I Put On...

I know that this won't be a put on for alot of people...but some of yall don't know about this dude...so let me put you on. Ladies & Gentleman, this is Mr. Brandon Hines.

More Than An Affinity: Drake

Anybody who knows me, knows how much and how long I've supported Drake. I was rockin to "Replacement Girl" in 2006. My homie Chris put me on to "Man of the Year" and "Brand New" shortly after that, and I've been hooked ever since.

I even got caught up on DeGrassi just so that I could kinda feel this kid out and decide if I really liked his personality. I needed to see if he would be another Keri Hilson in my book (which is someone who I respect and can appreciate their music, but don't really like their personality...which makes its kind of hard to support everything they do.) Obviously I didn't really learn much from DeGrassi because that's not really him, it's Jimmy...but the show was entertaining nonetheless. lol


Either way, it took me awhile to figure out if I liked his swag (or if he even had any), because its not the typical steez that you would expect from a rapper/singer who delivers the punchlines and messages that he does. He's far more intellectual...far more cultured than these hood niggas who NEED to rap to take care of their families. (Not that there's anything wrong with that.) And I think that knowing that he's chosen this career strictly because of passion and not because of "a way out" makes his swag more appealing. There's a calmness that he maintains that I LOVE...which compliments that "confidence on the borderline of arrogance" that's a typical quality that I'm attracted to.


(My favorite part of this video is at 4:05 or so...)


The thing that won me over the most is his interviews. (I must admit, I've spent far too much time on YouTube.) The way that he views himself and the way that he views women is impressive to me. As a woman, I realize that some of us are strong-minded, confident, intelligent, and ambitious. I also realize that some of us of are not. I don't get offended by the songs about bitches and hoes, because I don't feel like those songs are about me, and they are honest stories of women who exist. Trust me, I know a few. (For more on this topic read my entry entitled Conversation: A Lil Ventilation ) Either way, I appreciate Drake, who seems to understand both types of women, which is obvious in "Best I Ever Had", which could be taken as a song about a women he really cares about or...somebody that he REALLY cares to have sex with...which is fine too lol.

(Skip to about 6:45 in this video)



To top it all off, his flow is amazing and his voice...well in the words of my good friend Candace, "his voice sounds like sex." Like seriously, I thought it was great on "November 18th"...but I can't even tell you how many times a day I could listen to the chorus of "4 My Town" (which is Birdman's song featuring Drake & Lil' Wayne). I don't know who's idea it was for him to make his voice that low and deep on the hook of that track but it's a problem...in a good way ;) The dude's lyrical abilities are incredible and the fact that he can sing is the icing on the cake. When is the last time that we've had an artist who can deliver a great 16 bars and then successfully sing their own hook. (And I'm not talking about no Ja Rule shit either...) When have you ever heard anything like "So Far Gone"...a classic collection of tracks that can be played from the clubs, to the streets, all the way back to the bedroom. ("A Night Off" is my shit!)


Either way, I've never been more proud to watch an artist rise to the top than I am of Drake. Watching him perform at the Grammys, despite the fact that his album hasn't even dropped, was so monumental for his career. To watch somebody grow from the rapper that nobody really knew, to the guy that everybody wants on their track, is a great feeling as a fan. And knowing that this is only the beginning, and that his grind is incessant, who wouldn't want to witness this kid from Toronto take the industry by storm? I do. I don't know if I've ever appreciated an artist more. He describes himself best: "More than what you bargained for and nothing less than real." Some people say that he's overrated...doin too much. Well, Les Is More, so maybe that's why I have more than an affinity for the kid... :)

Sample Me This...