Early buzz surrounding Drake's recent album If You're Reading This It's Too Late indicated that it would be a mixtape, but instead of the freelease many of us expected, the collection arrived last week (February 13) as a paid download on iTunes. Well, it turns out that Drizzy did indeed originally intend it as a giveaway, but his label Cash Money Records reportedly changed the plan and made it a more traditional digital release.
This news comes from KP of mixtape resource Datpiff.com. He confirmed in a statement to HipHopDX that If You're Reading This It's Too Late had been tentatively earmarked for a Gangsta Grillz mixtape hosted by DJ Drama.
"Originally we were in talks to release it for free...and have DJ Drama host and even make it an official Gangsta Grillz…however the label was not in favor of that and they struck an agreement to release the project the retail route and it would count towards one of his albums," KP said. "It was a mutual decision since he wanted to give it away. They [the label] said, 'Hell no,' not in those words, so they 'agreed' to do it this way as a middle ground and it would count towards his Cash Money deal album total. The label had zero input or creative control over If You're Reading This It's Too Late."
According to KP, the release plan was still up in the air until "about two to three weeks ago," so it was a fairly last-minute decision to release it commercially.
When the album appeared as a paid download on iTunes, some folks speculated that Drake was simply trying to fulfill his Cash Money contract. If KP's report is accurate, however, the label was fully on board with the plan.
In any case, all's well that ends well, since the album debuted atop the Billboard charts. Drake's album Views from the 6 is still forthcoming.
This news comes from KP of mixtape resource Datpiff.com. He confirmed in a statement to HipHopDX that If You're Reading This It's Too Late had been tentatively earmarked for a Gangsta Grillz mixtape hosted by DJ Drama.
"Originally we were in talks to release it for free...and have DJ Drama host and even make it an official Gangsta Grillz…however the label was not in favor of that and they struck an agreement to release the project the retail route and it would count towards one of his albums," KP said. "It was a mutual decision since he wanted to give it away. They [the label] said, 'Hell no,' not in those words, so they 'agreed' to do it this way as a middle ground and it would count towards his Cash Money deal album total. The label had zero input or creative control over If You're Reading This It's Too Late."
According to KP, the release plan was still up in the air until "about two to three weeks ago," so it was a fairly last-minute decision to release it commercially.
When the album appeared as a paid download on iTunes, some folks speculated that Drake was simply trying to fulfill his Cash Money contract. If KP's report is accurate, however, the label was fully on board with the plan.
In any case, all's well that ends well, since the album debuted atop the Billboard charts. Drake's album Views from the 6 is still forthcoming.
