(AllHipHop News) Last night Drake finally released his fourth studio album VIEWS. To help promote the new LP, the Toronto rapper did a rare interview with Beats 1’s Zane Lowe for the OVOSOUND radio show. The discussion included Drizzy talking about the current status of his relationships with one of his musical idols Jay Z, former close collaborator The Weeknd, and fellow Young Money representative Nicki Minaj.
[ALSO READ: Drake Announces ‘Summer Sixteen Tour” With Future & 7th OVO Fest Featuring Snoop Dogg & Wiz Khalifa]
On Jay Z:
Really, I was trying to get [Kanye West] on [“Pop Style”] at first, and Ye just sent it to me like that. Like, “Jay just kind of did my first few lines for me. He was here and that’s how we flexed it.” It was cool. He was all excited like, “Just put The Throne. It would be a crazy moment.” Of course, people want to hear Jay Z rap, so hearing him do two lines might be frustrating to a certain audience…
I was just having conversation with Kanye. That just landed in my lap. I just dealt with it accordingly, and it didn’t exactly play how I would have wanted it to as far as business goes. So I just figured it would be easier to go with my version [on the album].
I’ve expressed my admiration and respect for Jay countless times. That will never change. Sometimes we just fall on opposite ends of the spectrum when it comes to the rap world. It’s always just mutual respect, but sometimes it has to be from afar do to other situations that don’t have anything to do with me and him.
On The Weeknd:
At the end of the day, that’s my guy. We’re from the same city. We grew up with the same goal, trying to do this. A lot of the time we spent trying to do it together. There’s memories I’ll never forget. We spent real time. Not like other artists time. We put in real work together.
I’m proud of his success. We’ve both had our moments where we’ve maybe felt a way and taken it maybe a little left, but I can sit here and say I have nothing but love for everybody over there. I loved watching last year. It made me super happy. Well deserved.
[He] made a great body of work. As a lesson to any kid, that’s work effort. You make great music and you figure out how to roll it out the right way and do your thing, and that’s where it gets you. More power to him. I’ve never got the chance to tell him, but I send him all my blessings. I could never really want any ill for him based off the work we put in and where he’s from.
On Nicki Minaj:
I don’t really talk to Nicki. Again, another person that I have a lot of love and respect for. Not only for our past and how much work and time we put in, but even with the way she dealt with the [Meek Mill rivalry]. I understand what love is, and I understand a personal situation. She dealt with me how I would expect her to which was with class. I could only ever do the same.
There were points in time where I was sitting there waiting to see like, “Okay, is this going to go… I don’t know. Like, how deep is your love?” You got to ask yourself, but I’ll always have respect and love for Nicki. Unfortunately, we haven’t spoken, but it is what it is. Even if we don’t speak, she knows what it is. It’s always love.
Purchase Drake’s VIEWS on iTunes.
[ALSO READ: Here Are 10 Artists That Have Had Issues With Drake]