Drake: ‘I Don’t F— With Motown’

Rap's next big thing, Toronto rapper Drake revealed his reasons for signing a distribution deal with Universal Republic in this month's Fader magazine.

The former 'Degrassi: The Next Generation' star was courted by virtually every major label, and was rumored to have signed an unbelievably generous deal with Universal/Motown, but he set the record straight in the Fader, saying "I went through Universal Republic because I don't f--- with Motown at all."

Drake made his issues with Motown president and executive vice-president of Universal Records, Sylvia Rhone, public long before he signed his deal, saying "I've always been something that these labels can't buy/especially if they trying to take a piece of my soul/and Sylvia be telling Tez/Damn, Drake fly/and he just be like, 'silly motherf---er I know'" on "Say What's Real," from his mixtape 'So Far Gone.'

According to the Fader story, (Drake Drizzy's face also graces the cover, as previously reported), Rhone threatened Drake with legal action if he chose to sign elsewhere. Drake chose to avoid further dealings with Rhone, but will still include the Lil Wayne's Young Money logo (Young Money is on Universal Records) on his album.

"I respect the fact that Wayne put me in this position," Drake said. "But as an artist I have to do my own thing at this point. I'm not sure if that's gonna be a struggle in the next couple of months, to set myself apart. I don't want it to feel like a disrespectful thing, but I know it's a bridge that I'm going to cross as far as becoming my own person."

Canada's biggest MC since Maestro Fresh Wes also said that Kanye West, who directed his jiggly 'Best I Ever Had,' video is considering executive producing his highly anticipated debut studio album, Thank Me Later,' which is expected to feature appearances by Rihanna, Pharrell and Yeezy.