Fresh off the heels of “Marvin’s Room” and “Dreams Money Can Buy,” the Toronto emcee has dropped yet another free download in anticipation of his forthcoming album, Take Care. “Trust Issues” is a spin-off of Drake’s feature in DJ Khaled’s “I’m on One” alongside Rick Ross and Lil Wayne.

Drake describes the record as, “my own little thing using some other thing I did. You know,” on his blog, October’s Very Own.

Take Care is scheduled for an Oct. 24 release—Drake’s birthday. in the meantime, you can catch the Degrassi star in Toronto headlining Ovofest on July 31 with special guests Rick Ross and The Weeknd.

Drake - Trust Issues


DJ Khaled - I’m On One Ft. Drake, Rick Ross, Lil Wayne


Drake - Marvin’s Room


Drake - Dreams Money Can Buy

What do you think of all the new material Drake has been releasing?

This weekend, Drake hosted the Juno Awards, a prestigious event honoring the best in music his countrymen have to offer (Read: the Canadian GRAMMYs). The awards were held in Toronto and to open the ceremony Drake led with a skit about his new music business initiative, “Old Money.” Despite having six nominations, Drake did not walk away with any wins this weekend.

“We’re called Young Money because we appeal to a younger demographic and everyone in the label…has a lot of money,” says Drake.

“For this new one coming out this year which is called ‘Take Care’ I think I’ve devised a plan. I really think I’ve stumbled upon an untapped gold mine and instead of Young Money, today, it’s all about ‘Old Money.’”

It’s been some time since Aubrey Graham’s acting days in Canadian teen drama, “Degrassi,” but as far as his Juno skit goes, he’s got comedy down. Read more to see the skit and select winners for the Juno Awards.

Juno Awards Winners:

Juno Fan Choice Award Winner: Justin Bieber

Artist of the Year: Neil Young

Group of the Year: Arcade Fire

New Artist of the Year: Meaghan Smith

New Group of the Year: Said the Whale

Album of the Year & Alternative Album of the Year: Suburbs, Arcade Fire

International Album of the Year: Teenage Dream, Katy Perry

Pop Album of the Year: My World 2.0, Justin Bieber

Single of the Year: “Wavin’ Flag,”  Young Artists for Haiti

R&B/Soul Recoding of the Year: “Stars,” Quanteisha

Rap Recording of the Year: TSOL, Shad

Reggae Recording of the Year: “Likkle But Mi Tallawah,” Elaine Lil’Bit Sheppard

What do you think, did Drake nail the skit?

Lil Wayne has wasted no time and leaked the first track from The Carter IV, “Six Foot, Seven Foot” featuring Young Money signee, Cory Gunz.  The record is produced by Bangladesh and bangs with the same cadence that made “A Milli” a hit. Expect goofy lines like ”Real G’s move in silence like lasanga,” a highly anticipated introduction of Cory Gunz to the mainstream and several freestyles on the instrumental to follow. What do you think, does Lil Wayne have another hit on the horizon?

Drake “Miss Me” from John W on Vimeo.

Drake debuted his video for “Miss Me” on MTV last night. Looks like Lil Wayne made an appearance after all. The video has been getting mixed reviews, what do you think?

As incoming freshmen and returning college students start the new school year they’ll comfort in knowing that imprisoned Lil Wayne shares their dietary pain. According to Weezy’s food order, courtesy of TMZ, the New Orleans emcee has a taste for ramen noodles, kool-aid, Doritos and—stamps, lots of em’. Read more for a snapshot of the alleged food order.

See the full pdf here.

25 Magazine’s Letese Clark gives Drake’s Thank Me Later a first listen.

WORDS BY LETESE CLARK

The Canadian native Aubrey Graham, better known as Drake, has finally released his debut album Thank Me Later after much anticipation. It seems as if it was yesterday when he was Jimmy on the hit television series Degrassi. Drake established fame as one of the strongest emerging artists today with his mixtape So Far Gone, and Thank Me Later marks the beginning of what will probably be a long, lucrative career. The album includes production by Kanye West, Noah “40” Shebib, Boi-1da, Swizz Beatz and Timbaland. For Drake’s sake, here’s hoping that Thank Me Later slow sells a million.

1. “Fireworks” Feat. Alicia Keys
The opening track is the beginning of never-ending story and celebration, hence the firework sound effects at the start. Alicia Key’s soulful vocals foreshadows the story that unfolds throughout the album.

2. “Karaoke”
This tracks to be one of the more lack luster exudes a R&B vibe, nothing too exciting.

3. “The Resistance”
Drake continues with the R&B flow on this track, this time speaking on the resistance to changing one’s character.

4. “Over”
The leading single is a return to hip-hop and the heavy hitting Drake as he dismisses the naysayers and continues to do him until it is all over—no the most original motto but still apreciated. This by far is the best track off the album and has the makings of an anthem.

5. “Show Me A Good Time”
Drake was never one for humility. He works hard and isn’t afraid to let it be known. On this track, Drake is looking forward to being shown a good time as a reward for putting in work.

6. “Up All Night” Feat. Nicki Minaj
Another track declaring to the haters that he is on top of his game but this time Drake shouts out his Young Money crew and their contributions to his fame. Nicki Minaj offers a laid-back but nevertheless hard-hitting verse minus her usual theatrics.

7. “Fancy” Feat. Swizz Beatz
Finally, a track for the ladies. This collaboration is an anthem for the independent, intelligent, well-kept and well, fancy woman.

8. “Shut It Down” Feat. The Dream
Drake has teamed up with The Dream to produce another hit strictly for the ladies. With one particular female in mind, the rapper proclaims that she is shutting it down in every aspect of her life. A likely follow-up to “Best I Ever Had.”

9. “Unforgettable” Feat.Young Jezzy
This track features a sample from the late Aaliyah. Both rappers plead fans to disregard the images presented by the paparazzi and remember them for their lyrics—lyrics they consider unforgettable.

10. “Light Up” Feat. Jay-Z
Late night studio sessions while everybody else is out partying and hating critics, this track is a testament to the strenuous music grind. Welcome to the industry.

11. “Miss Me” Feat. Lil Wayne
The album wouldn’t be complete without a lengthily verse from mentor, Lil Wayne. Drake goes on to rap about a variety of things on this track most notably, his love for Nicki Minaj, but in the ends he just wants fans to miss him when he’s gone.

12. “Cece’s Interlude”
This R&B interlude has Drake open, aching for the one that got away. Another joint for the woman he’s tripped up over.

13. “Find Your Love”
The large Caribbean population in Canada has not left Drake untouched. This second single offers an island take to Drake’s ongoing love affairs.

14. “Thank Me Now”
“Thank Me Later, yeah I know what I said but later doesn’t always come so instead you can thank me now” Drake could not have found a better track to close out his debut album with as he declares his spot in hip hop.

Via his Twitter, Wale leaks the song “Who Don’t” featuring Fat Trel & Black Cobain. The track samples a part of Lil Wayne’s “Let’s Do It.”

Download it here!

Check out Erykah Badu’s video for “Jump Up in the Air” featuring Lil Wayne. The abstract kaleidoscope treatment is very fitting for the eclectic Texan songstress. Erykah Badu’s upcoming album New Amerykah Part II: Return of the Ankh was originally scheduled for a Feb. 23 release but has since been pushed to March 30. “Jump Up in the Air” mp3 stream and album tracklist after the jump!

1. “20 Feet Tall” (prod. Erykah Badu & 9th Wonder)
2. “Window Seat” (prod. Erykah Badu & James Poyser, w/ Ahmir “?uestlove” Thompson (drums), Stephen “Thundercat” Bruner (bass), James Poyser (keys), Kirsten Agnesta (harp))
3. “Agitation” (prod. Erykah Badu & Shafiq Husayn)
4. “Get Money” (prod. Erykah Badu & Karriem Riggins (drums), Stephen “Thundercat” Bruner (bass), James Poyser (keys), Tommy Trajlio (guitar), Mike “Chav” Chavarria (mooger fooger))
5. “Don’t Be Long” (prod. Erykah Badu & Ta’Raach)
6. “Love” (prod. Erykah Badu & J Dilla)
7. “Umm Hmm” (prod. Erykah Badu & Madlib)
8. “Fall in Love” (prod. Erykah Badu & Karriem Riggins)
9. “Incense” (Instrumental) (prod. Erykah Badu & Madlib w/ Kirsten Agnesta (harp))
10. “Out My Mind Just in Time pt.1: Undercover Over-Lover” (prod. Erykah Badu w/ James Poyser (keys))
11. “Out My Mind Just in Time pt.2″ (prod. Erykah Badu & Georgia Ann Muldrow)
12. “Jump Up In The Air (Stay There)” f. Lil Wayne & Bilal (prod. Erykah Badu, RC Williams & Jahborn) [Bonus, web-only track]

Mickey Factz remixes “Runnin’” (prod. J.U.S.T.I.C.E. League) off of Lil Wayne’s upcoming rock debut, Rebirth. Stream after the jump!

Lil Wayne x Mickey Factz x Shanell - Runnin' (remix)

Shouts to 2dope

Check out the Young Money follow up to “Bedrock” featuring Lloyd, Drake and Lil Wayne. Stream after the jump!

Lloyd x Lil Wayne x Drake - Bedrock Pt. II

Shouts to 2dope!

25 Magazine has the hottest new releases to put on your radar.

ALBUMS

Young Money | We Are Young Money (Cash Money Records) 12.21.2009

We Are Young Money is the group’s first studio album and features artists Birdman, Lloyd, Gucci Mane and Pleasure P.  It includes production from Tha Bizness, Kane Beatz, Chase N. Cash and B. Carr.

Eminem | Relapse: Refill (Interscope Records) 12.21.09

Relapse:Refill is a re-release of the rapper’s sixth studio album Relapse. The album has seven extra tracks, is produced by Dr. Dre, and features artists Drake, Lil Wayne and Kanye West.

Hurricane Chris | Unleashed (Polo Grounds Music/J Records) 12.22.09

Unleashed is Hurricane Chris’s second studio album and includes production from Shawty Redd, Phunk Dawg, Play-N-Skillz, Superstarr, Mouse, The Inkredibles and Don Vito.  It features artists Superstarr, Mouse, Mario, Plies, Bobby Valentino, Fiend 4 Da Money, Cherish, Beenie Man, and Isis.

FILMS

Sherlock Holmes | Starring Robert Downey Jr., Jude Law, Rachel McAdams, Mark Strong, Eddie Marsan (Warner Bros. Pictures Distribution)

Release Date: December 25, 2009

Director: Guy Ritchie

Genre: Action/Adventure, Thriller, Adaptation

Detective Sherlock Holmes and his partner Watson go up against a nemesis to stop his plan that would threaten all of England.

Up in the Air | Starring George Clooney, Anna Kendrick, Vera Farmiga, Jason Bateman, Danny McBride (Paramount Pictures)

Release Date: December 25, 2009

Director: Jason Reitman

Genre: Comedy, Drama

Corporate “terminator for hire” Ryan Bingham’s life is completely changed when he is forced to abruptly abandon his life of travel.

It’s Complicated | Starring Meryl Streep, Steve Martin, Alec Baldwin, John Krasinski , Lake Bell (Universal Pictures)

Release Date: December 25, 2009

Director: Nancy Meyers

Genre: Comedy and Romance

A divorced mother of three grown children begins a complicated affair with her ex husband.

The Imaginarium of Doctor Parnassus | Starring Heath Ledger, Johnny Depp, Jude Law, Colin Farrell, Christopher Plummer (Sony Pictures Classics)

Release Date: December 25, 2009

Director: Terry Gilliam

Genre: Action/Adventure, Art/Foreign and Science Fiction/Fantasy

A travelling theatre group leader makes a deal with the devil in order to take audience members on a journey to explore their own imaginations.

Eminem’s Relapse reissue LP, Refill drops tomorrow, Dec. 21. Bonus Tracklist and artwork after the jump!

TRACKLIST

1. Forever ft Drake, Kanye West, Lil Wayne
2. Hell Breaks Loose
3. Buffalo Bill
4. Elevator
5. Taking My Ball
6. Music Box
7. Drop The Bomb On ‘Em

Badu’s New Amerykah, Part II: Return Of The Ankh will drop Feb. 23. Tracklist and Lil Wayne collab track after the jump!

1. 20 Feet Tall
2. Window Seat
3. Agitation
4. Get Money
5. Don’t Be Long
6. Love
7. Umm Hmm
8. Fall In Love
9. Incense
10. Out My Mind Just In Time (Part 1) (Undercover Over-Lover)
11. Out My Mind Just In Time (Part 2)
12. Jump In The Air

“Jump in the Air and Stay There” Ft. Lil Wayne live rip via 2dope. The final version of the track is rumored to feature 10 rappers.

Young Money signee Nicki Minaj is featured in Complex Magazine.

Behinds The Scenes: http://www.complexvideo.com/Girls/Nicki-Minaj

The self proclaimed “Young Money Mistress” chops it up with Complex Magazine on everything from her busied music career to her sexuality. Peep the full interview here.

Lil Wayne’s rock effort, Rebirth, drops officially December 15th via Universal. Tracklist and full cover art after the jump.

1. I’m Not Human

2. Knock Knock

3. I’m Good, No Great Feat. Nicki Minaj

4. Sick of This

5. Dizzy Feat. Mary J. Blige

6. Young Money World Feat. Young Money

7. Lamp Laid Feat. Lil Twist

8. With Me Feat. Lloyd

9. Hot Revolver Feat. Dre

10. Make It

11. Amazing Love Feat. Gudda Gudda

12. Girls Forever

13. Prom Queen

14. She Wants Me Feat. Drake

15. All About

16. Fire Do? Feat. The Game

17. Bottom Feat. Gudda Gudda

18. In Your Face Feat. Kevin Rudolph (Also known as Spit, Facelift)

19. Lethal Injection Feat. Lenny Kravitz

20. Ready For the World

25 Magazine recaps VH1′s “Behind the Music: Lil Wayne”

VH1 series “Behind the Music,” has finally returned with a new emphasis on rap artists. The series kicked off with the “reigning king” of hip-hop, Dwayne Carter, better known as Lil Wayne. The narcotic driven artist gives the VH1 staff insight on his childhood in New Orleans, family, career, and reckless behavior. Wayne found music to be his inspiration and began with Cash Money at the age of 9, then heightened his fame with the renowned Hot Boys, and eventually went solo with his debut album The Block is Hot in 1999. Once he stopped writing all his lyrics down, Wayne took his music more seriously. “When I stopped writing, I’ve noticed that everything was real now, I can’t speak about nothing than what was real because I can’t write nothing,” Carter says.

From then on, he pulled everything out of his head and was on the path to becoming a true icon. Few have known Mr. Carter to ever be over the influence. He attributes his  initiation to drugs at the age of 11 for his addiction. Wayne’s life is interesting, though not nearly as hardcore as he portrays it to be in his music. However, he did face some trials, from accidently shooting himself roughly a centimeter away from his heart and losing his childhood to the devastating Hurricane Katrina tearing apart his hometown.

“In 27 short years, Lil Wayne has already lived a lifetime of tragedy and triumph, and while his future remains uncertain, one thing is clear: He has no intentions of slowing down.”

Hip hop is tired of being hip-hop. Kanye is diving further into fashion, Lil’ Wayne is engaged in a torrid affair with rock & roll, and everyday a new rapper starts a film career. Some fans claim that artists need to branch out creatively to express themselves, while some cynics scream that strolling down every media avenue is just a shrewd attempt at getting rich. Whatever the case, spreading talent too thin leads to a decline in quality music. Cliché rants about Hip hop being dead come to mind. Just as we were all beginning to dread flipping on the radio, fresh voices are pumping in new blood to revive the music industry.

Such is the case with U-N-I, a rap duo hailing from Los Angeles, California. Their music seems to immediately connect with people. After releasing their first mixtape, Fried Chicken and Watermelon in 2007, U-N-I has been receiving increasing amounts of recognition from both listeners and the press, with growing coverage and performance opportunities. Avid rap heads have greeted each offering with the same greedy anticipation. Their follow-up mixtape Before There Was Love caused the blogosphere to ignite with reviews and promises of free downloads, and their latest musical contribution, A Love Supreme, which features the insanely catchy single “Hollywood Hiatus” enjoyed a similar welcome.

The men behind the music are members, Yonas “Y-O” Micheal and Yannick “Thurzday”Koffi. They met in high school in 1999. After realizing their mutual love of music, they began to devote their lunch periods to defeating cocky upperclassmen in rap battles. They soon joined a four-man group called Rap-Ture Kamp, but in 2006 they splintered off and began to work together. They derived their name from The Roots’ track “UNIverse at War,” one of their favorites, and have been sprinting after their shared goal of rap fame ever since, using mixtapes and performances to get them closer to their dreams.

They have made significant progress. Not only have their Google hits risen to internet-celebrity status, but their developing resume includes making Billboard Magazine’s “Acts to Watch” list and the 2008 MTV Video Music Awards “Best Breakout LA Artist” award.

Although this heightened interest in the duo means they are successfully breaking into the music industry, it also leaves room for lazy comparisons and knee-jerk expectations. Some take a glance at U-N-I’s mutual appreciation for bright colors and Y-O’s mohawk and instantly label them as “hipsters.” Others immediately assume that they will spout the g-funk that is heavily associated with the Los Angeles area. However they seem to be different, more honest. Their music centers on their individual memories, goals, shoe fetishes, and celebrity daydreams. There is a certain level of self-awareness in their lyrics, as they allow their clever rhymes and well-delivered punch lines to speak for themselves.

Check out their latest release “Land of Kings”:

25: Where’d your love for music come from?

Thurzday: It comes from the people we grew up listening to Mos Def, Talib, Redman, Nas, Biggie; we were really influenced by Prince, listened to that reggae music and all that stuff, so we really loved music.

25: How did you two meet?

Y-O: We basically met in my freshman year and Thurzday’s sophomore year at St. Bernard High it was 1999. We met during lunchtime when we were either playing basketball, or on the courtyard doing freestyles up against upperclassmen and we just became the talk around campus, because we just demolished these upperclassmen who just thought they were just the ish and we did a talent show and joined a four man group during our high school years, we put out a couple of mix tapes, albums, and the request that they wanted to hear myself and Thurzday [do something together] so finally we made that division and we hopped out in ’06 and followed that with Fried Chicken and Watermelon in the year 2007.

25: What made you decide to really pursue a career in music?

Thurzday: Because 9-5’s are wack! I couldn’t see myself doing anything else that made me happy. This is what I wanted to do since I was a kid. Some people wonder why –it was like, the only thing we wanted to do as far as having a career. I looked up to people who’ve done it and I could never see myself doing anything else.

25: What made you realize that a career in music was right for you? How did it make you feel?

Y-O: Well, music has always been a part of our lives. I can tell you that growing up as a kid there was always music being played in our houses. But, before I got deep into music, there was always basketball, and with basketball, you know, you warm up to music. So, I noticed as I got older music has just always been something that was a part of me growing up as a kid and it just always made me feel so happy. When you write rhymes it’s just a way of [releasing] some stress off, getting stuff off your mind, and just putting it in your own words, and it just makes you happy; makes you get through the day easier. So, when we did the talent show in high school and just hearing the people’s reaction that kinda, like, made me feel great and I said to myself, “This could be a future; something I could do later on down the line.” So, just getting older and older and doing more shows—I guess I just took it more seriously and people respected it.

25: Many complain about a lack of originality in the music industry. What makes you different?

Thurzday: We’re not anybody else. We’re only us. So that’s like the only thing that makes us different from anybody. Everybody hasn’t lived our lifestyle. Everybody hasn’t experienced what we’ve experienced. So, through our own voice, we project who we are throughout our music. And it’s nobody but us. So, that’s really what makes us original. We’re true emcees. You know, we’re not a gimmick act. We really have talent, and we display that.

Y-O: And just to back him up. Our music is about things that actually happened in our lives, but outside of that, our live shows. I would say that It should be mentioned that even though we don’t have the biggest amount of money backing us up, we’re able to put our minds together-myself, Thurzday, our DJ and sometimes our band-and we just put on a live [ass] show, which some artists are not able to do these days.

25: Speaking of your music, it seems that you have a thing for Lauren London?

Y-O: Yeah, that’s a true story, once again. The song was basically inspired just from me having a crush on Lauren London, and I brought it up in the studio, with Ro Blvd, and we were just all joking and laughing about it. Everybody was like, “Yeah, she’s hot”. So, we started laughing about it, and it eventually turned into a record. She actually heard the record, and I guess it put a smile on her face. I thought she responded on Twitter, and she hit us up, well a fake hit us up, saying she loves the music, and she was acting real brand new. Then I remembered months ago that she’d heard it, so I was like “This can’t be Lauren” so I asked her a question about a mutual friend and she had no clue who I was talking about, so that kinda like, brought me down cause I thought I was really talking to Lauren London and come to find out it was a fake, man.

25: And shoes? You like those enough to write a whole song about them, as well?

Thurzday: We basically got an idea to take the original “C.R.E.A.M”, from Wu-Tang, and apply it to our lifestyle and a lot of folks were into kicks at the time, so we changed it to “Kicks Rule Everything Around Me”. We shot a video for it, and it took off.

25: You’ve been receiving a lot of positive feedback lately from the media, but what’s your career goal?

Y-O: To be bigger than Kanye, with more money than Bill Gates.

25: Any advice for aspiring artists?

Thurzday: Starts with quality music, and a quality team and you can do anything.

Y-O: Step outside the box, just be yourself, and have fun—always have fun.

Download their music at www.yothurz.com

This week, three highly anticipated albums of 09′ have fell victim to the industry trend of the “push back”. 

According to HipHopDx, Lil Wayne’s Album ‘The Rebirth’, which was scheduled to drop on May 19th, may now be shelved. Originally ‘Rebirth’, the rappers first experiment at a rock album was slated for an April 7th release, making this the second time it’s been held over.

Wayne’s not the only one who is having trouble putting out the goods. Yesterday, ThisIs50.com reported that Busta Rhymes’s ’B.O.M.B (Back on My Bullshit)’ will be dropped on May 19th instead of March 24th. The album will feature Mary J. Blige, John Legend, and Common.

The self-proclaimed ‘biggest boss’ Rick Ross will also be appointing his upcoming third album ‘Deeper than Rap’ to an April 21st spring release, according to a Def Jam label rep. Ross recently announced on MTV that he will be doing a mini-tour in New York City and in Miami this spring, in which all proceeds will go to underpriveleged kids.

Unlike Ross and Rhymes, Wayne has yet to confirm an official date for his upcoming album.

-Natelege

Looks like Keri is after some pre-album release publicity with her latest remix/diss track of “Turnin Me On” Ft. Lil Wayne & T-Pain. Guess which R&B vixens she’s checkin.

While Keri Hilson may have proven herself to be  a master songwriter her diss records aren’t so straight forward. The remix tells a certain someone to “check the credits, ho” and makes some suspicious references that can be tied to both Beyonce and Ciara such as a an “Irreplaceable” and Atlanta spin-off but we’ll let you be the judge.

Download Here [shouts to SS]

We’re late. We’re very late, but we figured you’d still be interested.

Read more for Tracklist and download.

Download here

Chopped & Screwed Version by DJ Mr. Rojers – Download here