Soon after releasing his second EP, ILoveMakonnen 2, Makonnen is the focus of an in-depth interview with FADER on how his life has changed since his breakout hit, "Tuesday," earned him instant stardom, a Drake remix, and a deal with OVO.
When asked about his relationship with OVO, Makonnen responded, "It's cool, they put out my music and stuff and we just keep it moving. Let them tell you their relationship with Makonnen. I'm just an artist, being an artist, and there's only so much that I can do."
He went on to reveal that the Toronto label has not been putting out his music in a timely fashion and that the ILM2 track "Second Chance," produced by DJ Mustard, has been finished since January. "That was supposed to be that summer banger this summer. That was supposed to be out, touching people and hitting them this summer. By the time next year they'll be ready for something else. It's all late."
When asked specifically about his relationship with Drake, the man who signed him, Makonnen remained elusive, saying that he sees him "here and there" and that he continues to operate according to the same guiding principles by which he lived before he got signed: "I just wish everybody well in all that they do and I just go on and live my life and try to uplift motherfuckers."
The full interview covers a wide range of topics, including Makonnen's recent weight loss, the right and wrong reasons for doing psychedelic drugs, and the opportunism of the Black Lives Matter movement. Check it out here.