OVO Sound | |
---|---|
Founded | 2012 |
Founder | Drake 40 Oliver El-Khatib |
Status | Active |
Distributor(s) |
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Genre | |
Country of origin | Canada |
Location | Toronto, Ontario, Canada |
Official website | ovosound |
OVO Sound (also known simply as OVO) is a Canadian independent record label, founded in 2012 by rapper Drake, producer 40, and manager Oliver El-Khatib. [2] The label operated as an imprint of Warner Records from its formation until 2022.
The label has signed acts including Drake, PartyNextDoor, Majid Jordan, Roy Woods, Dvsn, Baka Not Nice, Popcaan, Smiley, Naomi Sharon and 4Batz. In-house producers include 40 himself, Boi-1da, Nineteen85, Mike Zombie, T-Minus, and DJ Prince.
The label's roots can be traced back to 2006, when Drake's first official mixtape, Room for Improvement , was released under the unofficial record label "All Things Fresh" which eventually became "October's Very Own". Drake later raised the profile of the label by prominently featuring OVO throughout his music, regularly mentioning the label in songs and on stage, as well as promoting OVO merchandise. [3]
The record label was officially founded in 2012 by Drake and long-time collaborators Noah "40" Shebib and Oliver El-Khatib following the success of Drake's second studio album Take Care . According to Billboard , Drake signed a five-year partnership deal with Warner Records, [4] which was extended in 2017. [5]
Drake was signed as a solo artist to Republic Records through Young Money and Cash Money for nine years. Drake's 2018 release Scorpion was his last project under Young Money/Cash Money. [6] On the other hand, the artists Drake signs to OVO Sound through Warner have their content distributed through the latter. [7] [8]
Upon founding the label in 2012, Drake and 40 signed frequent collaborators Boi-1da, T-Minus, Mike Zombie to the label as in-house producers (the latter two are the only active signees in the label to come outside of Canada). [9] In April 2013, it was reported that Drake was close to signing the label's first recording artist, PartyNextDoor, which he ended up revealing shortly thereafter. [10] In August 2013, Drake announced that he signed Toronto music duo Majid Jordan to OVO Sound. [11] OB O'Brien and iLoveMakonnen would soon sign in 2014, with the latter being the first non-Canadian act and second non-Canadian signee after to Mike Zombie. Makonnen would eventually leave OVO Sound in April 2016, wishing to pursue his interests as a solo artist with Warner. Canadian rap artist Roy Woods and R&B duo Dvsn, composed of singer Daniel Daley and producer Nineteen85, soon joined the label in 2015 and 2016, with each act releasing an EP and studio album respectively. [12] [13] [14] [15] In 2021, Canadian rapper Smiley was signed to the label. [16] [17]
On January 20, 2023, OVO announced the signing of Dutch-Caribbean singer, Naomi Sharon, becoming the first female artist on the label. [18] [19]
Act | Year | Releases |
---|---|---|
Drake | 2012 | 9 |
PartyNextDoor | 2013 | 7 |
Majid Jordan | 2013 | 4 |
Roy Woods | 2014 | 5 |
Dvsn | 2015 | 5 |
Baka Not Nice | 2017 | 1 |
Popcaan | 2018 | 3 |
Smiley | 2021 | 2 |
Naomi Sharon | 2023 | 2 |
4Batz | 2024 | 1 |
Act | Year | Releases |
---|---|---|
ILoveMakonnen | 2014–2016 | 4 |
Plaza | 2017–2021 | 1 |
Act | Year |
---|---|
Noah "40" Shebib | 2012 |
Boi-1da [20] | 2012 |
T-Minus | 2012 |
Nineteen85 | 2013 |
OG Ron C | 2013 |
OVO Sound Radio was a radio program that aired on Beats 1, fortnightly on Saturdays. The show primarily aired newer material, with at least one song premiering in each broadcast. The show's initial airing was on July 11, 2015, and it was hosted by Drake and Oliver El-Khatib. The show is notable for debuting hit Drake singles, such as platinum-selling "Hotline Bling", and chart-topping "One Dance". The show ended on October 27, 2018.
On March 4, 2021, Drake announced that he and Oliver would debut their new 24 hour radio station, "Sound 42" on Sirius XM featuring the return of OVO Sound Radio that same night. [21] In an interview with GQ , Drake spoke on the partnership saying "It's something that Scott [Greenstein] from SiriusXM was extremely passionate about from the inception of our partnership. He's been so supportive with us as far as Sound 42 goes. And Sirius offers us the opportunity to be heard far and wide, right? Sirius is just the closest thing we have to those days of glory radio moments and I still get a massive amount of joy premiering music when I know that everyone is listening at the same time." [22]
October's Very Own was launched in 2011. [23] The series of clothing began with a series of collaborations between Roots Canada and OVO, which produced several parkas, jackets and other collaborations. In 2013, merchandise for the OVO figurehead included collaborations with the Toronto Raptors, which coincided with Drake becoming the franchise's Global Ambassador. OVO has since morphed into a clothing line in itself, releasing a slew of clothes during every season of the year. T-shirts, sweatshirts, varsity jackets, baseball hats, and knit beanies are seasonal installations. OVO Clothing oversaw the opening of the first OVO store for the brand's clothing in downtown Toronto, opening on December 6, 2014. [24] Exactly a year after the opening in Toronto, OVO stores expanded to the United States, opening a flagship store in Los Angeles, California. Its New York store opened in December 2016 on Bond Street, and its Chicago store in August 2019 on Walton Street in Gold Coast. OVO also opened its first location in Vancouver in December 2018. [25] Other OVO collaborations have included Canada Goose, and Air Jordan.
Its pre-2016 collection was composed of basketball shorts, OVO jerseys, track jackets, and baggy hoodies. [26]
On November 9, 2020, it was revealed via the OVO Clothing Instagram account that NHL Hall of Famer Wayne Gretzky would be a model for the Fall and Winter 2020 collection. [27] Gretzky and OVO Clothing founder Drake are both proud natives of southern Ontario, Canada. Also featured in the collection was former Canadian Olympian Ross Rebagliati, [28] who won a gold medal in Giant Slalom Snowboarding in the 1998 Nagano Olympics.
Artist | Album | Details | Peak chart positions | Certification | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
CAN [upper-alpha 1] | US [upper-alpha 2] | ||||
Drake | Nothing Was the Same |
| 1 | 1 | RIAA: 4× Platinum [39] |
PartyNextDoor | PartyNextDoor Two |
| 19 | 15 | RIAA: Gold [40] |
Majid Jordan | Majid Jordan |
| 20 | 69 | |
Dvsn | Sept. 5th |
| 69 | 133 | |
Drake | Views |
| 1 | 1 | RIAA: 6× Platinum |
Roy Woods | Waking at Dawn |
| 30 | 127 | |
PartyNextDoor | PartyNextDoor 3 |
| 4 | 3 | RIAA: Gold [41] |
Dvsn | Morning After |
| 19 | 38 | |
Majid Jordan | The Space Between |
| 30 | 74 | |
Roy Woods | Say Less |
| 26 | 92 | |
Drake | Scorpion |
| 1 | 1 | RIAA: 5× Platinum |
PartyNextDoor | Partymobile |
| 3 | 6 | |
Dvsn | A Muse in Her Feelings |
| 13 | 23 | |
Popcaan | Fixtape |
| 15 | 94 | |
Dvsn & Ty Dolla Sign | Cheers to the Best Memories |
| – | 139 | |
Drake | Certified Lover Boy |
| 1 | 1 | RIAA: Gold |
Majid Jordan | Wildest Dreams |
| – | – | |
Smiley | Buy or Bye 2 |
| – | – | |
Drake | Honestly, Nevermind |
| 1 | 1 | |
Dvsn | Working on My Karma |
| – | – | |
Drake & 21 Savage | Her Loss |
| 1 | 1 | |
Popcaan | Great Is He |
| – | – | |
Roy Woods | Mixed Emotions |
| – | – | |
Drake | For All the Dogs |
| 1 | 1 | |
Naomi Sharon | Obsidian |
| – | – | |
Majid Jordan | Good People |
| – | – | |
PARTYNEXTDOOR | PARTYNEXTDOOR 4 (P4) |
| – | – |
Artist | Album | Details | Peak chart positions | Certification | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
CAN | US | ||||
Drake | Care Package | 1 | 1 |
Artist | Album | Details |
---|---|---|
Various Artists | Top Boy (A Selection of Music Inspired by the Series) |
Artist | Album | Details | Peak chart positions | Certification | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
CAN | US | ||||
Drake | If You're Reading This It's Too Late |
| 1 | 1 | RIAA: 2× Platinum |
Drake & Future | What a Time to Be Alive | 1 | 1 | RIAA: Platinum | |
Drake | More Life |
| 1 | 1 | |
Popcaan | Vanquish |
| – | – | |
Drake | Dark Lane Demo Tapes |
| 1 | 2 |
Artist | Album | Details |
---|---|---|
PartyNextDoor | PartyNextDoor |
|
Majid Jordan | A Place Like This |
|
PartyNextDoor | Colours |
|
iLoveMakonnen | iLoveMakonnen |
|
Roy Woods | Exis |
|
iLoveMakonnen | iLoveMakonnen 2 |
|
Roy Woods | Nocturnal |
|
PartyNextDoor | Colours 2 |
|
Plaza | SHADOWS |
|
PartyNextDoor | Seven Days |
|
Baka Not Nice | 4Milli |
|
Drake | The Best in the World Pack |
|
Roy Woods | Dem Times |
|
PartyNextDoor | PARTYPACK |
|
Drake | Scary Hours 2 |
|
Naomi Sharon | Another Life |
|
Aubrey Drake Graham, known mononymously as Drake, is a Canadian rapper, singer and actor. An influential figure in contemporary popular music, he has been credited with popularizing R&B sensibilities in hip hop artists. Gaining recognition by starring as Jimmy Brooks in the CTV teen drama series Degrassi: The Next Generation (2001–2008), Drake began his recording career in 2006 with the release of his debut mixtape, Room for Improvement (2006). He followed up with the mixtapes Comeback Season (2007) and So Far Gone (2009) before signing with Young Money Entertainment.
Andrae Hugh Sutherland, known professionally as Popcaan, is a Jamaican dancehall singer.
Nothing Was the Same is the third studio album by Canadian rapper Drake. It was released on September 24, 2013, through OVO Sound, Young Money Entertainment, Cash Money Records, and Republic Records. Work on the record began in 2012 and continued through 2013. As an executive producer, Drake enlisted collaborators such as 2 Chainz, Big Sean, Majid Jordan, Jay-Z, Jhené Aiko and Sampha for guest appearances on the album. The album's production was primarily handled by 40 and other OVO Sound producers; including Boi-1da, Mike Zombie, Nineteen85 and Detail.
"Hold On, We're Going Home" is a song by Canadian rapper Drake, featuring R&B duo Majid Jordan. The song was produced by Noah "40" Shebib, OVO Sound's Majid Jordan and Nineteen85, and it is the second single from his third studio album, Nothing Was the Same, and was released for digital download on August 7, 2013, following the 2013 OVO Fest. It was later released to mainstream and rhythmic contemporary radio on August 13, 2013.
Jahron Anthony Brathwaite, known professionally as PartyNextDoor, is a Canadian R&B singer, songwriter, and record producer. He was the first artist to sign with Drake's record label OVO Sound, an imprint of Warner Records in 2013. Brathwaite released his debut self-titled extended play in July that year to positive critical reception.
Majid Jordan is a Canadian R&B duo, consisting of singer Majid Al Maskati and producer Jordan Ullman from Toronto, Ontario. They formed in 2011 and signed to OVO Sound, the record label co-founded by rapper Drake, producer Noah "40" Shebib and Oliver El-Khatib, releasing their debut EP, A Place Like This, in 2014.
PartyNextDoor is the self-titled debut extended play by Canadian recording artist PartyNextDoor. It was released on July 1, 2013, by OVO Sound and Warner Records.
Makonnen Kamali Sheran, better known by his stage name iLoveMakonnen, is an American rapper and singer. He first became known for his 2014 song "Tuesday", which was discovered and remixed by Canadian rapper Drake. Originally released in August of that year, he signed with Drake's record label OVO Sound, an imprint of Warner Records that same month; the song was given a commercial re-release by the label the following September and subsequently peaked at number 12 on the Billboard Hot 100, and received a nomination for Best Rap/Sung Collaboration at the 57th Annual Grammy Awards. "Tuesday" served as the lead single for his likewise re-issued self-titled debut extended play (2014), which modestly entered the Billboard 200. He parted ways with OVO and Warner in 2016, and his following releases failed to chart.
Denzel Spencer, better known by his stage name Roy Woods, is a Canadian singer, rapper, and songwriter. He signed with Drake's record label OVO Sound, an imprint of Warner Records in 2014. His first two albums, Waking at Dawn (2016) and Say Less (2017), both moderately entered the Canadian Albums Chart and US Billboard 200. Woods has also founded his own collective, Unlock the Underground.
Majid Jordan is the debut studio album by Canadian R&B duo Majid Jordan, it was released on February 5, 2016, by OVO Sound and Warner Bros. Records. The album serves as a follow-up to their debut EP A Place Like This (2014). The album's sole guest appearance comes from Drake, who they have previously worked with on his single "Hold On, We're Going Home" in 2013.
Views is the fourth studio album by Canadian rapper Drake. It was released on April 29, 2016, by Cash Money Records, Republic Records, and Young Money Entertainment. Recording sessions took place from 2015 to 2016, with both Drake and his longtime collaborator and record producer 40 serving as the record's executive producers. 40 also primarily handled the production on the album alongside Nineteen85, Maneesh Bidaye, Kanye West, and Jordan Ullman, among others. It also contains guest appearances by PartyNextDoor, Pimp C, Dvsn, Wizkid, Kyla, Future, and Rihanna.
Dvsn is a Canadian R&B duo composed of singer Daniel Daley and producer Nineteen85. The duo is signed to Canadian rapper Drake through his label OVO Sound.
Sean Seaton, known professionally as Neenyo, is a Canadian record producer and songwriter. He is known for his works with Drake, PARTYNEXTDOOR as well as various artists including Future, Mr. Probz, blackbear, Jadakiss and Lloyd Banks.
"Two Birds, One Stone" is a hip hop song recorded by Canadian rapper Drake. It was released worldwide by OVO Sound on October 29, 2016. The song was originally meant for inclusion on Drake's fifth mixtape, More Life, however it did not make the final cut. Written in the wake of Drake's highly publicized feud with Meek Mill, it was co-written by Noah Shebib, Kanye West, and Joey Castellani, and composed by 40 and West.
Navraj Singh Goraya, known professionally as Nav, is a Canadian rapper, singer, songwriter, and record producer. Nav originally began his career as a producer, co-producing fellow Canadian rapper Drake's single, "Back to Back", in 2015. He then gained mainstream attention in 2016 when his song "Myself" went viral on SoundCloud. Nav is signed to Canadian singer the Weeknd's record label XO and its parent label, Republic Records, and is managed by XO managers Amir "Cash" Esmailian and Wassim "Sal" Slaiby.
The Space Between is the second studio album by Canadian R&B duo Majid Jordan, released on October 27, 2017, by OVO Sound and Warner Bros. Records. It features guest appearances from OVO label-mates PartyNextDoor and Dvsn. The album's production was handled primarily by Majid Jordan, alongside Nineteen85 and Stargate.
Morning After is the second studio album by Canadian R&B duo Dvsn. It was released on October 13, 2017, by OVO Sound and Warner Bros. Records.
Jeremy Biddle, known professionally as Yung Bleu or Bleu, is an American rapper and singer. He is best known for his 2020 single "You're Mines Still", which peaked at number 18 on the Billboard Hot 100 after it was remixed by Canadian rapper Drake.
"Over the Top" is a song by Canadian rapper Smiley, featuring fellow Canadian rapper Drake. It was released on July 23, 2021, by OVO Sound and Warner Records and later appeared on Smiley's album Buy Or Bye 2. The duo had previously collaborated on Smiley's 2019 track "Organization" with Canadian rapper Booggz.
"Life of the Party" is a song by American rappers Kanye West and André 3000. It was intended for West's tenth studio album Donda (2021), but was left off the album due to André 3000 not agreeing to his verse being edited to a clean version. The song was later leaked by Canadian rapper Drake on Sound 42 radio amidst a feud with West. It was initially released as an exclusive to the Donda Stem Player in October 2021. The song was released fully in November 2021 on the deluxe version of Donda, and an explicit version as a single.