For its 100th issue, FADER has gotten a cover star worthy of the occasion: Drake, who has given the magazine his first extended interview since his infamous February 2014 feature in Rolling Stone, in which he felt his words were manufactured to create a false conflict with Jay Z. His new cover story comes at a time when he's one of the world's biggest pop stars -- soon after signing a $20 million contract with Apple Music and days after releasing one of the year's most hyped projects with Future, titled What a Time to Be Alive.
The feature focuses on his "uncanny gifts that have made him a cultural giant -- and a target." Throughout the story, he details the challenges of making music when he no longer has the privacy that he once had. He also gives fans some insight into what side of Drake will appear on his highly anticipated upcoming album, Views From the 6, and what the record will mean for the city of Toronto.
He also alludes to, and dismisses, accusations of ghostwriting and any questions addressing his integrity as an artist. "Music at times can be a collaborative process, you know? Who came up with this, who came up with that—for me, it's like, I know that it takes me to execute every single thing that I've done up until this point. And I'm not ashamed."
The cover shows a winking Drake with a custom gold toothpick in his mouth.
"I know everything. I know everything that's being said about you. I know everything that’s being said about me. I'm very in tune with this life." Read the full story here for more classic Drake-isms.
The print copy of the FADER 100 issue will hit newsstands October 27.
