Let’s see… We could start with the rumored $2 million he received from Cash Money/Young Money… Or the fact that his “So Far Gone” mixtape was the biggest mixtape of last year. Add that to the fact that his debut album “Thank Me Later” is the most anticipated debut since Curtis Jackson’s “Get Rich or Die Tryin” in 2003.

Drake, who built a name for himself on the mixtape circuit (most hip-hop fans have never saw Degrassi), has a buzz that is comparable to some of the greatest MC’s prior to their debut, but can he deliver a classic like those MC’s is the question? Get Rich or Die Tryin’ has sold over 13 million copies worldwide, and with the current state of music sales I don’t think anyone is expecting Drake to duplicate those numbers.

So let’s forget about the numbers for a second, let’s talk about quality music. Can Drake make a classic debut i.e. Nas - Illmatic, B.I.G - Ready to Die, Snoop – Doggy Style, Jay-Z – Reasonable Doubt, Raekwon – Only Built for Cuban Lynx, Smoothe da Hustler – Once Upon a Time in America (We can debate this later), 50 Cent - Get Rich or Die Tryin’, or The Game - Documentary?

The hype is there! The buzz is there! And judging by his mixtapes the lyrics are there. But it takes much more to make a classic album…

Just ask Canibus!

So with all the hype and high expectations, anything short of a classic is a failure, even if it’s an ok album. Drake is not expected to be rookie of the year, he’s expected to be MVP! With Lil Wayne going to start his 8-month sentence in New York soon, Drake will be the front man for the label until Weezy’s return. Pressure busts pipes or makes diamonds…let’s see what the pressure surrounding, Thank Me Later creates!