks Focused In His Pre-Tour Photo Dump
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