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Drake · S2 E7
Young Money
He signs with Lil Wayne. The actor from Toronto joins the biggest rap label in the world
June 29, 2009. Aubrey Drake Graham signs his name on a contract with Young Money Entertainment. The unsigned rapper from Toronto has made his choice.
"Every Girl" by the full Young Money roster: Wayne, Drake, Nicki, Tyga, Gudda Gudda, Jae Millz, Mack Maine. This is the label Drake just joined. The song became a hit, the video became a statement, and Young Money became the most dominant collective in hip-hop.
Every Girl (2009)
From the "We Are Young Money" compilation album, this track is a roster showcase. Each rapper gets a verse, each one tries to outshine the next. Drake's contribution stands out because he doesn't try to compete with Wayne's punchlines or anyone else's bravado. He sings, he talks about feelings, and he makes it sound natural in a room full of traditional MCs. That's exactly why Wayne signed him: he adds a dimension nobody else on the roster can provide.
TAP TO REVEAL: How did the bidding war change Drake's contract?
“I didn't just want a record deal. I wanted a family. Wayne gave me that. He didn't just sign me to a label, he brought me into his life.”
— Drake, interview with GQ, 2013
Young Money: The Roster
Fireworks (feat. Alicia Keys)
From Thank Me Later (2010), the debut album Drake made after signing with Young Money. Alicia Keys brings a soaring vocal that turns this into one of the most triumphant moments on the record. Drake raps about everything changing at once, the fireworks going off around him, the world watching. This is what joining Young Money sounded like from the inside.
Fireworks, Drake ft. Alicia Keys (2010)
Read the lyrics while you listen. Alicia Keys brings a soaring vocal that turns this into one of the most triumphant moments on the debut album. This is what joining Young Money sounded like from the inside.
Who founded Young Money Entertainment?
Drake is signed, the team is assembled, and the pressure is enormous. Next season: Thank Me Later, a number-one debut, a wave of criticism, and the moment Drake discovers that getting to the top is the easy part.
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