XXL Freshman 11?

Soooo, last November was basically the end of the year for XXL Hip-Hop Magazine's writing period. It's become tradition for them to end every year by basing an entire feature of the magazine on the ten potential superstars of the future, called the Freshman Ten, and they do a darn good job wit hit. I mean, the last batch of freshman featured guys like Lupe Fiasco, Plies and Gorilla Zoe, who have all had pretty major commercial success, which ultimately, is almost every rapper's dream.

Completely boosting XXL's ratings, they came out with the 2008-2009 batch of freshman which featured some of the biggest "next-up" superstars that the industry has seen in years. New york representatives Charles Hamilton, Cory Gunz and Mickey Factz reminded the industry that the East ain't dead. Strong southern competitors Ace Hood and B.o.B look to follow in the footsteps of Rick Ross and Andre 3000 respectively. Not to mention Kid Cudi, who has already made an appearance on one of the year's best albums (808's and Heartbreaks), Blu (the next Common (with hair)), Curren$y (Lil' Wayne's descendant), and Asher Roth (a much happier, younger, and has a ways to go, Eminem). It seems as if the heralded magazine had all the bases covered, right?

Wrong. I know that we have some immigration issues with Mexico, but what about our neighbors in the north? Not a Raptors fan? So what, that magazine cover means nothing (at least not to me) without Drake gracing one of the covers.

The second rapper as of late to gain recognition in the states (see: Kardinal Offishall), Drake has the lyrical potential of dare I say it? (Big Hovi), the lyrical ability of Kanye, and the wordplay of Jadakiss, Fabolous, and Juelz put together. He released one of the year's top five mixtapes (Comeback Season), and another sizeable competitor for the shortlist (Heartbreak Drake) and has a much anticipated '09 mixtape (So Far Gone) fast approaching and of course, the culminating event, the debut studio album (Thank Me Later), primed and ready to begin production and drop later this year.

Dont' believe me? Some of his material is on his OWN blogspot (octobersverywon.blogspot.com), you can now see what inspired MY url.

Slow internet? I gotchu...listen up.
The below lyrical onslaught was taken from a guest appearance that the Toronto rapper made on Lil' Wayne's highly anticipated, lowly rated 3rd installment to the Dedication series, on a song titled Stuntin'.

I'm a rapper turned singer
and you can tell that he smoke
but i don't need my vocal cords all i hit is c-notes
N.E.R.D flow I spazz if i'm prevoked
I'm about to change the f***** game pass the re-mote
money is everything, and its every other thing
i'm part of the choir thats the motto that my brother sing
cash is the right now, women are postgame
money over b***** dot come check the do-main
and its coming too soon, album on the way
people ask me if i pray, I say yeah, once in a blue moon
oops, i mean a red moon
I did it again toon
let me leave a spacin' 'fo yo blood affiliation
I stay, heavy metaphor, flow so overweight
I could rap around these other young'ns like a cobra snake
frostbite drizzy n****, aint nobody cold as Drake
keep yo ass in line, don' t be tryna roller skate
f*** all the discreet s***, I be on some deep s***
I am 21, tell me who do i compete with
I'm on my elite s***, and you can tell I'm real
'Cuz i'm gettin' hood love and I ain't even talkin street s***
young angel, young lion i'm done tryin'
i'm just doin, who's drinkin cuz i'm buyin
It's on me, everything is on me
and my girl is still down like she's f***** jon b...

there's more fire but...u get the point.
Wanna hear the real song?
((go to youtube..duhh)).

I also reccomend you listen to some of his new and old mixtape joints.
Say What's Real--Hearbreak Drake
Stunt Hard--Heartbreak Drake
Going in For Life--Comeback Season
Ransom--Comeback Season
Decieving
City Is Mine.

If you're not sold after those few joints, you're an ignorant country-ist and don't ever read my blog again.

Ever.
Drake needs to be recognized as THE premier up and coming superstar.
Charles is nice, Wale is mean, and Asher Roth is ridiculous.

But Drake is real.
Define that.