OVO Sound (acronym of October's Very Own) 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.
| OVO Sound | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Founded | 2012 |
| Founder | Drake 40 Oliver El-Khatib |
| Status | Active |
| Distributor(s) |
|
| Genre | |
| Country of origin | Canada |
| Location | Toronto, Ontario, Canada |
| Official website | ovosound |
The label has signed acts including Drake, PartyNextDoor, Majid Jordan, Roy Woods, Dvsn, Baka Not Nice, Popcaan, Smiley, and Naomi Sharon. In-house producers include 40 himself, Boi-1da, Nineteen85, Mike Zombie, T-Minus, and DJ Prince.
History
edit
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, and 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]
On January 23, 2024, Santa Anna Label Group, a subsidiary of Sony Music, announced an investment and partnership with OVO Sound, stating that they'd take over distribution for the label alongside provide new and existing A&Rs for the label.[1]
Roster
editCurrent acts
edit| Act | Year | Releases |
|---|---|---|
| Drake | 2012 | 9 |
| PartyNextDoor | 2013 | 7 |
| Majid Jordan | 2013 | 4 |
| Roy Woods | 2014 | 6 |
| Dvsn | 2015 | 5 |
| Popcaan | 2016 | 3 |
| Baka Not Nice | 2017 | 1 |
| Smiley | 2021 | 2 |
| Naomi Sharon | 2023 | 2 |
Former acts
edit| Act | Year | Releases |
|---|---|---|
| ILoveMakonnen | 2014–2016 | 4 |
| Plaza | 2017–2021 | 1 |
In-house producers
edit| Act | Year |
|---|---|
| Noah "40" Shebib | 2012 |
| Boi-1da[20] | 2012 |
| T-Minus | 2012 |
| Nineteen85 | 2013 |
| OG Ron C | 2013 |
OVO Sound Radio
editOVO 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.
Sound 42
editOn 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]
OVO Clothing
editOctober'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 native to 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.
Discography
editStudio albums
edit| Artist | Album | Details | Peak chart positions | Certification | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| CAN [A] |
US [B] | ||||
| Drake | Nothing Was the Same |
|
1 | 1 | RIAA: 6× Platinum[39] |
| PartyNextDoor | PartyNextDoor Two |
|
19 | 15 | RIAA: Gold[40] |
| Majid Jordan | Majid Jordan |
|
20 | 69 | |
| Dvsn | Sept. 5th |
|
69 | 133 | |
| 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 | |
| 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: 3× Platinum |
| Majid Jordan | Wildest Dreams |
|
– | – | |
| Smiley | Buy or Bye 2 |
|
– | – | |
| Drake | Honestly, Nevermind |
|
1 | 1 | RIAA: Platinum |
| Dvsn | Working on My Karma |
|
– | – | |
| Drake & 21 Savage | Her Loss |
|
1 | 1 | RIAA: 2× Platinum |
| 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 |
|
13 | 10 | |
Compilation albums
edit| Artist | Album | Details | Peak chart positions | Certification | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| CAN | US | ||||
| Drake | Care Package | 1 | 1 | ||
Soundtrack albums
edit| Artist | Album | Details |
|---|---|---|
| Various Artists | Top Boy (A Selection of Music Inspired by the Series) |
Mixtapes
edit| Artist | Album | Details | Peak chart positions | Certification | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| CAN | US | ||||
| Drake | If You're Reading This It's Too Late |
|
1 | 1 | RIAA: 4× Platinum |
| Drake & Future | What a Time to Be Alive | 1 | 1 | RIAA: 2× Platinum | |
| Drake | More Life |
|
1 | 1 | RIAA: 4× Platinum |
| Popcaan | Vanquish |
|
– | – | |
| Drake | Dark Lane Demo Tapes |
|
1 | 2 | |
EPs
edit| 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 |
|
Notes
editReferences
edit- ^ a b "Santa Anna Label Group to Partner With Aubrey "Drake" Graham, Noah "40" Shehib, Oliver El-Khatib and Mr. Morgan's OVO Sound". January 23, 2024.
- ^ "Drake's OVO Sound Label Teams Up With City of Toronto to Create Music Committee". August 5, 2013. Retrieved August 11, 2016.
- ^ "Drake's OVO Sound Releases Three-Piece Merch Collection". Complex Networks.
- ^ "Drake's OVO partners with Warner Bros. Records". Consequence. December 4, 2012.
- ^ Aswad, Jem (May 3, 2017). "Drake's OVO Sound Label Extends Deal With Warner Bros". Variety.
- ^ "Report: Lil Wayne's UMG Deal Includes Drake and Nicki Minaj's Masters".
- ^ "Drake's OVO Label Flies To Warner Bros. Records – Music, Celebrity, Artist News". MTV.com. December 5, 2012. Archived from the original on December 9, 2012. Retrieved May 7, 2013.
- ^ Ugwu, Reggie. "Drake's OVO Record Label Inks Deal With Warner Bros". BET. Retrieved May 7, 2013.
- ^ "10 Artists That Should Sign To Drake's OVO Sound – Page 7 of 11 – XXL". Xxlmag.com. August 12, 2013. Retrieved August 25, 2013.
- ^ "Listen to PARTYNEXTDOOR, Drake's New Artist Signing to OVO (Soon) – XXL". Xxlmag.com. April 22, 2013. Retrieved May 7, 2013.
- ^ "Drake Wants New Single To Be Played At Weddings". XXL. August 7, 2013.
- ^ On June 10, 2017, newest signee Plaza's project, Shadow EP, debuted on OVO Sound Radio episode 45. Gilmore, Mike (August 7, 1997). "Puff Daddy Cometh". Rolling Stone. Archived from the original on October 2, 2007. Retrieved May 16, 2012.
- ^ Carissimo, Justin (October 24, 2016). "Drake announces 'More Life' project, shares four new songs on OVO Sound Radio". The Independent. Retrieved October 24, 2016.
- ^ Morgan Britton, Luke (October 24, 2016). "Stream three new Drake songs from 'More Life' project". NME. Retrieved October 24, 2016.
- ^ Willis, Jay (October 24, 2016). "Drake Just Dropped Four New Songs Off More Life as an Early Birthday Gift". GQ. Retrieved October 24, 2016.
- ^ "OVO Sound Official Site Artists". OVO Sound Official Site. Retrieved July 23, 2021.
- ^ "Drake Signs Toronto Rapper Smiley To OVO Sound + Blesses Him With A Verse". HipHopDX. July 23, 2021. Retrieved July 23, 2021.
- ^ Pavlakos, Louis (January 20, 2022). "Drake Announces New OVO Sound Signing Naomi Sharon: "I Been Waiting For This Day"". Complex. Retrieved January 20, 2022.
- ^ "DRAKE INTRODUCES OVO SOUND'S FIRST FEMALE ARTIST: 'BEEN WAITING FOR THIS DAY'". HipHopDX. January 20, 2023.
- ^ "Boi-1da Shares Stories Behind Drake's "Started From The Bottom" | Rappers Talk Hip Hop Beef & Old School Hip Hop | HipHop DX". Archived from the original on May 4, 2015. Retrieved March 13, 2017.
- ^ "Listen to Drake's OVO Sound Radio on SiriusXM's SOUND 42 Channel". Complex. Retrieved March 5, 2021.
- ^ STATS HOUGHTON, EDWIN (January 23, 2023). "How Drake and OVO Are Reinventing Radio with Sound 42". GQ.
- ^ "How the OVO Clothing Label Evolved With Drake's Career". Complex Networks. Retrieved August 11, 2016.
- ^ "Drake Opens Flagship OVO Store in Totonto". Fashion Network.
- ^ Rap star Drake’s streetwear brand to open Gold Coast store RYAN ORI, CHICAGO TRIBUNE, July 17, 2019
- ^ Rooney, Kyle (August 10, 2016). "OVO Apparel Line Pre-fall collection". Hotnewhiphop. Retrieved August 10, 2016.
- ^ "October's Very Own on Instagram: "The Great One, Wayne Gretzky. October's Very Own® / FW2020"". Instagram. Archived from the original on December 26, 2021. Retrieved November 10, 2020.
- ^ "October's Very Own on Instagram: "OVO X ROOTS / FW2020 Featuring Ross Rebagliati Canadian Olympic Gold Medalist"". Instagram. Archived from the original on December 26, 2021. Retrieved November 10, 2020.
- ^ "Drake – Chart History: Canadian Albums". Billboard. Retrieved July 10, 2018.
- ^ "PartyNextDoor – Chart history: Canadian Albums". Billboard. Retrieved March 26, 2020.
- ^ "Majid Jordan – Chart History: Canadian Albums". Billboard. Retrieved February 13, 2016.
- ^ "Dvsn – Chart history: Canadian Albums". Billboard. Retrieved April 5, 2016.
- ^ "Roy Woods – Chart History: Canadian Albums". Billboard. Retrieved December 12, 2017.
- ^ "Drake – Chart History: Billboard 200". Billboard. Retrieved July 10, 2018.
- ^ "PartyNextDoor – Chart history: Billboard 200". Billboard. Retrieved March 26, 2020.
- ^ "Majid Jordan – Chart History: Billboard 200". Billboard. Retrieved November 7, 2017.
- ^ "Dvsn – Chart history: Billboard 200". Billboard. Retrieved October 24, 2017.
- ^ "Roy Woods – Chart History: Billboard 200". Billboard. Retrieved December 12, 2017.
- ^ "Gold & Platinum". RIAA. Retrieved September 21, 2024.
- ^ "Gold & Platinum – RIAA". Recording Industry Association of America. Retrieved January 6, 2019.
- ^ "Gold & Platinum – RIAA". Recording Industry Association of America. Retrieved January 6, 2019.
- ^ "Instagram post by dvsn • Aug 1, 2017 at 10:03pm UTC". Instagram. Retrieved August 2, 2017.
- ^ "The Space Between by Majid Jordan on Apple Music". Apple Music. Retrieved October 2, 2017.
- ^ "Instagram post by ROY WOOD$ • Aug 1, 2017 at 9:01pm UTC". Instagram. Archived from the original on December 26, 2021. Retrieved August 2, 2017.
- ^ Minsker, Evan (February 28, 2020). "PARTYNEXTDOOR Announces New Album PARTYMOBILE, Shares New Song: Listen". Pitchfork. Retrieved March 26, 2020.
- ^ Ivey, Justin (April 16, 2020). "dvsn Returns With 'A Muse In Her Feelings' Album". HipHopDX. Retrieved April 17, 2020.
- ^ "dvsn and Ty Dolla $ign Announce Joint Album 'Cheers to the Best Memories'". Rap-Up. August 2, 2021. Retrieved August 16, 2021.
- ^ Yoo, Noah (August 1, 2019). "Drake Announces New Care Package Compilation Album". Pitchfork. Retrieved August 1, 2019.
- ^ "Drake Achieves Ninth No. 1 Album on Billboard 200 Chart With 'Care Package'". Billboard. August 11, 2019. Retrieved August 8, 2020.
- ^ "The tracklisting for Drake's 'Top Boy' soundtrack has been revealed". NME. September 11, 2019. Retrieved February 8, 2021.
- ^ "DRAKE & OVO SOUND PRESENT "TOP BOY" SOUNDTRACK". HipHopDX. September 12, 2019.
- ^ "Popcaan Releases New Mixtape Vanquish: Listen". Pitchfork. December 20, 2019.
- ^ "Drake's 'Dark Lane Demo Tapes': Stream It Now". hBillboard. May 2020. Retrieved May 1, 2020.
- ^ Saponara, Michael (June 18, 2019). "Drake's 'Best in the World Pack' Serves as First Release Without Young Money or Cash Money Records". Billboard. Retrieved June 19, 2019.
- ^ "Dem Times – EP". Apple Music. May 15, 2020.
- ^ Moore, Sam (March 4, 2021). "Drake is releasing 'Scary Hours 2' tomorrow". NME. Retrieved March 5, 2021.
External links
edit
- Official website
- OVO Sound discography at Discogs