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Drake inducted his “dear friend” Nelly Furtado into the Canadian Music Hall of Fame at the Juno Awards last night (March 29). His eulogy was heartfelt, thoughtful and moving – but, in classic Drake style, included: also a few age-old personal grievances. And a hint about his next album.
In a video message, Drake spoke candidly about how much Furtado inspired him. At one point he addressed the singer-songwriter directly: “You were our North Star. Proof that it was possible. The Portuguese princess who could spit 16 bars with Swollen Members while releasing ‘Maneater’ and ‘Promiscuous’ with Timbaland. There were no ceilings, no walls, no boundaries.”
To his credit, most of Drake’s speech hit that exact tone. He talked about how, as a young guy, he would gaze in awe at the countless records on the wall in Furtado’s manager’s office while he himself was still planning the transition from teen soap opera actor to rap star. He mentioned their appearance together at an OVO concert in 2022. And he acknowledged Furtado’s strength in a male-dominated industry as well as the respect she had earned from her male colleagues.
Warm words for Furtado
“Rappers I idolized – people like K-os and Saukrates – not only told me how good your bars were and how talented you were in the studio, they always raved about how strong and grounded you are as a person,” Drake said as the camera panned to Furtado, who wiped a tear from her face.
And yet… as Drake finished his speech, he couldn’t resist offering a few words to the Junos – the organization that operates under the same umbrella as the Canadian Music Hall of Fame – about an awards disgrace that happened back in 2011.
“To the Junos: Because you are honoring one of my dearest friends tonight, I will spare you,” Drake said – and then didn’t spare her. “Even though I know you’re still thinking about those six awards you gave Shad when you passed over Take Care, all while I was hosting your 40th awards show. But this is about Nelly.”
Drake’s foggy memory
Aside from the fact that he dropped it in the middle of an otherwise downright charming tribute to Furtado—and aside from the fact that it’s pretty obvious who’s still thinking about “those six awards” 15 years later—the funniest thing about Drake’s lament is how much his resentment seems to have clouded his memory. Yes, he hosted the Junos in 2011. Yes, he didn’t win any of the six awards he was nominated for. And yes, Shad’s “TSOL” beat him out for Rap Recording of the Year.
But Drake wasn’t even nominated for “Take Care” in 2011. He was in the running for “Thank Me Later.” And in 2012, Drake actually won the Juno for Rap Recording of the Year – for “Take Care.” (Also, Shad only beat Drake in this one category in 2011; he lost to Arcade Fire, Neil Young, Justin Bieber and Young Artists for Haiti in the others.)
After getting his frustration off his chest – in the style of I’m-not-mad-please-don’t-tell-that-I-was-mad – Drake turned his words back to Furtado: “Enjoy your place in the Hall of Fame. It’s long overdue.”
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Instead of ending there, Drake – apparently unwilling or unable to let anyone else have the last word – signed off by saying, “‘Iceman’ is coming soon.”
