The title says it all. If there is one thing that Drake has demonstrated, it is that it is possible for an unsigned artist to do numbers and achieve great success if their grind is right, and if they are willing to think outside the box. Don’t get me wrong. Drake has obviously benefitted from his affiliation with Young Money, and from co-signs from some of the industry’s biggest heavy-hitters. However, he had to turn some heads to get to that level.

Drake used TuneCore to sell his single Best I Ever Had. Mind you, this is AFTER he gave away So Far Gone for free. So let’s get this straight… Best I Ever Had was out there for the public’s taking… it was available by Drake for FREE. With that said, 300,000 units of the single were sold on iTunes. So there we go, fans found music they enjoyed and a personality to go with it, and decided to spend money and purchase it. Major labels, are you paying attention? Or are you just too caught up in your disbelief that he was able to do what you’ve failed to do for years?

Here’s the scoop, 10 days before signing the deal with Young Money with distribution through Universal, Drake’s single went up for sale independently through the TuneCore service. During the two or so weeks it has been available on iTunes, it has become one of the hottest selling singles, amassing sales of 300,000 plus. According to the New York Times Business section, Drake’s Best I Ever Had single was the #4 best selling single from June 15-June 21. More than likely, his chart status will only improve.

You can bet that the major labels, such as Interscope, held nothing back when courting Drake to sign to their label. In the end, they lost AGAIN. They lost the first time when Drake proved that an artist no longer needs the majors to achieve success. They lost again when Drake enjoyed their lavish courtship for what its worth, but in the end, realized that he can achieve greater success in this industry, not only artistically, but financially by remaining independent. Drake has shown that the game has changed indeed.

Well, it is now official. Drake has signed to Young Money / Universal Motown! After weeks of speculation as to whether Drake would stay independent or sign with a major, Drizzy Drake has opted to stick with his closest associates, Young Money Entertainment. The deal is actually a joint venture between Young Money and Cash Money. Universal will take upon the distribution role.

Drake’s management is very adamant about the idea of Drake continuing to be viewed as an independent artist despite the deal. His popularity has soared since the Young Money artist distributed his So Far Gone mixtape for free. His success has been evident in not only his status on the charts, but also in that he performed with his Young Money conglomerate in the prime time slot at the BET awards.

Drake’s official debut album, Thank Me Later, is slated for release later this year, and will feature collaborations with Kanye West, Jay-Z, and Lil Wayne.