Serving Face!
Vibe has tapped Drake to cover its publication for the second time in his career, and he’s offered his thoughts on racism, as well as how he feels about being the posterboy for Instagram memes. In the cover story, he also cites Tupac as someone he wants to be like, and he apologizes to a former fling named Courtney for all the trouble he’s caused her by name-dropping her in a song.
Catch a few highlights:
On what name-dropping has taught him
That was my biggest wake-up call. I’ve just gotten too big to do that. I never wanted to cause her any stress in her life, and I think she’s such a good, wholehearted person. They made up this whole fake flyer online [about] hosting parties, which she doesn’t. She’s like the best girl ever. It was tough for me to watch that happen. I repeatedly kept apologizing. I didn’t think it was that specific—she doesn’t even work there anymore. I don’t want to be looked at as a guy who exploits his relationships, but I feel it’s okay because I’m not saying anything negative. I’m just telling the story and usually in their favor, usually saying I was the one that f-cked up. I don’t know if I’m ever gonna continue with that formula, but it definitely gives people a more personable listen. And I feel like I’ve established these characters. Paris Morton is a character—I always check in with Paris, like “this is happening, this is what it is.” I think people are intrigued, like “Who is this girl that’s your muse? Who is Bria? Why did she get an interlude?” With Courtney I just expected it to go a little better. It got blown out of proportion because she was too accessible. My apologies to her, formally.
On being labeled a “soft” rapper and the Instagram memes:
It’s flattery. I’m just being human, it’s not like I’m on records crying and making videos in the rain and sh-t. I always get to this point where it’s like, ‘Man, how come this guy is allowed to do this? How come this guy is allowed to talk about the streets? All he did was be around it, just like me. He didn’t live it, but he’s allowed to talk about it. How come this guy is allowed to make girl records—love records—but they’re not girl records or love records when he does it?’ I just have to step back and be like, because it doesn’t matter what those guys do. Whoever that is, it just doesn’t matter. They’re not important enough to be scrutinized like that. So it’s that feeling of accepting that I’m at the top and I don’t give them enough to talk about, so they have to make sh-t. No one ever loves that guy that’s on top.
On the line “muthaf-ckas never loved us” in “Worst Behavior”
In my mind, I’m still fighting to convince you that I’m meant to be here. I just want people to love me like they love ‘Pac. I want people to remember I spoke from the heart and told the truth. It’s so crazy because while ‘Pac was here, he felt like everybody hated him. And that’s where that sh-t comes from. As much as I brush sh-t off, I don’t feel like people love Drake necessarily. I’m still human—I see a lot of love, tickets selling, people going crazy. But at the same time, it’s tough to just see that. I see the rest of it, too. I know I must be most-hated out here.
On experiencing racism growing up
The racism I experienced was being Jewish. Jewish kids didn’t understand how I could be black and Jewish, ’cause we’re all young. It was just stupid, annoying rich kids that were closed-minded and mean, so I dealt with that more than anything. But it had everything to do with being Jewish, not being black. Like, “Why is this guy having a bar mitzvah?” It was just tough for them to understand.
On his ultimate goal:
I’ve achieved so much. I have new goals every day. I went to go see a house the other day I fell in love with. I can’t afford it. [Laughs] That sh-t’s expensive, on some [Mike] Tyson sh-t. The ultimate goal, that one never really changes. I wanna raise a family, be a good father.
[...]I’m not ready for all that. I just wanna be a good father. I don’t wanna not have time to do it. That’s far off.
On how he wants to be remembered
I just want people to look back one day, like, ‘That guy dictated so much in my life. He was the soundtrack.’ I listen to my father and uncles talk about old soul that way. I just wanna be remembered as being honest. And I wanna be celebrated in my city. It’s showtime. The lights are on. Chubbs—that’s my guy—he says, ‘The lights on you, what you gonna do?’ That’s my life motto. ‘The lights are on me, so what am I gonna do?
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