June 2018 Auction Ends Thursday, June 28th, 5pm Pacific
This lot is closed for bidding. Bidding ended on 6/28/2018
Handwritten and multiple-signed notebook by Drake for his 2006 album ''Room for Improvement'', the first official ''mixtape'' from the Canadian superstar rapper, predating his first official studio album, 2010's ''Thank Me Later'' by four years. Notebook, likely written in 2005, is a creative wellspring by the hip-hop artist, containing Drake's handwritten lyrics for a number of the songs that would end up on the 23 track ''Room for Improvement'', including: ''Special'' (entitled ''Extra Special'' in notebook), ''Do Me So Good'' (with track producer Boi Wonda/BOI-1DA mentioned next to title), ''Try Harder'', ''City Is Mine'', ''Do What You Do'', ''A Scorpio's Mind'' and ''Bad Meaning Good''. Comprised of 68 pages handwritten by Drake, and 12 loose pages, notebook also features lyrics for songs not included on the first album (but would in some instances be released on subsequent Drake albums), including ''Friday'', ''Stay Up Late'', ''Grind Freestyle'', ''Military Brat Freestyle'', ''Held Down'', ''What I Keep Inside'', ''Less of a Man'', High School'', ''Light That Fire'', ''Either Way'' and an untitled track that mentions producer Boi Wonda in the lyrics. Several other non-produced lyrics are included, such as those titled ''Proper Introduction'', ''Properly Introduced'', ''Rewind'' and ''Facts of Life''.
In addition to the handwritten lyrics, Drake also details the credits for nine of the tracks, as well as composes an interesting to-do list entitled, ''My First Album'' which states, ''You Need: The Greatest Song Ever...Maxwell or D'Angelo Feature, Andre 3000 Produced Track, Indie Arie Feature, Usher Feature, Voyce Feature''. Under the list is a self-motivating quote, ''When you understand life is when you can relax because everything you can ever want or be you already have and are.'' Drake also signs his name four times throughout the book, once as Aubrey Graham with Drake written underneath, once simply as Drake and a third time with an ornate ''D'' and then ''RAKE''. Peppered throughout the notebook are little details of Drake's daily life and thoughts, including an appointment for a haircut, addresses and phone numbers of friends & associates, and miscellaneous musings, such as ''Everything said is heartfelt'' & ''Don't love yourself!!!''
Spiral-bound Hilroy-brand notebook has a bright blue cover with the date of 2000 along with ''Hilroy, a Mead Company, Toronto M6E 2R9, Made in Canada''. At the time Drake wrote in this notebook, he was about 19 and starring in ''Degrassi: The Next Generation'', filmed in Toronto, Canada. Notebook measures 8.5'' x 10.5''. A circular stain to front cover, and expected creasing and wear, but with very legible and clean interior pages. An amazing piece of music history, offering an early glimpse into the creative genius of one of hip-hop's biggest stars.
Drake's Personal, Signed Notebook for His First Mixtape, ''Room For Improvement'' -- Includes 80 Handwritten Pages of Lyrics, His ''My First Album'' Todo List, Motivational Quotes, Signatures & More
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