Drake: “I Wish I Could Sing Better”

Published: Saturday 3rd Jul 2010 by Sam

Though Drake has taken the music scene by storm with his undeniable lyrical prowess, the same can not be said for his more R&B flavoured vocals. Despite scoring a hit with the singing-only ‘Find Your Love’, the Canadian native caught a heavy dose of critique over his live performance of the song on the Jay Leno Show recently.

Quite interestingly, the 23 year readily admits his lack of vocal skills. Check out what he had to say (via VIBE) below…

VIBE: If you were stuck with an ultimatum to choose between singing and rapping, what would you go with?

Drake: I could never really take singing on the road the way I can take rapping on the road. I can’t get on stage and blow people away with my range and vocals. I’m a studio singer because I can convey emotion and I have unique melodies, so that’s kind of what I pride myself on, but that’s where it stops. I make music more for people to listen to rather than to hold me as an R&B artist. Not to wish that I couldn’t sing better. If I could sing like Trey [Songz] then yeah, I’d definitely just want to be a singer. If I could do anything, trust me, I wish I could just sit at the piano and sing.

As well as being one of the best lyricists to emerge in recent memory, it’s Drake’s brand of honest (none of the oft pretentious Hyper-macho which pervades Hip-Hop) which is winning over many. More power to him.

Your thoughts?

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  1. DANBOFFICIAL (AALIYAH/XTINA/RIHANNA) (STAN) July 3, 2010

    I wish that too, because hearing him sing makes my ears bleed.

  2. DANBOFFICIAL (AALIYAH/XTINA/RIHANNA) (STAN) July 3, 2010

    sorry**

    attempt to sing*

    *WHO OWNS THE THRONE?*

    *YOU DO MOMMY!*

  3. DANBOFFICIAL (AALIYAH/XTINA/RIHANNA) (STAN) July 3, 2010

    If he could sing like Trey LMAO

    Trey can sing ???

  4. AKisdabest July 3, 2010

    love his honesty bout it

  5. Nicole July 3, 2010

    Drake Trey Songz can’t song lol what you be hearing. I please stuck to rapper or whatever u try to do thank you lol

  6. nothing but my opinion July 3, 2010

    i love Drakes voice!

  7. Dave July 3, 2010

    “Drake Trey Songz can’t ‘song'” <- FAIL.NET!

  8. ADE July 3, 2010

    *LYRICIST, Sam not Lyrisist…this is the second time I’ve had to correct you today, sort it out please.

  9. THE TRUTH July 3, 2010

    I agree I wish you and Trey Songz can sing better.

  10. The Truth July 3, 2010

    Dear Drake

    If you could sing like Trey Songz you STILL would not be able to sing!

    Thanks for the honesty though1

  11. wateva July 3, 2010

    lol you b****** are carrying up in here today!

  12. Commander for Kelly n Ciara July 3, 2010

    trey songz can sing?? oh okai.. drake i love ur voice..plz dont change.. YOU HAVE S A SOFT AMAZING VOICE I LOVED UR JAY LENO SHOW… U HAV A SOFT VOICE N I LOVE IT…trey needs to get of r.kellys d*** b4 i listen to him

  13. ~AalexisR~ The Summer King (The Bahamas) July 3, 2010

    I like his voice too. I think he would have been fine in that performance had he had stuck to the original key. But yeah, at least pick someone who can sing though. Trey ain sittin at no piano either buddy. Usher would have been a better selection as vocals to aspire towards.

  14. Fire Bomb July 3, 2010

    I love Drake’s honesty. He’s so different from all the other rappers. Real, hardworking, and he puts family first.

    Though Drake I think you’d rather sing like Usher or Maxwell. Trey Songz completely embarassed himself trying to sign Prince’s song Purple Rain at the BET awards

  15. Dev July 3, 2010

    So does Ciara and Cheryl Cole drake, so don’t feel bad…. or just dont sing

  16. bluekid July 3, 2010

    How could any tone death Rihanna fan tell if anybody can sing or not for Dand to say Drake make his ears bleed is a joke, especially after listing to yodeling goatkiller voice Rihoanna.

  17. stacey July 3, 2010

    Don’t worry Drake. The multitude of talentless pop princesses prove that actual singing ability isn’t required.

  18. UGh July 3, 2010

    wow, he’s very honest you don’t much ppl like him these days. At least he can rap. all he needs to do is stick to rapping.

    Now, if only Rihanna could admit to not having strong vocals she’ll win over a lot of people based on her honesty

  19. raraskils July 3, 2010

    lol @ stacey

  20. Kyle July 3, 2010

    I still say people should give him a lot of props because he’s an awesome lyricist. Who cares if he can’t sing as well as he raps. He is still at the front of the hip-hop scene.

  21. Blu Majik July 3, 2010

    I admire his honesty and modesty. His positive attitude and talent will take him very far!!

  22. Last Boy on Earth July 3, 2010

    lmao @ the ones talking about Rihanna. Critics and music experts say that she can reach high notes and has a powerful voice but some ghetto hoodrats come in here saying that she “can’t sing” I JUST CAN’T. I would like to see your favourite singer sing Russian Roulette.

    as for Drake, very overrated

  23. Dev July 3, 2010

    LAST BOT ON EARTH – you need to check yourself whilst taking a seat. there is chicks and dudes by the dozen singing that song from all walks of life singing that song on you tube better, And whilst i have a selection of Rihanna songs on my media player i’m not going to get it twisted like she’s some great singer.

  24. ADE July 3, 2010

    Yes Rihanna isn’t a great singer, but she has never claimed to be so I don’t know why she’s even getting brought up in here. Anyway I enjoy the songs that Drake sings on (they are actually some of my favourites from him) but I just don’t want to hear him perform them live.

  25. Dev July 3, 2010

    Drake is overrated and in front (debatable) in the rap scene this week, that could change by the end of the year. Longevity is the key.

  26. nothing but my opinion July 3, 2010

    @LAST BOY ON EARTH

    who’s that in ur gravatar?

  27. hihihihi IS A SOON TO BE GOAT July 3, 2010

    >LMAO@RIHANNA NOT HAVING STRONG VOCALS

    IF SHE DOESNT HAVE STRONG VOCALS

    NO B**** IN THE GAME HAS SOME

    CIARA
    JANET
    ASHANTI

    THOSE ARE THIN VOICES

    RIHANNAS HAS POWERVOCALS AND STRONG VOCALS B******

  28. Last Boy on Earth July 3, 2010

    @nothing but my opinion
    that’s me LOL

  29. oknowwhat July 3, 2010

    well that should satifsy the piranhacommenters for a minute or two.

    lawd knows how yall love anyone to excell your level..

  30. Dev July 3, 2010

    @ LASTBOYONEARTH You shouldn’t be on here talking about anybody being a ghetto hood rat when you look like the boy from ugly betty. have you ever met a ghetto hood rat? Stay in your lane and talk about what you know.

  31. Last Boy on Earth July 3, 2010

    @Dev
    LMAO, that is what I’m talking about, no wonder you get offended by calling someone “ghetto hood rat” because with that comment you showed that that’s what you are. Who watches ugly betty anyway? I’ve got plenty of people saying I’m cute and beautiful and a ghetto hood rat talks about my looks, I JUST CAN’T x2

  32. bjksolo July 3, 2010

    DRAKE IS THE SHYT!!!!!!!!!!!!!
    ===========================================================
    CIARA- BASIC INSTINCTS IN STORES AUGUST 17TH!!!!!!!!!

  33. hellohellobaby July 3, 2010

    time for rihanna to say the same damn thing.

  34. UGh July 3, 2010

    lmao @ russian roulette being an example. even i can sing that i can’t sing…lmao

  35. Dev July 3, 2010

    @ LASTBOYONEARTH
    Yeah, that makes sense, because i defend my people being viewed negatively that makes me it.
    YOU JUST CAN’T STFU!!!!! X 2
    Nobody watches ugly betty anymore but you knew what i was talking about so you get my point.

    So i guess if you have to say that many people find you cute and beautiful then you’re not.

  36. bluekid July 3, 2010

    @ Last Homo on Earth

    You just can’t stand to here the truth can you????
    Rihanna is a hood rat of the lowest kind, so in the world you can put your mouth to call so body a hood rat you don’t know have never seen.

    We all see Rihanna, and know she is a hood rat with every other word a curse word. Can’t even hold a conversation with out saying “zhit man”!

    You can even put drake on the same level has Drake, who is a legitimate song writer and lyricist and can rap!

    Your idol Rihanna can’t sing, can’t dance, can’t walk and you hillbilly goat loving yodel lovers got the nerve to talk about Drake. When that yodeling beast is no more than a gimmick and a studio singer. Ms. Fashionetta Fenty.

    Get the hell up out of here with that zhit trying to down play somebodies talent when you guys worship a yodeling billy goat killer!

  37. Marquis / Ciara STAN/FAN July 3, 2010

    OMG I WOULD RATHER HERE ANYONE…….. ANYONE THEN RIHANNA OMG ! 😉

  38. bluekid July 3, 2010

    excuse me my keys are not working LOL

  39. nothing but my opinion July 3, 2010

    @BLUEKID

    im not a riri stan nor a fan but u can type whatever u want it aint gonna help anything soo just let them be.

  40. EXPOSED July 3, 2010

    ANYONE WHO LOOKS TO TREY SONGZ AS A “SINGER” CANT HAVE MUCH SINGING TALENT HIMSELF. THEY BOTH SUCK. ONCE TREY’S ABS DEFLATE HE NO LONGER HAS A CAREER. THE TWEENERS AND GAYS WILL LEAVE IN DROVES. I’M GLAD ASS SHAT DRAKE ADMITTED HE’S A NON SINGER CUZ THAT’S WHAT HE IS – A RAPPER/TALKER. IT DOESNT GO FATHER THAN THAT. IT’S NOT LIKE JAY Z GONNA SOUND LIKE LUTHOR VANDROSS ANYTIME SOON EITHER. I DOUBT JAY Z /DRAKE CAN HANDLE “HAPPY BIRTHDAY” LIVE WITHOUT TALKING 90% OF IT, SMFH. LIKE FAKE RAPPER DRAKE SAID, IF HE WAS A REAL SINGER HE WOULDNT BE RAPPING AND BE MORE INTO COMMERCIAL MUSIC AND BE A MUCH MORE POPULAR ACT $$. ONE WORD OF ADVICE… DUDE, IF YOU’RE GONNA NAME SOME MALE SINGERS TO ASPIRE TO AT LEAST GOOGLE THE NET TO FIND TRUE LEGENDARY MALE SINGERS INSTEAD OF PICKING SOME IDIOT WHOSE ONLY RELEVANCE IS TAKING HIS SHIRT OFF. REAL SINGERS AND REAL MUSIC DO PRECEDE YOUR SHORT 23YRS. SMFH!!

  41. hihihihi TRANSFORMING INTO A GOAT July 4, 2010

    LMAO@BLUEKID

    F*** U AND UR MAMA

  42. hihihihi TRANSFORMING INTO A GOAT July 4, 2010

    @BLUEKID:

    OUR YODEL B**** GOT GREAT REVIEWS

    WHILE REVIEWS SAID CHRIS SUCKS

    SO WHO ARE U TO JUDGE

    GO F*** U

  43. S*** July 4, 2010

    I kinda like Drake, I can tolerate some of his music & some not so much. I just think everything about him is just AVG to me:

    His lyrics- AVG
    His Music- AVG
    His rapping- AVG
    His Looks- AVG

    Hes OK though, Im no autotune fan but hes better than the ones that made it go mainstream like T Pain & Weezy- I hate those two, a lot of other autotune users are better than T Pain & Weezy which is just ashame.

  44. S*** July 4, 2010

    & LOL @ the Yodel Fans, I wouldnt be so quick to say Rihanna is a better singer than him when they both suck Live.

  45. tiff July 4, 2010

    I like drake but I really wish he wouldn’t sing. He has one tone and it sounds flat and monotone. Lol @ him saying he wish he could sing like trey songz. why’d he want to sound like a deaf moose is beyond me. Dang drake! Let trey songz n** sack breathe! He aint all of that!

  46. TTB July 4, 2010

    I like his singing……and he’s kinda cute!!!!!

  47. Anonymous July 4, 2010

    He doesn’t give himself enough credit. When I saw him in concert last month he sung ” A Night Off” and he was definitely on point! I mean he’s no Marvin Gaye but he can hold a note most definitely.

  48. Aryo July 4, 2010

    OMG
    Even drake himself found out that he cant sing! lol

  49. bluekid July 4, 2010

    nothing but my opinion

    July 3, 2010 at 11:14 pm

    @BLUEKID

    im not a riri stan nor a fan but u can type whatever u want it aint gonna help anything soo just let them be.
    ________________________________________________________________________
    I’m not trying to convince you that he sound good, and if you are not a Ritard fan than I was not talking to you. The Ritard no who I’m talking to we talk on a daily basis.

    Trey Sonz, Drake and Rihoanna all cannot hole a tone in a paper bag.

    My point is how in the hell can you talk about some one else not being able to sing when your princes pop tart can’t sing, can’t dance, can’t walk etc……
    Riho fans always go on blogs bad mouthing other artist but can’t be truthful about princes pop tart.

  50. hihihihi TRANSFORMING INTO A GOAT July 4, 2010

    ^^F*** U AND YOUR MAMA

    AND AT LEAST RIHANNA SOUNDS STRONG CANT SAY THE SAME FOR DRAK ENA DTREY

    AO F*** U AND UR MAMA

  51. Qelz July 4, 2010

    I actually like Drake better as a singer than a rapper. No he is not the best vocalist, the most popular singers today are not popular because of their vocal abilities (Rihanna included). When Drake raps, his voice seems so monotone and lifeless.

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