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Calling all hip hop practitioners, it’s that time again. I’ve been trying not to jump on the Drake fanatical bandwagon but since I listen to “Successful” every morning with my bacon and eggs I must admit to being a fan. More importantly I’m a fan of the buzz that this kid is generating. He’s almost single handedly reviving the music business. He’s working hard and really putting in overtime to celebrate his artistry. It’s mandatory that hip hoppers gravitate and pay attention to this brilliant wordsmith. It is wonderful to see a rapper have a campaign of this magnitude for all of the right reasons.

Aubrey Drake Graham is a Canadian actor, rapper and singer. He is best known for playing Jimmy Brooks, the basketball star that became physically disabled after he was shot by a classmate on Degrassi: The Next Generation. Drake no doubt wears many talented hats, which makes him a triple threat. While running circles around the competition Drake has worked with the elite of hip hop such as Lil Wayne, Jay-Z, Kanye West, Trey Songz, Robin Thicke and Little Brother. Drake has also written for Jazz Cartier, Bishop Brigante and the legendary Dr. Dre. He is currently working on his debut album, Thank Me Later. It’s hard to believe he’s only been rapping since 2006, because he’s polished and certainly well put together musically.

Currently, the rapper is at the center of a major bidding war between three major record labels. That’s right he has achieved this huge amount of success without even signing to a major record label yet. The MC who is signed to Lil Wayne’s Young Money label is close to signing a deal with Universal Motown, a source reveals. Reports are that three majors including Motown, Atlantic Records and WMG are interested in getting a deal with the  singer/rapper. Do you realize that we should all be jumping up in with raging excitement because the tide might finally be changing, the recording industry may actually start signing people again based on possessing skills. Drake worked the essential formula little by little the way our pioneers did with a hustle and a dream. He stayed on his grind working the mixtape circuit, mixshow, underground venues, etc. That’s right he didn’t leave his career in the hands of Myspace to decide his fate. This is not hip pop by any form or fashion, its back to the basics and should be appreciated.

“Just know that whatever label we sign to it’ll be because they’ll add to what we’ve created on our own,” Drake told Billboard.com last month. “I’m very happy in my situation now, which is signed to Cortez [Bryant] and Gee Roberson at Young Money and management through ‘Hip Hop Since 1978.’ The most important thing for me is being around my team – they are stronger than any label.” Drake has a shovel and is knelling over the grave of our long lost deceased friend, hip hop. Dig young man dig!

Written By Sha'Linda Jeanine

Sha’Linda holds a M.S. and B.S. in Mass Communications. In addition to The Koalition she is also a journalist/author for HipHopDX, AllHipHop, Yo Raps, HHW, etc. Her focal point is Hip-Hop the genre and lifestyle. This examination is her concern, responsibility, and cultural investigation.