T.I. Says He Passed on Signing Drake

Drake could have been repping Grand Hustle instead of Young Money.

While promoting his new album Dime Trap on “The Breakfast Club,” T.I. revealed that he had the opportunity to sign the Canadian megastar to his label, but passed on it.

“I passed on Drake,” he said. “It was Drake before the beard—barefaced Drake.”

He went on to explain why. “It just hadn’t caught all the way up yet. That type of music, that sound of music, the emo sound wasn’t necessarily prevalent at the time. I didn’t see the curve just like I never thought skinny jeans was gonna happen. That one got by me.”

Charlamagne Tha God also brought up the infamous incident that took place at the 2010 premiere of Takers, where a friend of T.I.’s allegedly urinated on Drake. However, T.I. evaded the question. “I have no recollection. I cannot confirm nor deny anything. Let’s move on to the next question,” he said.

Drake wasn’t the only one who got away. In 2011, T.I. revealed that he tried to sign Meek Mill to Grand Hustle, but the deal fell through due to T.I.’s run-ins with the law.

“After my two hiatuses I was put in a position where I couldn’t really make moves on Meek as quick as he may have wanted to,” he told Billboard. “I never been one want to hold anyone back or to slow down the success of anybody. I’m the first to try to enhance what you have and if I can’t make it better, then I shouldn’t be a part of it.”

T.I.’s 10th studio album Dime Trap drops tonight featuring appearances from Meek, Young Thug, Jeezy, Teyana Taylor, Anderson .Paak, YFN Lucci, and more.