Posted by | Ray Cornelius
XXL is celebrating its 150th issue with Canada’s finest on the cover, Drake.
The 26-year-old rapper chops it up about his new album, Nothing Was the Same as well as competing with his contemporaries like Kanye West and hip-hop legends like Jay Z. He also discusses his newfound success, his image and Amanda Bynes.
Check out a few excerpts from the interview below:
On the new album…
I remember coming into this year thinking, “How am I going to cut through all these people and shine?” I’ve never been part of a year when so many legends are dropping projects. How am I going to be seen? I’m going to be like the kid waving in the background in the photo with all of his tall relatives. And, I guess, those were my initial thoughts, and not to say that I haven’t enjoyed some of the stuff that has come out this year, but it didn’t pan out the way I thought it was going to. I think I am going for it, to really establish what are murmurs or things being said quietly, “Um, I think that Drake might actually…” On September 17th I want people to be like, “Oh, we were right.”
On the competition…
It’s tough for me. That’s a guy I can’t pretend not to like. He’s the guy to me, in a lot of ways. That’s Kanye West. But I’m also here to be the best. I’m here to surpass. I’m here to outdo. I’m ready for whatever with anybody.
On his success…
I get Jewish people coming up to me proud like, “Mazel Tov, bro. Come to my house for Shabbat dinner.”
Click here to read the rest of the interview
XXL hits newsstands August 20.
Source and Photography Credit/XXL
