Bryson Tiller has shed more light on his decision to sign with RCA instead of Drake’s OVO Sound.
The 32-year-old singer-songwriter revisited the topic in a recent episode of New Rory & Mal, recalling how he was eager to join Drizzy’s music imprint. Tiller said he and Drake were in talks to ink a deal right before he released his debut studio album, Trapsoul; however, Tiller’s team wasn’t sold on the idea and urged him to sign with RCA instead.
"I’m being so blunt. Honest. The only reason I didn’t sign [to OVO] is just because bro didn’t hit me back one time," Tiller said. "This was in a moment when my label, like, they was hounding me, they was flying me, they was trying to get me away from Drake."
He continued: "I was like, 'Yo, OVO is really in my blood, for real.' I really have studied [Drake’s] catalog. There’s a couple of people that I really consider huge strands of my musical DNA, and Drake is one of them."
Tiller said his team flew him to New York City and blindsided him with an RCA meeting. "I get there, and they’re like, 'Yeah, we’re here to sign with RCA.' I was pissed about it," he recalled.
Tiller said he began revisiting older Drake tracks, like 2009’s "The Calm," and decided to send Drake "one last text" before he made a decision.
"He never hit back," Tiller told the hosts. "And I know he just busy, super busy dude. I’m not saying that he didn’t want me to sign or whatever, but at that moment, like, I had a kid; people back home that’s looking at me like, 'Is he gonna do it? Is he gonna make it?' So I had to go with what was the most sure shot."
Tiller said people still talk about the missed opportunity. Some say he would’ve been a bigger artist had he signed with OVO, while others believe he would’ve had less success, as Drake was too focused on his own career rather than nurturing the OVO roster. Rory said he fell in the latter group, saying Tiller would be less famous had he signed with Drake.
"I’m not really in it to be a superstar," Tiller responded. "I’m gonna be honest with you. I love making people happy with music and giving them moments and stuff. As far as being on stage and being the most famous dude… I just don’t care about that type of shit."
"When people would say, 'Oh [Drake’s] gonna put you on the shelf, be in the sweatshop,' I was like, 'Cool. I’m cool with that,'" he continued. "I was like, 'Dog, I know how to write… I’ll write anything that he asks me to do and be just as rich.' If you could take away all my fame right now, nobody recognize me, I’ll be so OK with it."
Although Tiller has had multiple hits throughout his career, he told Rory and Mal that he felt more comfortable working behind the scenes rather than in the spotlight.
"I just feel like I’d just be a better writer," he admitted. "I look at songs like orphans or something. I just want them to go to the best home. Maybe they shouldnt be here at the orphanage with me, not getting as much love. Because I don’t promote my shit. They just be sitting. I just feel the songs could be way better with other artists."
ComplexCon returns to Las Vegas on October 25–26, 2025, with over 300 brands and live performances by Young Thug, YEAT & Friends, Peso Pluma, Central Cee, Ken Carson, and more. Get your tickets now.