There's Something About Drake

The first time I heard about Drake was on "Best I Ever Had" with Trey Songz, and I wasn't initially impressed. My first reaction was to ponder on why would someone purposely want hoes. I could understand the money and the cars, but promiscuous women? Then there was that awful and pointless video directed by Kanye West with scantily clad women jumping up and down, not knowing a thing about sports. I still wasn't impressed. And I was completely annoyed with him rhyming to Lil' Wayne's "Every Girl" during the BET Awards that were supposed to honor the late Michael Jackson, but he was the first to issue a public apology. Then one day "Best I Ever Had" was on the radio for the millionth time and a Chicago deejay was talking about how great this song was because it could pertain to any woman, and I really started listening to Drake's lyrics. And just like that, I became a Drake supporter.

"What's a star when his most important fan is missing?" Drake rhymes on Timbaland's new release "Say Something." But does one have to be a fan from the very beginning to support a star now? No.

I've heard from people who were fans of Drake during his mixtape days with "Room for Improvement" and "Comeback Season." I try to keep my ear to the latest hip hop, but I slept through these releases. I'd never heard of the 2001 television show "Degrassi" where he played Jimmy Brooks, a physically disabled basketball star. But I have to thank radio for playing the hell out of his songs before I finally realized there's something about Drake.

Although some don't understand the hype of this artist, even when other major artists are co-signing on his lyrical talent (ex. Jay-Z rhyming "Drake's up next, see what he do with it" on "A Star Is Born") and his radio airplay is crazy, I can understand why it's taking longer for some than others. Again, I wasn't an immediate fan. But Drake's talent will creep up on you. Here's why.

Drake's Background: Canadian Emcee

I read one of the most ignorant tweets on Twitter during the 2010 Grammy awards earlier this week. The Twitter user said, "Drake's hair is cute. Didn't know they made wave caps in Canada." This is exactly why we need lyricists from other locations. There are so many misconceptions of Canadian culture. I figured that out quickly while spending a week in Toronto and Ontario a few years back. I loved Canada because of its diversity. Unlike many parts of the United States, I saw far more intermingling of different cultures than I ever saw in segregated cities like my hometown of Chicago, and yes, I saw plenty of black folks there. But the tweet just goes to show you how small our minds are when we don't travel. I read another tweet that said "Aubrey sounds so Canadian." The origin of the name Aubrey is actually German, and according to BabyNamesWorld.com, it means "Elfin King." Seriously, folks, step out of the house. Learn about somebody other than the people on your block. In addition to learning something new by an artist with a different background, Aubrey "Drake" Graham is definitely quick to point out where he's from-Toronto-and I think we could use a lyricist who isn't telling the same boring story about how he lived a hard life in the hood. I understand hip hop was fine tuned in the hood, but describing the same hood gets old after awhile. Let's learn something new and start thinking before we're tweeting.

Hardcore He Is Not

I keep hearing these accusations that Drake is trying to come off harder than he really is. Not likely. He may go hard on the microphone and present powerful lyrics, but a lyricist who croons "Please don't be scared of me" on his 2009 release "Fear" from his first major label CD "So Far Gone" is not trying to make you cross the street when you seem him coming. It's refreshing. We have enough rappers trying to be tough, and most hip hop heads are not believing 75 percent of them are really all that ill. Like Joe Budden said, "And if everybody's a killer, where the f-k is all the punks?" on "Real Life in Rap." That's not to say Drake is a punk either, but it's good to see people in the industry who keep the same persona they had during the mixtape days as they do now.

Lyrical Talent

Jamie Foxx danced in the crowd, videotaping Drake during his Grammy performance like he was a fan instead of a major artist, and I loved that he was showing him that kind of appreciation. Foxx also big-upped Drake during the 2009 BET Awards after party with Queen Latifah, and the queen also agreed that he actually has some good content. How often is it these days that you can hear a mainstream lyricist who you actually have to follow the lyrics instead of just bob your head to the beat? That's not taking away from some very talented underground hip hop artists who have been doing their thing through the years and avoiding major record labels to keep their style, but to be able to do both is respectable.

Eye Candy

We joke about how "light-skinned is coming back in style," and it's ironic that Drake's looks are working for and against him. The first time I saw Drake I stared at the screen thinking, "That's him? For real? He's very cute." I don't know why I didn't expect him to look like he did, but his voice just didn't fit his face to me. And that's a problem and a gift. A buddy of mine said she can't handle seeing Drake rap because he's just too much of a pretty boy for what he's rhyming about. But when did pretty boys have to have weak rhymes? What rule book is that in? Rakim is handsome too, but his looks didn't work against him. I think Mos Def is handsome in an unconventional way-didn't work against him. I heard many gushy comments from women while covering a Common event-his looks didn't stop him. So why is it Drake can't be cute and go hard on the mic?

Loving Women Isn't a Sin

Anybody who's been in a hip hop club or listened to a Snoop Doggy Dogg or Dr. Dre CD has heard more than their fair shame of "bitches" and "hoes" in music. But Drake's most popular song on the radio was about adoring a woman and saying she was the best. And just reading the words to "Deceiving" about Drake pouring his heart out about a relationship with his ex was unashamedly raw. He also explored another category of men-the ones who do right when the women are doing wrong. In rap today, minus songs like Mos Def's "Ms. Fat Booty," "U Are the One" and such, we don't usually hear that. We hear the blahzay attitude of "b-itches ain't s-t but hoes and tricks." Wonder what that does to a young girl's self-esteem, especially when the boy she likes is memorizing the lyrics. I can't listen to another song dogging women out but then showing rappers salivating, in the music videos, over the same women they claim to hate.

There's something about Drake. He makes me happy about hip hop again. When I heard "So Far Gone," I could've gone without every single lyricist on the entire CD but him and hope he has more songs with just him rapping on his upcoming 2010 CD "Thank Me Later." I hope he stays consistent and continues to bring something new to the microphone because there's just something about him. I don't want to thank him later. I'd rather thank him now.