Drake Signs With Young Money, "Best I Ever Had" Continues Climb

Remember my last post regarding all the major label attention swirling around Drake ? Well the news is out, meaning the war is now over, the bidding war that is.

Hip hop "star in the making" Drizzy Drake Rodgers has finally signed a deal with his affiliated label Young Money Entertainment/Cash Money Records leaving major labels Atlantic and Warner Music in the dust. Although the rap artist did strike a deal for distribution through Universal Republic, which should add some good support to a music business career that is off to a great start.

Drake is very adamant about signing with Young Money Entertainment, keeping his October's Very Own label with the good people that have helped him build his music brand thus far. Of course good management makes an incredible difference, which is provided to Drake by Hip Hop Since 1978 (repping some of the best in the hip hop/rap music business). Although the rap artist has pure Do-It-Yourself spirit, having achieved a great deal of music business success independently.

Currently the emcee from Toronto is doing very well for him self. Having worked with such talented acts as Mary J Blidge, Kanye West, LiL Wayne and Jay-Z (just to name a few). "Best I Ever Had" is Drake's hot single, which right now sits number 1 on R&B/Hip Hop Billboard Charts. At the same time, "Every Girl" is sitting just below in the third slot which is a song by Young Money, a super group that includes the rap artist/singer.

"Best I Ever Had" is number 3 on the Billboard Hot 100 Charts, a leap up from the 27th spot. This is a huge airplay gainer in such short time. Lots of radio play, major label attention and industry artist support has helped launched the young actor/rapper/singer to a new level in his music career.

While Drake's mixtape So Far Gone continues to garner hype and recognition, the debut LP Thank Me Later is set to be released 4th quarter 2009 through distribution arm Universal Republic. Drake was quoted by MTV, saying:

"Independent is a funny term. I can go independent but you need distribution, period. You need somebody to distribute the record, you need that army that a record label has to push the record"

With added momentum Drake's career in the music business is about to take off. Study up and see how artists like Drake are leveraging the Internet, social media and good business skills as tools for implementing successful music marketing strategies. Use these examples to learn how hip hop/rap artists are adapting to the new music industry landscape.