Rapper Drake has been denied a grant from the Canadian government to stage his Toronto-based musical festival.

The Started from the Bottom hitmaker launched OVO Fest in 2010 and last year (14) received $300,000 (GBP187,500) in grant money, but the cash has been denied to him this year (15).

Blane McPhail, press secretary to Honorable Michael Coteau, the Minister of Tourism, Culture and Sport tells Billboard.com, "Celebrate Ontario is a competitive programme with eligibility requirements and funding is allocated based on pre-determined criteria outlined in the Celebrate Ontario 2015 Application Guide. Based on this criteria, OVO Fest didn't qualify this year."

OVO Fest takes place in August (15).