It started months ago when we got one of our first peeks at what this new era from Drake will sonically sound like when he put out "When To Say When" & "Chicago Freestyle". Fans took quick notice that both songs in their own ways were an homage to Jay Z and Eminem.

Whether it be Drake sporting a Yankees jacket rapping in front of Jay Z's very own Marcy houses

Shots of the Brooklyn Bridge with the NYC skyline at night replicating shots from the "Where I'm From" video with Drake wearing a Jesus piece

Or just the fact that he's rapping over the Song Cry sample, there's no denying that When To Say When is his salute to Jay Z.

Chicago Freestyle caught the attention of many fans due to the catchy interpolation of Eminem's "Superman"

Drake also paid homage to Michael Jackson on Toosie Slide throughout the song with lyrics saying "I can dance like Michael Jackson" and seen doing a few MJ moves.

Now the 3 tracks were clearly put on Dark Lane Demo Tapes but it's safe to say they were made in the same era that Drake is making his 6th studio album.

In the recent leak "Lie To Me" we hear a speech at the end of the song from another GOAT in the rap game that sounds like it's intended for the album. It's Diddy giving Drake his flowers telling him that he's solidified as top 5 ever.

With a few recent leaks that everyone loves in "Sound 42" and now "Intoxicated" we hear yet another sample from one of the GOATs and also one of Drake's favorite rappers ever in Biggie Smalls. Drake has said Biggie had some of the greatest flows and cadences ever.

Sound 42 starts with a sample from Biggie's intro on Life After Death

Intoxicated has a sample from "Hope You Niggas Sleep" by Biggie, the last bar on Biggie's first verse is sampled. You can hear it in the Intoxicated snippet that just got put out here: streamable.com/7rwl7q
Sample is used from @1:26:

Also recently seen Drake bought new Tupac chains that he posted on his Instagram story

Lastly we saw Drake wearing a Wu-Tang Clan tee on what could potentially be a video shoot for the new album.

Another set of GOATs in the rap game which we know Drake has paid homage to before.
"Wu-Tang Forever" is obviously his salute to them

Pound Cake also samples Wu-Tang's "C.R.E.A.M."

We've also seen Raekwon show Drake love and vice versa when Drake brought him out for the NWTS Alife session

Will we see another Wu-Tang homage on this album? I guess we'll just have to see. If anything has been true about this album I think it's safe to say that all signs are pointing to Drake paying homage to some of the greatest rappers of all time who have helped shape him and influence him.

IN

@op also add in

-the Pimp C intro on Lie to Me
-Drake gets 2 Tupac chains
-Toosie Slide paying homage to Michael Jackson

A track dedicated to Kobe maybe?

Facts

Probably not a whole track but a Kobe line on there maybe

Paying homage to the GOATS while claiming his seat as a GOAT

ktt2.com/i-think-drake-is-gonna-be-more-vocal-about-his-position-in-hip-hops-73256

This ties Into the thread I made a month ago

great thread op

Op onto something
But he said Kanye his favorite artist ever but doesn’t look like he’s gonna get a homage

This is solid good job op

If you had to guess 1 Pac record that Drake would sample, what would it be?

Changes. Especially with the BLM movement going on right now

Im loving all the homage records and what not

So Many Tears

this makes sense

Pain

He’s also sampling/remixing Best Rapper Alive

He’s mentioned he loves “pain” in the past and would like to sample it

OP you did it.

This is all truth in my opinion.

these points also further disprove ignorant claims that Drake "isnt for the culture" or he isn't "real rap". the guy is a student and lover of this thing and knows it all too well. Props to OP

Now's the time to break out the pain sample drizzy

Imagine a Kanye sample or reference on the album

Love that

this is a VERY solid theory