Latest news with #OVOSound


National Post
6 days ago
- Entertainment
- National Post
'I shouldn't have gone at all': Jagmeet Singh regrets attending Kendrick Lamar concert in Drake's hometown
Barely a month out of the political spotlight, former New Democratic Party leader Jagmeet Singh has entered a potentially more fraught arena — that of the ongoing feud between rappers Drake and Kendrick Lamar. Article content On Sunday night, Singh posted a message to his Instagram account after attending one of the two Toronto shows on the Grand National Tour, headlined by Lamar and fellow rapper SZA, at the city's Rogers Centre. Article content Article content Singh had been widely noticed at the event, with Drake himself posting a screenshot of an Instagram message and referring to the politician as a 'goof' for his patronage of the concert. Article content Drake calls former NDP leader Jagmeet Singh a Goof for going to Kendrick Lamar's show in Toronto — DailyRapFacts (@DailyRapFacts) June 15, 2025 Article content Singh then took to Instagram himself to apologize. Article content He explained, 'I went for SZA, not Kendrick,' adding: 'I was born in this city. I love this city.' Drake is a native Torontonian, while his rival Lamar hails from Compton, California. Article content Article content Singh then went on to say: 'But real talk, I get it. I shouldn't have gone at all.' Article content He concluded: 'OVO and Drake have lifted up this city and (Canadian flag emoji). For me it'll always be Drake over Kendrick.' He signed off with a peace sign. Article content OVO is a reference to to OVO Sound, short for October's Very Own, a record label Drake founded in 2012. Article content The concert included a performance by Lamar of his hit Not Like Us, a diss track aimed at Drake. The Canadian Press reported that the song received a standing ovation from the crowd, along with chants of 'one more time.' Article content The song is the subject of a lawsuit by Drake against Universal Music Group, which was filed in a New York court. It alleges that the label falsely pumped up the popularity of Not Like Us on Spotify and other streaming services. Article content Universal has called the suit a baseless 'attack on the commercial and creative success of the rap artist who defeated him.' Article content

Hypebeast
13-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Hypebeast
Drake and Smiley Team up on New Track "2 Mazza"
Summary The highly anticipated collaboration between OVO Sound'sSmileyand label headDrake, titled '2 Mazza,' arrived earlier today. Both Toronto rappers come together for the joint effort, marking the first since their successful 2021 hit 'Over the Top.' '2 Mazza' immediately distinguishes itself by leaning into authentic Toronto street lexicon. The phrase 'mazza' itself, used to describe a 'crazy situation' or a chaotic scenario, becomes a central theme, woven into the fabric of the song's narrative. Smiley leads the charge with vivid, street-level storytelling, reflecting on his come-up and navigating the complexities of his environment. His signature, somewhat laconic yet impactful delivery, often described as a 'one-of-a-kind flow' with a distinctive 'cartoonish Snaggletooth wheeze,' provides a raw and unfiltered perspective over a hypnotic, R&B-infused beat. The song is part of Smiley's first album in three years, titledDon't Box Me In. Drake's verse on '2 Mazza' serves as a complementary counterpoint, mirroring Smiley's ascent while also showcasing his own journey from humble beginnings to present-day opulence. His presence on the track not only lends significant star power but also reinforces his long-standing commitment to nurturing talent within his OVO Sound imprint and putting Toronto's unique voice on the global stage. '2 Mazza' is more than just a song; it's a cultural moment, a sonic snapshot that brings local Toronto slang to a global audience, all under the influential co-sign of one of music's biggest names. Watch the music video above.


The South African
12-06-2025
- Entertainment
- The South African
Kai Cenat and Drake to stream and collaborate on a music video
American streaming sensation Kai Cenat and Canadian rapper Drake will be on a live stream together on June 12. They will be reviewing submissions for a contest the pair hosted to find concepts for Drake's, Somebody Loves Me music video. Drake's latest album, $ome $exy $ongs 4 U , was created in collaboration with singer and songwriter PartyNextDoor. PartyNextDoor also happens to be the first artist Drake signed to his OVO Sound music label. The trap soul duo invited up-and-coming directors to pitch their best motifs and concepts for the video. The talent search, launched by Drake and PartyNextDoor, invited aspiring directors to pitch ideas for the video, with 20 winners receiving $15 000 each (267 424.50 ZAR) to bring their concepts to life. This whole thing first came to be when a sizeable portion of the live stream chat on Cenat's popular Twitch stream said they felt the last video Drake released was subpar. The rapper then insisted they direct his next one. The 20 chosen creators will contribute a short clip ranging between 30 seconds to a minute each. These will be stitched together and curated by Cenat and his collective Any Means Possible (AMP). Submissions for the contest closed on May 24, with both Cenat and Drake raving about some entries and critiquing others. The rise of social media has meshed with the music industry, with TikTok challenges garnering artists critical acclaim in this era. A slightly more artful approach has been what streamers and YouTubers have been able to cultivate. Drake has been making a point of joining streamers for sessions and locally we have even seen rappers like Cassper Nyovest and Nasty C embrace Twitch. None more so than Cenat. He has become somewhat of an authority on newer music tastes because of his widely enjoyed reviews. This collaboration surprises fans. Cenat was unexpectedly mentioned in Drake's lawsuit against Universal Music Group involving his globally recognised defeat to Kendrick Lamar, last year. So far, the mood between the two appears to be amicable. Let us know by leaving a comment below, or send a WhatsApp to 060 011 021 11. Subscribe to The South African website's newsletters and follow us on WhatsApp, Facebook, X and Bluesky for the latest news.


Perth Now
26-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Perth Now
Drake confirms return of OVO Fest in summer 2025
Drake has confirmed OVO Fest is returning in 2025. The 'God's Plan' hitmaker was a surprise guest during Central Cee's concert at History in Toronto on Saturday (24.05.25). As well as performing 'Nokia' from his joint LP with PartyNextDoor, '$ome $exy $ongs 4 U', he revealed his label's music event, which he founded in 2010, and last took place in 2022, will be back this summer. Drake said from the balcony: 'I'll see you this summer, by the way. OVO Fest will be back this year.' Teasing grime star Central Cee's appearance at the festival, he went on: "We'll need you there for that. 'That guy right there, that's my f****** brother. I've seen this guy from day one, a humble spirit, a hard worker. This man observed all he needed to observe. This guy put the work in, made the songs. He's one of the best people I know. The realest.' The 2022 OVO Fest featured performances from fellow rappers Lil Wayne and Nicki Minaj. Meanwhile, Smiley recently teased Drake is working on new music. The 27-year-old rapper - who is signed to the 'Hotline Bling' hitmaker's record label, OVO Sound - claimed in a video on his Instagram Stories that Drake, 38, has been working on new material during events, as well as on the set of Drake's 'Nokia' music video. Smiley - whose real name is Alexander Morand, said in the clip - which was shared by Drake: "Brother, I'm telling you, I seen him the other day. 'We're at a party and he was in the other room by himself eating pasta with wired headphones writing music while we have a whole party going on. He's on a different mode right now. 'Even at the 'Nokia' video shoot, during breaks, he had a bunch of producers and he was just recording. "So he's in that crazy mode, right now. (sic)' Smiley - who collaborated with Drake on 'Over The Top' in 2021 - made the comments just weeks after Drake confirmed he is working on a new album, which he spilled is "a slap" on Adin Ross' livestream on Kick. Drake said: "Thank you to everybody that's streaming the album. Every time, every journey. Working on a new album, it's a slap." Asked if it's a solo record, he replied: "Yeah." '$ome $exy $ongs 4 U' was released in February and was an instant chart-topper. The five-time Grammy winner's confirmation of a new LP came just months after he told the crowd during his 'Anita Max Win' tour at RAC Arena in Peth, Australia, in February that he is working on an untitled LP, which he described as a "one-on-one talk" with his fans. Drake said of his first solo LP since 2023's 'For All the Dogs': "I got a new album coming out on Valentine's Day with PARTYNEXTDOOR. It's called '$ome $exy $ongs 4 U.' 'And you know, eventually when the time is right, Drizzy Drake alone by himself is gonna have to have a one-on-one talk to y'all. "When the time is right, I'll be back with another album, a one-on-one conversation with y'all that you need to hear."


Perth Now
06-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Perth Now
'Even at the Nokia video shoot he had a bunch of producers and he was just recording...' Smiley reveals Drake is working on new music
Smiley has teased Drake is working on new music. The 27-year-old rapper - who is signed to the 'Hotline Bling' hitmaker's record label, OVO Sound - claimed in a video on his Instagram Stories that Drake, 38, has been working on new material during events, as well as on the set of Drake's 'Nokia' music video. Smiley, whose real name is Alexander Morand, said in the clip - which was shared by Drake: "Brother, I'm telling you, I seen him the other day. 'We're at a party and he was in the other room by himself eating pasta with wired headphones writing music while we have a whole party going on. He's on a different mode right now. 'Even at the 'Nokia' video shoot, during breaks, he had a bunch of producers and he was just recording. "So he's in that crazy mode, right now. (sic)' Smiley - who collaborated with Drake on 'Over The Top' in 2021 - made the comments just weeks after Drake confirmed he is working on a new album, which he spilled is "a slap" on Adin Ross' livestream on Kick. Drake said: "Thank you to everybody that's streaming the album. Every time, every journey. Working on a new album, it's a slap." Asked if it's a solo record, he replied: "Yeah." Drake released a joint album with fellow rapper PARTYNEXTDOOR, '$ome $exy $ongs 4 U', in February, which topped the charts. And the five-time Grammys winner's confirmation of a new LP came just months after he told the crowd during his 'Anita Max Win' tour at RAC Arena in Peth, Australia, in February that he is working on an untitled LP, which he described as a "one-on-one talk" with his fans. Drake teased the new project - which will be his first solo LP since 2023's 'For All the Dogs': "I got a new album coming out on Valentine's Day with PARTYNEXTDOOR. It's called '$ome $exy $ongs 4 U.' 'And you know, eventually when the time is right, Drizzy Drake alone by himself is gonna have to have a one-on-one talk to y'all. "When the time is right, I'll be back with another album, a one-on-one conversation with y'all that you need to hear."