Drake Responds To Sade's Collabo Snub, "I Don't Think She Really Knows Who I Am"

Though he expressed interest in working with her before, Young Money's Drake said he understands Sade's reason for turning down collaboration opportunities.

Drizzy is still hopeful for a future duet with the singer.

"That's great. Her brand is always protected. That's why," Drake said of her comments in an interview. "Other people's visuals, other people's songs, stepping outside your zone can jeopardize your brand. It can bring you down as opposed to bring you up. I personally feel we could have done something amazing. But I don't think she really knows who I am, really, my genre of music. I put it out there. It was more of a hopeful thing. It was a very early stage where I was at when I said that I was hoping. One day. Maybe after this album comes out. I'm very influenced by her. She does something that I do. She doesn't do too much with harmonies, and she keeps her vocals very clean. Single vocals. Haunting melodies. I'm influenced by her a lot. One day."
Last month, Sade said she had not officially received a request from Kanye West or Drake.

"I don't think they have contacted me," she explained in an interview. "I've never collaborated because I've always avoided working outside my safety zone -- I can be exactly who I am and can fail or success within the moment. I feel safe working like I do. I wouldn't want to work in a situation where I am expected to deliver because I think I wouldn't deliver."
In the fall, Drizzy expressed his intent to reach out for a Sade collaboration on his Thank Me Later debut.

"I really, really wanna do a joint with Sade," he revealed in an interview. "I really wanna get Andre 3000 on the record. And I really wanna do a song with Kings of Leon. Yeah, slowly, but surely [I'm trying to get the guest features]. We'll see."

Kanye West recently welcomed Sade's return to the music game and praised her first single, "Soldier of Love."

"THIS IS WHY I STILL HAVE A BLOG...," Kanye wrote December 10. "TO BE A PART OF MOMENTS LIKE THIS... NEW SADE... HOW MUCH BETTER THIS THAN THAN EVERYTHING ELSE?"

Check out Raekwon's Sade dedication song below: