Shyne to Record with Lil Wayne, Co-Signs Drake

Shyne is stacking up some heavy-hitters for his comeback album. The Def Jam rapper has nabbed all-star guest appearances for his upcoming LPs Messiah and Gangland, having already recorded tracks with Gucci Mane and a joint collaboration with Game and Pharrell. And in the next few months, he’s got plans to lay down a cut with Lil Wayne.

Speaking with Superstar Radio over video chat, the Belize native explained that Weezy extended his services to collaborate. “Wayne just reached out to me—him and Mack Maine—to do this record. That’s the first record I’ma do in a couple months. I’ve been putting everything on file,” he said, noting that he saluted Weezy on his track “King David.” “I pay homage to Wayne in a few records, but I have a tremendous amount of respect for them dudes, the whole Cash Money-Young Money.”

He also shared his appreciation for Young Money’s Drake, lauding him for his musicianship. “I think the Drake kid has serious potential to go down in the history of rap,” he noted. “I definitely get inspired. He’s not really a rapper. He’s a musician, you dig? He sings and he makes great music. I’m inspired by what he does.”

Shyne also revealed his love for Kanye West’s My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy, as well as Gucci Mane and Lupe Fiasco. “The Kanye record is a great record. Out of the new stuff… Gucci Mane, I’m definitely a fan of his, but that’s pretty much it,” he continued. With past business relationships gone wrong, Shyne is watching who he keeps close and admires.

“Most of the people I interact with are honest people. They are who they are. Drake is a kid that says listen, I’m not from the streets. I’m just making good music. Kanye’s a dude that doesn’t try to be anything other than who he is. Wayne is really off the block,” he stated. “All the kids I respect and admire are truthful people. I like the kid Lupe Fiasco. I think he’s extraordinary. I’m really about truth, man. If you’re being honest and you have integrity, I’m all for you.”