drake biography in english

TV and rap star Drake is best known in Canada for playing wheelchair-bound Jimmy Brooks on 'Degrassi: The Next Generation,' and for hit songs like "Take Care," "One Dance" and "Hotline Bling."

Who Is Drake?

Born Aubrey Drake Graham on October 24, 1986, in Toronto, Canada, Drake grew up with music in his blood. His father, Dennis Graham, was a drummer for the legendary rock 'n' roll star Jerry Lee Lewis . An uncle, Larry Graham, played bass for Sly and the Family Stone. Drake says that his mother, Sandi Graham, also hails from a "very musical" family — his grandmother babysat Aretha Franklin . Drake comes from an eclectic and unique ethnic and religious background. His father is an African American Catholic and his mother is a white Canadian Jew. Speaking about his personal identity, Drake says: "At the end of the day, I consider myself a Black man because I'm more immersed in Black culture than any other. Being Jewish is kind of a cool twist. It makes me unique."

Drake's parents divorced when he was five years old, and he was raised by his mother in Forest Hill, an affluent and predominantly Jewish neighborhood in Toronto. He attended Jewish day school, had a Bar Mitzvah at age 13 and observed the Jewish High Holy Days with his mother. "My mom has always made Hanukkah fun," Drake recalls. "When I was younger, she gave cool gifts and she'd make latkes ." Despite his Jewish upbringing, Drake says he felt isolated at Forest Hill Collegiate Institute, his virtually all-white people high school. He has said that "nobody understood what it was like to be Black and Jewish," but added that "being different from everyone else just made me a lot stronger."

'Degrassi: The Next Generation'

It was one of Drake's classmates at Forest Hill who gave him his start in the entertainment industry. "There was a kid in my class whose father was an agent," Drake would later explain, adding: "His dad would say, 'If there's anyone in the class that makes you laugh, have them audition for me.' After the audition, he became my agent."

Shortly afterward, in 2001, Drake landed a role on the Canadian teen drama series Degrassi: The Next Generation . The show followed the dramatic lives of a group of teenagers at Degrassi High School, and Drake played the part of Jimmy Brooks, sometimes dubbed "Wheelchair Jimmy," a basketball star who becomes permanently wheelchair-bound when he is shot by a classmate.

Drake dropped out of school to pursue his acting career, only graduating from high school in 2012. He starred on Degrassi for seven years (2001-2009), earning a Young Artist Award in 2002 for best ensemble in a TV series, among other honors. The show quickly developed a devoted cult following — "There are very few subtle Degrassi fans," Drake has said — propelling him to celebrity status in Canada, even while he remained relatively anonymous in the United States.

Music Career

While he was still appearing on Degrassi , Drake began attempting to cross over into the world of hip hop. He released his first mixtape, Room for Improvement , in 2006, achieving modest sales of approximately 6,000 copies. He followed that with the 2007 release of another mixtape, Comeback Season , on his own October’s Very Own imprint (later to be shortened to OVO). This included Drake's first hit single and music video, "Replacement Girl," which was featured as the New Joint of the Day on BET's popular hip-hop TV show 106 & Park . More significantly, the song contained a version of Brisco and Flo Rida’s "Man of the Year," which featured Lil Wayne. Drake decided to leave Wayne’s verses and hook intact while he provided the rest of the lyrics himself. This caught the attention of Jas Prince, son of Rap-A-Lot Records founder James Prince, who decided to play Drake to Lil Wayne himself.

In 2008, the producers of Degrassi overhauled the cast, eliminating Drake's character. Without his steady source of income, and not yet making significant money as a rapper, Drake was on the verge of looking for a day job. "I was coming to terms with the fact that ... I might have to work at a restaurant or something just to keep things going," he remembers. But early in 2008, he received an unexpected call from Lil Wayne, who asked him to board a flight to Houston that night to join his Carter III tour.

After touring and recording a number of songs with Lil Wayne, Drake released his third mixtape, So Far Gone , in February 2009. It featured the infectious single "Best I Ever Had," which peaked at No. 2 on Billboard's Hot 100 singles chart, while "Successful," a collaboration with Wayne and Trey Songz, went gold and made Rolling Stone’s "25 Best Songs of 2009" list. Since then, Drake's barrage of catchy, R&B-infused hip hop songs have dominated radio airwaves.

A bidding war for Drake’s signature followed and in mid-2009 he inked a record deal with Lil Wayne's Young Money Entertainment. The start wasn’t auspicious – he took a tumble on stage during the America’s Most Wanted Tour in July the same year, tearing his anterior cruciate ligament and requiring surgery. However, it would only be onwards and upwards from then on.

'Thank Me Later' and Grammy Wins

On June 15, 2010, Drake released his first full studio album, Thank Me Later , which debuted at No. 1 on both American and Canadian album charts and was certified platinum. His new persona as the cocksure prince of hip-hop ("Last name ever, first name greatest," he brags on "Forever") seemed to clash with his middle-class Jewish upbringing and former career as a teenage soap star.

Nevertheless, Drake attempted to fuse these seemingly incongruous stages of his life into one persona. On the December 2009 cover of Vibe magazine, he sported a diamond-crusted Chai, a hip hop-style shout out to his Jewish roots. And in "The Presentation" he raps: "Who's Drake? Where's Wheelchair Jimmy at?" With Jay Z and Kanye West both contributing to the album, the answer to "who’s Drake?" had to be "rap royalty."

In November 2011, he released his second studio album, Take Care , which included the songs "Headlines," "Make Me Proud" and "The Motto." The album was universally acclaimed, winning the 2013 Grammy award for best rap album, among several other honors. Greg Kot’s review in the Chicago Tribune perfectly summed up Drake’s unique appeal, pinpointing the difference in subject matter and soul-searching honesty that separated Drake from his peers: “Drake, the melancholy hustler with a conscience, is back drunk-dialing former girlfriends and mourning the ones who got away.”

Feuds With Chris Brown and Meek Mill

Although his career was flying high, Drake hit a few rough patches in his personal life. He and fellow entertainer Chris Brown became rivals for the affections of singer Rihanna, and the pair's bitter feud erupted in violence during the summer of 2012 at a New York nightclub, resulting in injuries to several onlookers. Both Drake and Brown found themselves facing legal consequences for their actions. The professional basketball player Tony Parker, a male model and two women — all hurt in the brawl — were among those who filed suits against the performers. Brown later referred to the event during a guest appearance on a remix of Chief Keef’s "I Don’t Like" ("One on one, what you scared, bruh?" he rapped).

Around this time, Drake settled another legal matter out of court. He reached an agreement with former girlfriend Ericka Lee over her contributions to the song "Marvin's Room." Lee had sued Drake in 2012, seeking credit for co-writing the track. He was also sued by Rappin 4-Tay and the estate of the jazz musician Jimmy Smith. Squabbles with other artists have also peppered his career, although they haven’t derailed it. A verbal feud with Tyga was one thing, but he also got into a beef with rapper Meek Mill when the latter alleged that Drake was using a ghostwriter for a track they collaborated on. Drake recorded two diss tracks directly aimed at Mill, "Charged Up" and "Back to Back" in a single week in 2015. A diss war also started in 2016 with Joe Budden, while the internet rumors that always dog an artist of Drake’s standing have also alleged that he's had beef with Kanye West, Jay Z and more.

'Views' and "Hotline Bling"

Personal obstacles never seem to sidetrack Drake for long. The 2013 song "Started From the Bottom," from his critically acclaimed 2013 album Nothing Was the Same , reflected his personal struggle for success. “I just wanted to make it known that I did work really hard to get here and it wasn't just a fluke and it wasn't easy by any means," he explained to MTV News.

After releasing a pair of mixtapes in 2015, including a collaboration with Future, Drake followed with his fourth studio album, Views , in the spring of 2016. The album was an instant success, debuting at No. 1 and spending 13 non-consecutive weeks atop the Billboard charts. Among its hit singles was the sultry "Hotline Bling," which earned the artist Grammy wins for best rap song and best rap/sung performance in early 2017 (and sparked countless memes due to its memorable video inspired by the artist James Turrell). After the ceremony, he took swipes at the Grammys for shoehorning him into the rap category. Speaking in an interview on Apple’s Beats 1 the day after the awards, he said: “I’m a Black artist, I’m apparently a rapper, even though Hotline Bling is not a rap song. I won two awards but I don’t even want them.”

As his rap career moves forward, Drake hopes that his unconventional rise to hip-hop fame will continue to be an asset, not a hindrance. "This whole thing is unusual at this point," he has said, "so we're just rolling with the fairytale vibe."

The "fairytale vibe" continued in May 2017 when Drake was the big winner at the Billboard Music Awards. He took home 13 awards — including top artist, top male artist, top Billboard 100 album, top Billboard 200 artist and top hot 100 artist — breaking Adele 's record for the artist with the most wins in one year.

After opening 2018 with the two-song EP Scary Hours , Drake dropped two singles, "Nice For What" and "I'm Upset," in advance of the June release of his fifth studio album, Scorpion . He also unveiled the diss track "Duppy Freestyle," a response to rapper Pusha-T's accusation that he was relying on a ghostwriter for his lyrics.

The June 29 release of Scorpion didn't disappoint, as it featured the artist confirming the rumors of a newborn son on "March 14," and his explanations of why he was dialing back the rancor toward Pusha-T and Meek Mill on "Survival." The album featured contributions from Jay-Z and Future, as well as what was reported to be previously unreleased music from Michael Jackson on the track "Don't Matter to Me."

Scorpion shattered streaming records over its first 24 hours, with the Associated Press reporting totals of 170 million streams on Apple Music and another 132 million on Spotify. The pace continued over the next several days, making Drake the first artist to top 1 billion streams in one week with his studio release.

Drake went on to claim the 2019 Best Rap Song Grammy for "God's Plan," which appeared on both Scorpion and Scary Hours , though the win was somewhat eclipsed by the controversy of being cut off during his acceptance speech, in which he downplayed the importance of being honored at the Grammys.

Burying the hatchet, Drake joined forces with Chris Brown for the Top 5 hit "No Guidance." He then released the EP The Best in the World Pack , featuring the dual singles of "Omertà" and "Money in the Grave," and the compilation album Care Package , consisting of previously unreleased songs from earlier in the decade.

Ahead of the planned arrival of a new album, Drake teamed with Future for the release of "Life is Good" in January 2020, and unveiled a video which combined the tracks "When To Say When" and "Chicago Freestyle" a few weeks later. Dark Lane Demo Tapes , featuring guest appearances from Brown, Giveon, Young Thug and Playboi Carti, dropped on May 1.

Cannabis Company

In late 2019 it was announced that Drake was entering the burgeoning cannabis industry by teaming with a prominent Canadian producer, Canopy Growth, to produce and distribute herbal treats in Toronto via a new venture called More Life Growth Co. A press release described the company as "centered around wellness, discovery, and overall personal growth with the hope of facilitating connections and shared experiences across the globe."

Personal Life

Drake shares son Adonis, born in October 2017, with artist Sophie Brussaux.

QUICK FACTS

• Birth Year: 1986
• Birth date: October 24, 1986
• Birth City: Toronto
• Birth Country: Canada
• Gender: Male
• Best Known For: TV and rap star Drake is best known in Canada for playing wheelchair-bound Jimmy Brooks on 'Degrassi: The Next Generation,' and for hit songs like "Take Care," "One Dance" and "Hotline Bling."
• Astrological Sign: Scorpio
• Interesting Facts
• Drake comes from a musical family, with a father—Dennis Graham—who was a drummer for Jerry Lee Lewis and an uncle who played bass for Prince.
• Drake's 'Views' was iTunes' best selling album of 2016 and its no. 1 best selling single was 'One Dance' with Rihanna.

Fact Check: We strive for accuracy and fairness. If you see something that doesn’t look right, contact us !

• At the end of the day, I consider myself a Black man because I'm more immersed in Black culture than any other. Being Jewish is kind of a cool twist. It makes me unique.
• [Chris Brown and I] have an issue, and it's either gonna drag out or maybe in 10 years we'll laugh about it over drinks.
• Me and my dad are friends. We're cool. I'll never be disappointed again, because I don't expect anything anymore from him.
• All my Tweets are things I'd tattoo on me if I was a tattoo type.
• I've never been reckless—it's always calculated.
• Rap now is just being young and fly and having your sh*t together. The mood of rap has changed.
• I make better music than [Chris Brown]. I'm more poppin' than him. ... The woman that he loves fell into my lap.
• I don't really have a gimmick or a 'thing.' I'm one of the few artists who gets to be himself every day.
• 'Degrassi' was never something I saw as potentially ruining [a music career]. It was a great TV show. It had a cult following.
• I used to be filling a void. There was a point where I felt like I needed to keep the company of a woman every night.
• Nobody understood what it was like to be Black and Jewish ... being different from everyone else just made me a lot stronger.
• There are very few subtle 'Degrassi' fans.

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• Born October 24 , 1986 · Toronto, Ontario, Canada
• Birth name Aubrey Drake Graham
• Drizzy Drake
• Champagne Papi
• Height 6′ (1.83 m)
• Aubrey Drake Graham was born in Toronto, Ontario, the son of Dennis Graham, an African-American musician born in Memphis, Tennessee, and Sandi (Sher) Graham, a Canadian Jewish educator. As a young man, Drake appeared in several commercials, for such retailers as Sears and GMC. In 2001, Drake rose to fame playing the role of "Jimmy Brooks", a character on Degrassi: The Next Generation (2001) , a basketball star who is confined to a wheelchair after being shot by a classmate. In 2006, Drake launched his music career by releasing his first mix tape, "Room for Improvement". Three years later, his third mix tape, "So Far Gone", garnered him critical and commercial success, and, the following year, he released his official debut album, "Thank Me Later", to generally positive reviews. Aubrey Drake Graham has established himself as a multi-talented young Canadian, and the entertainment industry has great expectations for him. - IMDb Mini Biography By: Joseph Smith
• Children Adonis Graham
• Parents Sandi Graham Dennis Graham
• Relatives Larry Graham (Aunt or Uncle)
• Bright smile
• Often raps and sings about his relationships, with atmospheric production
• Dysprosody: he, controversially, often adopts pseudo-foreign accents which have included Jamaican Patois ("Views"), Spanish ("What a Time to be Alive"), and British ("More Life").
• Often features voicemails on songs (e.g. "Look What You've Done", "Marvin's Room", "How Bout Now", "Can't Have Everything")
• Deep baritone voice
• Favorite actor is Denzel Washington .
• For 430 weeks straight, or 8 years, until August 2017, Drake had at least one song, whether as lead or featured artist, in the Billboard Hot 100.
• His father is African-American, and his mother, who is caucasian and Canadian, is Ashkenazi Jewish (of Latvian Jewish and Russian Jewish descent). Drake was raised in his mother's faith.
• Drake holds the record for most entries into the Billboard Hot 100 in one week with 20, he had previously matched The Beatles record with 14, a record that was then usurped by Justin Bieber who had 17.
• Can speak Spanish.
• [on Rihanna ] I don't even know if I wrote a rap song in that whole nine months, because I wasn't a rapper anymore. I didn't believe in myself. I was someone else's property. I was a pawn. You know what she was doing to me? She was doing exactly what I've done to so many women throughout my life, which is show them quality time, then disappear. I was like, 'wow, this feels terrible.'
• Real men stay faithful. They don't have time to look for other women because they're too busy looking for new ways to love their own.
• Part of me is being in touch with emotion. That's all I write about. If I didn't write about my emotions, I don't know what else I would write about. Let that be the worst thing in my life please, not something like drug charges and God knows what else. I don't get myself into trouble, so if the negative feedback that I do get is the worst thing that's going to happen to me, then so be it.
• [observation, 2014] To be recognized in any capacity for the music that we make is great, but I don't think Grammys make or break an artist. I don't think anybody should live or die by the Grammys.. If I go home with no Grammys, I still feel great about what we did.
• Rap lyric: 'But do I ever come up in discussion/ Over double-pump lattes and low-fat muffins?'

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• MLA 8TH EDITION
• McIntosh, Andrew et al. "Drake". The Canadian Encyclopedia , 13 February 2017, Historica Canada . www.thecanadianencyclopedia.ca/en/article/drake. Accessed 20 April 2024.
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Article by Andrew McIntosh , Del Cowie , Laura Stanley

Published Online April 28, 2016

Last Edited February 13, 2017

Aubrey Drake Graham, rapper, singer, songwriter, actor (born 24 October 1986 in Toronto , ON). A child actor turned hip hop superstar, Drake first gained attention for his role on the hit Canadian television series Degrasssi: The Next Generation before becoming one of the most popular and influential figures in contemporary hip hop. His musical style is distinguished by his R&B-influenced singing voice and his introspective lyrical approach, which often explores his personal relationships. His atmospheric, ambient sound has proven highly influential. Called “hip hop’s current center of gravity” by the New York Times in 2011, the Juno and Grammy Award winner set the record for the most No. 1 singles on Billboard ’s R&B/Hip-Hop and Hot Rap Songs charts in 2012. He has also had 100 songs on the Billboard Hot 100 chart, ranking him fourth all-time, ahead of James Brown and behind Elvis Presley. In 2013, he was named global ambassador for the National Basketball Association’s Toronto Raptors .

Early Years and Education

Drake’s parents — Jewish teacher Sandi Graham of Toronto and African American musician Dennis Graham of Memphis, Tennessee — divorced when he was five years old. Drake lived primarily with his mother in the Weston Road area of Toronto. He worked as a child model in commercials and print catalogues, played minor hockey and acted in the Young People’s Theatre. In the summers he visited his father in Memphis, often accompanying him to recording sessions. Drake’s father, who did time in prison during Drake’s childhood, played drums for Jerry Lee Lewis. Two of Drake’s uncles are also successful musicians: famed bassist Larry Graham played with Sly and the Family Stone, and Prince; and Mabon “Teenie” Hodges played guitar and co-wrote several hit songs with Al Green.

In his teen years, Drake transferred to Toronto’s Forest Hill Collegiate, where he had problems fitting in with the largely white, upper middle class student body. At 14 he won the role of basketball player Jimmy Brooks on Degrassi: The Next Generation . He then transferred to Vaughan Road Academy’s Interact program, designed for students with outside commitments in the arts and athletics, where his classmates included actor Elliot Page .

Degrassi and Early Mixtapes

While on Degrassi , Drake landed small roles in other Canadian television series, such as Blue Murder (2001) and Soul Food (2002). His interest in pursuing a music career grew exponentially, from writing lyrics and recording in a makeshift studio in his basement to pulling all-nighters and barely making it on time to the set of the teen drama. He was a member of a short-lived group called The Renaissance, which included future Grammy Award-winning Canadian R&B singer Melanie Fiona. Afterwards, he uploaded his songs to MySpace and leveraged social media while he began recording with figures in Toronto’s hip-hop scene.

In 2006, Drake released his debut mixtape, Room for Improvement . The song “City Is Mine” received ample radio play on Toronto’s urban music station FLOW 93.5. He followed this with the free mixtape Comeback Season (2007). The single, “Replacement Girl,” featured US R&B singer Trey Songz and began to stir the interest of record labels. On the set of the single’s video he met another young Toronto actor turned musician, Noah “40” Shebib, who became his main musical collaborator.

In 2008, after appearing in 100 episodes and seven seasons of Degrassi: The Next Generation , Drake’s character and several others were written out of the show to make way for a new cast. With the exception of small appearances on the CBC TV series The Border (2008) and Being Erica (2009), Drake began to focus primarily on his music career.

So Far Gone (2009) and Thank Me Later (2010)

Through his connection to Jas Prince, the son of Rap-A-Lot founder J. Prince, Drake got his music to rap superstar Lil Wayne, who immediately asked Drake to join his I Am Music tour. Drake’s association with Lil Wayne and his Young Money label helped build anticipation for his third mixtape, So Far Gone (2009). Produced by Drake and “40,” it was distinguished by its introspective rhymes, R&B melodies and Drake’s often sweet singing voice. The song “Best I Ever Had” topped Billboard ’s R&B/Hip-Hop and Hot Rap Songs charts, and reached No. 2 on the Hot 100 chart, becoming an almost inescapable hit single. The success sparked a bidding war for Drake among record labels that resulted in a deal with Aspire/Young Money/Cash Money Records, with distribution through Universal; Drake received a $2-million advance, retained all publishing rights to his songs and agreed to surrender only 25 per cent of sales revenues to the label as a “distribution fee.”

Drake then began to collaborate with a number of high profile R&B and rap artists including Mary J. Blige, Alicia Keys and Timbaland. He also appeared on “Forever,” a song featuring Kanye West, Lil Wayne and Eminem. Drake eventually signed a record deal with Young Money/Universal and released an EP retail version of the previously free So Far Gone , which earned him Juno Awards for Rap Recording and New Artist of the Year.

His debut LP, Thank Me Later (2010), was preceded by the single “Over” and featured all-star collaborations with the likes of Jay Z, Timbaland, Kanye West and Lil Wayne. Described by Pitchfork 's Ryan Dombal as, “mood music inspired by rap and R&B in equal measure,” Thank Me Later sold 447,000 copies in the US in its first week of release. It was certified platinum in Canada and double platinum in the US.

Take Care (2011)

In 2011, Drake was nominated for six Juno Awards but did not win any, despite hosting the ceremony. His follow-up release, Take Care (2011), sold 631,000 copies in its first week of release and went on to be certified double platinum in both Canada and the US. Take Care featured Drake further developing the atmospheric sound of his music with producer Noah “40” Shebib and featured collaborations with Rihanna, Lil Wayne and Toronto R&B singer The Weeknd , whose career Drake helped launch through social media.

The album received a Juno and a Grammy Award, and the single “The Motto” helped to popularize the term “YOLO” (You Only Live Once). In its review of the album, the New York Times called Drake “hip-hop’s current center of gravity.” Allmusic ’s Tim Sendra wrote that Take Care is characterized by “murky beats, layers of dusky synths, and moody guitars that fit Drake’s voice perfectly,” and which “work together to create a thick mood of melancholy.” Referencing the album’s sensitive, reflective nature, Sendra also called Drake “the first emo rapper.”

After the release of Take Care , Drake continued to appear on prominent hip-hop singles by other high-profile artists in 2012 including “F--kin Problems” by A$AP Rocky and “Poetic Justice” by Kendrick Lamar. Also that year, he and “40” co-founded the record label October’s Very Own (OVO), named for Drake’s October birthday; and he returned to acting with a voice role in Ice Age: Continental Drift (2012).

Nothing Was the Same (2013)

In February 2013, Drake released "Started From the Bottom," the lead single from his third album, Nothing Was the Same (2013). The song peaked at No. 6 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart, and was nominated for Best Rap Performance and Best Rap Song at the 2014 Grammy Awards. "Started From the Bottom" has been certified a platinum digital download in Canada and double platinum in the US. Released in August, the album's second single, "Hold On, We're Going Home,” peaked at No. 4 on the Billboard 's Hot 100 and was named the best song of 2013 by Pitchfork . “Hold On, We’re Going Home" has been certified platinum in Canada and triple platinum in the US.

Nothing Was the Same was released on 20 September 2013 and sold 658,000 copies in its first week. Like Drake’s previous two albums, Nothing Was the Same debuted at No. 1 on the Billboard albums chart. The album features collaborations with Majid Jordan ("Hold On, We're Going Home”) and Jay Z ("Pound Cake/Paris Morton Music 2”). The bonus track, "All Me,” included on the album's deluxe edition, features 2 Chainz and Big Sean.

Nothing Was the Same drew positive reviews from critics, with many praising Drake's confidence and anthemic writing style. Speaking of the album, Allmusic ’s Tim Sendra observed that “Drakehas become a star while making records that are mostly joyless and twisted up by emotions,” while also noting that “there aren't many other rappers who do gloom as well as Drake and that's something worth supporting, if only because it's something different than the hip-hop norm in 2013.”

In 2014, Nothing Was the Same was shortlisted for the Polaris Music Prize, and was nominated for Album of the Year and Rap Recording of the Year at the Juno Awards, winning the latter. It was also nominated for Best Rap Album at the Grammy Awards. In January 2014, Drake hosted Saturday Night Live and was the musical guest. Since its release, Nothing Was the Same has gone platinum in Canada and triple platinum in the US.

If You’re Reading This It’s Too Late (2015)

Without any prior promotion, Drake released his fourth album, If You're Reading This It's Too Late , on 13 February 2015. Originally planned as a free mixtape, the album debuted at No. 1 on the Billboard 200 chart and was streamed on Spotify over 17.3 million times in the first three days, breaking the site’s first-week streaming record. In 2015, the album was nominated for a BET Hip Hop Award for Album of the Year and a Billboard Music Awards for Top Rap Album. Named the third best album of the year by Rolling Stone , If You're Reading This It's Too Late was nominated for a 2016 Grammy Award for Best Rap Album. Ithas since been certified platinum in Canada and double platinum in the US.

In July 2014, OVO Sounds announced the title of what was planned to be Drake's fourth album, Views From the 6. A nickname for Toronto coined by rapper Jimmy Prime, “the 6” (sometimes written as “the 6ix” or “the Six”) is considered to be a reference to the number six that appears in Toronto's downtown area codes (416 and 647), and to the six municipalities of Toronto before their amalgamation in 1998. Soon after the album's announcement, “the 6” became a worldwide trending topic on Twitter and quickly became a popular nickname for Toronto. Throughout If You're Reading This It's Too Late , Drake refers to Toronto as “the 6” including in the tracks "6 God," "6 Man," "You & the 6," and perhaps most famously, in “Know Yourself,” which includes the line: “Runnin’ through the 6 with my woes.”

“Hotline Bling” (2015)

On 31 July 2015, Drake released "Hotline Bling,” an R&B slow jam which features him singing over a sample of Timmy Thomas’s 1972 song, “Why Can’t We Live Together.” The video for “Hotline Bling,” directed by Toronto's Director X and financed by Apple, features Drake dancing by himself and with female dancers in front of a colourfully lit background. Borrowing heavily from the installation work of American artist James Turrell, the video gained attention for its striking set design and lighting. It quickly went viral, inspiring numerous parodies and memes, most of which make fun of Drake's dance moves.

Following the video's release, "Hotline Bling" reached No. 2 on Billboard 's Hot 100 chart and remained in the Top 10 for 19 weeks. It was certified a platinum digital download in Canada and became Drake’s highest-charting solo single in Canada and the UK, reaching No. 3 on the pop charts in both countries. The Village Voice , Billboard and Rolling Stone named “Hotline Bling” the first, second and third best song of 2015, respectively.

Though generally very well-reviewed, "Hotline Bling" was also criticized for what many saw as an underlying sexist attitude, with some claiming that Drake slut-shames the song’s central female character. Bullett ’s Allyson Shiffman, for example, called the song “degrading” and a “sexist anthem,” while the Guardian ’s Tony Naylor called it “a pile of dreary sexist horses—t.”

What a Time to be Alive (2015) and VIEWS (2016)

Drake and rapper Future released a collaborative mixtape entitled What a Time to be Alive in September 2015. It debuted at No. 1 on the Billboard 200 chart and has been certified platinum in the US.

Drake's long-awaited fourth studio album, originally announced as Views from the 6 , was released on 29 April 2016 under the revised title VIEWS . It received mixed reviews from critics but sold more than 600,000 copies in its first 24 hours of availability. A promotional single, "Summer Sixteen," was released in January 2016 and debuted No. 1 on Billboard ’s Hot R&B/Hop-Hop Songs chart. One of the album’s singles, “One Dance,” proved to be one of Drake’s biggest hits, becoming his first song as a lead artist to hit No. 1 on the Billboard Hot 100. VIEWS also went on to top the Billboard 200 album chart for seven straight weeks.

Record-Setting Achievements

In between the release of Take Care and Nothing Was the Same , Drake collaborated with such artists as Rihanna, DJ Khaled and Young Money label-mate Nicki Minaj, among many others. This helped Drake break the record for the most No. 1 singles on the Billboard Hot Rap Songs chart with 11 in February 2012. He also broke Jay Z’s record for the most No. 1 singles on the Billboard R&B/Hip-Hop Songs chart when he achieved his 10th in August 2012.

In February 2015, Drake became the first rapper to reach No. 1 on Billboard ’s Top 100 Artists Chart with the release of If You’re Reading This It’s Too Late . He then had 14 songs on the Billboard Hot 100 in the chart week of 7 March 2015, tying a record set by the Beatles for the most simultaneous Hot 100 hits. Drake tied his own record by appearing with 14 hits in the chart week of 17 October 2015. (The record was later broken by Justin Bieber , who had 17 songs on the chart in the week of 23 November 2015.)

Also that fall, Drake notched his 100th hit on the Billboard Hot 100, ranking him fourth all-time, behind Elvis Presley at No. 3 and ahead of James Brown at No. 5. In the chart week ending 10 October 2015, Drake, Bieber and The Weeknd occupied the top four positions on the Billboard Hot 100, marking the first time in history Canadians held the top four spots.

Controversies

Drake has an ongoing, very public feud with Philadelphia rapper Meek Mill. In July 2015, Mill, via Twitter, accused Drake of not writing his own raps. In response, Drake released two new songs that month, “Charged Up" and "Back To Back," the lyrics of which address Mill's accusation. "Summer Sixteen” is another track that is said to be directed at Mill. Fifteen minutes after the release of "Summer Sixteen," Mill released his own diss track called "War Pain."

Along with Mill, Drake is rumoured to be involved in feuds with Tyga, Jay Z, Kendrick Lamar and Common. In 2012, Drake and hip-hop artist Chris Brown were allegedly involved in a physical altercation in a Manhattan nightclub. Also that year, rapper DMX stated publicly that he didn't like Drake and found it disrespectful that he sampled vocals from Aaliyah, who died in a plane crash in 2001 .

In 2012, Drake was sued by his supposed ex-girlfriend, singer Ericka Lee, over her contributions to his song “Marvin's Room.” It was reported that she was looking for credit as a co-writer as well as compensation for the use of her voice, which she claimed Drake used without her permission. The matter was settled out of court.

In 2014, Drake was sued for $300,000 by the estate of jazz singer Jimmy Smith. Drake was accused of not obtaining the proper license to sample Smith's 1982 song, "Jimmy Smith Rap," as heard on Drake's track "Pound Cake/Paris Morton Music 2." Also that year, rapper Rappin' 4-Tay alleged that lyrics from his 1994 song "Playaz Club" were copied by Drake in his collaboration with YG on the track "Who Do You Love." Drake's label settled the claim for $100,000.

Drake has also been labeled a misogynist due to what many see as the sexist representation of women in his songs. In 2015, the Toronto Star characterized Drake, along with Bieber and The Weeknd, as a "sensitive misogynist,” noting that they “have managed to glaze over the general sexism of their oeuvres with a veneer of regretful, tormented sensitivity.”

Toronto Raptors Ambassador

In September 2013, Drake was named a global ambassador for the National Basketball Association’s (NBA) Toronto Raptors .He was subsequently involved with the rebranding of the team, including the adoption of the “We the North” marketing campaign, as well as a new logo and uniform design. During the 2013–14 season, the Raptors began hosting Drake Nights where attendees receive limited edition Drake and OVO merchandise. Drake also helped to promote and host the 2016 NBA All-Star Game, and served as the coach of Team Canada in the All-Star Celebrity Game. During the NBA All-Star Game weekend, Toronto’s mayor, John Tory, presented Drake with a key to the city.

Canadian Pride

Throughout his career, Drake has been vocal about his love for Canada and his allegiance to Toronto. He has a tattoo of the CN Tower on one of his biceps, and another of Toronto’s “416” telephone area code on his right torso. He filmed part of the video for Take Care ’s first single, “Headlines,” inside the CN Tower’s high-speed elevator and the adjoining Rogers Centre — two of Toronto’s most visible landmarks and tourist attractions. The video for “Started from the Bottom” opens with children playing over top of a City of Toronto logo and features Drake working as a clerk at a Shoppers Drug Mart , while the album cover of VIEWS features a picture of Drake sitting atop the CN Tower, which the New Yorker ’s Hua Hsu described as “an apt, if melodramatic, image of loneliness at the top.”

Since 2010, Drake has held an annual OVO Fest concert in Toronto at the Molson Amphitheatre on the August long weekend, timed to coincide with Toronto’s Caribbean Carnival Parade (formerly Caribana ). The concert has built a reputation for surprise guest appearances, including such superstars as Eminem, Jay Z, Stevie Wonder and Sean “Diddy” Combs.

Juno Awards

• Rap Recording of the Year ( So Far Gone) (2010)
• New Artist of the Year (2010)
• Rap Recording of the Year ( Take Care ) (2012)
• Video of the Year (“HYFR”) (2013)
• Rap Recording of the Year ( Nothing Was the Same) (2014)

Grammy Awards

• Best Rap Album ( Take Care ) (2012)
• Best Rap Song ( Hotline Bling ) (2017)
• Best Rap/Sung Collaboration ( Hotline Bling ) (2017)

MTV Video Music Awards

• Best Hip Hop Video (“HYFR”) (2012)
• Best Hip Hop Video (“Hold On, We're Going Home") (2014)
• Allan Slaight Award for Achievement by a Young Canada, Canada’s Walk of Fame Awards (2011)
• Global Inspiration Award, SOCAN Awards (2014)

Music of Drake

External Links

We The 6: Why The Name Drake Gave Us Is Here to Stay Read this Globe and Mail article on Drake's role in Toronto's newest nickname.

Deciphering Drake lyrics Highlighting connections to Toronto in Drake’s song lyrics. From thestar.com.

"High Times at the YOLO Estate" Read this extensive 2014 profile of Drake in Rolling Stone magazine.

"Views From The 6: Inside Drake's Toronto" Read this Pitchfork feature exploring Drake's lyrical relationship with his hometown.

"Drake, the Raptors, and the value of a 'Global Ambassador'" Read this in-depth analysis of Drake's role with the Raptors, from Complex.

Take Care Watch the Drake video Take Care. From YouTube.

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Table of Contents

Drake (Canadian Rapper)

Discography.

TV and rap star Drake is best known in Canada for playing wheelchair-bound Jimmy Brooks on ‘Degrassi: The Next Generation,’ and for hit songs like “Take Care,” “One Dance” and “Hotline Bling.”

Who Is Drake?

Drake first came to prominence in the teen soap Degrassi: The Next Generation in the role of Jimmy Brooks, a wheelchair-bound character he played for seven years. After leaving the show he became one of the biggest rappers on the planet after signing a deal with Lil Wayne’s label Young Money Entertainment. He is rarely out of the headlines, whether it’s for dating Rihanna or Jennifer Lopez, founding his own label, OVO Sound, or fronting the NBA’s Toronto Raptors as the team’s global ambassador. It’s no surprise that Jay Z labeled him as the Kobe Bryant of hip hop.

Born Aubrey Drake Graham on October 24, 1986, in Toronto, Canada, Drake grew up with music in his blood. His father, Dennis Graham, was a drummer for the legendary rock ‘n’ roll star Jerry Lee Lewis. An uncle, Larry Graham, played bass for Sly and the Family Stone. Drake says that his mother, Sandi Graham, also hails from a “very musical” family — his grandmother babysat Aretha Franklin. Drake comes from an eclectic and unique ethnic and religious background. His father is an African American Catholic and his mother is a white Canadian Jew. Speaking about his personal identity, Drake says: “At the end of the day, I consider myself a Black man because I’m more immersed in Black culture than any other. Being Jewish is kind of a cool twist. It makes me unique.”

Drake’s parents divorced when he was five years old, and he was raised by his mother in Forest Hill, an affluent and predominantly Jewish neighborhood in Toronto. He attended Jewish day school, had a Bar Mitzvah at age 13 and observed the Jewish High Holy Days with his mother. “My mom has always made Hanukkah fun,” Drake recalls. “When I was younger, she gave cool gifts and she’d make latkes.” Despite his Jewish upbringing, Drake says he felt isolated at Forest Hill Collegiate Institute, his virtually all-white people high school. He has said that “nobody understood what it was like to be Black and Jewish,” but added that “being different from everyone else just made me a lot stronger.”

‘Degrassi: The Next Generation’

It was one of Drake’s classmates at Forest Hill who gave him his start in the entertainment industry. “There was a kid in my class whose father was an agent,” Drake would later explain, adding: “His dad would say, ‘If there’s anyone in the class that makes you laugh, have them audition for me.’ After the audition, he became my agent.”

Shortly afterward, in 2001, Drake landed a role on the Canadian teen drama series Degrassi: The Next Generation. The show followed the dramatic lives of a group of teenagers at Degrassi High School, and Drake played the part of Jimmy Brooks, sometimes dubbed “Wheelchair Jimmy,” a basketball star who becomes permanently wheelchair-bound when he is shot by a classmate.

Drake dropped out of school to pursue his acting career, only graduating from high school in 2012. He starred on Degrassi for seven years (2001-2009), earning a Young Artist Award in 2002 for best ensemble in a TV series, among other honors. The show quickly developed a devoted cult following — “There are very few subtle Degrassi fans,” Drake has said — propelling him to celebrity status in Canada, even while he remained relatively anonymous in the United States.

Music Career

While he was still appearing on Degrassi, Drake began attempting to cross over into the world of hip hop. He released his first mixtape, Room for Improvement, in 2006, achieving modest sales of approximately 6,000 copies. He followed that with the 2007 release of another mixtape, Comeback Season, on his own October’s Very Own imprint (later to be shortened to OVO). This included Drake’s first hit single and music video, “Replacement Girl,” which was featured as the New Joint of the Day on BET’s popular hip-hop TV show 106 & Park. More significantly, the song contained a version of Brisco and Flo Rida’s “Man of the Year,” which featured Lil Wayne. Drake decided to leave Wayne’s verses and hook intact while he provided the rest of the lyrics himself. This caught the attention of Jas Prince, son of Rap-A-Lot Records founder James Prince, who decided to play Drake to Lil Wayne himself.

In 2008, the producers of Degrassi overhauled the cast, eliminating Drake’s character. Without his steady source of income, and not yet making significant money as a rapper, Drake was on the verge of looking for a day job. “I was coming to terms with the fact that … I might have to work at a restaurant or something just to keep things going,” he remembers. But early in 2008, he received an unexpected call from Lil Wayne, who asked him to board a flight to Houston that night to join his Carter III tour.

After touring and recording a number of songs with Lil Wayne, Drake released his third mixtape, So Far Gone, in February 2009. It featured the infectious single “Best I Ever Had,” which peaked at No. 2 on Billboard’s Hot 100 singles chart, while “Successful,” a collaboration with Wayne and Trey Songz, went gold and made Rolling Stone’s “25 Best Songs of 2009” list. Since then, Drake’s barrage of catchy, R&B-infused hip hop songs have dominated radio airwaves.

A bidding war for Drake’s signature followed and in mid-2009 he inked a record deal with Lil Wayne’s Young Money Entertainment. The start wasn’t auspicious – he took a tumble on stage during the America’s Most Wanted Tour in July the same year, tearing his anterior cruciate ligament and requiring surgery. However, it would only be onwards and upwards from then on.

‘Thank Me Later’ and Grammy Wins

On June 15, 2010, Drake released his first full studio album, Thank Me Later, which debuted at No. 1 on both American and Canadian album charts and was certified platinum. His new persona as the cocksure prince of hip-hop (“Last name ever, first name greatest,” he brags on “Forever”) seemed to clash with his middle-class Jewish upbringing and former career as a teenage soap star.

Nevertheless, Drake attempted to fuse these seemingly incongruous stages of his life into one persona. On the December 2009 cover of Vibe magazine, he sported a diamond-crusted Chai, a hip hop-style shout out to his Jewish roots. And in “The Presentation” he raps: “Who’s Drake? Where’s Wheelchair Jimmy at?” With Jay Z and Kanye West both contributing to the album, the answer to “who’s Drake?” had to be “rap royalty.”

In November 2011, he released his second studio album, Take Care, which included the songs “Headlines,” “Make Me Proud” and “The Motto.” The album was universally acclaimed, winning the 2013 Grammy award for best rap album, among several other honors. Greg Kot’s review in the Chicago Tribune perfectly summed up Drake’s unique appeal, pinpointing the difference in subject matter and soul-searching honesty that separated Drake from his peers: “Drake, the melancholy hustler with a conscience, is back drunk-dialing former girlfriends and mourning the ones who got away.”

Feuds With Chris Brown and Meek Mill

Although his career was flying high, Drake hit a few rough patches in his personal life. He and fellow entertainer Chris Brown became rivals for the affections of singer Rihanna, and the pair’s bitter feud erupted in violence during the summer of 2012 at a New York nightclub, resulting in injuries to several onlookers. Both Drake and Brown found themselves facing legal consequences for their actions. The professional basketball player Tony Parker, a male model and two women — all hurt in the brawl — were among those who filed suits against the performers. Brown later referred to the event during a guest appearance on a remix of Chief Keef’s “I Don’t Like” (“One on one, what you scared, bruh?” he rapped).

Around this time, Drake settled another legal matter out of court. He reached an agreement with former girlfriend Ericka Lee over her contributions to the song “Marvin’s Room.” Lee had sued Drake in 2012, seeking credit for co-writing the track. He was also sued by Rappin 4-Tay and the estate of the jazz musician Jimmy Smith. Squabbles with other artists have also peppered his career, although they haven’t derailed it. A verbal feud with Tyga was one thing, but he also got into a beef with rapper Meek Mill when the latter alleged that Drake was using a ghostwriter for a track they collaborated on. Drake recorded two diss tracks directly aimed at Mill, “Charged Up” and “Back to Back” in a single week in 2015. A diss war also started in 2016 with Joe Budden, while the internet rumors that always dog an artist of Drake’s standing have also alleged that he’s had beef with Kanye West , Jay Z and more.

‘Views’ and “Hotline Bling”

Personal obstacles never seem to sidetrack Drake for long. The 2013 song “Started From the Bottom,” from his critically acclaimed 2013 album Nothing Was the Same, reflected his personal struggle for success. “I just wanted to make it known that I did work really hard to get here and it wasn’t just a fluke and it wasn’t easy by any means,” he explained to MTV News.

After releasing a pair of mixtapes in 2015, including a collaboration with Future, Drake followed with his fourth studio album, Views, in the spring of 2016. The album was an instant success, debuting at No. 1 and spending 13 non-consecutive weeks atop the Billboard charts. Among its hit singles was the sultry “Hotline Bling,” which earned the artist Grammy wins for best rap song and best rap/sung performance in early 2017 (and sparked countless memes due to its memorable video inspired by the artist James Turrell). After the ceremony, he took swipes at the Grammys for shoehorning him into the rap category. Speaking in an interview on Apple’s Beats 1 the day after the awards, he said: “I’m a Black artist, I’m apparently a rapper, even though Hotline Bling is not a rap song. I won two awards but I don’t even want them.”

As his rap career moves forward, Drake hopes that his unconventional rise to hip-hop fame will continue to be an asset, not a hindrance. “This whole thing is unusual at this point,” he has said, “so we’re just rolling with the fairytale vibe.”

The “fairytale vibe” continued in May 2017 when Drake was the big winner at the Billboard Music Awards. He took home 13 awards — including top artist, top male artist, top Billboard 100 album, top Billboard 200 artist and top hot 100 artist — breaking Adele’s record for the artist with the most wins in one year.

‘Scorpion’

After opening 2018 with the two-song EP Scary Hours, Drake dropped two singles, “Nice For What” and “I’m Upset,” in advance of the June release of his fifth studio album, Scorpion. He also unveiled the diss track “Duppy Freestyle,” a response to rapper Pusha-T’s accusation that he was relying on a ghostwriter for his lyrics.

The June 29 release of Scorpion didn’t disappoint, as it featured the artist confirming the rumors of a newborn son on “March 14,” and his explanations of why he was dialing back the rancor toward Pusha-T and Meek Mill on “Survival.” The album featured contributions from Jay-Z and Future, as well as what was reported to be previously unreleased music from Michael Jackson on the track “Don’t Matter to Me.”

Scorpion shattered streaming records over its first 24 hours, with the Associated Press reporting totals of 170 million streams on Apple Music and another 132 million on Spotify. The pace continued over the next several days, making Drake the first artist to top 1 billion streams in one week with his studio release.

Drake went on to claim the 2019 Best Rap Song Grammy for “God’s Plan,” which appeared on both Scorpion and Scary Hours, though the win was somewhat eclipsed by the controversy of being cut off during his acceptance speech, in which he downplayed the importance of being honored at the Grammys.

Burying the hatchet, Drake joined forces with Chris Brown for the Top 5 hit “No Guidance.” He then released the EP The Best in the World Pack, featuring the dual singles of “Omertà” and “Money in the Grave,” and the compilation album Care Package, consisting of previously unreleased songs from earlier in the decade.

Ahead of the planned arrival of a new album, Drake teamed with Future for the release of “Life is Good” in January 2020, and unveiled a video which combined the tracks “When To Say When” and “Chicago Freestyle” a few weeks later. Dark Lane Demo Tapes, featuring guest appearances from Brown, Giveon, Young Thug and Playboi Carti, dropped on May 1.

Cannabis Company

In late 2019 it was announced that Drake was entering the burgeoning cannabis industry by teaming with a prominent Canadian producer, Canopy Growth, to produce and distribute herbal treats in Toronto via a new venture called More Life Growth Co. A press release described the company as “centered around wellness, discovery, and overall personal growth with the hope of facilitating connections and shared experiences across the globe.”

Personal Life

Drake shares son Adonis, born in October 2017, with artist Sophie Brussaux.

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“Started From the Bottom, Now We Here”: A Detailed Look at Drake’s Early Career and Rise to Fame

by Caylen David

In this day and age, it is almost impossible to have never heard of the hip-hop powerhouse that is Aubrey “Drake” Graham. With accolades such as winning 4 Grammy Awards from 44 nominations, and having the most charted songs of any artist in history on the Billboard Hot 100, Drake has cemented himself as a mastermind in the music industry through his unparalleled sound and chart-breaking projects . Drake is also credited for bringing his city of Toronto to prominence in the music industry, and helped found the “Toronto sound,” inspired by Drake’s idols such as Kanye West and Jay-Z. He is part of a unique generation, along with the likes of rappers such as Wiz Khalifa and Kid Cudi, who gained prominence through the release of internet mixtapes. Since he self-released his first mixtape, Room for Improvement , in 2006, Drake has produced five studio albums, six additional mixtapes, three compilation albums, and over 130 leading singles with 84 music videos. Needless to say, Drake has created an immense amount of music, and his awards and recognition prove his versatility and success in the music world. Additionally, Drake has made his mark in other areas of the entertainment industry through ventures such as founding the production group DreamCrew and executive producing the hit HBO series Euphoria ; being appointed to the executive committee of an NBA franchise through his appointment as “global ambassador” for the Toronto Raptors; and investing in co-ownership of the E-Sports organization 100 Thieves, a prominent force in the world of competitive gaming.

Drake has been on the forefront of pop culture and the entertainment industry for years, through his musical endeavors and beyond. With nearly all of his music immediately topping the charts, his style in 2020 is one of the most recognized and celebrated in the music world. However, Drake has not always been in the center of the public eye. This article will examine Drake’s rise to fame, starting from his early life back in Toronto, the city he still has endless pride in to this day. I’ll be sharing and reviewing Drake’s first three mixtapes, as well as his first two studio albums—projects that I’d argue shaped and refined the “Drake” sound. Additionally, I’ll be talking about Drake’s blooming experiences with fame that he experienced in the early 2000s—not from the profile of Drake, but simply as Aubrey Graham.

2001-2008: Early Life and Career Beginnings

Born on October 24th, 1986 in Toronto, Ontario, Aubrey Graham lived a hard life growing up. In his childhood he lived on Weston Road in Toronto’s working class West End. He later moved to the more affluent Toronto neighborhood of Forest Hills in 2000. Graham’s father, Dennis Graham, is Black and a practicing Catholic from Memphis, Tennessee who was a drummer for American rock and roll musician Jerry Lee Lewis. His mother, Sandra “Sandi” Graham, is a Jewish Canadian who worked as an English teacher and florist. 

Aubrey Graham faced lots of challenges even after he moved to a more stable living situation. In school, he was bullied for both being biracial and being Jewish. He attended a public high school that was largely Jewish, however, Graham still felt like he didn’t fit in. In 2010, Graham told Heeb Magazine that “Nobody understood what it was like to be black and Jewish.” Despite this, Graham speaks proudly of his Jewish heritage. He had a Bar Mitzvah in the basement of an Italian restaurant due to his financial situation, and told himself that if he ever became rich, he would throw himself a “re-Bar Mitzvah.” This dream would eventually become a reality, as the music video for “HYFR,” a song from his 2011 album Take Care being filmed at this re-Bar Mitzvah.

His life changed when he had his first taste of fame at 15, but it wasn’t through music. Graham had a friend in school whose father was an acting agent, and he thought that Graham would be well suited for acting due to his charismatic personality and good lying skills. Shortly after, the agent found Graham a role on the Canadian teen drama series Degrassi: The Next Generation . Graham played the role of basketball player and eventual paraplegic Jimmy Brooks, and was making about a $40,000 salary for his involvement with the show. Between 2001-2008, Graham appeared in 100 episodes, and cited his acting career as a way that he helped his mother, who was very sick and poor at the time. Drake dropped out of high school to pursue his career in acting, but he would retroactively graduate in 2012. Graham started to write rap music while he was still in the midst of his acting career. Graham’s exposure to rap music started when his father’s cellmate in jail would rap to him over the phone. Eventually, Graham started to get into it and decided to write his own lyrics in response. His love of music grew, and he had notebooks full of lyrics in the makeshift studio that he made in his Forest Hills basement. 

On February 14, 2006, Aubrey Graham released his first mixtape, Room for Improvement, and also officially adopted the stage name of Drake. This was a self-released mixtape under the label All Things Fresh, which would eventually become Drake’s self-founded label October’s Very Own, or OVO. The mixtape sold 6000 copies in 2006 and features 23 tracks, most of which were produced by Canadian producer Boi-1da, a producer who is a long-time companion and musical partner of Drake. The remix was re-released in 2009 with a shortened tracklist of 11 songs and a remix to the popular Boi-1da produced track, “Do What You Do.” The mixtape also has inspiration from the likes of Kanye West and 9th Wonder.

Room for Improvement is what partially created the hype that preceded Drake’s rise to fame. Before the Grammy nominations, Lil Wayne co-signs, and pop-cultural Drake icons such as the “Hotline Bling” dance, Drake was showcasing his lyrical talent in an underground rapper fashion during the golden era of mixtapes and CDs, something that he did to brand himself as “hip-hops next Fresh Prince spitting with everything he’s got.” Still being in the midst of his acting career in Degrassi , Drake used this tape to showcase his bigger ambitions as a rising MC. He was arrogant and flashy, and possessed confidence as if he was already at the top when this debut project was released. As I’ll say several times in this piece, Drake’s confidence is what I think has carried him as far as he’s made.

There are several standout tracks on the mixtape. On “Make Things Right,” Drake is rapping to those who think life is all about having the flashiest cars or being the most famous one in the club, telling them there is more than a superficial lifestyle, all over a soulful beat from Boi-1da that complements the lyrics and voice. This soulful and cohesive production is consistent throughout the entire tape, and even features two features from another rising star at time, Trey Songz. While the production is stellar on Room for Improvement, the mixtape’s title does appropriately attest to Drake’s lack of consistency in voice. In several tracks, Drake’s voice sounds a bit labored and forced against the beat of the song, indicating his inexperience in the rap game. The mixtape is a compilation that he is using to develop his style, setting the precursor for the development of the lethal bars and melodies that we hear on Drake tracks today. In fact, new Drake fans would be taken aback by the stark difference in the polished productions of today’s Drake versus what can be found on Room for Improvement . However, despite lacking the “Drake” flow that is known to so many, Room for Improvement is a mixtape that, while rough around the edges, delivered and acts as a solid foundation for the legacy that would become of Drake and Toronto rap, a young phenom in the making that would dominate the music landscape in the coming decade.

On October 24th, 2007, Drake released Comeback Season , the second of the three mixtapes that defined Drake’s early career. This tape was released under Drake’s October’s Very Own label, and was the last project that Drake released as a solo artist. The tape features 24 tracks, most of which were produced by the same makers of tracks on Room for Improvement such as the likes of Boi-1da, 9th Wonder, and Noah “40” Shebib, an individual who would become Drake’s main producer for his entire career. The tape gives us a more polished and confident version of the Drizzy that can be heard on Room for Improvement , where Drake is now sounding comfortable in his quest for stardom. Still balancing two careers, he alludes to his sudden rise into the Toronto rap scene on tracks like “‘The Presentation: “

“…I came out the blue, / They like, ‘Damn who’s Drake, where’s wheelchair Jimmy at?” 

The standout track for the mixtape was the single “Replacement Girl” featuring Trey Songz. The track was one of Drake’s first hit songs and gained immense popularity when the music was featured on BET’s “New Joint of the Day” on April 30th, 2007. This feat further proved Drake a force to be reckoned with in the emerging Toronto rap scene, as he was the first unsigned Canadian rapper to have a music video featured on BET. This mixtape, while still far from the Drake that dominated charts in this past decade, has more consistency in his voice. On tracks like “Going in for Life,” Drake pays homage to his heroes like Jay Z, Lil Wayne, and Kanye West by modeling his flows similarly to them, and it works. Here we have the Drake that is gradually taking off his training wheels, working to establish himself as the Greatest of All Time (G.O.A.T.) before his “time” has even begun. Interestingly, this album lacks the R&B pop-focused music that we can see in Drake today from popular songs like “One Dance” or “Hold On, We’re Going Home.” While the tracks lack in quality, they achieve one thing, and that’s helping the mixtape establish an outline that Drake would come to fill in the following years. As a rapper that thrived balancing between Hip-Hop and R&B music, the gaps that are evident in that balancing act within Comeback Season are simply kinks that Drake will eventually work out as his music evolves. Compared to his newer projects, Comeback Season —like Room for Improvement —is honestly a forgettable project, however, it still creates a character profile for the Drizzy that would blow up in the near future.

2008 was the year that Drake finally reached a crossroads in his careers. He was still playing Jimmy Brooks on Degrassi , but was gradually pouring more and more hours into his music. Throughout his career even today, Drake keeps himself packed to a tight schedule, and that hustle mentality shined through in his early career as well. Fresh off the release of Comeback Season the previous year, Drake reflected to W Magazine : “Back then, I’d spend a full day on set and then go to the studio to make music until 4 or 5 a.m. I’d sleep in my dressing room and then be in front of the cameras again by 9 a.m. Eventually, they realized I was juggling two professions and told me I had to choose. I chose this life.”

2009: A Star is Born

2009 was a monumental year for Drake, and the expression “Third time’s the charm” couldn’t be more fitting. On February 13th, 2009, Drake released his third mixtape, So Far Gone , once again under his October’s Very Own label. Prior to its release, the money from Drake’s time at Degrassi was dwindling and he was on the verge of pursuing a “regular” job. However, So Far Gone was received to critical acclaim as a masterpiece, and Drake became an overnight sensation. Gone is Aubrey Graham, the amateur MC that fights the dueling consciousness of “Jimmy Brooks by day, emerging Toronto rapper by night.” All that remains in its wake is Drizzy Drake, the new prince of hip-hop music that had just made Toronto a musical hotspot. Additionally, the success of So Far Gone also helped jumpstart the careers of Boi-1da and 40, both of which heavily contributed to the musical direction and engineering of the tape. The tape has 18 tracks, and was primarily influenced by Kanye West’s 808s & Heartbreak, which had released months earlier in November of 2008.

This mixtape is personally one of my favorite projects from the Canadian rapper. Drake effortlessly switches personalities in a Dr. Jekyll/Mr. Hyde style: on “Houstatlantavegas,” a standout track for the album, Drake complains about a stripper who is stuck in her job, unable to receive the love that he has for her. On another standout track, “November 18th,” Drake takes a very different persona, one of a selfish celebrity that gets what he wants, when he wants it—he’s rapping about the spoils of newfound fame over smooth samples from the Notorious B.I.G.:

“I sent ya girl a message, said, ‘I’ll see ya when I can’

She sent me one back, but I ain’t never read it

‘Cause p***y’s only p***y and I get it when I need it”

– Drake, “November 18th,” So Far Gone https://genius.com/Drake-november-18th-lyrics  

This tone of dismissiveness can be seen in Drake’s later projects, such as in “Star67” off of his surprise 2015 mixtape, If You’re Reading This It’s Too Late . It’s interesting to see him evolve the double personality early on in his career, balancing lines about lost love with the unforgiving tracks of fast-rap that cemented Drizzy as an emerging superstar. The mixtape was critically and culturally acclaimed. In this tape, Drake continues to evolve that confidence that he’s possessed since his first, amateur mixtape. However, now he has the experience and refined voice to back that confidence up in a very powerful way. Basically, So Far Gone just works, and it doesn’t have that awkward and almost forced inexperienced voice of Drake’s first two mixtapes. Houston rapper Bun B, who collaborated with Drake on So Far Gone, spoke on his ambition to Billboard :

“Drake is very talented. There’s a difference between trying to be an artist and being one. Drake has the confidence to go very far and the chance to make history.”

The two standout tracks are “Successful” featuring Trey Songz and Lil Wayne, as well as the song that ignited Drake’s reign over all top charts, “Best I Ever Had.” The tracks became certified Gold and 2x Platinum (respectively) by the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA). “Best I Ever Had” was nominated for two Grammy Awards (‘Best Solo Rap Performance’ and ‘Best Rap Song’) and peaked at number two on the Billboard Hot 100, becoming Drake’s first top-ten single. The song was complemented by an equally popular music video and was directed by Kanye West. “Best I Ever Had” spent 24 weeks on the Hot 100, and was also the song that launched Drake’s campaign to eventually become the first-ever artist to log eight straight years on Billboard Hot 100. This run ended in 2017 with 431 consecutive weeks. Other standout tracks from the tape include “Ignant S**t (feat. Lil Wayne),” Kanye-produced “Say What’s Real,” and “Uptown (feat. Bun B & Lil Wayne).”

Drake’s success in 2009 certainly did not end with the release of his mixtape. Following the release of So Far Gone , Drake—who was still an independent artist—started to catch the attention of major record labels, quickly resulting in a bidding war for the young star. Eventually, Lil Wayne’s label Young Money, distributed through Universal Music Group (UMG) offered Drake a $2 million advance and signed him in June 2009. Drake is often labeled as Lil Wayne’s protege and the two have maintained a close friendship ever since Drake emerged in the rap scene. For the rest of the summer, Drake joined his Young Money associates Young Jeezy, Lil Wayne and Soula Boy for the Young Money Presents: America’s Most Wanted Music Festival tour. 

In August, Drizzy teamed up with Kanye West, Lil Wayne, and Eminem to produce “Forever” for Lebron James’ “More Than a Game” documentary. This track rapidly became Drake’s highest debut on the chart and is still one of his most recognizable songs to date. Every verse on the single is fire, and all the artists even rewrote their verses after hearing Eminem’s in the studio. It’s that good. Drake begins his verse on “ Forever ” with the same confidence that brought him to this point:

“Last Name ‘Ever,’ First Name ‘Greatest’/Like a sprained ankle, boy, I ain’t nothing to play with”

The hit single became Drake’s second number one on the Billboard Rap Chart, and was certified 6x Platinum by RIAA. Needless to say, Drake’s music was gaining popularity very fast by the time this single was released, and he hadn’t even released his debut album yet. Drake was a rising star that had no signs of burning out.

2010: Thank Me Later 

By 2010, Drake was a more than rising star in the rap game, and there was much anticipation for his debut studio album, Thank Me Later, which he had first announced while touring with Lil Wayne and Young Money. The breakout success of “Best I Ever Had” paired with the massive record deal with Young Money made Thank Me Later one of the most anticipated albums of 2010, and it lived up to the hype. Thank Me Later was released on June 15th, 2010, and was certified platinum in Canada in less than a week. In the introductory track “Fireworks,” Drake raps about his rapid success—a string of successful mixtapes, his hit singles, the Lil Wayne co-sign—being symbolized by fireworks popping all around him. Alicia Keys sings the chorus on the song over a smooth R&B style beat produced by 40. Other notable features on the album include T.I., Swizz Beatz, Young Jeezy, Jay-Z, and fellow Young Money stars, Nicki Minaj and Lil Wayne.

The introduction sets the precursor for the debut album: Drake is coming to terms with the overnight sensation that he has become, but is also being cautiously optimistic. In the track he raps about the consequences of fame, such as the fear that his sudden success would drive a wedge between him and his mentor, as well as the sudden, uninviting welcome into the world of Hollywood gossip and paparazzi. The next standout track is the fourth song of the album, “Over.”

If you asked me what my favorite song of all time is, I would tell you it’s “Over” by Drake. The song just kind of speaks to me: I’ve overcome a lot of adversity in my life, and when I listen to the song I just think: “Look around, take in all that you’ve achieved so far, and be proud. But also know that you’ve come too far and overcame too much to stop now. Keep going, Caylen.” Over is also the lead single for the album, and the lyrics also convey the theme of newfound stardom over a mid tempo orchestral beat engineered by Boi-1da. In the accompanying music video, Drake is reflecting on his rise to fame, struggling with the adjustment from his old life to the new one. This battle within the artist’s mind is something that I think is what makes Drake’s sound real. Anyone can turn on hip-hop music and listen to an artist rap about money, girls and cars. However, how many rappers take the time to open up with their audience? How many artists genuinely illustrate their worries over fame and life at the forefront of the public eye? This is something that Drake keeps in his music over his career, however, as the years go on he raps about the drawbacks of fame less. In Thank Me Later , he warns his fans about fame, but also reassures them that despite rising to the highest ranks of the rap game, he won’t let the lavish lifestyle change who he is.

As for the album itself, straight fire. It has a cohesive sound throughout the entire production, something that was not as evident as Drake was finding his voice in his earlier tapes. In tracks like “Show Me a Good Time” and “Up All Night (feat. Nicki Minaj),” Drake takes the time to acknowledge him making it with the same people he was recording with on Room for Improvement. Drake is a loyal man, and he selflessly wanted to share the wealth with those that helped him get to where he was, such as 40 and Boi-1da.  In his midst of the 2009 bidding war that Drake found himself in the middle of, he told Billboard :

“I am very happy with my situation now…The most important thing thing for me is being around my team – they are stronger than any label.”

Overall, the album is packed with hit songs, even if they weren’t suited for an abundance of radio time. “ Fancy (feat. T.I. & Swizz Beatz) ” is a standout track where Drake is rapping about an independent woman who doesn’t need any man. Once again trying to make music that appeals to everyone, Drake made “Fancy” as “A dedication to the ladies who take pride in being the flyest and finest that there are out there to be noticed.” Genius classifies that song as “An ode to independent, self-respecting women with class, ass, and their own bank accounts.” In “Light Up (feat. Jay-Z),” the audience hears Drake talk about riches and celebrating his success, while also receiving advice about the rap game from Jay-Z, someone that Drake cited as a heavy influence on his music. “Miss Me (feat. Lil Wayne)” is a special track where Drake is rapping to the audience with a shared message. He told MTV News :

“It’s a pretty straightforward song. It’s a song about being away from what you love and hoping that when you’re gone, doing you, somebody out there misses you. It goes for Wayne in his situation and it goes for me in my situation, ‘cause I’m on the road for I don’t know how long right now.”

This track continues to go along with the notion and theme that fame is weighing heavy on Drizzy. However, I think the track is intended as a message for anyone, not just someone in Drake or Wayne’s situation. The uncertainty of life works in mysterious ways, and for those that take the chance to pursue a dream or new path to their life, they may lose those close to them in the decisions they make. Regardless, they should still stay true to themselves and the path they want to take, but they’re still allowed to think about those they left in the past and hope that they miss them a little.

The real gem from Thank Me Later is the Kanye West-produced hit single, “Find Your Love.” This track is the first true gem that features Drake’s singing voice, and including it on his debut album did wonders for showcasing his versatility. The sound is also diversified with the Jamaican-inspired reggae beat. The song finds the Canadian rapper singing about what he describes as his worst character trait: having the worst luck in picking the right woman:

“I look for love in the wrong people. It just always seems like the women I find are poison for me. I love women that can just walk into a room and stop the whole area. And I think that those qualities always end up getting me hurt, which is a crazy thing for a guy to say.”

“Find Your Love” is just an angelic record to listen to at any time of the day. Its smooth beat combined with Drake’s newfound voice in R&B makes for a great and emotional sound.  This evocative and “singing” version of Drake would explode in his next album, and I think that this type of sound is really what would take him to the next level as a diverse star. The single charted at number five on the Billboard Hot 100 and was certified 3x Platinum by RIAA (The entire album was also certified RIAA platinum). After the release of Thank Me Later , Drake opened up about Kanye West being “the most influential person on his sound.” I think that part of what helped Drake’s success blossom is him not being afraid to learn from the greats. His biggest inspirations were the likes of Jay-Z and Kanye West, rappers that came up in the years before him. He openly takes pride in modeling his style after the greats, because it helps him find his greatness as well. Having the ambition to collaborate and learn from those that he credits with being the maestros of the industry is commendable, and makes Drake a very likable and humble artist. In fact, music enthusiasts compare the warm synthesizers and emotional transparency of Thank Me Later to Kanye West’s 808s & Heartbreak , the very same album that was cited as the inspiration for So Far Gone . Drake continued to build on his success for the rest of 2010, hosting his first ever OVO Fest in August. This inaugural festival, which would eventually become a staple in Toronto, featured a 90-minute set from Drizzy. He also brought out popular guests such as “Forever” collaborator Eminem, and Jay-Z.

2011: Take Care

This will be the most meaningful section of this timeline for me. Too many artists fall victim to the “sophomore slump:” They’re fresh off of a positive debut, and immediately want to put out new music. Regardless of how it sounds, the artist just wants to put out new music to keep the success train rolling. However, to this date Apple Music still recognizes Drake’s sophomore album, Take Care , as his “Essential Album” for listeners. The project was released on November 15th, 2011 and quickly rose to the forefront of pop culture due to its immense popularity. The album’s name comes from Drake wanting to create a quality project after he felt that Thank Me Later was rushed in its production. While the debut album experienced critical and commercial success, the Canadian rapper was left feeling disconnected about the album’s musical content. Take Care acts as a refined version of the themes that were in Drake’s debut album, themes that were concretely defined as Drake’s sound in this album. Such themes include minimalist R&B influences; alternating rap with singing; and a low-tempo, dark aesthetic. However, the album is so much more than a refined version of Thank Me Later . Drake is still fretting about lost love, the relationships in his life, and the perils of fame. However, rather than the cautiously optimistic raps of So Far Gone and Thank Me Later , in Take Care Drake is rapping about those things when he is already at the top. The cover art of the album shows him staring into his golden chalice, a lonely king that has nobody to accompany him at the throne. The lyrics of the album are highly emotional, and the emotion within each track is what earned this album the majority of its praise. The topic of women is a prevalent one throughout the album, with songs that address past, present and potential lovers (such as “The Real Her” and fan-favorite “Marvin’s Room”).

Drake almost personifies the listener into his songs, with many tracks sounding almost conversational by blurring the lines between rhyming and singing. These qualities are evident in tracks like “Over My Dead Body,” where Drake is reminiscing on his last year and steady climb up the ranks of the music industry, and where that leaves him now; “Shot For Me,” where Drake addresses his exes from a figure somewhere between a boy with a fragile heart and that of an egocentric king that finds comfort in the fact that none of his exes will find another man like him; “Doing it Wrong,” a classic soft and low-tempo break-up song, where Drake woes about living in a “generation of, not being in love,” complemented by a harmonica solo from legendary musician Stevie Wonder; and “Look What You’ve Done,” where Drake gives a touching tribute to to his mother, Sandi, his Uncle Steve, and his grandmother—three individuals who all had a profound impact on his life.

The album has been certified 6x Platinum by RIAA, and was also a dominant force at the 2012 Grammy Awards, where Take Care was awarded the Grammy for ‘Best Rap Album.’ “HYFR (Hell Ya F***ing Right)” was nominated for ‘Best Rap Performance,’ and “The Motto” was nominated for ‘Best Rap Song.’ Take Care was a highlight at the Grammys, one of the things that led the album—and Drake himself—to cultural icon status. Some of my favorite singles include the album’s lead single, “Marvin’s Room,” which quickly became one of the staple songs for breakups, as it follows Drake calling his ex-girlfriend to rant about his loneliness and frustration. This song was very impactful in hip-hop music, as it showed how A-List artists could still open up and make songs from their hearts. In “Headlines,” Drake realizes his success and impact that he now has on the rap game—the word itself is never mentioned in the lyrics, but Drake knows that his music has now reached the level of big news, in the headlines. The album’s fourth single, “The Motto (feat. Lil Wayne),” became the most popular single from the album, and popularized the term “YOLO” (You Only Live Once).

“You only live once, that’s the motto n**** YOLO.”

“Take Care (feat. Rihanna)” was the album’s fifth single. It’s a club song about a couple acknowledging that they have been hurt in the past, but they will still look after each other in their relationship. Drake and Rihanna were on-and-off love interests from 2009-2016, and this song is one of many collaborations among the two. Another standout feature of this album is its inspiration from The Weeknd, as he assisted Drake in writing many of the album’s songs and also featured on the seventh single, “Crew Love.”

Take Care was the magnum opus of Drake’s career to date. As I previously mentioned, he had finally taken the time to refine his sound and give us something completely revolutionary. This is why Drake is now as successful as he is—he crafts his sound to help it reach where it needs to be. 

Picture this: it’s 2009. Drake had released two mixtapes, both were good, but nothing overly special. Far Gone was a hit: it was critically acclaimed, Drake had a grasp on his rap flow, while also giving a taste of the melodic Drake whose sound would evolve over the next few projects. Thank Me Later expanded on the dark and slow to mid-tempo beats, and was met with an equal amount of success following massive anticipation. Finally, Take Care was released and named as one of Complex’s “Albums of the Decade.” Drake could have easily done what many breakout artists do: recognize their success and roll with it, essentially flatlining and following up a big release with something that underperforms. This is because they see the success they had, and put in the same work ethic in hopes that their next project will be just as successful, regardless of whether it may sound redundant or not. Rather than doing this, Drake took his success and evolved it. Even when projects such as Thank Me Later performed very well on a critical and commercial standpoint, it was’t refined enough to meet the mark of where Drake wanted to take his success to. Since the release of Take Care , Drake has continued to pile on the accolades and award-winning projects. Drake has also since spawned various wildly-popular internet trends through his music, such as the “In My Feelings” challenge and the “Toosie Slide.” The release of his sophomore album took Drake to the forefront of fame, and he has not slowed down since. Even amongst controversy from the public eye and other artists, Drake has chosen to seize every moment of his career and just keep winning. One of his most famous lyrics is “Started from the bottom, now we here.” For Aubrey “Drake” Graham, it seems that the ceiling is nowhere in sight.

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Hip Hop Scriptures

Drake Biography

Digital Biography of Toronto’s Aubrey "Drake" Graham

Rapper Drake Digital Biography

GOVERNMENT NAME: AUBREY DRAKE GRAHAM

Sun sign: scorpio, birthday: october 24, hometown: toronto, canada, interview, home video, & documentary:.

Hip-Hop Bio:

" At the end of the day, I consider myself a black man because I'm more immersed in black culture than any other. Being Jewish is kind of a cool twist. It makes me unique ."– Drake

Famed hip-hop artist Drake was born to a mixed-race couple in Canada in 1986, and raised Jewish. He came to fame playing wheelchair-bound Jimmy Brooks in seven seasons of the popular teen soap Degrassi: The Next Generation. In 2006, Drake began circulating mixtapes of his raps, and signed a record deal in 2009. His hit songs include "Every Girl," "Best I Ever Had," "Money to Blow" and "Take Care."

Drake, the world's only black Jewish-Canadian rap star, was born Aubrey Drake Graham on October 24, 1986, in Toronto, Canada. Drake grew up with music in his blood. His father, Dennis Graham, was a drummer for legendary rock star Jerry Lee Lewis, and Drake says that his mother, Sandi Graham, also hails from a "very musical" family. Drake comes from an eclectic and unique racial and religious background. His father is an African-American Catholic and his mother is a white Canadian Jew. Speaking about his personal identity, Drake says, "At the end of the day, I consider myself a black man because I'm more immersed in black culture than any other. Being Jewish is kind of a cool twist. It makes me unique."

Drake's parents divorced when he was 5 years old, and he was raised by his mother in Forest Hill, an affluent and predominantly Jewish Toronto neighborhood. He had a Bar Mitzvah at age 13 and observed the Jewish High Holy Days with his mother. "My mom has always made Hanukkah fun," Drake recalls. "When I was younger, she gave cool gifts and she'd make latkes." Despite his Jewish upbringing, Drake says he felt isolated at Forest Hill Collegiate Institute, his virtually all-white high school. Drake remembers, "Nobody understood what it was like to be black and Jewish." However, he also adds, "being different from everyone else just made me a lot stronger."

'Degrassi' Star

It was one of Drake's classmates at Forest Hill who gave him his start in the entertainment industry. "There was a kid in my class whose father was an agent," Drake would later explain, adding, "His dad would say, 'If there's anyone in the class that makes you laugh, have them audition for me.' After the audition he became my agent." Shortly afterward, in 2001, Drake landed a role on the Canadian teen drama series Degrassi: The Next Generation. The show follows the dramatic lives of a group of teenagers at Degrassi High School, and Drake played the part of Jimmy Brooks, sometimes dubbed "Wheelchair Jimmy," a basketball star who becomes permanently wheelchair bound when he is shot by a classmate.

Drake starred on Degrassi for seven years (2001-2009), earning a 2002 Young Artist Award for best ensemble in a TV series, among other honors. The show quickly developed a devoted cult following—"There are very few subtle Degrassi fans," Drake has said—propelling Drake to celebrity status in Canada, even while he remained relatively anonymous in the United States.

Hip-Hop Fame

While still staring on Degrassi, Drake began attempting his transition into the world of hip-hop.

He released his first mixtape, Room for Improvement, in 2006, achieving modest sales around approximately 6,000 copies. He followed that with the 2007 release of another mixtape, Comeback Season. Comeback Season included Drake's first hit single and music video, "Replacement Girl," which was featured as the New Joint of the Day on BET's popular hip-hop TV show 106 & Park.

In 2008, the producers of Degrassi overhauled the cast, eliminating Drake's character. Without his steady source of income, and not yet making significant money as a rapper, Drake was on the verge of looking for a day job. "I was coming to terms with the fact that ... I might have to work at a restaurant or something just to keep things going," he remembers. But early in 2008, Drake received an unexpected call from rap star Lil Wayne , who asked Drake to board a flight to Houston that night to join his tour.

Since that phone call, Drake has enjoyed a rapid ascent to the top of the music world. After touring and recording with Lil Wayne, Drake released his third mixtape, So Far Gone, in February 2009. It featured the infectiously catchy single "Best I Ever Had," which peaked at No. 2 on Billboard's Hot 100 singles chart. Since then, Drake's barrage of catchy, R&B-infused hip-hop songs have dominated radio airwaves. His most popular singles at this time included "Every Girl," "Forever" and "Money to Blow."

By mid-2009, Drake had inked a record deal with Lil Wayne 's Young Money Entertainment.

Chart-Topping Success

On June 15, 2010, Drake released his first full studio album, Thank Me Later, which debuted at No. 1 on both American and Canadian album charts and has since been certified platinum. Drake's new persona as the cocksure prince of hip-hop ("Last name ever, first name greatest," he brags on one track) seems to clash with his middle-class Jewish upbringing and former career as a teenage soap-opera star. Nevertheless, Drake attempts to fuse these seemingly incongruous stages of his life into one persona. On the December 2009 cover of Vibe magazine, Drake sports a diamond-crusted Chai, a hip-hop style shout out to his Jewish roots. And in his song "The Presentation," he raps, "Who's Drake? Where's Wheelchair Jimmy at?"

In November 2011, Drake released his second studio album, Take Care, which included songs like "Headlines," "Make Me Proud," "The Motto" and "Take Care." The album met with wide acclaim, winning the 2013 Grammy Award for best rap album, among several other honors.

Infamous Feud

Despite his big successes on the music charts, Drake has hit a few rough patches in his personal life. In recent years, he and fellow entertainer Chris Brown have become rivals over singer Rihanna. The pair's bitter feud erupted in violence during the summer of 2012 at a New York nightclub. Several people were injured as a result of Drake and Brown's fight.

While no one has been criminally charged for the incident, both Drake and Brown have found themselves facing legal consequences for their actions. 

Professional basketball player Tony Parker, a male model and two women—all hurt in the brawl—are among those who have filed suit against the performers. In addition, Drake and Brown began legal proceedings against each other in court in early 2013 over who is responsible for starting the grisly clash.

Around this time, Drake settled another legal matter out of court. He reached an agreement with former girlfriend Ericka Lee over her contributions to the song "Marvin's Room." Lee had sued Drake in 2012 seeking credit for co-writing the track.

Personal obstacles never seem to sidetrack Drake for long. He released a new single, "Started from the Bottom," in early 2013. The song, off his album, Nothing was the Same, reflects his personal struggle for fame and success. "I just wanted to make it known that I did work really hard to get here and it wasn't just a fluke and it wasn't easy by any means," he explained to MTV News.

As his rap career moves forward, Drake hopes that his unconventional rise to hip-hop fame will continue to prove an asset, not a hindrance. "This whole thing is unusual at this point," he says, "so we're just rolling with the fairytale vibe."

2013–2015: Nothing Was the Same and If You're Reading This It's Too Late

During the European leg of the Club Paradise Tour, Drake spoke in an interview stating that he had begun working on his third studio album. Revealing his intentions to remain with 40 as the album's executive producer, Drake spoke fondly about Jamie xx, hoping to include and expand the British producer's influence over his next album. Drake had also revealed that the album would stylistically differ from Take Care, departing from the ambient production and despondent lyrics prevalent previously.

In January 2013, Drake announced that he would release the first single off his third album at the end of the 55th Annual Grammy Awards. Despite an initial delay, it was released in the wake of his win for the Grammy Award for Best Rap Album at the event, and it foresaw Drake announcing Nothing Was the Same as the title of his third album. The album's second single, "Hold On, We're Going Home", was released in August 2013, becoming the most successful single off the album, peaking at number one on the Billboard Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs chart. Drake sought inspiration from the 1980s television series Miami Vice during the composition of the song's music video, incorporating the dramatic elements seen in the show en route to winning his second MTV Video Music Award in 2014 for the video. Drake appeared on Late Night with Jimmy Fallon, performing the album's third single, "Too Much", alongside featured artist Sampha.

Nothing Was the Same was released on September 24, 2013, debuting at number one on the US Billboard 200, with 658,000 copies sold in its first week of release. The album debuted atop the charts in Canada, Denmark, Australia and the United Kingdom. The album also enjoyed generally favorable reviews by contemporary music critics, commending the musical shift in terms of the tone and subject matter, comparing it to the distinct change showcased in Kanye West 's 808s & Heartbreak. The album was also reported to have sold over 1,720,000 copies in the United States, and was further promoted by the "Would You like a Tour?" throughout late 2013 to early 2014. It became the 22nd-most successful tour of the year, grossing an estimated $46 million. Drake then returned to acting in January 2014, hosting Saturday Night Live, as well as serving as the musical guest. His versatility, acting ability and comedic timing were all praised by critics, describing it as what "kept him afloat during the tough and murky SNL waters". Drake also performed in Dubai, being one of the only artists ever to perform in the city. In late 2014, Drake announced that he began recording sessions for his fourth studio album.

In 2014, Drake performed in Spanish as a featured artist on the Romeo Santos song "Odio". He also appeared on a remix of "Tuesday" by ILoveMakonnen, which peaked at number one on Billboard's Rhythmic chart and number twelve on the "Hot 100", and released "0 to 100 / The Catch Up" as a non-album single. The latter went double platinum in the United States.

On February 12, 2015, Drake released If You're Reading This It's Too Late onto iTunes with no prior announcement. Despite debate on whether it was an album or a mixtape, its commercial stance quantifies it as his fourth retail project with Cash Money Records, a scheme that was rumored to allow Drake to leave the label. However, he eventually remained with Cash Money, and If You're Reading This It's Too Late sold over 1 million units in 2015, making Drake the first artist with a platinum project in 2015, as well as his fourth overall.

2015–2017: What a Time to Be Alive, Views, and More Life

On July 31, 2015, Drake released four singles: "Back to Back", "Charged Up", "Hotline Bling", and "Right Hand". On September 20, 2015, Drake released a collaborative mixtape with Future, which was recorded in Atlanta in just under a week.

What a Time to Be Alive debuted at number one on the Billboard 200, making Drake the first hip hop artist to have two projects reach number one in the same year since 2004. It was later certified platinum by the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA) for combined sales, streaming and track-sales equivalent of over 1 million units. Drake also appeared on the cover of The Fader for their 100th issue.

Drake announced in January 2016 that his fourth studio album would be launched during the spring, releasing the promotional single "Summer Sixteen" later that month. The album was originally titled Views from the 6, but was later shortened to Views. "Summer Sixteen" debuted at number six on the US Billboard Hot 100, and proved controversial, with Drake comparing his standing in hip hop to more tenured artists. This move divided many contemporary music critics, describing his self-comparison as "goodly brash" or "conventionally disrespectful." It was also interpreted as a diss track towards Tory Lanez, who was unhappy at Drake for popularizing the term "The Six" when referencing Toronto. Drake also crashed a Bat Mitzvah in New York City on February 20, performing at the event.

Drake soon released the album's lead singles, "Pop Style" and the dancehall-infused "One Dance", on April 5. Both debuted within the top 40 of the Billboard Hot 100; however, the latter proved more commercially successful, with "One Dance" becoming Drake's first number-one single in Canada and the US as a leading artist. The single also became Drake's first number one single as a lead artist in the United Kingdom, and peaked at number one in Germany, France, Australia, Brazil, Sweden, Belgium, Norway and the Netherlands. During an episode for OVO Sound Radio, Drake confirmed the album's release date of April 29, and followed it up with various promotional videos. On October 15, "One Dance" became Spotify's most-streamed song ever, amassing over 882 million plays as of October 2016.

Views was previewed in London before its premiere on Beats 1 a day later. It was released as an Apple Music and iTunes exclusive on April 29 before being made available to various other platforms later that week. Views would become Drake's most commercially successful album, sitting atop the Billboard 200 for ten nonconsecutive weeks, as well as simultaneously leading the Billboard Hot 100 and the Billboard 200 for eight weeks. It also achieved double-platinum status in the U.S., and earned over 1 million album-equivalent units in the first week of its release, as well as gaining over half-billion overall streams of the album. Despite its success, critical opinion towards the album remained much divided, drawing criticism for being overlong and lacking in a cohesive theme, while also claiming Drake was not challenging himself artistically, as opposed to his contemporaries. He later released a short film titled Please Forgive Me, starring Swedish twin models Elizabeth and Victoria Lejonhjärta who are frequent collaborators with him.[179] As of 2019, Views remains Drake's best-selling album in pure sales.

Drake returned to host Saturday Night Live on May 14, serving as the show's musical guest. Later, Drake was named as a member of the Forbes Five, which ranks the wealthiest artists in hip-hop, placing fifth after Birdman, Jay Z , Dr. Dre , and Diddy respectively. Drake and Future then announced the Summer Sixteen Tour to showcase their collective mixtape, as well as their respective studio albums. This marked Drake's third co-headlining tour, which began in Austin, Texas on July 20. On July 23, Drake announced that he was working on a new project, scheduled to be released in early 2017, and was later named as the headline act for the 2016 iHeartRadio Music Festival. The latter dates of the Summer Sixteen Tour were postponed, however, due to Drake suffering an ankle injury. During the 2016 OVO Festival, Kanye West confirmed that he and Drake had begun working on a collaborative album. Soon after, the music video for "Child's Play" was released, depicting Drake and Tyra Banks playing a couple encountering relationship issues at the Cheesecake Factory in a reference to one of the song's lyrics. On September 26, Please Forgive Me was released as an Apple Music exclusive. It ran a total of 25 minutes, and featured music from Views. At the 2016 BET Hip-Hop Awards, Drake received the most nominations, with 10, winning the awards for Album of the Year and Best Hip-Hop Video. Drake later announced the Boy Meets World Tour on October 10, with twenty-six dates announced for the course of the tour in Europe. Seven additional dates were added a day later due to overwhelming demand.

Soon after, during an episode of OVO Sound Radio, Drake confirmed he would be releasing a project titled More Life in December. However, he later pushed the date back to the new year. The project was described as a "playlist of original music", rather than being classified as a traditional mixtape or solo album. He was later revealed to be Spotify's most streamed artist for the second consecutive year in 2016, amassing a total 4.7 billion streams for all projects on the service, which is more than double the amount of streams he had in 2015. Drake later secured his second and third Grammy Awards, winning for Best Rap/Sung Performance and Best Rap Song at the 59th ceremony. Despite multiple setbacks, Drake announced More Life would be released on March 18, 2017, via a series of multiple video commercials released through Instagram. Upon release, More Life received mostly positive reviews, and debuted atop the Billboard 200, earning 505,000 album-equivalent units in its first week. It also set a streaming record, becoming the highest ever streamed album in 24 hours, with a total of 89.9 million streams on Apple Music alone. The album also garnered 61.3 million streams on Spotify, dethroning Ed Sheeran's ÷ as the highest opening on the service in a single day.[202] He later won 13 awards at the 2017 Billboard Music Awards in May, which saw him breaking the record for the most wins in a single show. Billboard also reported Drake had been present on the Hot 100 chart for eight consecutive years, and has the most recorded entries by a solo artist.

He then released the single "Signs" on June 24, as well as reuniting with Metro Boomin on a single with Offset. The singles marked his first releases since More Life, with "Signs" was initially released as a collaboration between Drake and French fashion house Louis Vuitton, as part of the "Louis Vuitton Men's Spring-Summer 2018" fashion show. The event also had a playlist exclusively from OVO Sound, curated by label co-founder Oliver El-Khatib. Drake hosted the first annual NBA Awards on June 26, and starred in multiple commercials alongside his father in promotion of Virginia Black. Drake also appeared in The Carter Effect documentary, honoring the basketball career of Vince Carter, who was the first superstar player to play for the Toronto Raptors since the franchise's inception in 1995. The documentary also featured NBA players Chris Bosh, Tracy McGrady, Steve Nash, and LeBron James.

2018–2019: Scorpion and Care Package; return to television

After rumors circulated of Drake possibly collaborating with various artists, including rapper Trippie Redd and producer Pi'erre Bourne, for his new studio album, multiple snippets of songs were leaked near the closing end of 2017. Two songs would later be released as members of a mini EP, titled Scary Hours, on January 20, 2018, marking Drake's first solo release since More Life, as well as his first appearance on any song after featuring on a remix of the Jay-Z song "Family Feud" with Lil Wayne , as the lead single of the latter's Dedication 6: Reloaded mixtape. Scary Hours featured the songs "Diplomatic Immunity" and "God's Plan", which both debuted within the top-ten, with the latter eventually breaking various streaming records as it debuted at number one on the US Billboard Hot 100. The song was Drake's first song as a solo artist to reach number one, as well as his second chart topper as a lead artist.

Drake earned his 70th top 40 entry after featuring on the Migos song "Walk It Talk It", which debuted at number eighteen, and peaked at number ten. He was later featured on BlocBoy JB's debut single "Look Alive", which was released on February 9, 2018. The song's entry at number six on the Hot 100 made Drake the rapper with the most top 10 hits on the Hot 100, with 23. He then featured on a remix to "Lemon", a song originally released as a collaboration between band N.E.R.D and Rihanna. On April 5, Drake announced he was finishing his fifth studio album and he was releasing a single later that night. On April 6, "Nice for What" was released, alongside a music video directed by Karena Evans, which featured several female celebrities.

After "Nice For What" replaced his own "God's Plan" on the Billboard Hot 100 at number one, making him the first artist to have a new number-one debut replace their former number-one debut, Drake announced the title of his fifth studio album as Scorpion, with a planned release date of June 29, 2018. He then released "I'm Upset" on May 26 as the album's third single. Scorpion was then released as a double-album, and marked Drake's longest project, with a run-time of just under 90 minutes. The album broke both the one-day global records on Spotify and Apple Music, as it gained 132.45 million and 170 million plays on each streaming service, respectively. It eventually sold 749,000 album equivalent units in its first week of sales, and debuted at number one on the Billboard 200. In 2018, articles by The Guardian and Rolling Stone called him "the definitive pop star of his generation" and "perhaps [the] biggest post-Justin Timberlake male pop star of the new millennium", respectively.

Shortly thereafter, Drake collaborated with British hip hop promotion Link Up TV on July 7, releasing a freestyle as a part of the promotion's 'Behind Barz' segment, before releasing another freestyle a week later after featuring on Charlie Sloth's long-running Fire in the Booth program on BBC Radio 1Xtra. Drake then earned his sixth number-one hit with "In My Feelings" on July 21, which also spawned the viral "#InMyFeelingsChallenge" or "#KiKiChallenge". The success of "In My Feelings" also made Drake the record holder for most number one hits among rappers. Soon after, he released the music video for "Nonstop", which was filmed in London during his surprise performance at the Wireless Festival.

He then appeared on the Travis Scott album Astroworld, featuring uncredited vocals for his song "Sicko Mode", which peaked at number one on the Billboard Hot 100. Drake announced in July 2018 that he planned to "take 6 months to a year" to himself to return to television and films, producing the television series Euphoria and Top Boy. He then began the Aubrey & the Three Migos Tour with co-headliners Migos on August 12. This preceded a collaboration with Bad Bunny titled "Mia", which featured Drake performing in Spanish. He subsequently received the award for Hot Ticket Performer at the 2018 BET Hip Hop Awards on October 16. During a performance in Edmonton on November 7, Drake announced his intention to begin composing his next project in early 2019.

In February 2019, he received his fourth Grammy Award for Best Rap Song, for "God's Plan", at the 61st Annual Grammy Awards. During his speech, producers abruptly cut to a commercial break, leading viewers to speculate they were censoring his speech during which he criticized The Recording Academy. A legal representative for the Academy then released a statement stating "a natural pause [led] the producers [to] assume that he was done and cut to commercial," and added the organization offered him an opportunity to return to stage, but he declined.

On February 14, Drake re-released his third mixtape, So Far Gone, onto streaming services for the first time to commemorate its 10-year anniversary, and later collaborated with Summer Walker on a remix of Walker's song "Girls Need Love", marking his first release of 2019. On April 10, during a performance on the Assassination Vacation Tour, he announced he was working on a new album. On June 8, Drake appeared on Chris Brown's single "No Guidance". On June 15, Drake released two songs, "Omertà" and "Money in the Grave", on his EP The Best in the World Pack to celebrate the NBA Championship win of the Toronto Raptors. On August 2, he released the compilation album Care Package, consisting of songs released between 2010 and 2016 that were initially unavailable for purchase or commercial streaming; it debuted at number one on the Billboard 200.

2019–present: Dark Lane Demo Tapes, Scary Hours 2, and Certified Lover Boy

Drake released the song "War" on December 24, 2019, with an accompanying music video, which was widely noted for its UK drill-inspired instrumental. The following day, in an interview with Rap Radar, it was revealed that he was in the process of completing his sixth studio album. On January 10, 2020, Drake collaborated with Future on the song "Life Is Good", which appeared on the album High Off Life. On January 31, the pair again collaborated on the song "Desires", although it was released for free after being leaked. On February 29, Drake released the songs "When to Say When" and "Chicago Freestyle" with a combined music video. On April 3, he released "Toosie Slide" with a music video, which features a dance created in collaboration with social media influencer Toosie. It debuted at number one on the Billboard Hot 100, making Drake the first male artist to have three songs debut at number one.

On May 1, 2020, Drake released the commercial mixtape Dark Lane Demo Tapes, with guest appearances from Chris Brown, Future, Young Thug, Fivio Foreign, Playboi Carti, and Sosa Geek. He also announced that his sixth studio album would be released in the summer of 2020. The mixtape is a compilation of new songs and tracks that leaked on the internet. It received mixed reviews and debuted at number two on the US Billboard 200 with 223,000 album-equivalent units, and at number one on the UK Albums Chart, earning 20,000 units in its first week.

On July 17, Drake was featured on DJ Khaled's singles "Greece" and "Popstar", debuting at numbers eight and three on the Billboard Hot 100, respectively, becoming Drake's record-extending 24th and 25th debuts in the Hot 100's top 10. It also became his 39th and 40th Hot 100 top ten entries, breaking Madonna's record for most Hot 100 top ten hits. On July 20, Drake and Headie One released the drill track "Only You Freestyle", making it the third drill-inspired song he released in 2020, after "War" and "Demons", both of which appear on Dark Lane Demo Tapes. On August 14, "Laugh Now Cry Later" featuring Lil Durk was released, which was intended as the lead single from Drake's album Certified Lover Boy, but not included on the final track listing. It debuted at number two on the Hot 100, and was nominated for Best Melodic Rap Performance and Best Rap Song at the 63rd Annual Grammy Awards.

On September 3, the video for "Popstar" was released, in which Drake makes a cameo appearance. On October 2, Drake was the sole guest appearance on Bryson Tiller's album Anniversary (2020), on the song "Outta Time". He subsequently appeared on the remix to "You're Mines Still", alongside Yung Bleu on October 16; just over a week later, on his 34th birthday, Drake announced Certified Lover Boy was set to be released in January 2021. This was later pushed back to an unspecified date after he sustained a knee injury which required surgery.

On December 1, he reunited with Lil Wayne on "B.B. King Freestyle", the lead single from the latter's double-disc mixtape No Ceilings 3 (2020). In January 2021, Drake became the first artist to surpass 50 billion combined streams on Spotify. He later collaborated with Drakeo the Ruler on the single "Talk to Me", which was released on February 23. On March 5, Drake released an EP titled Scary Hours 2, which includes three songs: "What's Next", "Wants and Needs" with Lil Baby , and "Lemon Pepper Freestyle" with Rick Ross. These three songs entered the charts at numbers one, two, and three, respectively, making Drake the first artist to have three songs debut in the top three on the Billboard Hot 100. He then appeared on the single "Solid" from the YSL Records compilation Slime Language 2, alongside Gunna and Young Thug. "Solid" was originally meant to appear on Certified Lover Boy, and to only feature Gunna. On May 14, Drake was featured alongside mentor Lil Wayne on former labelmate Nicki Minaj 's "Seeing Green", a new song on the streaming re-release of her 2009 mixtape Beam Me Up Scotty. Two weeks later, he was named Artist of the Decade at the 2021 Billboard Music Awards. On June 12, he featured on Migos' "Having Our Way", from the group's third studio album, Culture III (2021), and on July 1, collaborated with Brent Faiyaz and The Neptunes on the song "Wasting Time". On July 23, Drake appeared on "Over the Top" with Smiley, the newest signee to OVO Sound.

During an appearance on Fri Yiy Friday, a radio show supported by OVO Sound, Drake revealed Certified Lover Boy "is ready. [I'm] looking forward to delivering it". He then appeared on "Betrayal", a collaboration with Trippie Redd for Trip at Knight (2021). Certified Lover Boy was then released on September 3, 2021.

(sources: biography.com, Wikipedia )

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Drake: Biography, Success Story, Canadian Rapper

Drake’s biography unfolds like a captivating script from his humble beginnings in Toronto to his ascent as a global music icon, illustrating a remarkable success story. His discography, highlighted by albums such as  Take Care ,  Views , and  Scorpion , alongside his ventures into business and philanthropy, paints a portrait of an artist who transcends the boundaries of hip-hop and R&B.

Table of Contents

Introduction

Aubrey Drake Graham, born on October 24, 1986, is a celebrated Canadian rapper and singer known for his significant impact on contemporary music, notably for blending R&B elements into hip-hop. Drake first caught the public’s eye as Jimmy Brooks on the teen drama Degrassi: The Next Generation from 2001 to 2008. Embarking on a music career in 2006, he released his initial mixtape, Room for Improvement. He continued to gain momentum with Comeback Season in 2007 and So Far Gone in 2009, eventually signing with Young Money Entertainment.

His early albums, Thank Me Later (2010), Take Care (2011), and Nothing Was the Same (2013), saw significant commercial success and featured hits like “Find Your Love” and “Started from the Bottom.” Views , his fourth album released in 2016, dominated the charts for 13 weeks and included chart-toppers like “Hotline Bling” and “One Dance,” the latter influencing pop music’s embrace of dancehall and Afrobeats. Scorpion (2018) followed, launching three number-one singles, and was succeeded by Certified Lover Boy (2021), breaking records with its nine top-ten hits. Drake continued to innovate, releasing Honestly, Nevermind , and continued collaboration on Her Loss with 21 Savage in 2022 and For All the Dogs in 2023, all contributing to his chart dominance.

Beyond music, Drake is a savvy entrepreneur. He founded OVO Sound with 40 in 2012, became the Toronto Raptors’ “global ambassador” in 2013, and engaged in ventures like Virginia Black whiskey and the Nocta collaboration with Nike . His business ventures extend to owning part of A.C. Milan soccer club in 2022 and contributing significantly to Toronto’s tourism revenue.

As one of the world’s top-selling artists with over 170 million records sold, Drake has amassed numerous accolades, including five Grammy Awards and the title of the highest-certified digital singles artist in the US He shares a record with Michael Jackson for the most number-one hits on the Billboard Hot 100 and holds multiple records across the Hot 100 and R&B/Hip-Hop charts, underscoring his influential presence in music over the years.

Enjoy reading Drake’s comprehensive biography and success story.

Aubrey Drake Graham was born in Toronto, Ontario, on October 24, 1986. His father, Dennis Graham, an African-American drummer from Memphis who played alongside Jerry Lee Lewis, and his mother, Sandra “Sandi” Graham, a Canadian of Ashkenazi Jewish descent, worked as an English teacher and florist. They met in Toronto, and through his father, Drake has dual citizenship in Canada and the United States. Drake attended a Jewish day school growing up and celebrated his bar mitzvah.

After his parents divorced when he was five, Drake stayed in Toronto with his mother while his father, facing legal troubles, moved back to Memphis. Despite these challenges, Drake spent summers in Memphis with his father, who later contested Drake’s portrayal of him as an absent father, a claim Drake disputes.

Drake grew up in two different Toronto neighborhoods. Initially, he lived in the working-class area of Weston Road, playing minor hockey and attending Weston Memorial Junior Public School. Following a move to the more affluent Forest Hill neighborhood in 2000, Drake lived in a modest home, sharing with another family. He even appeared in a comedic sketch for the 1997 NHL Awards at age 10.

Drake attended Forest Hill Collegiate Institute and then Vaughan Road Academy for his education, where he faced bullying and challenges related to his mixed-racial and religious background. During his teenage years, he also worked at his maternal grandfather’s furniture factory. His passion for acting marked his early life, leading him to drop out of school to pursue his career, although he eventually earned his high school diploma in October 2012.

2001–2009: Career Beginnings

At the age of 15, Drake began his journey in the entertainment industry when a friend’s father, an acting agent, secured him a role on the Canadian teen drama Degrassi: The Next Generation . In the show, he played Jimmy Brooks, a high school basketball star whose life changes dramatically after a classmate shoots him. This early acting opportunity came at a time when Drake and his mother were struggling financially, making his earnings from the show especially crucial. Drake’s commitment to both his acting and budding music career often led to late arrivals on set, a challenge he navigated by striking a deal with security to allow him late entry and facilitating late-night recording sessions.

Musically influenced by artists like Jay-Z and Clipse, Drake embarked on his musical journey with the self-released mixtape Room for Improvement in 2006, which featured collaborations with Trey Songz and Lupe Fiasco. Despite its modest sales of about 6,000 copies, Drake was undeterred, earning his first concert opening for Ice Cube in August of the same year. His second mixtape, Comeback Season , released in 2007 from his own label, October’s Very Own, featured “Replacement Girl” with Trey Songz. This project caught the attention of Lil Wayne , who invited Drake to join him on tour, leading to several collaborative tracks between the two.

Drake’s third mixtape, So Far Gone , released in 2009, marked a significant turning point in his career. Available for free download, it featured prominent artists like Lil Wayne and Trey Songz and achieved mainstream success with hits “Best I Ever Had” and “Successful,” both of which earned Platinum certification. The mixtape’s success led to a re-release as an EP, which debuted at number six on the Billboard 200 and won the Rap Recording of the Year at the 2010 Juno Awards.

The buzz from So Far Gone incited a major label bidding war, culminating in Drake signing with Young Money Entertainment in June 2009. He joined the label’s America’s Most Wanted Tour but experienced a setback when he injured his knee during a performance, tearing his anterior cruciate ligament. This injury notwithstanding, Drake’s early career was marked by a relentless pursuit of musical and acting excellence, setting the stage for his future successes.

2010–2012: Musical Breakthrough with  Thank Me Later  and  Take Care

In the early stages of his music career, Drake set out to release his first album, Thank Me Later , initially planned for late 2008. However, it faced several delays before finally launching on June 15, 2010. His journey into the music scene kicked off with the release of “Over” on March 9, 2010, which climbed to number fourteen on the Billboard Hot 100 and led the Rap Songs chart. This track and his second single, “Find Your Love,” which hit number five on the Hot 100 and went 3× Multi-Platinum, marked Drake’s entry into the limelight. The video for “Find Your Love” stirred controversy in Jamaica, drawing criticism from a governmental official. Other singles like “Miss Me” and “Fancy” also saw success, with the latter earning Drake a Grammy nomination.

Thank Me Later debuted at the top of the Billboard 200, selling over 447,000 copies in the first week, and was the best-selling debut album of 2010. However, a free concert in New York to promote the album was canceled due to safety concerns over the crowd size. Following this, Drake embarked on the Away from Home Tour, covering 78 shows and culminating in the launch of the first OVO Festival as part of his commitment to an eco-friendly approach.

Drake aimed for a more cohesive sound for his next project, Take Care , working closely with producer Noah “40” Shebib. He released promotional singles “Dreams Money Can Buy” and “Marvins Room” in 2011, with the latter achieving significant success and certification. “Headlines,” the lead single from Take Care , further solidified Drake’s standing in the music world, achieving multi-platinum status.

Take Care dropped on November 15, 2011, to widespread acclaim, later winning a Grammy for Best Rap Album. Its singles, including “The Motto,” which popularized the acronym YOLO, and the title track “Take Care,” featuring Rihanna, garnered substantial commercial success and critical acclaim, with the music video for “Take Care” receiving four MTV VMA nominations. “HYFR” was another hit single from the album, going 2× Multi-Platinum.

In addition to his music, Drake returned to acting and continued his live performances. In 2012, he released “Enough Said,” a posthumous collaboration with Aaliyah, and led the Club Paradise Tour, the most successful hip-hop tour of 2012, grossing over $42 million. He also lent his voice to the animated film Ice Age: Continental Drift , showcasing his versatility as an artist and performer.

2013–2015:  Nothing Was the Same and  If You’re Reading This It’s Too Late

During the European part of his Club Paradise Tour, Drake laid the groundwork for his third studio album. He confirmed that Noah “40” Shebib would return as the executive producer and mentioned British producer Jamie xx would influence the new album, signaling a departure from the style of his previous work, Take Care. Following his Grammy win for Best Rap Album in February 2013, Drake announced Nothing Was the Same and dropped its first single, shifting away from the ambient sounds and introspective lyrics that had characterized his earlier music.

Nothing Was the Same hit the shelves on September 24, 2013, immediately topping the US Billboard 200 chart by selling 658,000 copies in its first week. The album, which saw number one debuts in multiple countries, including Canada and the UK, was praised for its musical evolution, drawing comparisons to Kanye West’s 808s & Heartbreak . With sales exceeding 1.72 million copies in the U.S., Drake supported the album with the “Would You Like a Tour?” from late 2013 to early 2014, which became one of the year’s top tours, earning around $46 million.

Drake made a notable return to acting in January 2014 by hosting Saturday Night Live and performing as the musical guest, where his wide-ranging talents received widespread acclaim. Later, in 2014, he hinted at working on his fourth studio effort. Without warning, Drake released If You’re Reading This It’s Too Late on iTunes in February 2015. The project sparked discussions about whether it was an album or a mixtape, but its commercial success solidified it as his fourth major release under Cash Money Records. Despite rumors that the project might mark Drake’s departure from the label, he stayed with Cash Money. If You’re Reading This It’s Too Late broke the million-unit sales mark in 2015, underscoring Drake’s enduring appeal and versatility as an artist.

2015–2017:  What a Time to Be Alive ,  Views , and  More Life

In a whirlwind of musical achievement between 2015 and 2017, Drake released several successful projects, beginning with four singles on July 31, 2015, including the chart-topping “Hotline Bling.” Following this, a collaborative mixtape with Future titled What a Time to Be Alive dropped on September 20, 2015, quickly hitting number one on the Billboard 200 and marking Drake as the first hip-hop artist since 2004 to achieve two number-one projects in the same year. This mixtape eventually earned a 2× Multi-Platinum certification.

In early 2016, Drake teased his fourth studio album, initially called Views from the 6 , but later shortened to just Views . The promotional single “Summer Sixteen” was released, stirring controversy and discussions among critics. Leading singles “Pop Style” and “One Dance” followed, with “One Dance” securing Drake’s first number-one single in several countries, including the US and Canada.

Views was exclusively released on April 29, 2016, through Apple Music and iTunes. It showcases Drake’s most commercially successful album to date. For thirteen weeks, it dominated the Billboard 200 and achieved notable streaming numbers despite receiving mixed reviews from critics.

Drake also appeared on Saturday Night Live as a host and musical guest in May 2016 and embarked on the Summer Sixteen Tour with Future. The tour set records as the highest-grossing hip-hop tour at the time. In July 2016, Drake hinted at a new project, More Life , later described as a “playlist of original music,” released in March 2017 to positive reviews and record-breaking streaming numbers. More Life topped the Billboard 200 and set a new standard for streaming in its first 24 hours.

During this period, Drake also made significant appearances in the music video for “Child’s Play,” released the Please Forgive Me short film, and was a major winner at the 2016 BET Hip-Hop Awards. Other highlights included announcing the Boy Meets World Tour and collaborating on a project with Kanye West .

Drake’s influence extended beyond music; he hosted the inaugural NBA Awards in June 2017 and was featured in the documentary The Carter Effect . His continuous presence on the Billboard Hot 100 for eight consecutive years, coupled with a record 13 awards at the 2017 Billboard Music Awards, underscored his dominance in the music industry during these years.

2018–2019:  Scorpion  and  Care Package ; Return to Television

In 2018, Drake kicked off the year with the release of Scary Hours , a mini EP that marked his first solo venture since More Life . The EP included hits like “Diplomatic Immunity” and “God’s Plan,” the latter soaring to the top of the US Billboard Hot 100 and becoming Drake’s first solo track to achieve this feat. “God’s Plan” also earned a Diamond certification, positioning it among the highest-certified digital singles in the US. Drake continued to make waves with his feature on BlocBoy JB’s debut single “Look Alive,” helping him set a record for the most top 10 hits on the Hot 100 by a rapper.

April saw the release of “Nice for What,” a lead single from his fifth studio album, Scorpion , which uniquely replaced another one of his tracks, “God’s Plan,” at number one on the Billboard Hot 100. Scorpion , released on June 29, 2018, was Drake’s most extensive project to date and broke streaming records on Spotify and Apple Music upon release. It debuted at number one on the Billboard 200, solidifying Drake’s presence in the music industry.

The album’s single “In My Feelings” achieved number-one status, earning Drake the title for most number-one hits among rappers. He also featured on Travis Scott’s “Sicko Mode” from the album Astroworld , which hit number one on the Hot 100. In July 2018, Drake announced plans to refocus on television and film projects, including producing series like Euphoria and Top Boy , and embarked on the Aubrey & the Three Migos Tour with Migos. He also teamed up with Bad Bunny for “Mia,” showcasing his versatility by performing in Spanish.

In 2019, Drake won his fourth Grammy Award for Best Rap Song with “God’s Plan” amid controversy during his acceptance speech at the 61st Annual Grammy Awards. February marked the 10th anniversary of his third mixtape, So Far Gone , which he re-released on streaming services. To celebrate the Toronto Raptors’ NBA Championship win, he released “Omertà” and “Money in the Grave” in The Best in the World Pack EP in June. Following this, in August, Drake released Care Package , a compilation album of previously unreleased songs from 2010 to 2016, which also debuted at number one on the Billboard 200, continuing his streak of musical success.

2019–2021:  Dark Lane Demo Tapes  and  Certified Lover Boy

In the latter part of 2019, Drake released “War” on December 24, drawing attention to its UK drill influence. The very next day, he announced he was finalizing his sixth studio album. By April 3, 2020, he unveiled “Toosie Slide” alongside a dance-themed music video in collaboration with Toosie, a social media influencer. This track landed number one on the Billboard Hot 100, making Drake the first male artist to debut three songs at the top spot.

On May 1, 2020, Drake released Dark Lane Demo Tapes , a commercial mixtape featuring collaborations with artists like Chris Brown and Future. This collection, which blended new tracks with previously leaked ones, debuted at number two in the US and topped the UK Albums Chart despite receiving mixed critiques.

Drake hinted at a summer 2020 release for his next album, Certified Lover Boy . The release of “Laugh Now Cry Later” in August, featuring Lil Durk, served as an early taste of the album, achieving a number two spot on the Hot 100 and a Grammy nomination. Despite initial plans for a January 2021 release, Drake delayed the album due to a knee injury.

Drake broke Spotify’s record with over 50 billion streams in early 2021. He followed up in March with Scary Hours 2 EP, making history again as the first artist to debut three songs in the top three spots on the Billboard Hot 100. That year, he was celebrated as Artist of the Decade at the Billboard Music Awards.

Certified Lover Boy , launched on September 3, 2021, marked Drake’s tenth number-one album on the Billboard 200. It set records with every track charting on the Hot 100 and nine songs hitting the top 10 simultaneously. The album and its single “Way 2 Sexy” received Grammy nominations, amidst Drake being honored as Billboard’s Top Artist of 2021 and ranking as the fourth most streamed artist on Spotify for the year. Despite these accolades, Drake withdrew his Grammy nominations amidst reports of his complex relationship with the Recording Academy. Drake’s influence was undeniable, with 8.6 billion on-demand streams in 2021, highlighting his status as the year’s most streamed artist in the United States.

2022–present:  Honestly, Nevermind ,  Her Loss ,  For All the Dogs  and Planned Hiatus

In 2022, Drake continued to make headlines, starting with being ranked fourth by Forbes as one of the highest-paid rappers of 2021, boasting an estimated pre-tax income of $50 million. His streaming success was unparalleled, with his 2021 streams surpassing the total streams of all songs released before 1980. He achieved his tenth number-one song on the Billboard Hot 100 with “Wait for U,” a collaboration with Future, joining an elite group of artists with ten or more number-one hits.

Drake’s business acumen shone through as he re-signed with Universal Music Group in May, landing a deal rumored to be worth around $400 million, one of the most lucrative in music history. He then surprised fans with his seventh studio album, Honestly, Nevermind , released in June, quickly becoming his eleventh US number-one album. The album’s success solidified his place among music legends, with over 10 number-one albums to his name.

In July, Drake planned a reunion concert series in Toronto with Lil Wayne and Nicki Minaj , demonstrating his enduring influence and popularity. His track “Staying Alive” made history by becoming his 30th top-five song on the Billboard Hot 100, surpassing The Beatles’ long-standing record.

In October, Drake announced Her Loss , a collaborative album with 21 Savage. Upon release, it topped the charts and added to Drake’s record for the most top ten entries on the Billboard Hot 100. Despite his commercial success, Drake chose not to submit his music for Grammy consideration for the second year in a row.

2023 continued to be a monumental year for Drake, with four Grammy nominations, including Album of the Year for his contributions to Beyoncé’s Renaissance . He was also named the most streamed act on Spotify. Announcing his eighth studio album, For All the Dogs , through a poetry book teaser, Drake released “Slime You Out” with SZA as the lead single, which hit number one on the Billboard Hot 100. Following up with “8AM in Charlotte,” Drake demonstrated his relentless creativity and continued dominance in the music industry.

Musical Style

Drake is widely recognized in the music industry as a pioneering pop-rap artist. His musical journey has evolved significantly over the years. Initially grounded in hip-hop and R&B, his later works have embraced pop and trap influences, mainly since Nothing Was the Same was released in 2013 and Views in 2016. Drake’s sound has also been shaped by various regional music styles, including Jamaican dancehall and UK drill, showcasing his versatility and willingness to experiment with different genres.

Noted for his lyrical dexterity, Drake’s music frequently explores themes of egotism, technical prowess, and introspective narratives, especially concerning his interactions with women. His vocal style is distinctive, skillfully blending assertive rap with melodic singing, creating a highly acclaimed and commercially successful contrast. This unique blend owes partly to his father, who encouraged him to incorporate singing into his rap, a technique further supported by Lil Wayne.

Drake’s approach to R&B is marked by its minimalist beats and seamless fusion of rap and singing, a style that has dominated the charts and influenced a wave of artists. His lyrics often navigate between boasting and emotional vulnerability, with a penchant for transforming traditional themes of wealth, drug use, and relationships into nuanced narratives that challenge conventional interpretations.

His contribution to the genre has been described as “hyper-reality rap,” focusing on the nuances of fame and its distinction from ordinary life. Through his innovative use of language and the blending of subjective and objective perspectives within his lyrical delivery, Drake has mastered the art of creating music that resonates with a broad audience, maintaining a delicate balance between various elements of sound and storytelling.

Awards and Achievements

Drake is the most accredited digital singles artist in the United States, with a staggering 142 million units moved, a sum derived from both sales and on-demand streams. His single “God’s Plan” leads with an impressive 15× Platinum certification, closely followed by Diamond-certified hits “Hotline Bling” and “One Dance.” As the 2010s’ most streamed artist on Spotify, Drake’s influence and popularity are undeniable.

His achievements on the Billboard Hot 100 are unparalleled, holding records for the most charted songs by any artist (329), the highest number of top 10 singles (77), and the most top 10 debuts (61), among several others. His streak of 431 consecutive weeks on the chart underscores his consistent presence in the music scene. Drake’s 13 number-one songs further cement his status as a rap icon, sharing a record with the Beatles for dominating the Hot 100’s top five in a single week.

Drake’s Grammy Awards tally stands at four wins from 47 nominations, reflecting his critical acclaim and commercial success. He has also set a record with 29 Billboard Music Awards wins, including a historic 13 awards in one night in 2017, surpassing Adele’s previous record. Billboard’ s recognition of him as Artist of the Decade in 2021 attests to his significant impact on the music industry over the years.

His albums have achieved commercial success and received critical acclaim, with Nothing Was the Same being highlighted among the best albums of the decade and Take Care being recognized in Rolling Stone ‘s 500 Greatest Albums of All Time. Acknowledged as the “Best Rapper Alive” in several years by Complex, Drake’s prowess and versatility as an artist have been consistently recognized, making him a defining figure in modern music.

Legal Issues

Drake has encountered several legal issues throughout his career, ranging from personal safety incidents to various lawsuits. In 2009, he was robbed at gunpoint in Toronto, losing valuable items, but the charges against the perpetrators mainly were dropped, with only conspiracy to commit armed robbery remaining. In 2017, Mesha Collins broke into his home, filing a dismissed $4 billion lawsuit against him for defamation, leading Drake to obtain a restraining order against her in 2022. Additionally, there have been attempts to break into his homes in Toronto and Los Angeles.

Drake’s music has also been a source of legal contention. Ericka Lee sued him over using her voice in “Marvins Room,” which was settled out of court. He faced copyright lawsuits for sampling in “Pound Cake / Paris Morton Music 2” and for lyric use in “Who Do You Love?”, the former of which he won, and the latter settled by compensating rapper Rappin’ 4-Tay. Furthermore, he’s been involved in lawsuits related to nightclub incidents and has been implicated in a copyright infringement suit regarding “No Guidance,” although he was later dropped from the case.

In 2017, producer Detail (Noel Fisher) alleged assault by Drake’s bodyguard , a case dismissed for lack of evidence. Drake, along with Odell Beckham Jr. and Younes Bendjima, was sued by Bennett Sipes over an alleged assault outside an L.A. nightclub, which was settled out of court. He was also named in a lawsuit following the Astroworld Festival tragedy and sued by Condé Nast for unauthorized use of the Vogue name to promote Her Loss , a lawsuit that was settled. Additionally, there was controversy over a deposition in the XXXTentacion murder trial, with claims of improper service leading to the deposition being dismissed.

These incidents highlight the complex intersection of fame, personal life, and legal challenges that Drake has navigated in his career.

Drake’s career has been marked by musical success and a series of high-profile feuds with other artists.

• One notable conflict was with Chris Brown in June 2012, involving a physical altercation at a New York City nightclub. Although they initially exchanged criticisms, the tension seemingly dissolved by 2014, culminating in a collaborative track, “No Guidance,” in 2019.
• Drake’s dispute with Puff Daddy in December 2014 reportedly arose over music rights, leading to a physical confrontation. This feud centered around the instrumental for “0 to 100 / The Catch Up.”
• Another feud involved Tyga, who expressed negative views about Drake in an interview, leading to Drake responding through his music. This tension seemed to contribute to Tyga’s departure from Young Money Entertainment.
• The feud with Meek Mill began in July 2015 over allegations of ghostwriting. The dispute escalated with diss tracks from both artists but eventually cooled, leading to collaboration on “Going Bad” in 2019.
• Drake disagreed with Joe Budden in 2016 over Budden’s negative review of Views . Drake subtly responded in “4PM in Calabasas,” but despite Budden’s diss tracks, Drake did not engage further.
• A conflict with Kid Cudi also emerged in 2016, with Drake releasing “Two Birds, One Stone” after Cudi’s critical tweets. They later reconciled and collaborated on “IMY2” in 2021.
• The rivalry with Pusha T escalated in 2018 with “The Story of Adidon,” revealing personal details about Drake’s life. The origins of their conflict date back to earlier disputes with Lil Wayne and Birdman.
• Drake’s feud with Kanye West became public in mid-2018. Disagreements over music and personal betrayals were discussed in interviews and on social media. Despite ongoing tensions, they appeared to reconcile after a benefit concert in December 2021.

Additionally, Drake has been involved in reported disputes with several other artists, including DMX, music critic Anthony Fantano, Kendrick Lamar, Common, The Weeknd, XXXTentacion, Jay-Z, Tory Lanez, and Ludacris. Many of these conflicts have since been reported as resolved, illustrating the dynamic and often reconcilable nature of relationships within the music industry.

Business Ventures

Drake’s foray into business has seen him diversify his portfolio across endorsements, record label management, sports affiliations, entertainment ventures, and investments, showcasing his understanding beyond his music career.

Endorsements

Drake’s endorsement journey began with a deal with Sprite, notably after mentioning purple drank , which includes Sprite. After his feud with Meek Mill, fast food chains like Burger King and Whataburger endorsed him. Forbes highlighted that his endorsement deals significantly contributed to his impressive earnings of $94 million between June 2016 and June 2017. As of now, Drake endorses Stake.com, a gambling firm with a lucrative $100 million annual partnership, enhancing the company’s visibility significantly, a phenomenon dubbed “The Drake Effect.” He’s actively engaged with Stake, often sharing his betting experiences, and played a pivotal role in Stake’s naming sponsorship of the Sauber Formula 1 team for 2024.

In late 2012, alongside Noah “40” Shebib and Oliver El-Khatib, Drake launched OVO Sound. This record label, distributed by Warner Bros. Records, was Drake’s platform for his own releases and to foster emerging talent. The label’s roster includes notable artists and producers, contributing significantly to its distinct sound.

Toronto Raptors

In 2013, Drake became the Toronto Raptors’ “global ambassador,” a role that included promoting the team and assisting in its rebranding efforts. His involvement has been integral to the Raptors’ image overhaul and merchandise design, further solidifying his influence in sports.

Entertainment Ventures

Drake’s collaboration with Apple Music as its figurehead in 2015 marked a significant milestone in his career, contributing to the platform’s rapid growth. He also co-founded DreamCrew, a management and entertainment production company that has produced successful series like Euphoria and Top Boy and garnered an Emmy nomination for Euphoria .

Investments

Drake’s investment portfolio is vast, spanning from the entertainment venue History in Toronto to various tech and sustainability startups like Aspiration and MoonPay. His involvement with 100 Thieves as a co-owner underscores his interest in the gaming industry. Moreover, his investments in the food and beverage industry, including Virginia Black whiskey and Dave’s Hot Chicken, reflect his entrepreneurial spirit.

Fashion Ventures

Drake’s collaborations in the fashion sector have been varied and successful, from his own Air Jordan collection to partnerships with brands like Canada Goose and A Bathing Ape. The launch of Nocta, his sub-label with Nike, highlights his deep involvement in fashion, as he produces collections that blend sportswear with street style.

Through these ventures, Drake has expanded his business landscape and cemented his status as a multifaceted entrepreneur. He has influenced a wide range of industries, from music and sports to fashion and technology.

Personal Life

Health and residences.

Drake, a prominent figure in the music industry, resides in Toronto, Ontario, in a sprawling 35,000-square-foot estate valued at $100 million, known as “The Embassy.” This home, which he has occupied since its construction in 2017, was featured in his music video for “Toosie Slide.” Besides this, he has owned properties in the U.S., including the “YOLO Estate” in Hidden Hills, California, from 2012 until its sale in 2022, and a Beverly Crest home purchased from Robbie Williams for $70 million in the same year. Drake also owns a condo near the CN Tower in Toronto and boasts ownership of a Boeing 767. In 2021, he rented a lavish $65 million property in Beverly Hills.

His body is adorned with various tattoos that hold personal significance, including images of Lil Wayne, Sade, Aaliyah, and his son, along with several tattoos paying homage to Toronto. In August 2021, Drake disclosed he had contracted COVID-19, which temporarily affected his hair growth. He had first publicly tested for the virus early in the pandemic and contracted it again in 2022, leading to the postponement of some concerts.

Family and Relationships

Drake’s family background is rich with musical talent, including his uncles Larry Graham, a former Sly and the Family Stone member, and Teenie Hodges, a songwriter known for his work with Al Green. His personal life has seen high-profile relationships, including a past romance with SZA and a tumultuous on-and-off relationship with Rihanna, which he has openly discussed and reflected upon in his music and public appearances.

He is a father to a son named Adonis, born to French painter Sophie Brussaux on October 11, 2017. Drake’s paternity was confirmed amidst speculation and media coverage, particularly after being addressed by Pusha T in the track “The Story of Adidon.” Drake has since acknowledged his son in his album Scorpion , expressing a desire for his child’s life to remain private.

Personality Traits

Drake is known for his distinct personality traits that significantly influenced his music career and public persona. Here are some key traits often associated with Drake:

• Emotional Expressiveness : One of Drake’s most notable traits is his willingness to express vulnerability and emotion in his music. Unlike many of his peers, Drake frequently explores themes of love, heartbreak, and personal struggles, connecting deeply with his audience through his authenticity and openness.
• Versatility : He is remarkably versatile in his musical talents and ability to navigate different genres. Drake seamlessly blends rap, R&B, and pop and isn’t afraid to experiment with new sounds and styles. This adaptability has kept his music fresh and relevant across different phases of his career.
• Charisma : Drake’s charisma is evident in his performances, interviews, and public appearances. His charm and confidence make him a compelling figure in the entertainment industry, contributing to his widespread appeal and fan base.
• Work Ethic : The rapper is known for his strong work ethic. He consistently releases music and collaborates with other artists. His dedication to his craft has helped him maintain a prolific output and stay at the forefront of the music scene for years.
• Strategic Mindset : Drake’s approach to his career demonstrates a keen strategic mindset. He is talented at marketing himself and his music, understands the importance of social media and strategic collaborations, and engages with his fan base personally and authentically.
• Competitiveness : He is very competitive and strongly desires recognition as one of the greatest artists of his generation. In his songs, Drake often mentions his accomplishments and aspirations to show his passion for excellence and determination to leave a lasting legacy. His lyrics reflect his dedication to his craft and unwavering pursuit of success in the music industry.
• Sensitivity to Criticism : Despite his success, Drake has shown that he is not immune to criticism. He sometimes addresses his critics directly through his music or social media, indicating a sensitivity to how others perceive him.
• Generosity : Drake’s philanthropy and acts of kindness are well-documented, ranging from donations to schools and non-profit organizations to generous tips for service workers. These actions highlight a generous and compassionate aspect of his personality.
• Cultural Influence : His influence extends beyond music to technique, slang, and social media trends. He demonstrates an innate understanding of culture and an ability to shape it. Drake is not just a passive participant but actively contributes to its evolution.

Together, these traits paint a picture of an artist who is not only talented and driven but also deeply human, with the capacity to influence and inspire both within and beyond the music industry.

Discography

Studio Albums:

• Thank Me Later (2010)
• Take Care (2011)
• Nothing Was the Same (2013)
• Views (2016)
• Scorpion (2018)
• Certified Lover Boy (2021)
• Honestly, Nevermind (2022)
• For All the Dogs (2023)

Collaborative Albums:

• Her Loss (with 21 Savage) (2022)

Drake’s biography is not just about his chart-topping hits or strategic business moves; it’s also about his impact on global pop culture and his ability to resonate with millions worldwide. His narrative is a compelling chronicle of evolution, innovation, and the relentless pursuit of greatness. As Drake continues to shape the music industry and inspire a new generation, his success story remains an ongoing saga of ambition, creativity, and influence, marking him as one of the most pivotal figures in contemporary music.

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‘I thought: This boy’s gone, we can’t reach him any more’ – the tragedy and beauty of Nick Drake, by those closest to him

From a youthful hook-up with the Rolling Stones to crafting his bleakly brilliant final album, three extracts from an exhaustive new biography offer the most nuanced portrait to date of the 70s singer-songwriter

F or a singer-songwriter who only made three albums, Nick Drake continues to cast a long shadow. A mixture of extreme shyness and difficulties with mental health meant that his beautiful, meditative and deeply melancholic take on mystical English folk slipped through the commercial cracks during his lifetime. There is no known footage of him performing live and very few interviews exist. Drake died from an overdose of antidepressants in 1974, aged just 26, but since his death, his music has found new audiences as successive generations have discovered an enigmatic but immaculate body of work.

Now a new biography of Drake, by the writer Richard Morton Jack, offers a definitive version of a life story previously shrouded in mystery and, eventually, clouded by tragedy. Containing unseen photos, previously unreleased correspondence and the insights of the people who knew Drake best, it provides a rounded portrait of an artist whose recorded works continue to beguile and resonate. In these exclusive extracts, we see the light and shade of Drake: his problems are laid bare, but so is his exquisite artistry. Phil Harrison

While Drake’s career as a musician was characterised by diffidence, his youth wasn’t entirely devoid of high jinks. A road trip with some friends to north Africa, for example, saw a memorable encounter with some of his musical heroes

Rumours were swirling around Tangier that the Rolling Stones were in town. [His friend] Julian [Raby] confirmed their presence on the penultimate night: “I was looking out of a tiny window over a narrow alley when I saw the Stones’ party passing, in sheepskins and bell-bottoms, like a medieval apparition.” Mick Jagger, Keith Richards and Brian Jones were there, as well as a court including Anita Pallenberg, Cecil Beaton, Robert Fraser, Christopher Gibbs and Michael Cooper. Urged by his companions, Nick took his guitar when they sallied forth the next evening. “Hoping to make contact with them, we went down to their hotel, the celebrated El Minzah,” he wrote home.

“Having seen them going in, looking quite extraordinary even by their own standards, we marched in and I made a request to play in the bar. After I had been turned down very politely, Bob [Drake’s friend Rick Charkin, so nicknamed because he was thought to resemble Bob Dylan], whose nerves seem to stop at nothing, proceeded to ring up the Stones’ suite and ask if they might be wanting a little musical entertainment! This was unfortunately refused in a similar fashion, and it was decided that my fortune should be made elsewhere. So we made a quick tour of the nightclubs, asking if I could play.

“Fortunately, one of those which accepted the offer was the Koutoubia Palace, Tangier’s most exclusive nightspot, which is done up in the style of a Moorish palace. I couldn’t help feeling a little out of place, but all the same I played for about quarter of an hour. The reception was extraordinarily good and we all got stood rounds of drinks, which was rather pleasant.”

It’s notable that – albeit egged on by his friends – Nick had the confidence to perform spontaneously. The following morning Mike [Hill, usually the driver on the trip] whisked them the 370 miles to Marrakech. He was overwhelmed by its souk, calling it “a huge, crowded gathering place where one finds musicians, magicians, soothsayers, acrobats, snake-charmers, dancers, and various other oddities which I am unable to find a name for. Best of all was a set of African drummers and dancers, who produced about the most infectious rhythms I have ever been infected by.”

By coincidence the Stones were also in the crowd, making a field recording. The friends revived the idea of getting Nick to play for them. Having established that they were staying in an old French colonial hotel, La Mamounia, they went there that evening. Upon discovering that they were in its grand dining room, says Julian, “Rick went in with Nick and told them how great Nick was at the guitar. Nick then played for them.” It’s striking that Nick was willing to perform alone and at close quarters in front of such an intimidating audience. Rick does not recall what he played, but when he stopped, continues Julian:

“We all sat down. It was a large room with a long table immediately on the left, deserted but for the Stones and their entourage. Mick Jagger was at the head, and in my memory Nick sat at the opposite end. It was like a scene from The Decameron, with food everywhere, which they invited us to help ourselves to. We were very grateful, because we were starving. They were bombed out of their minds yet clearly impressed by Nick. At the end of the encounter Mick said to him: ‘You must come and see us when you’re back in London,’ which I doubt he said to everyone.”

Young musicians all over the world would have envied Nick, yet by Julian’s account, “He was so congenitally mellow that it seemed normal for him. He seemed to internalise it all.” His own vague account to his parents ran: “I went in and did them a few numbers. We in fact got quite chatty with them, and it was quite interesting learning all the inside stories.”

An exchange of letters between Drake and his father, Rodney, during Nick’s university years hints at his growing turmoil and confusion. His father’s reply is patient and kind but provides a sadly prophetic foreshadowing of the problems that were to undermine Drake’s musical career and overtake his life

Nick wrote to his parents on Thursday 23 January 1969.

“Cambridge has been quite pleasant this term, but here I am, becoming increasingly sure that I want to leave soon. I’m sure that our various conversations have made clear my general feelings … As far as performing is concerned, I am certainly no more than amateur. However, with regard to my songwriting, I can only progress from the stage that I have reached so far by developing a purely professional approach … I know for a certainty that I must make this progression with my music in order to achieve any sense of fulfilment.

“I hope you can perhaps appreciate that the idea of having my music as a ‘vacation hobby’ for another year-and-a-half is not a particularly happy one. It seems that Cambridge can really only delay me from doing what at the moment I most need to do.”

Having discussed the matter at length with [his wife] Molly, Rodney sent him a considered reply the following week. “Obviously it is a step which we have to consider carefully, because it is an irrevocable one,” he began, going on to pose two vital questions: “Are you more or less likely to succeed at your chosen career if you leave now? Secondly, what advantage unconnected with your career may you be throwing away if you leave now.”

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He continued candidly: “We are slow developers in our family and you, I believe, are no exception. I would go so far as to say that you will surprise yourself in the next two years by the changes and development that will occur in your personality, your understanding and your outlook. In addition to this, any career involving self-employment demands a high degree of self-discipline and a will to overcome one’s weaknesses, and making the effort required to tackle problems which do not come easily. I think you have a long way to go here.

“You believe that the problem of turning yourself from an amateur into a professional can be solved merely by transferring yourself from Cambridge to somewhere where you are surrounded by, and under the influence of, professionals in your chosen field. From what you say I take it that you must believe that it was the prospect of returning to Cambridge for eight-week periods during the year that prevented you, in the long summer vac, from getting into the swim, so to speak, and of starting to acquire the professionalism which you are rightly seeking.

“But I doubt this very much and I would regard as far more likely reasons your reticence (which you must overcome), your difficulty in communicating (which you must overcome), and your reluctance to plunge in and have a go (which you conceal from yourself by self-persuasion that more solo practising and solo listening are required before the move is made) … If I am right in what I say, and the real trouble is that you have not yet overcome your weaknesses (and God knows we all have them), then you may well find that you have thrown over Cambridge simply to continue indefinitely on the outskirts of what you are looking for.

“At Cambridge you have a chance to fight your weaknesses and overcome them (and fight like hell you MUST), to discipline yourself from inside, and take a more active interest in your fellows (another weakness of yours – I am being very blunt, aren’t I?) and generally to prepare and develop yourself to make a real success of what you want to do. And, in the meantime, your creative powers will be developing, not stagnating, do please believe me. On the second aspect – what advantages unconnected with your career may you be throwing away – there is not a great deal to say except that it is a rounded personality which is most likely to lead its owner on a happy and full road though life. To specialise too early and to have interest in only one activity makes Jack a very dull boy. One-and-a-half years may seem a long time to you. Allow me to assure you it is not – but it is a terribly important time in the development of you as a person into something that you are going to start to be at about the age of 23.

“The winning of a degree may seem to bear little significance to you, and the argument that it is a safety net if you come a cropper with your music will doubtless evoke the response that a safety net is just what you don’t want. I would say to you, however, that the self-discipline which it involves, apart from anything else at all, is a priceless asset in whatever you want to tackle during the rest of your life. So there we are, Nick – there’s my view. I urge you to resolve to see Cambridge through.”

It was indeed a blunt statement, but Nick knew it was written out of love, recognised the truth in it and did not take it amiss. Rodney had written nothing that any concerned parent wouldn’t have thought under the circumstances, but he and Molly perhaps didn’t grasp the intensity of their son’s commitment to his music or – as they later conceded – his brilliance.

Drake’s third and final album Pink Moon is a bleak, minimal affair, seemingly wrenched from the depths of mental illness. As shown by the reactions of his family and contemporaries, it’s a reflection of his brilliance and the uncomfortably intimate nature of the material

Nick’s relationship to the finished album is unknown, and it’s likely his family and friends were unaware of it until it was released. [His friend] Brian Wells is convinced Molly and Rodney didn’t listen to it closely, and Gabrielle [Drake, Nick’s sister] doesn’t recall doing so, either; by the time it appeared they were more focused on his day-to-day condition than on his musical output. Rodney later wrote that it was made “when Nick was getting pretty bad, and it’s rather ‘way out’, as they say”. In another letter he admitted: “The material on Pink Moon has always bewildered us a little (except From the Morning, which we love).” Joe Boyd [who produced Drake’s first two albums] had nothing whatsoever to do with Pink Moon. The first he knew of it was when Island sent a copy to him in Los Angeles. “When I saw the cover I was horrified, and when I played it I was even more horrified. I interpreted its starkness as a rebuke to me. I thought it was self-destructive, a capitulation, as if he were saying: ‘Fuck it, I don’t care whether people listen to it or not.’ I listened to it once.”

Nick’s close friends were upset by it, too. Wells says: “I wasn’t around when he was making Pink Moon, and when I heard it I found it bleak. I remember a friend from Cambridge describing it as ‘music to commit suicide to’.” Alex Henderson and Ben Laycock were taken aback by it after Bryter Layter. “We found its atmosphere dark and depressing, knowing how Nick had become,” says Alex. “We had no idea what musical direction he would or could take after that.”

“I was appalled by Pink Moon,” remembers Drake’s university friend Paul Wheeler. “I found it incredibly upsetting. I thought the songs were frightening. To this day I cannot ever imagine listening to it for pleasure. It’s like opening some terrible Pandora’s box.”

Folk singer Beverley Martyn had similar concerns. “I thought: ‘This boy’s gone, we’ve lost him. We can’t reach him any more, and he can’t reach us.’ I wondered why he’d bothered to record some of the tracks, and who had thought it was a good idea to let him go into the studio and do so. They were so dark and sad, and telling about the state of his mind: doom, gloom and despair, with apocalyptic elements. People listen to it and say: ‘That’s a great line!’, and talk about the songs and the surreal cover like they’re a puzzle they can solve, but Pink Moon is like the Book of Revelation. It doesn’t make sense and it’s a manifestation of illness, of madness. When people are really ill they don’t know what they’re saying, they don’t hear what’s coming out of their own mouth. I thought those songs, those words were the product of a sick person.”

Musician Richard Thompson, who had collaborated with Drake, heard Pink Moon when [producer] John Wood played it to him in Sound Techniques: “I was disturbed. Part of what had made Nick’s earlier music so appealing was a balance between dark and light. The sadness inherent in the music had been veiled behind beautiful arrangements and an intriguing voice that drew you in. However, his third album seemed a stark cry for help, the voice of a man teetering on the edge of sanity.”

Not everyone felt that way. “I find it’s got some of the most optimistic songs of his,” said [arranger] Robert Kirby. “I think Pink Moon is in fact my favourite, as far as the songs are concerned.” Despite his disappointment at not having worked on it, he supported Nick’s prerogative in eschewing arrangements and later stated: “I think it’s his greatest work, by far.”

These are edited extracts from Nick Drake: The Life by Richard Morton Jack, published on 8 June.

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Sir Francis Drake

By: History.com Editors

Updated: June 6, 2023 | Original: November 9, 2009

Sir Francis Drake participated in some of the earliest English slaving voyages to Africa and earned a reputation for his privateering, or piracy, against Spanish ships and possessions. Sent by Queen Elizabeth to South America in 1577, he returned home via the Pacific and became the first Englishman to circumnavigate the globe; the queen rewarded him with a knighthood. In 1588, Drake served as second-in-command during the English victory over the Spanish Armada. The most famous mariner of the Elizabethan Age, he died off the coast of Panama in 1596 and was buried at sea.

Born sometime between 1540 and 1544 in Devonshire, England, Francis Drake was the son of a tenant farmer on the estate of Lord Francis Russell, earl of Bedford. He was brought up in Plymouth by the Hawkins family, relatives who worked as merchants and privateers (often referred to as pirates).

Drake went to sea for the first time around the age of 18 with the Hawkins family fleet, and by the 1560s had earned command of his own ship.

Did you know? When he died off the coast of Panama in 1596, Sir Francis Drake was buried at sea, wearing full armor and encased in a lead-lined coffin. Divers, treasure hunters and Drake enthusiasts continue to search for his final resting place.

Slave Trade

In 1567, Drake and his cousin John Hawkins sailed to Africa in order to join the fledgling slave trade. When they sailed to New Spain to sell their captives to settlers there (which was against Spanish law), they were trapped by a Spanish attack in the Mexican port of San Juan de Ulua.

Many of their crewmates were killed in the incident, though Drake and Hawkins escaped, and Drake returned to England with what would be a lifelong hatred for Spain and its ruler, King Philip II .

Privateer for the British Crown

After leading two successful expeditions to the West Indies, Drake came to the attention of Queen Elizabeth I , who granted him a privateer’s commission, effectively giving him the right to plunder Spanish ports in the Caribbean. Drake did just that in 1572, capturing the port of Nombre de Dios (a drop-off point for silver and gold brought from Peru) and crossing the Isthmus of Panama, where he first caught sight of the immense Pacific Ocean. He returned to England with a large amount of Spanish treasure, an accomplishment that earned him a reputation as a leading privateer.

In 1577, Queen Elizabeth commissioned Drake to lead an expedition around South America through the notoriously stormy Straits of Magellan . The voyage was plagued by conflict between Drake and the two other men tasked with sharing command.

When they arrived off the coast of Argentina, Drake had one of the men–Thomas Doughty–arrested, tried and beheaded for allegedly plotting a mutiny. Of the five-ship fleet, two ships were lost in a storm; the other commander, John Wynter, turned one back to England and another disappeared. Drake’s 100-ton flagship, the Pelican (which he later renamed Golden Hind ), was the only vessel to reach the Pacific, in October 1578.

Drake Circumnavigates the Globe

After plundering Spanish ports along the west coast of South America, Drake headed north in search of a passage back to the Atlantic. He claimed to have traveled as far north as 48 degrees North (on parallel with Vancouver, Canada) before extreme cold conditions turned him back. Drake anchored near today’s San Francisco and claimed the surrounding land, which he called New Albion, for Queen Elizabeth.

Heading back west across the Pacific in July 1579, he stopped in the Philippines and bought spices in the Molucca Islands. He then sailed around the Cape of Good Hope in Africa and arrived back in England’s Plymouth Harbor in September 1580.

Despite complaints from the Spanish government about his piracy, Drake was honored as the first Englishman to circumnavigate the globe and became a popular hero. Several months after his return, Queen Elizabeth personally knighted him aboard the Golden Hind .

The Spanish Armada

In 1585, with hostilities heating up again between England and Spain, the queen gave Drake command of a fleet of 25 ships. He sailed to the West Indies and the coast of Florida and mercilessly plundered Spanish ports there, taking Santiago in the Cape Verde Islands, Cartagena in Colombia, St. Augustine in Florida and San Domingo (now Santo Domingo, capital of the Dominican Republic).

On the return voyage, he rescued a failed English military colony on Roanoke Island off the Carolinas in 1586. (The unlucky island was later the scene of a mysterious disappearance of about 100 English settlers, none of whom were ever found.)

Drake then led an even bigger fleet (30 ships) into the Spanish port of Cádiz and destroyed a large number of vessels being readied for the Spanish Armada . In 1588, Drake served as second-in-command to Admiral Charles Howard in the English victory over the supposedly invincible Spanish fleet.

Final Years

After a failed 1589 expedition to Portugal, Drake returned home to England for several years, until Queen Elizabeth enlisted him for one more voyage, against Spanish possessions in the West Indies in early 1596.

The expedition proved to be a dismal failure: Spain fended off the English attacks, and Drake came down with fever and dysentery. He died in late January 1596 at age 55 off the coast of Puerto Bello (now Portobelo, Panama).

Sir Francis Drake. National Park Service . Sir Francis Drake (c.1540 - c.1596). BBC . Sir Francis Drake Facts. Royal Museums Greenwich . Roanoke Voyages. The Lost Colony .

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Drake Biography

Drake, the Canadian rapper, singer, and songwriter, has quickly risen to become one of the best in the industry. Starting his career as an actor, he soon found his true passion in music. With a series of self-released mixtapes, he gained popularity and eventually released an EP titled ‘So Far Gone’. Since then, he has released four studio albums, showcasing his egotistical lyrics and personal experiences. Despite having a different upbringing than most African-American rappers, Drake prefers to be known for his music rather than his past.

Quick Facts

• Name: Aubrey Drake Graham
• Age: 37 Years
• Gender: Male
• Father: Dennis Graham
• Mother: Sandi Graham
• Children: Adonis Graham
• Born Country: Canada
• Occupation: Rapper, Musician
• Height: 6’0″ (183 cm)
• Ancestry: American Canadian
• City: Toronto, Canada

Childhood & Early Life

Aubrey Drake Graham was born on October 24, 1986, in Toronto, Canada. His father, Dennis Graham, worked as a drummer for legendary musician Jerry Lee Lewis, and his mother, Sandi Graham, was an English teacher and a florist. Drake has a unique racial and religious background, being born to an African-American Catholic father and a white Canadian Jew mother. He considers himself more immersed in black culture and sees his Jewish heritage as a cool twist. His parents divorced when he was 5 years old, and he was raised by his mother in Toronto while his father moved to Memphis.

Drake spent his early childhood in a working-class neighborhood near Weston Road. After sixth grade, his family moved to the more affluent neighborhood of Forest Hill in Toronto. He attended Forest Hill Collegiate Institute and Vaughan Road Academy for high school but eventually dropped out. He later completed his high school diploma in 2012.

Despite his upbringing, Drake faced hardships early on in his life. His father was arrested while trying to cross the border, his mother struggled to support the family due to illness, and he experienced bullying in his predominantly white school for being the only black Jew.

Early Acting Career

In 2001, Drake began his acting career by accepting a role in the Canadian teen drama series ‘Degrassi: The Next Generation’. He played the character Jimmy Brooks, a wheelchair-bound former basketball player, for a total of 145 episodes. He also appeared in other television series such as ‘Soul Food’, ‘Being Erica’, and ‘Sophie’, as well as making guest appearances on shows like ‘Beyond the Break’, ‘Saturday Night Live’, and ‘Punk’d’. He even did voice acting for the film ‘Ice Age: Continental Drift’.

Music Career

After gaining fame as an actor, Drake decided to pursue music. He self-released his debut mixtape, ‘Room for Improvement’, followed by another mixtape called ‘Comeback Season’. The single ‘Replacement Girl’ from ‘Comeback Season’ brought him recognition as a singer. He founded his own label, October’s Very Own, to release his mixtapes.

In 2009, Drake released his third mixtape, ‘So Far Gone’, as a free download. It featured tracks like ‘Best I Ever Had’ and ‘Successful’ and became a commercial success. He followed it up with his debut EP of the same name, which reached No. 6 on the ‘Billboard 200’.

Drake’s debut studio album, ‘Thank Me Later’, was released in 2010 and featured collaborations with artists like Nicki Minaj, Lil Wayne, and Kanye West. His second studio album, ‘Take Care’, was released in 2011 and earned him his first Grammy Award. He continued to release successful albums like ‘Nothing Was the Same’ (2013), ‘Views’ (2016), and ‘Scorpion’ (2018).

In addition to his albums, Drake has released several mixtapes and playlists, including ‘Dark Lane Demo Tapes’ (2020) and ‘Certified Lover Boy’ (2021).

Major Works

Drake’s debut studio album, ‘Thank Me Later’, reached No. 1 on the US ‘Billboard 200’ chart and sold 1.83 million copies in the US. His second album, ‘Take Care’, also debuted at No. 1 and sold over 631,000 copies in its first week. His third album, ‘Nothing Was the Same’, received critical acclaim and sold over 1.78 million copies in the US alone.

Awards & Achievements

Drake has won four Grammy Awards out of thirty-six nominations. His album ‘Take Care’ won ‘Best Rap Album’ in 2013, and his song ‘Hotline Bling’ won two awards in 2017. He has received a total of eighty awards from three hundred and thirty nominations throughout his career.

Drake has been romantically linked to several women in the entertainment industry. His most notable relationship was with singer Rihanna, which had its ups and downs. He has also been involved with Jennifer Lopez, Serena Williams, and reality star Johanna Leia. In 2017, he became a father to a son named Adonis.

Drake credits his father for introducing him to rap. His father had a connection with a rapper named Poverty while in jail, and they used to swap lyrics over the phone.

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Drake: The Biography of an Influential Canadian Rap Musician and his Rockstar Lifestyle (Artists) Paperback – September 15, 2023

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This book about Drake delves into the extraordinary journey of Aubrey Drake Graham, the Canadian rapper, singer, and songwriter who has left an indelible mark on contemporary popular music. From his humble beginnings as an actor on the teen drama series "Degrassi: The Next Generation" to his meteoric rise to becoming one of the biggest names in hip hop, this comprehensive biography offers a captivating exploration of Drake's life and career.

Born on October 24, 1986, Drake first gained recognition for his role as Jimmy Brooks in the hit TV series. However, it was his foray into music that propelled him to unprecedented heights. With his debut mixtape "Room for Improvement" in 2006, followed by "Comeback Season" and "So Far Gone," Drake caught the attention of the music industry and soon signed with Young Money Entertainment. Drake's early albums, including "Thank Me Later," "Take Care," and "Nothing Was the Same," showcased his unique blend of rap and R&B sensibilities, setting him apart from his peers. These albums became critical and commercial successes, solidifying Drake's position as a dominant force in hip hop.

The book explores the evolution of Drake's sound and his willingness to experiment with different genres. It delves into the impact of his albums, including "Views," which broke records and featured global hits like "Hotline Bling" and "One Dance," popularizing Afrobeats worldwide. It also examines the success of his double album "Scorpion," which produced chart-topping singles such as "God's Plan," "Nice for What," and "In My Feelings." Beyond his music, Drake's entrepreneurial ventures are also explored in detail. From founding the OVO Sound record label to his involvement with the Toronto Raptors, the book reveals Drake's diverse interests and his role as a cultural influencer. It showcases his fashion label OVO, his collaboration with Nike through Nocta, and his ventures in the world of fragrance and production. As one of the best-selling music artists of all time, Drake's achievements are recognized with numerous awards, including Grammy Awards, Billboard Music Awards, and American Music Awards. The book highlights his record-breaking success on the Billboard Hot 100 and his impact on the R&B and hip hop charts.

This book is a comprehensive and engaging exploration of the life, music, and influence of Drake. Through meticulous research and insightful analysis, this biography offers a deeper understanding of the man behind the music and the legacy he continues to build as one of the most prominent figures in contemporary popular culture.

• Print length 86 pages
• Language English
• Publisher United Library
• Publication date September 15, 2023
• Dimensions 5 x 0.18 x 8 inches
• ISBN-10 9464900385
• ISBN-13 978-9464900385
• See all details

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Product details

• Publisher ‏ : ‎ United Library (September 15, 2023)
• Language ‏ : ‎ English
• Paperback ‏ : ‎ 86 pages
• ISBN-10 ‏ : ‎ 9464900385
• ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 978-9464900385
• Item Weight ‏ : ‎ 3.35 ounces
• Dimensions ‏ : ‎ 5 x 0.18 x 8 inches
• #426 in Rap & Hip-Hop Musician Biographies
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• #14,093 in Actor & Entertainer Biographies

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