February 13, 2009, changed everything. If you were scouring the blogs back then—sites like 2DopeBoyz or NahRight—you remember the seismic shift when a former teen actor from Degrassi dropped a mixtape that sounded like nothing else in rap. We’re talking about Drake So Far Gone CD history here, a project that essentially birthed the "emotional rapper" archetype that dominates the charts today. Most people just stream it on Spotify now, but the physical history of this release is a messy, fascinating deep dive into how the music industry was scrambling to keep up with the digital revolution.
It’s weird to think about now, but So Far Gone wasn't even supposed to be an album. It was a free download. A gift. But the demand got so crazy that the industry had to pivot. Hard.
The Weird Evolution of the Physical Release
Most fans don’t realize there isn't just one version of the Drake So Far Gone CD. There’s a massive distinction between the promotional copies handed out in 2009 and the official retail EP that hit stores later that year. When it first dropped as a mixtape, physical copies were basically non-existent unless you were at a specific release party or knew someone at October's Very Own.
Then came the "EP" version. Because of sample clearance issues—honestly, clearing a Santigold or Lykke Li sample for a commercial release is a legal nightmare—the retail CD was chopped down to just seven tracks. You got "Best I Ever Had," "Successful," and "Houstatlantavegas," but you lost some of the atmospheric deep cuts that made the original 90-minute journey so special. If you're holding a physical copy today, check the tracklist. If it's only seven songs, you have the 2009 Young Money/Cash Money retail EP.
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Why the 2009 EP version feels different
The retail disc was a tactical move. Lil Wayne and Birdman saw the numbers "Best I Ever Had" was doing on the radio and realized they were leaving millions on the table by keeping it as a free zip file. The CD version helped Drake secure his first Grammy nominations. It proved that a "mixtape" artist could sell plastic in an era where everyone said CDs were dead.
What Collectors Look For: The Real vs. The Bootleg
Let’s get real about the secondary market. If you go on Discogs or eBay looking for a Drake So Far Gone CD, you're going to see a lot of "unofficial" releases. These are bootlegs. Because the original mixtape had 18 tracks, and the official CD only had 7, European and underground distributors started pressing their own full-length versions to fill the void.
How do you spot a real one?
The official 2009 EP (Catalog number B0013568-02) has the iconic blue-tinted cover with the gold-ish silhouettes. The back tray should have the Young Money, Cash Money, and Universal Republic logos. If you find a CD that has the full 18-track list, including "November 18th" and "Say What's Real," it is almost certainly a bootleg. Some of these bootlegs actually go for decent money because they’re the only way to hear the Kanye West-sampled "Say What's Real" on a physical format without paying for a custom press.
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The 10th Anniversary Reissue
In 2019, to celebrate a decade of dominance, Drake finally put the full mixtape on streaming services. This also led to a limited run of physicals. For the true collectors, these 2019 versions are often "cleaner" in terms of production, but they lack that gritty, 2009-era nostalgia of the original jewel cases.
The Sound That Defined a Generation
It wasn't just the rap. It was the atmosphere. 40 (Noah Shebib) changed the EQ of hip-hop on this disc. He famously muffled the drums and stripped away the high-end frequencies, creating that "underwater" sound. When you listen to the Drake So Far Gone CD on a high-end sound system, you really hear the nuance of that lo-fi aesthetic.
Most people don't know that Peter Bjorn and John's "Young Folks" was sampled on "Let's Call It Off." That kind of indie-rock crossover was unheard of in 2009 rap. Drake wasn't just trying to be a rapper; he was trying to be a curator of a specific vibe. It was lonely, expensive, and desperate all at once.
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- Best I Ever Had: The breakout hit.
- Successful: Featuring Trey Songz, it became the anthem for every ambitious 20-something.
- The Calm: A raw look at Drake's relationship with his father and the pressures of sudden fame.
Why You Should Care About the Physical Copy Today
In an era of disappearing digital assets and shifting streaming rights, owning the Drake So Far Gone CD is a bit like owning a piece of a turning point in history. It represents the exact moment the "Toronto Sound" went global. It’s the bridge between the bling-era of the mid-2000s and the melodic, moody rap of the 2010s.
If you're trying to track one down, here’s what you actually need to do. First, decide if you want the 7-track EP or if you're okay with a bootleg of the full mixtape. Second, check the "matrix" code on the inner ring of the disc—that’s the only way to verify a first-pressing from 2009. Third, look for the "FBI Anti-Piracy" warning logo. If it's missing on a US version, it's likely a fake.
Honestly, the hunt is part of the fun. Whether you're a stan or just a student of hip-hop history, that blue-and-black artwork is a relic of the time when Aubrey Graham was just a kid from the 6 trying to figure out if he belonged in the room with Wayne and Kanye. He did. And this CD is the proof.
Practical Steps for Collectors
- Verify the Tracklist: A 7-track count confirms the 2009 Young Money official EP; an 18-track count indicates a mixtape bootleg or a later unofficial press.
- Inspect the Jewel Case: Original 2009 copies often have a specific weight and "feel" to the plastic that modern re-presses lack; check for the Universal Republic branding on the spine.
- Cross-Reference Catalog Numbers: Use the Discogs database to match the "B00" series numbers on the back of the case with the disc itself to ensure you aren't buying a mismatched set.
- Storage Matters: If you find an original, keep it out of direct sunlight. The blue ink used on the So Far Gone inserts is notorious for fading into a dull grey-green over time.