OVO Sound

Canadian record label From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

OVO Sound

OVO Sound (short for October's Very Own) is a Canadian independent record label, founded in 2012 by rapper Drake, producer 40, and manager Oliver El-Khatib.[2] The label operated as a subsidiary of Warner Music Group until 2022, after which it became an independent label.

Quick Facts Founded, Founder ...
OVO Sound
Thumb
Founded2012
FounderDrake
40
Oliver El-Khatib
StatusActive
Distributor(s)
Genre
Country of originCanada
LocationToronto, Ontario, Canada
Official websiteovosound.com
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The label has signed acts including PartyNextDoor, Majid Jordan, Roy Woods, Dvsn, Baka Not Nice, Popcaan, Smiley, and Naomi Sharon. In-house producers include 40 himself, Boi-1da, Nineteen85, Mike Zombie, and T-Minus.

History

Summarize
Perspective
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Drake founded the label in 2012

The label's roots can be traced back to 2006, when Drake's first official mixtape, Room for Improvement, was released under the unofficial record label "All Things Fresh" which eventually became "October's Very Own". Drake later raised the profile of the label by prominently featuring OVO throughout his music, regularly mentioning the label in songs and on stage, as well as promoting OVO merchandise.[3]

The record label was officially founded in 2012 by Drake and long-time collaborators Noah "40" Shebib and Oliver El-Khatib following the success of Drake's second studio album Take Care. According to Billboard, Drake signed a five-year partnership deal with Warner Records,[4] which was extended in 2017.[5]

Drake was signed as a solo artist to Republic Records through Young Money and Cash Money for nine years. Drake's 2018 release Scorpion was his last project under Young Money/Cash Money.[6] On the other hand, the artists Drake signs to OVO Sound through Warner have their content distributed through the latter.[7][8]

Upon founding the label in 2012, Drake and 40 signed frequent collaborators Boi-1da, T-Minus, and Mike Zombie to the label as in-house producers (the latter two are the only active signees in the label to come outside of Canada).[9] In April 2013, it was reported that Drake was close to signing the label's first recording artist, PartyNextDoor, which he ended up revealing shortly thereafter.[10] In August 2013, Drake announced that he signed Toronto music duo Majid Jordan to OVO Sound.[11] OB O'Brien and iLoveMakonnen would soon sign in 2014, with the latter being the first non-Canadian act and second non-Canadian signee after to Mike Zombie. Makonnen would eventually leave OVO Sound in April 2016, wishing to pursue his interests as a solo artist with Warner. Canadian rap artist Roy Woods and R&B duo Dvsn, composed of singer Daniel Daley and producer Nineteen85, soon joined the label in 2015 and 2016, with each act releasing an EP and studio album respectively.[12][13][14][15] In 2021, Canadian rapper Smiley was signed to the label.[16][17]

On January 20, 2023, OVO announced the signing of Dutch-Caribbean singer, Naomi Sharon, becoming the first female artist on the label.[18][19]

On January 23, 2024, Santa Anna Label Group, a subsidiary of Sony Music, announced an investment and partnership with OVO Sound, stating that they'd take over distribution for the label alongside provide new and existing A&Rs for the label.[1]

Roster

Current acts

More information Act, Year ...
Act Year Releases
Drake 2012 9
PartyNextDoor 2013 7
Majid Jordan 2013 4
Roy Woods 2014 6
Dvsn 2015 5
Popcaan 2016 3
Baka Not Nice 2017 1
Smiley 2021 2
Naomi Sharon 2023 2
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Former acts

More information Act, Year ...
Act Year Releases
ILoveMakonnen 2014–2016 4
Plaza 2017–2021 1
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In-house producers

More information Act, Year ...
Act Year
40 2012
Boi-1da[20] 2012
T-Minus 2012
Nineteen85 2013
OG Ron C 2013
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OVO Sound Radio

OVO Sound Radio was a radio program that aired on Beats 1, fortnightly on Saturdays. The show primarily aired newer material, with at least one song premiering in each broadcast. The show's initial airing was on July 11, 2015, and it was hosted by Drake and Oliver El-Khatib. The show is notable for debuting hit Drake singles, such as platinum-selling "Hotline Bling", and chart-topping "One Dance". The show ended on October 27, 2018.

Sound 42

On March 4, 2021, Drake announced that he and Oliver would debut their new 24 hour radio station, "Sound 42" on Sirius XM featuring the return of OVO Sound Radio that same night.[21] In an interview with GQ, Drake spoke on the partnership saying "It's something that Scott [Greenstein] from SiriusXM was extremely passionate about from the inception of our partnership. He's been so supportive with us as far as Sound 42 goes. And Sirius offers us the opportunity to be heard far and wide, right? Sirius is just the closest thing we have to those days of glory radio moments and I still get a massive amount of joy premiering music when I know that everyone is listening at the same time."[22]

OVO Clothing

Summarize
Perspective

October's Very Own was launched in 2011.[23] The series of clothing began with a series of collaborations between Roots Canada and OVO, which produced several parkas, jackets and other collaborations. In 2013, merchandise for the OVO figurehead included collaborations with the Toronto Raptors, which coincided with Drake becoming the franchise's Global Ambassador. OVO has since morphed into a clothing line in itself, releasing a slew of clothes during every season of the year. T-shirts, sweatshirts, varsity jackets, baseball hats, and knit beanies are seasonal installations. OVO Clothing oversaw the opening of the first OVO store for the brand's clothing in downtown Toronto, opening on December 6, 2014.[24] Exactly a year after the opening in Toronto, OVO stores expanded to the United States, opening a flagship store in Los Angeles, California. Its New York store opened in December 2016 on Bond Street, and its Chicago store in August 2019 on Walton Street in Gold Coast. OVO also opened its first location in Vancouver in December 2018.[25]

Its pre-2016 collection was composed of basketball shorts, OVO jerseys, track jackets, and baggy hoodies.[26]

On November 9, 2020, it was revealed via the OVO Clothing Instagram account that NHL Hall of Famer Wayne Gretzky would be a model for the Fall and Winter 2020 collection.[27] Gretzky and OVO Clothing founder Drake are both native to southern Ontario, Canada. Also featured in the collection was former Canadian Olympian Ross Rebagliati,[28] who won a gold medal in Giant Slalom Snowboarding in the 1998 Nagano Olympics.

OVO Collaborations

Since its inception, OVO has collaborated with various sports franchises, athletes, sports apparel companies, fashion brands etc; here is a list of some of the collaborations:

Discography

Studio albums

More information Artist, Album ...
Artist Album Details Peak chart positions Certification
CAN
[C]
US
[D]
Drake Nothing Was the Same 11 RIAA: 6× Platinum[53]
PartyNextDoor PartyNextDoor Two
  • Released: July 28, 2014
  • Label: OVO Sound, Warner Bros.
  • Formats: CD, LP, digital download
1915 RIAA: Gold[54]
Majid Jordan Majid Jordan
  • Released: February 5, 2016
  • Label: OVO Sound, Warner Bros.
  • Formats: CD, LP, digital download
2069
Dvsn Sept. 5th
  • Released: March 27, 2016
  • Label: OVO Sound, Warner Bros.
  • Formats: CD, LP, digital download
69133
Roy Woods Waking at Dawn
  • Released: July 1, 2016
  • Label: OVO Sound, Warner Bros.
  • Formats: Digital download
30127
PartyNextDoor PartyNextDoor 3
  • Released: August 12, 2016
  • Label: OVO Sound, Warner
  • Formats: CD, LP, digital download
43 RIAA: Gold[54]
Dvsn Morning After
  • Released: October 13, 2017[55]
  • Label: OVO Sound, Warner Bros.
  • Formats: CD, LP, digital download
1938
Majid Jordan The Space Between
  • Released: October 27, 2017[56]
  • Label: OVO Sound, Warner Bros.
  • Formats: CD, LP, digital download
3074
Roy Woods Say Less
  • Released: December 1, 2017[57]
  • Label: OVO Sound, Warner Bros.
  • Formats: CD, LP, digital download
2692
PartyNextDoor Partymobile
  • Released: March 27, 2020[58]
  • Label: OVO Sound, Warner
  • Formats: CD, LP, digital download
36
Dvsn A Muse in Her Feelings
  • Released: April 17, 2020[59]
  • Label: OVO Sound, Warner
  • Formats: CD, LP, digital download
1323
Popcaan Fixtape
  • Released: August 7, 2020
  • Label: OVO Sound, Warner
  • Formats: Digital download
1594
Dvsn & Ty Dolla Sign Cheers to the Best Memories
  • Released: August 20, 2021[60]
  • Label: OVO Sound, Warner
  • Format: Digital download, streaming
139
Drake Certified Lover Boy
  • Released: September 3, 2021
  • Label: Republic, OVO Sound
  • Formats: CD, LP, digital download
11 RIAA: 3× Platinum
Majid Jordan Wildest Dreams
  • Released: October 22, 2021
  • Label: OVO Sound, Warner
  • Formats: CD, LP, digital download
Smiley Buy or Bye 2
  • Released: November 12, 2021
  • Label: OVO Sound, Warner
  • Formats: Digital download
Drake Honestly, Nevermind
  • Released: June 17, 2022
  • Label: Republic, OVO Sound
  • Formats: Digital download, streaming
11 RIAA: Platinum
Dvsn Working on My Karma
  • Released: October 22, 2022
  • Label: OVO Sound, Warner
  • Formats: Digital download, streaming
Drake & 21 Savage Her Loss
  • Released: November 4, 2022
  • Label: Republic, OVO Sound
  • Formats: Digital download, streaming
11 RIAA: 2× Platinum
Popcaan Great Is He
  • Released: January 27, 2023
  • Label: OVO Sound
  • Formats: Digital download
Roy Woods Mixed Emotions
  • Released: July 28, 2023
  • Label: OVO Sound
  • Formats: Digital download
Drake For All the Dogs
  • Released: October 6, 2023
  • Label: Republic, OVO Sound
  • Formats: Digital download, streaming
11
Naomi Sharon Obsidian
  • Released: October 20, 2023
  • Label: OVO Sound, Santa Anna Label Group
  • Formats: Digital download, streaming, LP
Majid Jordan Good People
  • Released: November 3, 2023
  • Label: OVO Sound
  • Formats: Digital download, streaming, LP
PartyNextDoor PartyNextDoor 4
  • Released: April 26, 2024
  • Label: OVO Sound, Santa Anna Label Group
  • Formats: Digital download, streaming, LP
1310
Roy Woods Rolling Stone
  • Released: December 6, 2024
  • Label: OVO Sound, Santa Anna Label Group
  • Formats: Digital download, streaming
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Compilation albums

More information Artist, Album ...
Artist Album Details Peak chart positions Certification
CAN US
Drake Care Package
  • Released: August 2, 2019[61]
  • Label: Republic, OVO Sound[62]
  • Formats: Streaming, digital download
11
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Soundtrack albums

More information Artist, Album ...
Artist Album Details
Various Artists Top Boy (A Selection of Music Inspired by the Series)
  • Released: September 13, 2019[63]
  • Label: OVO Sound, Warner[64]
  • Formats: Streaming, digital download
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Mixtapes

More information Artist, Album ...
Artist Album Details Peak chart positions Certification
CAN US
Drake If You're Reading This It's Too Late
  • Released: February 13, 2015
  • Label: Young Money, Cash Money, Republic, OVO Sound
  • Formats: CD, LP, digital download
11 RIAA: 4× Platinum
Popcaan Vanquish
  • Released: December 20, 2019[65]
  • Label: OVO Sound, Warner
  • Formats: Digital download
Drake Dark Lane Demo Tapes
  • Released: May 1, 2020[66]
  • Label: Republic, OVO Sound
  • Format: Streaming, digital download
12
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EPs

More information Artist, Album ...
Artist Album Details
PartyNextDoor PartyNextDoor
  • Released: July 1, 2013
  • Label: OVO Sound, Warner Bros.
  • Formats: Digital download
Majid Jordan A Place Like This
  • Released: July 17, 2014
  • Label: OVO Sound, Warner Bros.
  • Formats: Digital download
PartyNextDoor Colours
  • Released: December 3, 2014
  • Label: OVO Sound, Warner Bros.
  • Formats: Digital download
iLoveMakonnen iLoveMakonnen
  • Released: December 15, 2014
  • Label: OVO Sound, Warner Bros.
  • Formats: Digital download
Roy Woods Exis
  • Released: July 31, 2015
  • Label: OVO Sound, Warner Bros.
  • Formats: Digital download
iLoveMakonnen iLoveMakonnen 2
  • Released: November 20, 2015
  • Label: OVO Sound, Warner Bros.
  • Formats: Digital download
Roy Woods Nocturnal
  • Released: December 21, 2016
  • Label: OVO Sound, Warner Bros.
  • Formats: Digital download
PartyNextDoor Colours 2
  • Released: June 2, 2017
  • Label: OVO Sound, Warner Bros.
  • Formats: Digital download
Plaza SHADOWS
  • Released: June 10, 2017
  • Label: OVO Sound, Warner Bros.
  • Formats: Digital download
PartyNextDoor Seven Days
  • Released: September 28, 2017
  • Label: OVO Sound, Warner Bros.
  • Formats: Digital download
Baka Not Nice 4Milli
  • Released: August 3, 2018
  • Label: OVO Sound, Warner Bros.
  • Formats: Digital download
Drake The Best in the World Pack
  • Released: June 15, 2019
  • Label: OVO Sound, Frozen Moments, Republic[67]
  • Formats: Digital download, streaming
Roy Woods Dem Times
  • Released: May 15, 2020[68]
  • Label: OVO Sound, Warner
  • Formats: Digital download
PartyNextDoor Partypack
  • Released: October 16, 2020
  • Label: OVO Sound, Warner
  • Formats: Digital download
Drake Scary Hours 2
  • Released: March 5, 2021[69]
  • Label: OVO Sound, Republic
  • Formats: Digital download, streaming
Naomi Sharon Another Life
  • Released: January 20, 2023
  • Label: OVO Sound
  • Formats: Digital download, streaming
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Notes

References

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