Rap superstar and basketball enthusiast Drake, who rarely gives interviews, spoke to University of Kentucky basketball coach John Calipari in a lengthy discussion for Calipari’s Cal Cast podcast. Drake and Calipari, who have a history of mutual admiration, were pretty buddy-buddy, and fawned over each other throughout the chat. Drake called Calipari “one of the most iconic mentors” in his life; Calipari repeatedly called Drake an inspiration, and the two recalled how Calipari was present at Drake’s high school graduation.
Predictably, Cal’s players are always super stoked to meet Drake. “You came into our locker room in 2014,” Calipari said. “The guys were in awe when you walked in. We had just beaten Wisconsin on a buzzer beater and you’re jumping around and dancing.”
Among the details, Drake said he’s going to position himself more of an actor, after he finishes a couple music-related projects. In between albums, he’s currently doing a playlist with Apple to “bridge the gap” between major releases, even as he questioned why he’s still doing music.
“I’m actually producing and hosting the first annual NBA Awards,” he announced to Calipari, amidst some general basketball talk.
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Drake said he modeled Halloween costumes for a Walmart catalog and recounted again how he got high for the first time just a couple hours before his Degrassi audition, which is why he behaves the way he does now. “I don’t really get intoxicated too often, period,” he said.
Aubrey also said he missed an opportunity to get on a remix with Sade, and still wants to work with her. He also said he’d have loved to sit down with Bob Marley, and once again put over Aaliyah as the reason he sings and raps, because she blurred the line between masculine and feminine energies, as he tries to do in his music.
What a beautiful world, where a 30-year-old biracial Canadian rapper and a 57-year-old white college basketball coach can find common ground talking about… everything, apparently. You can listen to the full thing below.
Also, enjoy Drake airballing a shot while practicing with the Kentucky basketball team:
