In a new interview with Fader, R&B artist Erykah Badu sang her praises for Drake, saying, "he's like a little brother" to her and giving a vague "Thanksgiving Weekend" release date for her highly anticipated mixtape, But You Caint Use My Phone.

Earlier this year, she released the first single from the mixtape, a remix of Drake's latest hit song titled "Hotline Bling But U Can't Use Phone Mix." This week she also debuted the second single, "Phone Down" via Periscope, where only the most dedicate of fans could listen to Badu sing along to the song in her car as she drove around Las Vegas and interacted with people on the street. Periscope removes live streams after 24 hours, but fans can listen to the song on Soundcloud come Monday (Nov. 9).

WARNING: TWEET CONTAINS GRAPHIC LANGUAGE


Fader had the opportunity to talk with her just after the live stream and before a rehearsal for her hosting duties for this year's Soul Train Awards, which she taped this weekend for the Nov. 29 broadcast at 8 p.m. EST.

The interview revealed something fans have suspected for a while now -- there's a lot of friendship, admiration and respect between Badu and Drake.

"Absolutely, we're very good friends. He's just super busy right now. That's my brother, he's like a little brother to me," Badu said in the interview. "I went to Canada and hung out in the studio with him, while he made Take Care. We're very good friends and we had some great talks. He's an inspiration to me. Sonically he's in a place where I want to be. It's halfway between where I was and halfway to where I am now. If I want to come out and do something, I will try and raise myself to his bar or channel myself to his frequency."

Watch a report from BET giving fans a look at the rehearsals from the Soul Train Awards below.

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