Drake gives surprise lecture at FIU ahead of new album drop
Drake surprised students at Florida International University by guest lecturing hospitality guru David Grutman’s class on Thursday ahead of his new album’s release.
“Drake joined David Grutman at the last class of the semester,” an insider tells Page Six exclusively of the FIU course dubbed “The David Grutman Experience: The Class at Florida International University.”
“The kids were very excited and very nervous,” the source adds.
We’re told the “God’s Plan” rapper, 36, sat for an hour-long conversation with nearly 400 students to give career advice and spill some tea on his new music.
“Throughout my career, I wasn’t the ‘thing’ hip-hop was known for,” Drake told the class, adding, “I paved my own lane and excelled in it.”
We hear Drizzy also gave advice about the importance of relationships in the business.
“Form and nurture relationship. That’s what Dave is good at. He isn’t just there to provide good times. He’s there through it all,” he said the founder of Groot Hospitality.
Speaking about his joint album with 21 Savage, “Her Loss,” which dropped at midnight on Friday, Drake explained to students why he didn’t “want to” follow a traditional “rollout.”
“I just feel so used and burnt out by the end of it, like I’m giving all my energy,” he said, referring to the fake Howard Stern interview he released as promo.
Drake then revealed one of his favorite songs he’s ever released: “Feel No Ways,” which appeared on his 2016 album, “Views.”
“I love that song because it always makes me feel the excitement from when I made it,” he said. “I feel always as good as when I made it, which is tough because sometimes songs get played out.”
The Grammy winner also admitted it was risky for him to make the “Views” hit “One Dance” because Afrobeats weren’t as popular at the time.
“The risk and foresight it took to make that song, I’m obviously very proud of,” he said of the chart-topping single.
Drake ended his class with some inspiring words and told the class he was proud of them for understanding the importance of education.
“We can spend our lives turning up and f–king around, sitting at home, drowning our minds in mindless content. I think it’s all amazing that at 8:30 at night, on what’s about to be a Friday, that you’re all sitting here trying to learn something and trying to elevate yourselves,” he said.
“I think you should all be really proud of that because … you’re here for a reason, and there’s other people that just don’t really care as much. So, I wish you all the best in this life.”
Drake has been close friends with Grutman, 48, for years, and they are often spotted out and about enjoying Miami nightlife together.
Grutman has had several celebrities make appearances during his class, including DJ Khaled.
