Drake may have confirmed an April release date for his highly anticipated Views From The 6 album, but it appears that the rapper’s follow up to 2015’s If You’re Reading This It’s Too Late mixtape is already nearing completion.
Noah “40” Shebib, Drake’s in-house producer, recently sat down with B-Real’s Smokebox to discuss the status of Drake’s impending album, while also dishing on topics such as medical marijuana, basketball, and drawing musical inspiration from the West Coast.
When asked what fans can expect from Drake’s Views From The 6 project, Shebib explains that the album is more than just an ode to the rapper’s native Toronto.
“It’s just the balance of finding that space to make such a project that’s based around our city and then also we coming out here to the West Coast to escape some of that harsh winter and find a good creative space,” Shebib explained during his interview, Rap-Up reports.
#Drake ‘s Producer Noah “40” Shebib Talks “Views From The 6” | https://t.co/cGUPzQWbbF pic.twitter.com/7t09TeRuQY
— BallerStatus.com (@ballerstatus) February 5, 2016
While Noah and Drake may be drawing musical inspiration from the West Coast, the producer admits that he’s trying not to let what’s “current or popular” influence Views ‘ overall sound, noting, “I’m not listening to what’s hitting the radio, what people are dropping.”
“I’m trying to almost stay away from that stuff to focus on something different,” Shebib explains , XXL Mag reports.
Last week, Drake took to OVO Sound Radio via Apple Music’s Beats 1 to release the first, official single off of Views From The 6 , “Summer Sixteen,” while also confirming a tentative April release date for the project.
Despite the album’s release being a few months away, “40” admits that he and Drake are getting “very close” to wrapping up the recording process for the project.
“We’re getting very, very close and the time will come, I think, when Drake’s ready to pull that trigger.”
The news comes just weeks after Drake and Noah “40” Shebib took to social media to tease fans with Views ‘ impending release, often sharing behind-the-scenes photos of their late-night studio sessions in Toronto.
Noah x drake #6 pic.twitter.com/KcbAY8G5aT
— RIP ronball (@Sheena_allure) January 22, 2016
While some fans were holding out hope that Drake’s new album would be arriving later this month, Drake did open up about his decision to release Vi ews in April during his hosting session on OVO Sound Radio last weekend.
Speaking on the rumors surrounding Views ‘ release, Drake explained the significance of an April drop date for the project by noting that a April 2016 release would reflect the 416 area code of his native Toronto, further expressing his dedication to making VFT6 an ode to his hometown.
@Drake WHY IS NOAH MIXING SOMETHING IN PRO TOOLS I THOUGHT YOU SAID THE ALBUM WAS DONE #TRUSTISSUES pic.twitter.com/Loc257Obzq
— Sekerían (@arenvshakarian) January 22, 2016
Drake also opened up about his intentions to provide an official release date for the project in the coming weeks, noting that he would be making an announcement regarding the album’s official cover art, track list, and drop date when Views gets closer to being finished.
With Shebib seemingly confirming that Views is nearing completion, it appears that fans may be receiving an announcement from Drake regarding his upcoming album release in the next few weeks.
While fans eagerly await the arrival of Views From The 6 , new rumors continue to emerge suggesting that Drake and J. Cole may be teaming up for a surprise tour later this summer.
Earlier this week, Ebro revealed during his morning radio show that an “announcement confirming the rumors” of a joint Drake and J. Cole tour may be on its way in the coming weeks. According to BET , Ebro’s ties to the music industry via his work with Hot 97 and Apple Music is a good indication that the host’s sources are reputable, which may mean that a star-studded lineup for Drake’s VFT6 tour is already underway.
Watch Noah “40” Shebib’s interview with B-Real above and tell us your thoughts on Drake’s impending Views From The 6 album.
[Photo by Justin Sullivan/Getty Images]