Drake Talks Kanye West Rivalry: "All This Stuff Got Built Up"

Rap kingpin opens up about his former mentor turned "competitor" and what he thinks of Kendrick Lamar rhyme about wanting to "murder" him

Drake and Kanye West haven't been communicating much since the former's multi-platinum 2010 smash debut, Thank Me Later, made him hip-hop royalty with 10 No. 1's under his belt.

And subsequent comments the 26-year-old Canadian rapper made in which he talked about Yeezy being a "competitor" and wanting to surpass West's accomplishments and "be better" prompted talk of a rap rivalry.

Now in an interview for the cover of the latest issue of Billboard on newsstands Monday, Drake is tamping down on any notion of a feud between the two by expressing hope that he and Kanye, whom he's long idolized and considers a major influence, might work together again some day.

NEWS: Inside Rihanna and Drake's pre-VMAs night out!

"Me and 'Ye just fell into this thing where we hadn't actually talked to each other in so long that all this stuff got built up," Drake told the magazine. "Sometimes you just have to find the opportunity to tell someone that you really like and respect them. After that, everything can move forward."

To that end, the "Successful" hitmaker predicted that it won't be long before both MCs are collaborating again in the studio.

"Hopefully we give the world what they want, because I know they want it," he said. "I know me and 'Ye could do some crazy sh-t together."

As for other rivals, Drake also gave his thoughts about a verse by Kendrick Lamar on Big Sean's song "Control (HOF)" in which the former said he was "trying to murder" him—metaphorically speaking, of course.

"It just sounded like an ambitious thought to me. That's all it was," said the hip-hopster. "I know good and well that Kendrick's not murdering me, at all, in any platform. So when that day presents itself, I guess we can revisit the topic."

As for his forthcoming third studio album, Nothing Was the Same, dropping on Sept. 24, Drake offered up a few tidbits about the direction he's taking.

"There's a lot less sort of ambient ballad moments on this album where I'm searching or longing for something," he said. "That sentiment is gone. Now I'm just kind of like, 'You know, I'm 26, I don't know what the f--k else I could be doing better than this. I feel incredible about how I'm able to support my family and friends and how supportive my family and friends have been of me."

Sounds like Drake's living the dream.