Drake Releases New Single, 'Started From the Bottom'

Drake released the first cut of his upcoming third album on Friday night, more than a week earlier than its expected Grammy-night debut. The rapper posted the new album's lead single, "Started From the Bottom" on his website, along with a note describing his motivations behind the song:

"I feel sometimes that people don't have enough information about my beginnings and therefore they make up a life story for me that isn't consistent with actual events," Drake said. "My family and my second family (consisting of the best friends anybody could ever have) all struggled and worked extremely hard to make all this happen. I did not buy my way into this spot and it was the furthest thing from easy to achieve."

Drake Delivers High School Graduation Speech

Drake also offered an explanation for releasing the track through his website. "I didn't feel I needed any interviews or radio or press to launch this song," he wrote. "It felt right to come back to the site that I started on and release it to the people that started here with me. Judging by this post, the tour that we've been planning, the conversations about new songs and album artwork . . . I think it's safe to say we're back together again."

Drake, 'Started From the Bottom'