Johannesburg Daily Photo(s): ZAR Lounge

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Drakes' Thank me Later' Released

The moment has finally come, Drake's much anticipated album has finally been released. His sophomore album has left the media in a frenzy and artist such at Bun B, Jay Z and Kanye West predicting this to be the album of the year, as far as saying that it will sell 500 000 copies in it's first week.

"The album has already been leaked but this shouldn't impact albums sales" says Drake in and interview with Billboard 100.

I had the opportunity of sampling a few tracks, to be honest I am a bit disappointed.There are a few smashing tracks but this album caters more towards the ladies.

I love Lil Wayne verses on the track " Miss me", you guys give it a sample.

Drogba Cleared to play with Cast Today

If you’re a big fan of ’90s Britpop, then today’s headlines may mislead you into being very excited. Bad news is that Didier Drogba will not be appearing with the band Cast in some sort of weird rap reunion tour. Good news is that Cote d’Ivoire striker Drogba – who famously fractured his forearm in the build up to World Cup 2010, has had his cast approved by FIFA. Which means that if he’s fit enough to play against Portugal today, then he’ll be able to do so while wearing the cast.

We haven’t seen the cast yet, but apparently both the referees and representatives from the Portugal team are happy that the cast won’t be a menace to opposition players. Drogba on the other hand, might be. We’ll find out if he makes the starting lineup soon, so follow along with George on our Portugal vs Cote d’Ivoire.

UPDATE: Word is that Drogba has been named on the bench. So he won’t start, but he might play.

Feel it , it's here

Bafana is Going Places

According to the 2010 Scorecard, an in-depth analysis of World Cup preparations, South Africa has exceeded all expectations and leapt past Germany in terms of preparations and excitement.

Dr Nikolaus Eberl, 2010 analyst and chief executive of Brandovation, said the week's celebration had sent shock waves through the world.

"The celebrations on Wednesday were unprecedented. Never before has the host country's fans celebrated before kick-off. We were shocked at what unfolded throughout the country," he said, adding that there was little excitement before Germany's World Cup in 2006.

"In Germany there was a dampened mood. It was very different (from) South Africa. People were anxious, moody and very unhappy with the national team's performance," he said.

The nation came together only after Germany had passed the group stages.

"Only 8 percent of fans backed their national team, so there was no vibe at all," said Eberl.

"South Africans showed the world that they can host a tournament of any scale. It shows how much locals care about their country and how proud they are, it was fantastic and came as a shock to many of us."

Not only have the celebrations and excitement spurred on Bafana Bafana, Fifa, too, was backing the national team now more than ever.

"Fifa has come to believe that the host team can get very far in the tournament. (It has) witnessed the entire country backing Bafana Bafana," said Eberl.

Coach Carlos Alberto Parreira has also won the world body's approval.

"Fifa has so much belief in Bafana because Carlos has led them to a 12-game unbeaten streak," said Eberl.

Germany's opening ceremony was a disaster.

"Fifa (was) forced to cut down the opening ceremony for the 2006 World Cup to only half an hour because (it) feared the grass would burn. Franz Beckenbauer was also disallowed from participating in the opening ceremony," said Eberl.

"Fans booed Sepp Blatter when he came out to speak and production had to be halted during the opening. Fans were also disappointed that they could not drink German beer in the stadium."

Eberl believes South Africa is on track to host the most successful tournament yet.

Eminems' road to "Recovery"

Eminem's "Recovery" album is due fewer than three weeks away, and the rapper has unveiled its official tracklist -- including its A-list collection of guest contributors -- on his website.

Rihanna, Pink, Lil Wayne and Kobe each contributed vocals to the "Relapse" follow-up, with Dr. Dre, Just Blaze, DJ Khalil, Mr. Porter, Jim Jonsin, Alex Da Kid and Boi-1da as producers.

"Recovery" contains a whopping 16 tracks, with its current single "Not Afraid" sitting near the middle. The video has been shot, with its premiere imminent, out some time on Saturday (June 5); Eminem told Paris radio station Skyrock FM yesterday (June 2) that "The overall concept is basically just being in a dark place and trying to get to the light."

On his esteemed guests: "As far as the songs with Pink and Rihanna ... when I did the song that I did with Pink, I laid my parts first and kind of heard her on the record and felt that she would smash this record. And the other one I did with Rihanna is one of those tracks that I felt like only she could pull it off, only she could do it."

Here is the tracklist to "Recovery":

1) Cold Wind Blows
2) Talkin’ 2 Myself (featuring Kobe)
3) On Fire
4) Won’t Back Down (featuring Pink)
5) W.T.P.
6) Going Through Changes
7) Not Afraid
8) Seduction
9) No Love (featuring Lil Wayne)
10) Space Bound
11) Cinderella Man
12) 25 to Life
13) So Bad
14) Almost Famous

15) Love the Way You Lie (featuring Rihanna)
16) You’re Never Over

This is going to be so , sweet I get to see both my favorite Rappers compete for album sales. Who do you thing is going to win, Eminem or Drake?

Drakes Debut Album leaked

It was inevitable. Drake's Thank Me Later leaked to the Internet on Tuesday night, but the Toronto MC isn't sweating it too hard.

"I gave away free music for years so we're good over here," Drake tweeted. "Just allow it to be the soundtrack to your summer and ENJOY! JUNE 15th!"

Just as he'd told MTV News months ago, "Fireworks" with Alicia Keys opens his first full-length album. Drizzy is candid from the start, rhyming about Rihanna, sharing his hope that his relationship with Lil Wayne never sours due to success and admitting his insecurity about adjusting to fame. "Fireworks," "Light Up" (featuring Jay-Z) and "Miss Me" with Lil Wayne had all leaked long before this week.

The new leak introduces fans to Drake's second Thank Me Later collaboration with Kanye West (Ye also produced the single "Find Your Love"), "Show Me a Good Time." Much like another cut on the LP, "Fancy" with T.I. and Swizz Beatz, "Show Me a Good Time" is that fun, summertime, mid-tempo dance record that the women will adore. It starts with some frantic sampled yells, but Drizzy comes in and smoothes out the situation with his voice.

"How did I end up here with you?" he sings on the chorus. "After all the things I've been through/ It's been one of those days/ You try to forget about it/ Take a shot and let it out."

And seconds later, he urges, "Show me a good time."

Later in the song, Drake raps about the Wu-Tang Clan and compares himself to the late, great O.D.B. He goes on to tell the lady in the song he wants to "kick it" with her like A Tribe Called Quest. Then he reflects on the haters.

"People really hate it when a backpack rapper gets rich and starts living that life, dawg/ It feels like when you get into that paper, hip-hop hates ya/ They would do it just like I do if they could; it's in our nature," he proclaims in rhyme. The verse ends with Drake declaring that he's made it.

The very next record, the Nicki Minaj-featured "Up All Night," has a darker sound, but the rhymes stay B-boy boastful as Drake celebrates his success. In true hip-hop form, he's not shy about basking in his own accolades.

"Shout out to the fact that I'm the youngest n---a doing it," says Drake, who also affirms he has the game "in his pocket."

Nicki comes in on the second verse and the lyrical assault doesn't let up. "Which bitch you know made a mil off a mixtape?" she asks, keeping the animation in her rhyme to a minimum and instead levying insults to her adversaries. "We got the hawks, and I ain't talking about the Peach State."

Noah "40" Shebib, Boi-1nda, Tone Mason, Omen and Timbaland are the other producers on the album.

Do you think the leak will hurt the success of Drake's Thank Me Later? Are you waiting for the actual release? Talk about it in the comments.