Drake’s “Over” producer Boi-1da has expressed his thoughts on the Young Money artist’s upcoming Thank Me Later debut and classified it as being possibly one of the “greatest” hip-hop releases to date.

According to Boi, the album’s “Over” lead single is only a preview of what is yet to come.

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The Drakeover is spreading beyond hip-hop. Film critic Roger Ebert has responded after Drake shouted him out on his new single.

The Young Money star references Ebert and his movie-critiquing partner Richard Roeper on “Over,” the much-buzzed-about first single from his debut album Thank Me Later, and now Ebert is sharing his appreciation.

“‘Two thumbs up, Ebert & Roeper’ is now a viral catch-phrase?” tweeted the Chicago film buff. “Thank you, Drake!”

In addition to Ebert and Roeper, Drizzy also name drops Jada Pinkett Smith and Michael Jackson on the Boi-1da production, which will be available on iTunes Monday.

Roger Ebert tweeted a link to this story, adding, “Drake: You are my granddaughter’s great favorite. She’s a sophomore at Pomona. My cred is up.”

Via Rap-Up

The Young Money crew is packing their Louis Vuitton bags and heading south of the border. Hip-hop’s first family will descend on Acapulco, Mexico, for one big spring break party later this month.

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Single of the year:

Rusted From The Rain – Billy Talent

Anybody Listening – Classified

Best I Ever Had – Drake

Haven’t Met You Yet – Michael Bulé

New artist of the year:

Carly Rae Jepsen

Danny Fernandes

Drake

Justin Bieber

Shiloh

Rap recording of the year:

Still Fly Big Page ft. Drake

Self Explanatory – Classified

So Far Gone – Drake

Yes! – k-os

Troubadour – K’Naan

Grammy-nominated recording artist Drake will join undefeated World Boxing Council super lightweight champion Devon Alexander “The Great” during the boxer’s walk to the ring for his world championship unification match on Saturday at Mohegan Sun that will be televised live on HBO (9:30 p.m. ET/PT) from Mohegan Sun. The event is being promoted by Don King Productions.

Drake will perform his smash-hit “Forever,” which will provide a perfect opportunity to play to the song’s lyric, “Last name ever, first name greatest,” as Alexander’s ring nickname is “The Greatest.”

The song was included on the soundtrack of the LeBron James documentary film “More Than a Game” and peaked in Billboard magazine at No. 1 on the Rap chart; No. 2 on the Hot R&B/Hip-Hop chart; and No. 8 on the overall Hot 100 chart.

The boxer and rapper, both 23, recently met in Las Vegas where Alexander, a native of St. Louis, had set up his training camp. The boxer’s trainer-manager Kevin Cunningham and Drake’s managers noted the chemistry between the two emerging superstars and decided to pair them at Saturday’s boxing event.

“Naturally I’m a big fan of Drake’s,” Alexander said. “He’s a really nice guy and I like the ‘Forever’ lyric. I’m looking forward to hearing it as an added bit of motivation while I’m walking into the ring to face Juan Urango on Saturday night at Mohegan Sun.”

Music fans that viewed the recent national telecast of the 52nd-Annual Grammy Awards may remember seeing Drake’s performance of “Forever” alongside Lil Wayne and Eminem to close out the show.
Alexander’s promoter Don King—whose music exploits include owning The Corner Tavern in Cleveland during the 1950s and 1960s, which was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2002; the classic 1974 music festival that accompanied the “Rumble in the Jungle”; and promoting the “Jacksons Victory Tour” in 1984—is excited to have Drake joining with his fighter.

“I’ve always loved music and Drake is one of the hottest artist’s in the world today,” King said. “We’ve got the best young boxer in Devon Alexander and this sparkling young singer Drake. It’s going to be something special on Saturday night.”

Drake is currently putting the finishing touches on his debut album, “Thank Me Later,” which is slated for a May 2010 release. Starting in April, Drake will headline the Away From Home Tour, a Campus Consciousness Tour, which has been selling out in ticket pre-sales.

Via FightHype

Drake in the Toronto Star as he overtook last year’s field of new rappers.

Elliott Wilson, founder of RapRadar.com, told The Star last year that “(early in ‘09) people were talking about Asher Roth, Kid Cudi and Wale, and no one put Drake in. But by April, it was all about Drake.” So let’s update you on Wale’s putative rivals to be rap’s next superstar:

Asher Roth: After a modest hit on debut album Asleep in the Bread Aisle with “I Love College,” the 24-year-old says he’s trying to get a vision for his next album, with production team The Neptunes. “I’m not the traditional, ‘Let’s get a radio hit out of you guys,’ it’s more for that esoteric sound.”

Kid Cudi: The man behind the club hit “Day ‘n’ Nite” may be wobbling under the pressure of fame after opening for Lady Gaga at the Air Canada Centre in November. He left Gaga’s tour after a violent incident at a Vancouver show, and he confessed in an interview, “I’m not Justin Timberlake (and) I never tried to make myself seem larger than life.” Cudi, alias Scott Mescudi, stars in the HBO series How to Make It in America, airing Sundays.

Drake: Before his debut album Thank Me Later comes out March 30, the local hero has a sartorial photo spread in the latest GQ, accompanying an interview where he declares that Kanye West’s upcoming album Good Ass Job, which he’s helping with, will be “one of the best hip-hop albums of the last 10 years.”

Via AllThingsFresh

Hit the break to view the spread.
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Drake’s name is seemingly everywhere these days, but fans eager to cop tickets for his next show should be careful they’re not being duped into being somewhere he’s not.

According to a spokesperson for the Aspire/Cash Money/Young Money recording artist, various individuals in markets such as Miami and Charlotte have been posing as management affiliates of Drake in an attempt to secure deposits made for false bookings and club appearances. Drake, who is co-managed by Bryant Management and Hip Hop Since 1978, is solely booked through International Creative Mangement (ICM).

“It has been brought to my attention that false promoters and booking agents are illegally using my name and likeness to promote concerts and club appearances for their own financial gain,” Drake said in a statement. ”I apologize to any fan that has been a victim of these circumstances or feels let down by false advertising. Please be assured that my team and I take these matters seriously and are actively cooperating with authorities.”

The rapper is weeks away from kicking off his Away From Home Tour, which starts on April 6 at Eastern Illinois University in Charleston, IL.

Via VIBE

Via LeakJones