While early reports said Drake was tapped to write for Rihanna's newest album, Rap-Up.com has word that the burgeoning rap star did not make the final cut.

The 23-year-old rapper told the hip-hop site, after listening to Rated R, that she "has a great album." Despite not making this particular album, Drizzy has some encouraging words for Rihanna.

"She's got great records that she's using, she's got great records that she's not even using that she has for a later date,” Drake told Rap-Up. “I'm excited for her. She deserves everything that she gets."

When the subject turned to their work together for Rated R, Drake sounded confident that the project is still special with or without his contribution. "We did do some great work together and hopefully it'll find its place on some project one day,” he explained. “The record we have is great. It's a special record, so for it not to make it, I know something had to click."

But Drake believes the "project's gonna be great no matter what,"
which bodes well for Rihanna as her fourth album will be in stores on November 23rd, 2009.