If you believe every rumor you hear, Cash Money is no longer an army. The soldiers are defecting with a quickness, as the latest Twitter talk has Drake looking for a new label.
photo: WENN
We’re not saying Aubrey is giving Birdman and Slim a well-manicured finger and eyeing greener pastures. But if he was, there are at least 14 reasons Drake will flourish without Cash Money. Count them down while Baby counts his blessings that he still has some semblance of a roster.
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Photo: WENN
His OVO Partnership With Warner Bros
Unlike Wayne, Drake was shrewd enough to move his imprint over to an entirely different label than his current recording home. Worst case scenario, Drake’s artists (PartyNextDoor and ILOVEMAKONNEN) can make him money while he ducks the Cash Money situation.
photo: WENN
He Already Makes A&R Moves
Popping up on loosies from Migos and ILOVEMAKONNEN isn’t some random choice. Drake has been carefully gauging what appeals to the masses with his own career as well as other artists. Regardless of how the YMCMB situation plays out, Drake’s next move most likely be under someone else’s label.
photo: WENN
Drake Keeps His Friends Tight
If you’ve seen the “Started From The Bottom” video, then you know who Drake rolls with. It’s the same crew from when he really worked at a drug store, moonlit at a restaurant, and cashed Degrassi checks.
He’s Got Plenty Of Hits
Men lie, women lie, but the SoundScan numbers don’t. Drake has plenty of hits, and at this point, it’s inconsequential what label releases them.
He’s A Ladies Man
That means his loyal throng of female fans will buy anything he puts out, support his artists, and go to the ends of the earth to show their loyalty with disposable income.
He’s Got The William Morris Plug
We’ll never know about that aborted School Daze sequel with Spike Lee, but we do know Drake was getting acting money from the jump. And we know Drake is familiar enough with the NBC studio at 40 Rockerfeller Center to sign to William Morris for any potential acting gigs.
Drake’s Connected With The Raptors
Maple Leaf Sports has dumb cake. And anyone who knows about the NBA understands that a team can make up a well-paying job for just about anyone. Call him a community ambassador, brand manager, or some other random title and let the dollars circulate.
Aubrey’s Getting Jordan Money
He says he doesn’t know what the deal is worth, but it’s an actual endorsement with the trumped up press release to prove it. Even if it’s miniscule, there is presumably some Jumpman money in Drake’s account.
Drizzy Could Renegotiate His Deal
Going gold in less than a week, and moving 700,000 units of Nothing Was The Same in a week means Drake really doesn’t need a label. He’s contractually obligated to fulfill the terms of his current deal, but he’s proven profitable enough to Universal to at least entertain the possibility of renegotiating and dealing with them directly sans Cash Money.
Performance Money
Assuming he was smart enough not to sign a 360 deal, Drake could just fall back from dropping albums while his lawyers deal with Birdman and Slim. In a traditional deal, performance money is completely separate from recoupable album advances and points connected to the label deal. So there’s plenty of show money to collect.
photo: WENN
Appearance Fees
When you’ve got a handful of platinum albums, people will pay you to show up places and smile. Drake hasn’t really played that hand yet, but many celebrities do. That’s why you always see the Kardashians.
Battle Rap
The Battle Rap community loves Drake, and the feeling is mutual. We’re not saying you’re going to see him squaring up with some aggressive, acapella bars anytime soon, but Eminem and Slaughterhouse just showed everyone the template for getting Battle Rap money without really getting your hands dirty.
Merchandise
Another benefit of avoiding the 360 deal is that the label can’t touch your merch money. Think about all those apparel items embroidered with the OVO owl and extrapolate that to a mall full of teens and female Drake fans.
He’s Already Flourishing Without YMCMB
When was the last time you wanted or needed to hear anyone else from the Cash Money roster on a Drake record?
