Drake Talks Aiming for Marvin Gaye’s Honesty on ‘Nothing Was the Same’ in GQ July 2013

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Drake Covers GQ Magazine July 2013 Photographed by Mario Sorrenti

Drake Covers GQ Magazine July 2013 Photographed by Mario Sorrenti

Drake , who’ll soon throw his hat into this summer’s exciting lineup of hip-hop releases with Nothing Was the Same , covers the July 2013 issue of GQ Magazine .

Inside the issue, the multi-millionaire rapper speaks on the hate he’s garnered from his peers, most notably Ludacris, DMX, Lil’ Kim , and Common (remember that ridiculous beef ?), and also about the sex he’s not having (as much of), love, and of course, where things stand with Chris Brown following their “scuffle.”

Expected to release sometime in August, Nothing Was the Same is apparently shaping up to be extremely raw and personal, guided by the honesty in Marvin Gaye ‘s confessional and controversial 1978 album, Here, My Dear , which chronicled the decline of the late legend’s first marriage.

“I ain’t gonna lie: I want to be the one you listen to this summer.”

It’s actually impossible to really capture all of the interesting bits and pieces from this GQ interview with Michael Paterniti .

So enjoy a few snippets below, along with photos from the shoot with Mario Sorrenti , and read it in full here .

Drake GQ July 2013 by Mario Sorrenti

Drake for GQ July 2013 wearing Jeans by Ralph Lauren Black Label Denim. Sweater by Ralph Lauren Black Label. Necklace by Cartier. Watch by Rolex

On his haters:

“You notice they don’t criticize the music itself, though,” says Drake about his detractors. “I’m okay with that.”

On preparing for the album with fewer sexual encounters:

“You know the way fighters don’t fuck before the fight? Sometimes I feel like I’m so focused on training my body and getting my mind right to create this album that sex isn’t one of my main priorities. If someone is around that I know and trust, I’m down. But I’m not going to end up with some stranger at this party.”

Drake GQ July 2013 by Mario Sorrenti

Drake for GQ July 2013 wearing Jeans by 7 For All Mankind. Shirt by Dolce & Gabbana. Belt by John Varvatos USA

On the feud with Chris Brown:

“I hear he has everything he could want now. I don’t want my name to be synonymous with that guy’s name. I really don’t. I wish we could sit down, just like you and me are right now, and talk it out man-to-man. But that’s not going to happen. I’m not confrontational, but if someone challenges, I’m not going to back down.”

“It’s embarrassing, the amount of media coverage. Two rappers fighting over the woman. He’s not even a rapper, but still, it’s the last way you want your name out there. It distracts from the music. But he’s made me the enemy, and that’s the way it’s gonna stay, I guess.”

“If I think about it too much, I feel it wrapping around my foot, like I get a feeling it could end really badly.”

Drake GQ July 2013 by Mario Sorrenti

Drake for GQ July 2013 wearing Jeans by Closed. Jacket by Alexander Wang. Henley by Neil Barrett. Belt by Tom Ford. Top Bracelet, custom. Bottom bracelets and necklace by Cartier.

On love:

“I had lunch with Will Smith , and listening to him talk, it made me think I don’t know what love is. He said something profound. He said love is when you become one and you need that person.

It’s not about wanting anymore, you need that person. Hearing that, I don’t know if I’ve ever felt that way. I’ve held women in very high regard almost to the point where I felt like I needed them for a very long time, but I don’t know if I comprehend it yet, and I’m okay with that.”

“I’ve made a lot of music about love being the only thing I’m missing. I think this is the first album I’ve made saying, I’m okay. I’m enjoying it right now. Maybe this is my time to grind it out, make a run for it and add some memories with my boys.

But listen, if I wasn’t doing this, man, and I was back home in Toronto, and I had my job that kept me in the city, my girl would be my life.

I have a lot of friends back there, and their relationships have become the focal point, the high point of their lives. And that’s cool. I just have new goals, new places to go, new people to meet. I live off a different high point every day.”

In defense of “Started From The Bottom:”

“I think a lot of people wish their favorite rapper wrote it—as if a song like that should be gangster—but I was the one who wrote it, and everyone has their bottom.”

Drake GQ July 2013 by Mario Sorrenti

Drake for GQ July 2013 wearing Jeans, shirt, and belt by Tom Ford. Watch by Rolex. Center bracelet, custom. Other bracelets and necklace by Cartier

On his story:

“The three biggest misconceptions about me are that I’m a cocky asshole because I’m a famous male rapper, that any part of me wants to be gangster or hood, and that I grew up rich.

I wouldn’t change a thing. I’ve told bits and pieces of [my story]—and I’ll tell more. Maybe because I had friends who grew up in the hood, I could have acted like I had, too, and perpetrated a different lifestyle, and it would be eating away at me because it wouldn’t be the truth.

I’m actually here in front of you living the truth. I wake up in the morning and my heart is light, man. It’s not heavy. I don’t have skeletons in the closet on their way out. This is my real age, my real name, my real past, and I’m good with that.”

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