Drake - Handwritten “The Truth” Mixtape Era Lyric Sheet [BECKETT]

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Written during Drake’s early mixtape era, likely around the Room for Improvement period, this double-sided handwritten lyric sheet offers a rare look at the creative process behind the sound that would eventually define an entire generation of hip-hop.

Across both sides of the notebook paper, Drake works through lyrics, crosses out lines, rewrites phrases, marks sections such as “chorus,” and—most notably—writes “singing” multiple times as a performance direction.

That detail is especially significant in hindsight. Long before melodic rap became one of the dominant sounds in popular music, Drake was already intentionally moving between rapping and R&B-style singing within the same compositions. That combination would become one of the defining characteristics of his music and a major part of his influence on modern hip-hop.

The sheet is titled “The Truth” at the top and captures Drake writing about relationships, friendship, attraction, ambition, and the complicated transition between the two. 

One particularly interesting section places him in the back of a limo at the Young Artist Awards, reflecting on his feelings toward someone he had known as a friend. Elsewhere, the page moves between spoken verses and melodic sections, giving the collector a glimpse at how early Drake compositions were structured before entering the studio.

The artifact survives as a remarkable piece from the period before So Far Gone, Thank Me Later, and global superstardom—when Drake was still developing the hybrid sound that would ultimately become unmistakably his.

Authenticated by Beckett Authentication Services.

Details

• Artist: Drake / Aubrey Graham
• Title: The Truth
• Era: Early mixtape era, circa Room for Improvement
• Medium: Blue ink on lined notebook paper
• Format: Double-sided handwritten lyric sheet
• Approximate Size: Standard notebook paper, approximately 8.5" × 11"
• Includes handwritten revisions, crossed-out lyrics, chorus notes and multiple “singing” directions
• Beckett authenticated
• One-of-a-kind original handwritten artifact

For inquiries & questions please contact us here or DM us on Instagram @iconorigin