By: Amanda Anderson-Niles
Drake is without a doubt one of the biggest names in Hip Hop right now, but platinum records and major first week sales haven’t managed to keep him from being the constant target of criticism. In fact, Drake seems to be used to being slammed for singing in a good majority of his songs, but he thinks his skills as a rapper are so top-notch that he doesn’t even think Kendrick Lamar can ever be on his level. Regardless, the rapper has a new album on the way and as he prepares to drop “Nothing was the Same,” he’s giving a lot of interviews on what to expect and making it clear why he feels he deserves respect for his craft, even if he does sing.
In a recent interview with MTV News, Drake defended his choice to sing on quite a bit of his songs. In fact, Drake says his critics should just accept his singing because he will never make a “straight rap” album:
“My biggest thing is…if you wanna listen to Drake music for the rest of your life — I welcome it, I want you to listen to it, I want you to be a part of it. Just don’t ever be surprised when I’m singing or using melody. I’m doing that on this album. This album is not some straight rap album, I’ll never do a straight rap album. That’s not how I came into this and that’s never what I’ll do. I make songs for the people.”
Drake also goes on to say that musically he really wants to be Marvin Gaye and touch people with his music:
“I have aspirations to be Marvin Gaye in the back of my head. So I just want to sing the world’s triumphs and problems on one record and hopefully ‘Nothing Was The Same’ [can be] the soundtrack to their life.”
Check out the clip below:
Not going to happen Drake.
There will never be another Marvin Gaye. Ever.
Marvin Gaye? Man that’s a reach. LOL.
Well you’d have to sing about more than b-tches and money to be Marvin Gaye Drake.
I think Drake likes to troll in his interviews.
LOL me too. I still like him though.
I like Drake but he’s delusional if he thinks he can become another Marvin. Really delusional.
He has to make music of substance first.
I honestly don’t mind him singing. He knows how to come up with catchy hooks and hit songs. I also like that he’s not trying to be a thug. I don’t see why people complain about his music so much. Some of it is actually good.
What’s up with all these young artists trying to be Marvin Gaye all of a sudden?
Drake and Robin Thicke need to have several seats. There will only be one Marvin Gaye.
But he can’t even sing!
I like when he sings on alot of his songs. I’m trying to understand what he’s saying about Marvin Gaye, but I do think he’s reaching a little.
Being like Marvin as in having some songs with a message like What’s Going On, Mercy Mercy Me ( The Ecology)