Drake Covers XXL Magazine, Talks ‘Nothing Was the Same,’ Amanda Bynes & More

“I’m just feeling like the throne is for the taking, watch me take it,” Drake rapped on DJ Khaled’s “I’m On One.” Well, with the excitement for his forthcoming Nothing Was the Same album at an all-time high, XXL have crowned Drizzy rap royalty on the cover of their September issue. He discusses his new album, the competition, Amanda Bynes and more in the cover story. The issue — XXL‘s 16th anniversary issue and 150th overall — hits newsstands August 20.

On his new album:

I remember coming into this year thinking, “How am I going to cut through all these people and shine?” I’ve never been part of a year when so many legends are dropping projects. How am I going to be seen? I’m going to be like the kid waving in the background in the photo with all of his tall relatives. And, I guess, those were my initial thoughts, and not to say that I haven’t enjoyed some of the stuff that has come out this year, but it didn’t pan out the way I thought it was going to. I think I am going for it, to really establish what are murmurs or things being said quietly, “Um, I think that Drake might actually…” On September 17th I want people to be like, “Oh, we were right.”

On his image:

Do I think that if I didn’t have, for lack of a better term, a unique look about me, if I was from somewhere in America and if I hadn’t been on a kids TV show ['Degrassi: The Next Generation'], would I be as famous? I don’t know, man. Honestly, I don’t think so. I was just some young kid on a TV show. And I haven’t become anything else while I’ve been in this position. It’s not like I got here and was like, “Oh, got to switch up my image.” I don’t wake up nervous. I feel like maybe a lot of these guys do. How old are you, really? What is your background, really? What have you really done in the drug game, in the thug game?

On the competition:

It’s tough for me. That’s a guy I can’t pretend not to like. He’s the guy to me, in a lot of ways. That’s Kanye West. But I’m also here to be the best. I’m here to surpass. I’m here to outdo. I’m ready for whatever with anybody.

On his success:

I get Jewish people coming up to me proud like, “Mazel Tov, bro. Come to my house for Shabbat dinner.”

On Amanda Bynes:

I don’t even know who that is doing that or what that’s about. If that is her, I guess it’s a little weird and disturbing. It’s obviously a behavioral pattern that is way bigger than me. Whoever is behind it, whether it’s her or somebody else, they know people are paying attention so they keep it going.

In another recent interview with MTV, Drake called his new “Hold On, We’re Going Home” single a “wedding record.” He explained that he and close producer Noah “40″ Shebib wanted to channel Quincy Jones and Michael Jackson for a song that has “timeless writing” and “timeless melody.” For anyone not familiar with the track’s guest, Majid Jordan, Drake clarifies they are a group signed to OVO.

Get More:
Music News

It’s not a rap record. It’s not “Versace,” it’s not “Started From the Bottom.” In approaching this album I was like man, it would be great if we had a record that was played at weddings in 10 years or that people that are away from their families in the army could listen to. Something that just [has] timeless writing, timeless melody… I’ve never really put out a record like this before, so we’ll see how it goes.