Archive · Drake
Before the Ice: Drake's First Mixtape and the DJ Who Said Yes
February 14, 2006. A 19-year-old on the Degrassi set called a Southern DJ who hosted tapes for Lil Wayne. DJ Smallz said yes. Everything else is the rest of the story.
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They Met in College on Long Island. Now They're on Hot 97.
Episode 3 of the Heavy Hitter DJs Podcast. Kast One on the Bronx fire escape, the LIU dorm room, the Hofstra party, and the Gleason's night that changed everything.
Dipset Ran the Streets Before the Industry Knew What Hit Them
Cam'ron, Jim Jones, Juelz Santana, DJ Kay Slay. Harlem, 2002.
Wayne Said He Was the Best Rapper Alive. Dedication 2 Was the Proof.
DJ Drama and the Gangsta Grillz platform. 2006.
Before Iceman: How Drake's So Far Gone Proved Mixtapes Could Change Everything
Three years after Room for Improvement, So Far Gone turned a free download into the biggest bidding war in the game.
Eli's Rotation
Every week, my 15-year-old son Eli picks the track that's got his generation talking. This is what's on repeat in the halls, the group chats, and the car rides home from school.
1300saint
ea feat. Nine Vicious
Last week: Jaybexo - like a rasta
See All Rotations → Now in the Vault
Diplomats Vol. 1
Hosted by DJ Kay Slay
Before Diplomatic Immunity had a barcode, the streets already knew every word. Cam'ron, Juelz Santana, Jim Jones, and the whole crew, distributed by Duke Da God, hosted by the Drama King.
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Spring 2009. Drake sits down with MTV News coming off So Far Gone — the tape that ended the run Room for Improvement started. Three years from debut mixtape to the biggest bidding war in the game.
Drake — MTV News Interview, Spring 2009