Drake has become one of the biggest artists in the music industry, today.
From "Starting From the Bottom" to Certified Lover Boy, this household
name hailing from Canada has come a long way!
With any artist who has had a long and healthy career in the music game, there is no doubt that they
would have been passed around at least a few times from label to label, so what record label is Drake signed to now,
and where has he been over the years!?
Let's dig in…
What Record Label Is Drake Signed To?
Drake is currently signed to his own label, OVO (October's Very Own) Sound. OVO Sound has a
distribution deal through Warner Records, and Drake also re-signed with Universal Music Group in 2022 in a deal
reportedly worth up to $400 million.
He was previously signed to:
- Cash Money
- Young Money
- Republic Records
- Universal Music Group
Drake releases his music under his own record label, OVO Sound. His most recent projects include the
collaborative album Some Sexy Songs 4 U with PartyNextDoor (2025) and For All The Dogs (2023). He
also has a ninth studio album called ICEMAN on the way.
The label was launched in 2012 with artists like PartyNextDoor and 40, but Drake was still under contract
with Universal Music Group.
In 2018, Scorpion, his final release under the old UMG deal, marked the end of that particular contract. Drake
essentially became a free agent at that time, but it was no surprise that he went with his own record label.
Then in May 2022, Drake went back to UMG and signed a new multi-faceted deal with Universal Music Group through
Republic Records. This one was different from his old contract, though. Reports say the deal was worth as much as
$400 million, making it one of the largest recording contracts ever given to any artist.
Drake owns all the masters for Certified Lover Boy and any future albums released through OVO Sound.
Related: Want the full financial picture? Check out our complete Drake net worth breakdown for
2026, including OVO Sound revenue, streaming royalties, and real estate.
Who is
Drake? A Very Brief History…
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Aubrey Drake Graham, better known as Drake, is a Canadian rapper, singer, and actor who was born in Toronto
on October 24, 1986.
He first gained attention when he starred as Jimmy Brooks in the television series Degrassi: The Next Generation from
2001–08.
In 2006, Drake released his first mixtape Room for Improvement, and his second mixtape So Far Gone in 2009
before signing with Young Money Entertainment.
Since then, he has switched labels a few times and has had several hit singles, including
"God's Plan," "In My Feelings," and "Hotline Bling."
He has also been featured on countless tracks with other artists. More recently, Drake was named
Spotify's most-streamed artist globally for 2025 with over 18.4 billion streams for the year.
That number alone tells you how far ahead he is compared to everyone else in the game.
Drake has won several awards, including five Grammy Awards, and his discography now spans eight
studio albums with a ninth, ICEMAN, confirmed to be in the works.
Does Drake Have His Own Label?
Yes, Drake does own his own record label. It's called OVO Sound, short for October's Very Own. He
co-founded it with longtime producer Noah "40" Shebib and Oliver El-Khatib back in 2012.
Over the years, OVO Sound has grown into a legitimate label with a full roster of artists and a distribution
partnership through Warner Records.
The History Of OVO Sound
October's Very Own's roots can be traced back to 2006, when Drake released his first official mixtape,
Room for Improvement, under the unofficial label "All Things Fresh.".
In later years, Drake continued to prominently feature OVO throughout his music, regularly mentioning the label on
stage and in songs, as well as promoting OVO merchandise.
Following the success of Drake's third studio album Nothing Was the Same, the record label was officially
founded in 2012 by Drake, Noah "40" Shebib, and Oliver El-Khatib. Billboard reports that Drake and
Warner Records have signed a partnership agreement.
For reference, Rick Ross has a similar setup. Ross is signed to Epic as a solo artist, but his Maybach Music Group
label is signed to Atlantic Records, an old Warner partner.
Drake's Journey From Republic To OVO
In 2009, Drake signed to Republic Records as a solo artist through Young Money and Cash Money. Drake's last
project for Young Money/Cash Money was Scorpion, released in 2018.
On the other side of things, Drake's OVO Sound label has its own distribution deal through Warner Records. So
he had two label relationships running at the same time for years.
When Drake and 40 founded OVO in 2012, they brought on T-Minus, Mike Zombie, and Boi-1da as in-house producers (these
are the only in-house producers from outside Canada).
Drake was reported to be close to signing his label's first artist, PartyNextDoor, in April 2013, which he
announced shortly afterwards. He then signed Canadian music group Majid Jordan to OVO in August 2013.
OB O'Brien and iLoveMakonnen signed soon after in 2014, with iLoveMakonnen being the first non-Canadian act. In
April 2016, Makonnen left OVO Sound to pursue a solo career with Warner.
The label then signed Canadian rapper Roy Woods and the R&B duo Dvsn (Daniel Daley and Nineteen85), who released
EPs and studio albums in 2015 and 2016. Smiley, a Canadian rapper, joined the OVO roster in 2021.
Drake's $400 Million UMG Deal (2022)
This is the part a lot of people miss when they ask what record label Drake is signed to. In May 2022, Drake
re-signed with Universal Music Group in a deal that reportedly could be worth up to $400 million. That makes it one
of the biggest recording contracts in music history.
The deal was done through Republic Records (UMG's subsidiary), and it covers more than just music. It
reportedly includes recordings, publishing, and merchandise. So Drake's current label situation is a bit more
layered than people think.
He runs his own label (OVO Sound), that label distributes through Warner, and Drake also has a personal recording
deal through UMG/Republic. Two major label relationships running at once.
How Was Drake Signed To Both Young Money &
OVO?
OVO was founded by Drake, but it is distributed by Warner Records.
Young Money is a division of Cash Money Records, which sits under Universal Music Group (the largest music
corporation in the world). UMG distributes through Republic Records (formerly Universal Republic).
UMG is owned by Vivendi, a French music conglomerate. So Drake was technically signed to Warner Records (through OVO)
and Universal Music Group (through Young Money/Cash Money) at the same time.
Non-independent record labels are all guilty of this kind of thing. It is a legal pyramid scheme where all of the
money gets funneled to the top.
There are just a few major labels that control mainstream music & sound, like EMI, Warner Bros, Sony and Universal.
music industry
Corporations
owning the creative output of their artists is really a sad state for music. The purpose of mainstream music
is no longer to benefit artists, but to earn money off of the masses. Our favorite musicians are being abused by
these corporations, who treat them like garbage.
Corporations who have created a toxic environment in which many have turned to drugs and alcohol to numb their pain
after they realized that signing a music contract was no
different from handing over their lives.
In any case, it seems you are no longer treated like a person when you sign a record contract, but rather like a
brand. An item that has a limited shelf life.
Music is in a sad state, as I said. Let's hope independent labels can overcome the odds and help artists regain
control of their sound.
Is Drake Currently Signed To Young Money Or Cash
Money?
No. Drake is no longer signed to Young Money or Cash Money. He addressed the speculation surrounding his label status
years ago.
Cash Money Records had signed a number of rappers, including Nicki
Minaj, Lil Wayne, Tyga, Drake, and others.
In 2018, Wayne parted ways with Cash Money following a lawsuit settlement, while Drizzy did the same in 2019. Both
have moved on.
Drake's Recent Releases
(2024–2026)
Drake has stayed busy. Here is a quick rundown of his latest projects:
- For All The Dogs (October 2023): His eighth studio album, released through OVO Sound and
Republic Records. - For All The Dogs Scary Hours Edition (2024): An expanded version with bonus tracks.
- Some Sexy Songs 4 U (2025): A collaborative album with PartyNextDoor that got a lot of
attention. - ICEMAN (TBA): Drake confirmed on Instagram that his ninth solo album is in the final recording
stages. No release date yet, but he hinted it could drop within the next 12 months.
He also had multiple RIAA-certified singles in late 2025, including collabs with SZA, Sexyy Red, and 21 Savage.
What Label Was Drake & 21 Savage: Her Loss (Album) Released Under?
Listen to "Her Loss" (Full Album) here!
Drake and 21 Savage dropped their collaborative album "Her Loss" on OVO Sound and Republic Records.
The album features a guest spot from Travis Scott and debuted at the top of the Canadian Albums and US Billboard
200 charts.
This album came after their previous collabs, and the track "Jimmy Cooks" was the biggest hit off
Drake's seventh studio album Honestly, Nevermind.
The release of the album was pushed back a week due to OVO producer 40 catching COVID-19 during the mixing and
mastering process.
Conclusion
Drake's label situation in 2026 is a two-pronged setup. He runs OVO Sound (distributed through Warner Records)
and has a separate personal recording deal with Universal Music Group through Republic Records, reportedly worth up
to $400 million.
He owned his masters on Certified Lover Boy, and that trend has continued with his newer releases. With
ICEMAN on the horizon and 18.4 billion Spotify streams in 2025 alone, he is not slowing down anytime soon.
To stay up to date with Drake be sure to follow the official Drake Twitter Page and the Drake YouTube Channel
for all of the latest Drake events!
Similar Artist & Their Record Deal Info:
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- What Record Label Is Meek Mill Signed To?
- Who Is Dababy Signed To?
What label is Drake currently signed to in 2026?
As of 2026, Drake is signed to OVO Sound (his own label) with distribution through Warner Records, and he has a
personal recording deal through Universal Music Group/Republic Records worth up to $400 million. He left his old
Cash Money/Young Money deal years ago.
