Drake and Kanye West’s fans were already buzzing about reports that the two might be collaborating. Now Drake has heated up the rumors with a suggestive new Instagram photo. Adding intrigue to the speculation, however, is whether the long-running feud between Drake’s pal Taylor Swift and Kanye’s wife, Kim Kardashian, might strike a sour note.
According to XXL magazine, West had confirmed that he and Drake were involved in a joint album in September. That project just got some new buzz with a photo shared by Drake on Instagram.
“There goes the neighborhood,” reads the caption.
Attempted translations of that phrase have ranged from a joint album title to a song to something unknown. But the speculation that the sentence refers to a collaboration was enhanced when Scooter Braun offered up a comment on the photo, “It begin,” together with four clapping emojis. Braun has a connection in that he “works closely” with Kanye, clarified the media outlet.
When West teased the collaboration, he promised excitement.
“We’re just working on music, working on a bunch of music together, just having fun going into the studio,” said Kanye about Drake.
“We’re working on an album, so there’s some exciting things coming up soon.”
In addition, Billboard pointed out that West also sparked rumors earlier this year when he appeared at the Toronto rapper’s OVO Fest in August.
“I got one question for you… Is y’all ready for this album?” Kanye questioned the crowd. “I’m not talking about Pablo. I wasn’t talking about Views. I wanna ask y’all right now, y’all ready for this album?”
Drake then provided some clarification about what West was teasing.
“What my brother was asking before was, are you ready if we make an album? That’s what he was asking.”
Billboards subsequently appeared in Los Angeles with the logos for Drake’s OVO Sound and Kanye’s G.O.O.D. Music imprints, featuring phrases such as “Calabasas is the new Abu Dhabi.” And while that might sound cryptic, Billboard pointed out that Drake and West live near each other in Calabasas.
That proximity might explain the caption about the neighborhood. Another possibility: Calabasas could be the album’s name, a rumor that got more heat when West unveiled Calabasas-branded merch.
As for the subjects of that joint project, it could include everything from Kim’s robbery in Paris to Drake’s relationship with Taylor Swift.
“Making things even more interesting: Drake has reportedly been getting chummy with West’s enemy-turned-friend-turned-enemy-again Taylor Swift, as Swift recently attended Drake’s birthday bash,” Billboard pointed out to readers.
Drake Urges Kanye West To Make Kim Kardashian Stop Dissing Taylor Swift: She Needs To ‘Back Up’ https://t.co/jzwj5SkpCr
— HollywoodLife (@HollywoodLife) October 30, 2016
Moreover, Hollywood Life told readers that with Drake “spending more time” with Taylor, he is defending her by asking Kanye to make Kim “stop dissing Tay.”
Kardashian had been silent for awhile on social media, but then she allegedly appeared to be shading Swift by “liking a tweet of an article about Calvin Harris’ diss track,” revealed the media outlet. That’s when Drake stepped up and asked West to get Kim to ease off, a source told Hollywood Life .
“Drake texted Kanye and asked him, politely, to tell his girl to back off Taylor… [He is] definitely asking [Kanye] and Kim to pump their brakes on the Taylor jabs.”
The insider revealed that because he “stays on social media like it’s a job,” he knew about the alleged “jab” from Kardashian. He also informed West that he is “cool with him and Kim, but Taylor could use a little more respect,” added the source.
Hollywood Life noted that the tensions between Swift and the duo of Kardashian and West have “certainly been high” since the “Famous” lyrics controversy. But Drake “doesn’t think Kim should be petty by trying to get underneath Tay’s skin,” added the insider.
[Featured Image by Christopher Polk/Getty Images]