what is drake biography

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Early life and career

So far gone , thank me later , and nothing was the same, if you’re reading this it’s too late , views , and other releases, scorpion , certified lover boy , and additional recordings, ovo and other projects.

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Drake (born October 24, 1986, Toronto , Ontario , Canada) is a Canadian rap musician who first gained fame as an actor on the acclaimed TV teenage drama series  Degrassi: The Next Generation and went on to a successful and influential music career. His trademark mixture of singing and lyrical rapping and of braggadocio juxtaposed with raw vulnerability won him a large following.

Graham’s parents divorced when he was a small child, and he was raised by his mother. During the summers he often visited his father, a drummer whose family was musically connected. In 2001 Graham was cast as basketball star Jimmy Brooks on  Degrassi . His true interest was music, however, and he began rapping during that time, using his middle name for his “nom de hip-hop.” He self-published his first mixtape,  Room for Improvement , in 2006. The follow-up,  Comeback Season  (2007), included the single “Replacement Girl,” featuring Trey Songz; the track was highlighted on BET ’s music video show  106 & Park , increasing Drake’s exposure. In 2008 he left Degrassi to focus on his music career.

Drake’s breakthrough came in 2009 with the release of the mixtape  So Far Gone and its hit single “Best I Ever Had.” A bidding war between labels soon ensued, and Drake ultimately signed with Lil Wayne ’s Young Money Entertainment, a subsidiary of Cash Money. Later that year the label put out  So Far Gone  as an EP. It won the Juno Award for rap recording of the year, and Drake was named new artist of the year. His first full-length studio album,  Thank Me Later , was released in 2010, catapulting Drake to international stardom. The record was followed by the highly praised  Take Care  (2011). That album won the Juno Award for rap recording of the year and the Grammy Award for best rap album. Drake’s next studio record,  Nothing Was the Same  (2013), also took a Juno Award. Those albums, more commercially oriented than his earlier mixtapes, showed the influence of his collaborators, notably Lil Wayne and  Nicki Minaj .

In 2015 Drake announced via Twitter the surprise release of a 17-track mixtape-cum-album,  If You’re Reading This It’s Too Late . Critics praised the record as a return to the personal, emotional, and melodic style of his earliest production. Like his previous releases, it shot to the top of the charts in Canada and the United States , and the album won the Juno Award for rap recording of the year. Later in 2015 Drake and rapper Future released the mixtape What a Time to be Alive . It debuted at the top of the  Billboard  200, as did Drake’s fourth studio album,  Views (2016), which featured the memorable singles “One Dance” and “Hotline Bling.” The former became Spotify’s most-streamed single at the time, and the latter garnered Drake two Grammys for best rap song and best rap performance—though in interviews Drake insisted that “Hotline Bling” was not a rap song. He stated, “The only category that [the Recording Academy] can manage to fit me in is in a rap category, maybe because I’ve rapped in the past or because I’m Black.” In 2017 Drake did not submit that year’s release, More Life , for Grammy consideration. The record, which Drake called a playlist, brought together different sounds from around the world. It also featured such up-and-coming talents as British singer Jorja Smith and South African producer Black Coffee on the song “Get It Together.” Drake also declined to submit the record for consideration for the Juno Awards. Commentators noted that, while the Juno Awards’ governing body had honoured him with such awards as rap recording of the year, it had never conferred its most prestigious awards, including artist, single, and album of the year.

Drake’s fifth studio album, Scorpion (2018), featured the Billboard Hot 100 single “God’s Plan,” which had first appeared on his EP Scary Hours , released several months earlier. Drake won a Grammy for best rap song for the track in 2019, but the live broadcast cut his acceptance speech short after he criticized the awards. Other tracks on Scorpion respond to the song “The Story of Adidon,” by American rapper Pusha T. Pusha T alleged that Drake was hiding a child that he fathered with artist and adult film star, Sophie Brussaux. In “Emotionless” and “March 14,”Drake acknowledged that he had recently become a father and addressed the challenges of co-parenting (critics largely panned the single “I’m Upset,” however, for its apparent complaint about child support payments).

Subsequent releases included Care Package (2019), a compilation of B-sides, covers, and other tracks; Dark Lane Demo Tapes (2020), which featured the Billboard Hot 100 single “Toosie Slide”; and the EP Scary Hours 2 (2021), which included another Billboard Hot 100 track, “What’s Next.” Drake’s sixth record, Certified Lover Boy , was released in 2021. Later that year he withdrew the album and one of its tracks, “Way 2 Sexy,” from consideration for the Grammy Awards for best rap album and best rap performance, respectively. In 2022 Drake released a surprise follow-up, Honestly, Nevermind , which featured more vocalizing and dance club beats than on his previous albums. Shortly after, he debuted the video for the album’s first single, “Falling Back.”

In addition to creating music, Drake also cofounded the Toronto-based collective October’s Very Own (OVO) with his frequent producer Noah (“40”) Shebib and Oliver El-Khatib. It became a record label (OVO Sound) in 2012 and represented such acts as the R&B duo Majid Jordan and Canadian singer, songwriter, and producer PartyNextDoor. Starting with the release of Care Package in 2019, Drake released all his albums on OVO Sound. OVO also hosted the annual summer concert OVO Festival (started in 2010) in Toronto.

The company’s greatest source of revenue, however, was its fashion line. It began in 2010 when OVO collaborated with the outerwear brand Canada Goose on a limited-edition bomber jacket. Other partnerships soon followed, including those with Nike and Timberland. The success of the OVO fashion line led to the opening of its first retail location in Toronto in 2014 and subsequent expansion into such cities as Los Angeles, New York , and London .

After leaving Degrassi , Drake took on a few acting roles, one of which was the voice of a teenage mammoth in the animated film  Ice Age 4: Continental Drift  (2012). He later garnered rave reviews for his comedic turn as host and musical guest on Saturday Night Live in 2014 and 2016. In 2019 Drake became an executive producer of the HBO series Euphoria , starring Emmy Award winner Zendaya .

Drake Biography

Birthday: October 24 , 1986 ( Scorpio )

Born In: Toronto, Canada

Drake is a Canadian rapper, singer and songwriter, who has emerged as one of the best rappers in recent times. He started his career as an actor in the Canadian TV series 'Degrassi: The Next Generation', but soon switched to music, which has been his passion since childhood. He began his musical journey with a number of self-released mixtapes. As he gained popularity, he released an EP titled 'So Far Gone'. He later went on to release four studio albums, 'Thank Me Later', 'Take Care', 'Nothing Was the Same' and 'Views'. His songs are marked by his egotistical lyrics, often dealing with his personal experiences and relationships with women. Drake, who had a different childhood than most other rappers of African-American origin, feels irritated at the notion that growing up in a neighborhood with guns and drugs makes his peers more "official". According to him, his struggles were no less daunting, but he would prefer that people know him by his music, and not his upbringing.

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Canadian Celebrities Born In October

Also Known As: Aubrey Drake Graham

Age: 37 Years , 37 Year Old Males

father: Dennis Graham

mother: Sandi Graham

children: Adonis Graham

Born Country: Canada

Rappers Musicians

Height: 6'0" (183 cm ), 6'0" Males

Ancestry: American Canadian

City: Toronto, Canada

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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.

His parents divorced when he was 5 years old, following which he was raised by his mother in Toronto. His father moved back to America and settled in Memphis, where Drake visited him occasionally.

Following his acting fame, he decided to self-release his debut mixtape, 'Room for Improvement'. He followed it with another mixtape the next year, 'Comeback Season', which contained the single 'Replacement Girl' that earned him widespread recognition as a singer for the first time. He founded October's Very Own label to release the mixtape.

In 2009, he released his third mixtape 'So Far Gone' as a free download from the website of his record label. It consisted of tracks like 'Best I Ever Had' and 'Successful', featuring Lil Wayne, Trey Songz, and Lloyd among others, and became a commercial success. He released his debut EP by the same name following the success of the mixtape, which made it to No.6 on the 'Billboard 200'.

His debut studio album, 'Thank Me Later', was released on June 15, 2010. The album, which was under production for the past two years, featured artists like Nicki Minaj, Lil Wayne, and Kanye West. The single 'Find Your Love' reached top-10 on the 'Billboard Hot 100'.

On November 15, 2011, he released his second studio album 'Take Care'. The album contained hit singles like 'Make Me Proud' featuring Nicki Minaj and 'Take Care' featuring Rihanna. He received his first Grammy Award for the album.

His third album, 'Nothing Was the Same' (2013), continued his journey to fame, opening to positive reviews like its predecessors. It was his first full-length album that was released from his own record label, OVO Sound. All of the seven singles of the album became commercially successful.

He released his fourth studio album 'Views' on April 29, 2016. It contained five singles, including the Grammy winning track 'Hotline Bling', 'Pop Style' featuring Kanye West and Jay Z, and 'Too Good' featuring Rihanna. Recently, he released a playlist titled 'More Life' on March 18, 2017.

On 2018, he released an EP titled 'Scary Hours' and his fifth studio album, 'Scorpion'.

In 2019, to commemorate the 10-year anniversary of his third mixtape, 'So Far Gone', he re-released it onto streaming service.

In 2020, Drake released the commercial mixtape 'Dark Lane Demo Tapes'.

His album 'Certified Lover Boy' was scheduled to be released in January 2021, but was postponed. It was released in September the same year.

Till date, Drake has won four Grammy Awards from thirty-six nominations. His album 'Take Care' was named 'Best Rap Album' in 2013, while his song 'Hotline Bling' won two awards in 2017. He has won a total of eighty awards from three hundred and thirty nominations over the years.

Drake has been romantically linked with a number of women from the entertainment industry. However, he is most known for his on-and-off relationship with the Barbadian singer Rihanna . They first met in 2005, following which he had a crush on her. They later became close and worked together a number of times. However, they apparently broke up after Rihanna rekindled her relationship with Chris Brown. 

In June 2012, he got involved in a fight with Chris Brown, reportedly over Rihanna. Brown blamed him on social media and released a song criticizing him. Incidentally, the two later performed together in a comedic skit at the 2014 ESPY Awards, hinting at reconciliation.

In 2012, a girl named Ericka Lee revealed herself to be his ex-girlfriend and claimed that he used her voice in the song 'Marvins Room'. She filed a lawsuit seeking credits and royalties; while Drake's lawyer refuted the claims initially, they reached an out-of-court settlement in 2013.

He started dating singer, Jennifer Lopez, in late 2016. They often post pictures together on their respective social media accounts, however, it has been reported that his attempts at getting Rihanna back has affected his relationship with Lopez.

In 2017, he had a son named Adonis from a French painter and model, Sophie Brussaux. Drake was also romatically linked to Serena Williams . He began dating reality star Johanna Leia in 2021, but they broke up later that year. 

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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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The incredibly successful life of Drake, who's the king of hip-hop in 2016

Drake has the official song of the summer for 2016 , and his rise seems to have only just started.

The "Hotline Bling" and "Work" rapper hasn't wasted any time lapping his industry counterparts, reaching the top of the mainstream music world.

Just seven years into his illustrious career, Drake has hit the kind of milestones most artists can only dream of.

And he keeps winning.

From nabbing more than 100 hits on the Billboard Hot 100 and  winning  the biggest rap beef in recent memory to topping the summer charts with "One Dance," "The Boy" has made his reign in hip-hop clear. He's making Kanye West's output look downright weak.

Accolades aside, Drake's success has come from hard work. He may not have started all the way at the bottom, but he sure worked his way up.

Keep scrolling to see how a biracial Jewish kid from Toronto became the biggest name in music:

Travis Lyles contributed to an earlier version of this story.

Born in 1986 and given the name Aubrey Drake Graham, Drake was brought up in Toronto, Canada.

Happy Birthday my love! Tonight is your night. A photo posted by champagnepapi (@champagnepapi) on Jan 28, 2015 at 9:31pm PST Jan 28, 2015 at 9:31pm PST

He was raised Jewish by his mother in a predominantly Jewish neighborhood.

Source:  Biography

Drake's dad moved to Memphis when Drake was very young. They had a distant relationship for a while, but have since gotten close.

A photo posted by champagnepapi (@champagnepapi) Dec 8, 2013 at 12:24pm PST

Source:  Complex

After growing up in a household living paycheck to paycheck, Drake began his celebrity career at 15 on the Canadian TV show "Degrassi."

Jimmy got his own can now. @sprite A photo posted by champagnepapi (@champagnepapi) on Jun 12, 2015 at 8:23pm PDT Jun 12, 2015 at 8:23pm PDT

While starring in "Degrassi," Drake took it upon himself to get his music career going. In early 2008, he got a call from rapper Lil Wayne, asking him to join his tour. He later signed to Wayne's Young Money Entertainment label.

Drake's first big-time mixtape, "So Far Gone," was released in 2009 and featured some of his biggest early hits, like "Best I Ever Had" and "Successful."

Coming off of his immense success from "So Far Gone," Drake dropped his first official album, "Thank Me Later," in 2010.

"Thank Me Later" went platinum in the US in a matter of months. Drake immediately became a household name in the music industry and was being recognized as a rising star.

Source:  Hot New Hip-Hop

That same year, Drake assisted Rihanna for her No. 1 hit "What's My Name?" It was Drake's only No. 1 until his future song with her, "Work."

"Thank Me Later" set the stakes high, but Drake continued to raise the bar. After touring for most of 2010, Drake started working on his next album, "Take Care," in 2011, and dropped it in November of that year.

3 Years! Thank you for all the support A photo posted by champagnepapi (@champagnepapi) on Nov 15, 2014 at 4:37pm PST Nov 15, 2014 at 4:37pm PST

"Take Care" was another hit. It sold 631,000 copies in its first week and over 2 million copies since its release. With smash hits like "Headlines" and "The Motto," Drake took control of the airwaves once again.

Source:  Billboard

The album was such a big hit that Drake won his first Grammy for Rap Album of the Year in 2012.

When he got the award in the mail, he couldn't believe his eyes. He immediately started showing all of his friends and taking shots of it.

Naturally, Drake's rising stock has put him in some of the same celebrity circles as people like Seattle Seahawks quarterback Russell Wilson ...

@dangerusswilson LEGENDARY A photo posted by champagnepapi (@champagnepapi) on Dec 5, 2013 at 3:35pm PST Dec 5, 2013 at 3:35pm PST

... Golden State Warriors point guard Stephen Curry ...

Family. A photo posted by champagnepapi (@champagnepapi) on Feb 15, 2014 at 7:19pm PST Feb 15, 2014 at 7:19pm PST

... FC Barcelona superstar Neymar ...

Miami nights honored to meet this man @neymarjr A photo posted by champagnepapi (@champagnepapi) on Sep 6, 2014 at 12:50am PDT Sep 6, 2014 at 12:50am PDT

... "Spider-Man" star Tobey Maguire ...

Classic. A photo posted by champagnepapi (@champagnepapi) on Oct 21, 2013 at 9:05pm PDT Oct 21, 2013 at 9:05pm PDT

... and LeBron James and Kevin Hart, superstars of the basketball and comedy worlds, respectively. Drake is getting into some rarefied air.

Me, Lebron, and Nate Robinson A photo posted by champagnepapi (@champagnepapi) on Feb 12, 2016 at 11:30am PST Feb 12, 2016 at 11:30am PST

After "Take Care," Drake took almost two years to release another album. He did, however, release many singles and features in the meantime. Also, Drake has never been afraid to spend money.

@davebling OVO SOUND official chains A photo posted by champagnepapi (@champagnepapi) on Nov 11, 2013 at 10:01pm PST Nov 11, 2013 at 10:01pm PST

In 2012, the rapper bought a seven-bedroom, nine-bath, 7,500-square-foot home in Los Angeles. It also has an absolutely insane grotto hot tub.

He's been known to have a private jet, or two.

Back to the cold. A photo posted by champagnepapi (@champagnepapi) on Jan 7, 2014 at 7:27am PST Jan 7, 2014 at 7:27am PST

He likes cars as well. Here he is with his Bugatti Veyron.

And his Rolls-Royce Phantom.

FROSS A photo posted by champagnepapi (@champagnepapi) on Aug 17, 2013 at 7:11pm PDT Aug 17, 2013 at 7:11pm PDT

The car most associated with him, however, is his Bentley Continental, the car featured in his "Worst Behavior" music video.

Started. A photo posted by champagnepapi (@champagnepapi) on Jan 20, 2013 at 7:18pm PST Jan 20, 2013 at 7:18pm PST

When he returned, he did so in true Drake fashion — releasing "Nothing Was the Same" in September 2013. The album set a record for Drake, selling 658,000 copies in the first week and charting multiple hits on the Billboard Hot 100.

NWTS DELUXE A photo posted by champagnepapi (@champagnepapi) on Sep 4, 2013 at 11:42pm PDT Sep 4, 2013 at 11:42pm PDT

Just six days after dropping the album, the Toronto Raptors named Drake a "global ambassador." He has been affiliated with the team ever since.

Source:  ESPN

Drake didn't release an album in 2014, but he took the world stage once again when he hosted the ESPYs. He was absolutely hilarious.

After the short break, Drake came back strong in 2015 when he released his mixtape "If You're Reading This It's Too Late." The entire mixtape charted on the Billboard Hot 100, leaving little doubt that Drake was still at the top of the rap game. It would go on to sell 1 million copies in six months.

The success of "If You're Reading This," touring, and Drake's other business ventures helped him rake in $39.5 million in 2015, making him the third-highest-earning hip-hop act, behind only Diddy and Jay Z.

Source: Forbes

Drake recently inked a deal with Apple Music to host a biweekly radio show and release songs solely on the streaming service.

Drake's 2015 also had some conflict. After rapper Meek Mill challenged him on Twitter, saying that Drake didn't write his own raps, Drake struck back, releasing the diss track "Charged Up" and eventually finishing the battle with the song "Back to Back." He was the obvious winner.

Read more about the beef here .

The highlight of 2015 for Drake was "Hotline Bling," whose video became an instant meme thanks to what some people took for awkward-dad dance moves. It may have narrowly missed No. 1, but it remains inescapable.

Luckily, his next No. 1 hit with Rihanna wasn't far behind. "Work" has conquered the radio like no other in 2016.

And in 2016, Drake released the album fans have long been waiting for, "Views" — originally known as "Views from the 6," a reference to Toronto. Inspired by his hometown and featuring Future, Rihanna, and more, it's been one of the biggest records of the year so far. The question now is just how big Drake will get.

Source: Business Insider

And he took another step toward becoming hip-hop's undisputed king at the moment by getting the "Song of the Summer" crown with "One Dance" off of "Views." The track, featuring Wizkid and Kyla, was the No. 1 song in Billboard's chart of the most popular hits from Memorial Day to Labor Day 2016. He got to do a little celebrating in August with Rihanna at the MTV VMAs.

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Drake’s progress: the making of a modern superstar

Both R&B loverman and hip-hop thug, Toronto homeboy and global magpie, Drake’s universal appeal has made him the definitive pop star of his generation. How did he get to the top – and how long can he stay there?

L ots of weird things have happened at the top of the UK charts: Musical Youth informing the nation which way to pass a joint, one-hit wonders Brian and Michael appraising the work of Mancunian painter LS Lowry, and pop’s forgotten couple Eamon and Frankee spending seven weeks of spring 2004 literally telling each other to fuck off. But the fact that God’s Plan by Drake just spent nine weeks at No 1 in the UK – and is still top of the charts in the US – is easily one of the weirdest.

From party boy to pop star: the seven ages of Drake

The party boy: Fancy

Drake waits for his girl to get ready for a night out, on an underrated cut to sit alongside other champagne-poppers he guests on, such as French Montana’s Pop That and Nicki Minaj’s Truffle Butter.

The brooder: The Ride

If his first album talked his success into existence, his second had him fretting about what he had created. On The Ride he finds ennui in expensive dinners, and emptiness in airport security compliments.

The lover: Hold On, We’re Going Home

Recalling the marble-smooth 80s R&B oeuvre of Alexander O’Neal, this request for “hot love and emotion” is shamelessly cheesy – and genuinely romantic.

The citizen: Know Yourself

Drake remembers the hard days coming up in Toronto, “running through the six with my woes” – a track that could be an official city anthem were it not so fraught.

The fighter: Jumpman

As his biceps and chest expanded, his music got more masculine – Jumpman, a basketball anthem created with Future, is perfect for slam-dancing bro-downs.

The pop star: Hotline Bling

Using a brilliantly sped-up Timmy Thomas sample, this is Drake’s biggest pop moment, with his finest top-line melody. The goofy video ensured the memes were instant and unrelenting.

The tourist: KMT

His best track with a foreign star is KMT, in which Drake’s foe-taunting flow – admittedly reminiscent of XXXTentacion – is joined by British rapper Giggs, who delivers ever more quotable lines on the way to the Batman-quoting, moshpit-exploding payoff.

It’s a song that features two notes, a chorus that is just one line long, and lazy lyrical iterations of oft-visited topics for Drake: how much reputational shine he has given to his home city of Toronto, how non-specific haters wish non-specific ill upon him, and how he is pathologically unable to open himself up emotionally to a woman he has had sex with. Yes, it’s catchy, but he has done all this before with markedly more charisma, not least in 2016’s One Dance – another song that shacked up at No 1 for weeks on end.

These are just his most successful chart moments; Drake’s last major release, 2017’s “playlist” More Life, saw each of its 22 tracks hit the UK top 75. In the interim, the commercial fortunes of tracks that he guested on, such as Blocboy JB’s Look Alive , NERD’s Lemon , and Migos’ Walk It Talk It , have all been boosted by his presence. We have now reached the point where even the B-grade solo material of God’s Plan is a shoo-in for No 1. Why?

Drake has, of course, amassed huge star quality via a decade of often excellent music , but there are also more prosaic reasons: his gossip-mag visibility from relationships with Rihanna, Serena Williams and Jennifer Lopez, and his swaggering self-confidence in describing himself as “last name ever, first name greatest” before his debut album had even come out. Crucially, his identity and upbringing have also been key.

Aubrey Drake Graham was born in Toronto in 1986 to Dennis Graham, an African-American session musician whose power-moustache currently lights up his vibrant social media feed, and Sandi Graham, a white Ashkenazi Jewish teacher. His parents split up when he was five, his father moving away to Memphis. The family home was in the working-class west side of the city, before the Grahams moved to the more affluent Forest Hill in what Drake has claimed were still relatively straitened circumstances: “I went to school with kids that were flying private jets. I never fit in. I was never accepted.”

If questions around identity ever felt awkward during his teenage years, they became key to Drake’s success later on, allowing him to be all things to all people: black and white; Jewish and non-religious; a singer and a rapper; a hard-scrabble working-class hustler; an aspirational middle-class professional; a superstar. His peculiar handsomeness – feminine eyes and lips, coupled with a thick beard and strong forehead – is both soft and hard. In a world where streaming services mean tastes have broadened, and where ethnic and musical diversity is championed among the millennials that make up the majority of his fanbase, he sits in the middle of a cultural and stylistic Venn diagram.

In short, everyone likes Drake. “There’s no demographic with him,” says Dirty South Joe, a Philadelphia DJ who hosts a monthly party that exclusively plays Drake tracks to 3,000 people at a time. “There’s no makeup to the crowd – it’s literally everyone. Because who he is, as a person, is a little bit of everybody.”

Drake’s biggest success has been to manoeuvre two musical identities so that they sit in equilibrium, and then blend them into one. He is sold as both an R&B loverman and a hip-hop thug, and much like a painter adding detail after detail to his own self-portrait, Drake constantly perfects this image. He offset Over , the braggadocious first single from his debut album, with Find Your Love , a sweet, dancehall-leaning R&B track; on his second album, Take Care, the melancholy title track dovetailed against the pumped-up party of Headlines ; on album three, the flexing on Started From the Bottom was met by the crooning of Hold On, We’re Going Home . In the 90s, sex and relationships were often reduced to pornography in mainstream rap, while R&B, framed by billowing satin drapes, explored them in more depth: Drake unified the two styles. “There were a few years there where you took a lot of shit for being a Drake fan,” Joe says. “The inner monologue of humanity, of vulnerability and doubt – it’s never been a hip-hop trope. But he eventually made it OK.” The Weeknd, Bryson Tiller and Tory Lanez have all clearly been influenced by his approach.

The unrelenting solipsism and passive-aggressive relationships in Drake’s lyrics seem to chime perfectly with an emotionally hyperarticulate Tinder generation and have spawned countless memes. Indeed, no other MC generates more internet content than Drake: “He has a strong team around him, who understand memes, and the importance of always being ahead of that too,” says Joe. “And there’s a willingness to be the punchline that others don’t have. It’s not a dominance of music with him – it’s a dominance of popular culture.”

But perhaps still wary of emasculation in the eyes of male rap fans, thanks to his soft R&B tracks – one blogger amusingly dubbed him “Young Garnier Fructis” – Drake indulges a performative masculinity: bulking up his physique and his bro squad, flagging up his obsession with videogames and the Toronto Raptors basketball team. His most alpha move of all, though, was in taking on the rapper Meek Mill in 2015, after Mill accused Drake of employing a ghostwriter for his songs. As the genre demanded, Drake released diss track Back to Back . He stated “you’re getting bodied by a singing nigga” – an extraordinary line that acknowledged Drake’s perceived emasculation for being a singer-rapper rather than a pure MC, and then flipped it by using it as a weapon against Meek. In that single lyric, Drake declared the might of his hybrid musical identity, and in the court of public opinion – ie the internet – he was crowned the victor. Drake had, until that point, mostly avoided the world of freestyles and battle rhymes, but his hip-hop credentials were now brilliantly burnished with the victory.

His huge success, then, has come from ruling both the R&B and rap kingdoms as a sort of smooth-tongued, brandy-quaffing autocrat – no wonder the “get you a man who can do both” meme began with him. But that isn’t enough for Drake, whose other hybrid identities – ethnic, religious, and social class – ensure he appeals to every possible demographic. Take the video for HYFR, where he is “re-bar mitzvah’d” in a boozy celebration, sending up the fact that his Jewishness will be viewed, however patronisingly, as exotic and quirky.

Drake also represents one of the major foundational legends of hip-hop, which is that, counter to the famous Rakim line, where you’re from is where you’re at. Civic pride is at the core of the modern rapper: think of Kendrick Lamar’s Compton, Chance the Rapper’s Chicago, or Gucci Mane’s Atlanta; Drake was fortunate that no major rapper had hailed from Toronto, and he set about making it his own, inventing a mythic camaraderie with an entire city to make himself more authentically hip-hop. References to “the six” – the six cities Toronto was combined from in 1998 – abound in his tracks; his album Views had him Photoshopped on to the top of the city’s CN Tower.

In his major hit Started From the Bottom, he used a tale of his Toronto youth to invoke another trope at the heart of hip-hop and North American culture: the Horatio Alger-style libertarian fable of the kid who hauls himself up by his bootstraps and reaches the top of his industry. There was scoffing in some quarters – could anyone who starred in the teen soap Degrassi Junior High reasonably be described as starting from the bottom? – but the sheer brilliance of the track helped listeners swallow the message. He had successfully given himself the hustler-to-mogul arc that Jay-Z, Notorious BIG and others had made so central to hip-hop, all without having to deal a gram of crack.

After exploring and leveraging all these sides of his identity to the fullest, Drake embarked on a riskier strategy – allying himself with different cultures. Just as Kanye West kept a longstanding relationship with producer Mike Dean while flirting with avant-garde beatmakers such as Arca, Drake stayed sonically ahead of the curve by pairing a long-time production head, Noah “40” Shebib, with hipster tyros such as James Blake and Majid Jordan; he was soon riffing between New Orleans bounce (Child’s Play), UK funky (One Dance) and dancehall (Controlla).

He became a permanent fixture in bottle-service clubs by appearing on party tracks by seemingly every significant US rapper, from French Montana to A$AP Rocky, Nicki Minaj, and an entire album with Future. But he also started guesting with much less-expected figures – outsider rapper ILoveMakonnen, Nigerian pop singer Wizkid, South African house producer Black Coffee, Jamaican dancehall MC Beenie Man, Puerto Rican trap star Bad Bunny – to expand his global empire, and become the definitive pop star of his generation. Most significantly for his UK success was an enthusiastic embrace of grime and British rap: he has appeared on stage with Section Boyz, and on record with Giggs, Dave, Jorja Smith and Skepta, complete with heaps of British slang. He has an ongoing fanboy obsession with urban TV drama Top Boy, wears Stone Island, has sampled Bristol dubstep producer Peverelist for an unreleased new track, and even tattooed himself with the letters BBK, after the British grime crew. For every person who cringed at Drake saying “on road” or “wasteman”, there were many more who loved his genuine adoration of British mic culture. After the titanic second wave of grime, black British music has splintered into its own hybrid forms, partly thanks to diasporic links being strengthened via the internet, taking in Jamaican dancehall, African pop, US trap and more – and Drake’s enthusiastic cultural exchange has helped catalyse and legitimise that shift. From Hardy Caprio to Yxng Bane, Stefflon Don to Not3s, he has become part of the DNA of new British MCs.

Drake is now gearing up to release his eighth full-length project, or as he put it on Instagram this week: “You can see the album hours under my eyes.” That it will reach No 1 on both sides of the Atlantic is an absolute certainty, but is there anything left for him to mine from the zeitgeist to stay relevant? Could this jack of all trades end up a master of none? The lyrics still cleave to victory-lap descriptions of his charmed life, menaced occasionally by nebulous antagonists – he might need a bit of Kendrick-style social commentary or psychological self-probing like Kanye to stave off boredom. But for now, Drake’s cultural dominance is a little like his beard: strong, clear and expertly, obsessively tailored.

Dirty South Joe appears on Diplo & Friends on Radio 1, Saturday 7 April; his Drake party So Far Gone is on Friday 6 April at the Fillmore, Philadelphia.

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In an era where rappers can achieve commercial success through so many platforms, Drake has conquered the hip-hop landscape like no rapper ever has. Outselling the competition has become second nature to the Canadian prodigy, as evidenced by his staggering record sales, long list of accolades, and utmost dominance on the charts.

The mainstream supremacy is no front, though: Drake’s songs showcase a mastery of rap elements like rhyme, flow, and imagery. Throughout his prolific career, Drake has crafted a sound that the industry has never heard before. As a result, he has opened the hip-hop door wider than ever before, bringing in scores of new fans to appreciate the genre.

Quick Facts

Early Years

The man fondly known as Drizzy was born Aubrey Drake Graham on October 24, 1986, in Toronto, Canada. Drake comes from mixed heritage: his father, Dennis Graham, was an African-American musician with roots in Memphis, while his mother, Sandra Graham, was a Canadian Jew who worked as a schoolteacher.

When Drake was five years old, his parents divorced; he ended up staying with his mother while his father dealt with legal issues in the U.S.

Musical connections in Drake’s family foreshadowed his future career. His father, Dennis, was a drummer for Jerry Lee Lewis, and his uncle Larry was a bassist for the San Francisco-based band Sly and the Family Stone. For what it’s worth, his maternal grandmother Evelyn Sher was reportedly a babysitter for the legendary Aretha Franklin.

Acting Career

Drake’s first foray into the world of entertainment came by way of an acting career. He first displayed his acting chops as a student of Toronto’s Forest Hill Collegiate Institute. At the age of 15, he dropped out of school altogether to pursue acting.

Through the help of an agent, Drake secured a main role in the Canadian teen drama Degrassi: The Next Generation.  As disabled basketball star Jimmy Brooks, Drake appeared in 100 episodes across seven seasons of  Degrassi . His final appearance on the series was in 2008.

Aside from Degrassi , Drake appeared in various other television programs during the 2000s. These include the Showtime series  Soul Food , the musical series Instant Star , and the CBC sitcom  Sophie . He also had a bit part in the 2007 film  Charlie Bartlett (which had a cast that included Robert Downey, Jr. and Kat Dennings).

The Jump to Hip Hop

Though  Degrassi  was a highly successful television venture, Drake’s acting career would soon take a permanent backseat to his ambitions in the music industry.

As a matter of fact, the producers of the show took notice of Drake’s frequent tardiness and lack of focus during his final year on the set. This was because his music career was already starting in earnest. In no time at all, it would become Drake’s entire life.

In 2006, he had already released his first mixtape, Room for Improvement , via self-distribution. Featuring production work from Frank Dukes and Boi-1da (who would go on to be a frequent Drake collaborator, Room for Improvement  sold exactly 6,000 copies.

The following year, Drake put out his second mixtape, Comeback Season , which would lead to his big break in the hip-hop world.

Impressed by Drake’s rapping and singing abilities on the mixtape, music executive Jas Prince played songs from Comeback Season  for Lil Wayne during a car ride in Houston. According to Prince, Lil Wayne decided right there and then to fly Drake to Texas, as Houston was going to be one of the first stops of his Tha Carter III tour.

While touring, Drake and Lil Wayne recorded several songs, including the track “Forever.” Initially a collaboration with Lil Wayne and Kidd Kidd, “Forever” would go on to be a popular cut from the soundtrack of More than a Game , a 2009 LeBron James documentary.

The soundtrack version featured cutthroat verses from Drake, Lil Wayne, Kanye West , and Eminem . “Forever” ended up being one of Drake’s early successes, as the track was certified 6x platinum.

Signing with Young Money

The hits just kept coming for Drake. Through his own record label October’s Very Own (OVO) website, he released his third mixtape, So Far Gone, in February 2009. Featuring appearances from Lil Wayne, Trey Songz, and Bun B ,  So Far Gone was a smash hit in terms of volume of digital downloads. Because of this, the mixtape was re-issued as an EP in October 2009; the EP went on to be certified gold.

That same year, various record labels were in the running to sign the red-hot Drake. There were no surprises, however, when his signing with Lil Wayne’s Young Money Entertainment was confirmed. As a member of Young Money, Drake joined the America’s Most Wanted Tour, which kicked off in July 2009.

On this tour, he performed alongside other Young Money talents such as Nicki Minaj, Young Jeezy, and Soulja Boy. However, disaster struck when he suffered an ACL injury during an on-stage accident in New Jersey. After undergoing surgery and rehab, Drake picked up steam once more as he resumed work on his very first studio album (which he had begun putting together earlier in 2009).

A Terrific Trifecta

On June 15, 2010, Drake released his debut album, Thank Me Later.  This initial full-length outing showcased the full extent of Drake’s abilities at that point: infectious dance tracks, romantic beats, and sensual tunes.

In addition, the album featured several big names in hip hop: Jay-Z , Lil Wayne, Nicki Minaj, and T.I. (along with Timbaland and Swizz Beatz on the production end).  Thank Me Later  became Drake’s first platinum-certified album, while the single “Best I Ever Had” received two Grammy nominations in 2010.

The gap between Drake’s first and second albums can be attributed to one of his defining traits: his highly prolific work as a recording artist. Barely a year and a half after the release of Thank Me Later , Take Care  took the hip hop industry by storm.

On  Take Care,  Drake achieved an even smoother sound, thanks to the impeccable fusion of R&B and pop-rap. The title track (a collaboration with his on-again, off-again love interest Rihanna) exemplifies his beautiful downbeat approach, while singles such as “Headlines” and the Nicki Minaj-assisted “Make Me Proud” spice up the album with well-placed hip hop swagger. As such, Take Care  was certified 6x platinum and was named Best Rap Album at the 2013 Grammy Awards.

Then, less than two years later, Drake released his third studio album, Nothing Was The Same . Once again, he brought out the big guns: Jay-Z, Big Sean, and Jhené Aiko contributed verses and vocals, while his long-time OVO producer Noah “40” Shebib handled the bulk of production duties.

With Drake’s bravado at an all-time high,  Nothing Was The Same asserted his supremacy in the rap game. “Started from the Bottom,” the album’s first single, celebrates his journey to the summit of hip hop; while his other singles (such as “Hold On, We’re Going Home” and “Pound Cake/Paris Morton Music 2”) are likewise oozing with supreme confidence.

Certified 4x platinum,  Nothing Was The Same  was named 2014 Album of the Year at the BET Hip Hop Awards and Rap Recording of the Year at the 2014 Juno Awards.

Feuds, Feuds, Feuds

The early 2010s established two major themes that would follow Drake throughout his career: massive success and animosity from peers.

As Drake was reveling in the accomplishments of the first two albums, he was also engaging in beefs with fellow rappers. In 2010, right around the release of Thank Me Later , Drake claimed in an interview that he had mastered the punchline style of flow prevalent in rap at that point.

To prove his point, he used a Ludacris lyric—something that the Atlanta-based rapper didn’t appreciate. Ludacris would then respond with the diss track “Bada Boom.”

The following year, Common took aim at Drake on his song “Sweet,” to which Drake responded by delivering scathing liens of his own on the Rick Ross single “Stay Schemin’.” Then, in 2012, tensions rose between Drake and Chris Brown, presumably due to their love triangle with Rihanna.

Their respective groups even got involved in a physical altercation between their respective camps at a Manhattan nightclub. (Brown later posted a picture of a chin injury that he supposedly sustained in that melee.)

For what it’s worth, Drake has buried the hatchet with all three of these hip-hop artists. Drake and Chris Brown even went on to collaborate on the 2019 song “No Guidance,” which was nominated for Best R&B Song at the 2020 Grammy Awards.

In addition, the intense beef between Drake and Meek Mill (which started in 2015) has also come to an end, with the two teaming up on the song “Going Bad,” which was released in 2019. (However, there seems to be no such peace pact between Drake and Kendrick Lamar, whose competitive back-and-forth started in the early 2010s as well.)

Memes Made, Records Broken

For the rest of the 2010s, Drake’s music career remained extremely productive, as seen in his high volume of singles and mixtapes released (along with two studio albums).

In February 2015, with no marketing or announcement beforehand, he dropped the mixtape If You’re Reading This, It’s Too Late on iTunes. As if to punctuate Drake’s commercial power, the surprise project would go on to break Spotify’s first-week streaming record. The mixtape also got a Grammy nod for Best Rap Album in 2016 (among other nominations in the same category that year).

Five months after the release of  If You’re Reading This It’s Too Late , Drake put out four singles, including the wildly popular “Hotline Bling.” While the pop/R&B-influenced track is a sensational listening experience in and of itself, the music video for “Hotline Bling” took on a life of its own.

Inspired by the work of artist James Turrell and helmed by Director X, the “Hotline Bling” video inspired hundreds of memes around the Internet. As such, “Hotline Bling” underscores Drake’s immense influence in the digital age of the music industry.

In September 2015, Drake released his second mixtape of the year: the aptly titled  What a Time to Be Alive.  Just like If You’re Reading This It’s Too Late , this collaborative project with Future reached the number one spot on the Billboard 200.

As such, Drake became the first rapper since Jay-Z to have two projects take the number one spot in the same year. In addition, these projects marked the beginning of a four-year pattern for Drake: from 2015 to 2018, he released at least one mixtape and at least one studio album in alternating years.

In 2016, his fourth album (which went from being named Views from the 6  to simply Views ) came out.  Views was a bold experiment regarding musical style, as it fused genres as varied as dancehall, West African music, and trap.

Though Views was one of Drake’s weaker projects in terms of critical reception, its nevertheless attained commercial success as it was certified 6x platinum. In 2017, Drake released the mixtape More Life (which featured his father, Dennis Graham, on the cover).

Doubling down on the dancehall flavor that characterized Views, More Life was certified 2x platinum. That same year, Drake also set a record for most wins at the Billboard Music Awards (13) in a single year.

Scorpion and the Secret Son

2018 was marked by the release of his fifth studio album, Scorpion . This double album deconstructs the primary elements of Drake’s signature style: its first disc is essentially a hip-hop project, while its second disc underscores his mastery of pop and R&B.

While critics took aim at the length of the project (all in all, it contains 25 tracks), Scorpion  conquered major streaming platforms like Spotify and Apple Music. This led to another record for Drake: he became the first artist to amass more than a billion streams within a week of his album’s release.

As if  Scorpion ‘s sensational performance wasn’t headline-grabbing enough, one of the songs on the tracklist delivered a bombshell heard ’round the world. Prior to the album’s release, Drake’s heated rival Pusha T claimed (via the diss track “The Story of Adidon”) that the Canadian icon had a secret son.

On “Emotionless,” the fourth track of Scorpion , Drake confirmed the child’s existence. (In March 2020, Drake posted the first public photos of his son, two-year-old Adonis Graham, on Instagram.)

Staying Busy

Entering the 2020s, Drake showed no signs of slowing down. After putting out an EP, a compilation album, and a mixtape between 2019 and 2020, he launched his sixth studio album, Certified Lover Boy, in 2021. Though the album earned distinctions that are to be expected of Drake—number one on the Billboard 200, impressive streaming numbers—it became the subject of controversy as well.

In December 2021, Drake asked the Recording Academy to withdraw the album’s Grammy nominations: Best Rap Album and Best Rap Performance for the Young Thug- and Future-assisted “Way 2 Sexy.”

His motivation for this request is unclear, though he had been at odds for quite some time with the Academy due to their questionable categorization of his music (as well as other dubious decisions, such as The Weeknd’s snubs in 2021).

No matter what his intentions were in these circumstances, Drake remained focused on maintaining a high level of productivity. On June 16, 2022, he gave the world a single-day notice for an album drop. Sure enough, his seventh studio album, Honestly, Nevermind, was released the day after. The album’s foray into house music indicates that Canada’s biggest hip-hop icon is far from finished in terms of finding new ways to make worldwide hits.

In a 2017 YouTube video for HipHopDX, rapper Murs neatly laid out the niches occupied by the three biggest rappers in the game today: Drake, Kendrick Lamar, and J. Cole. According to the 3 Lane Theory outlined by Murs, Drake is the king of the hip hop industry’s “pop lane.”

This means that, when it comes to chart-toppers and commercial blockbusters, Drake’s music is second to none. The “pop lane” appears to be the polar opposite of the “hip hop lane” occupied by J. Cole, whose opus “2014 Forest Hills Drive” prioritized pure lyricism and artistic vision over mainstream appeal. (For what it’s worth, Kendrick Lamar was categorized in the “hip-pop lane,” which aspires to merge a strong hip-hop aesthetic with a radio-friendly approach.)

This framework is arguably the most eloquent way of explaining Drake’s legacy in hip-hop history. While he has taken plenty of flak for hollow lyrics and a pop-heavy style, he has essentially conquered a niche of the rap game that was previously bannered by the likes of Nelly and Flo Rida. Drake doesn’t just rightfully belong to the pantheon of hip hop greats.

Along with the likes of Beyonce, Taylor Swift, and his former flame Rihanna, Drake has become one of the most successful musicians of the 21st century.

Why is Drake influential?

Drake’s mastery of digital technology is a significant factor in the expansion of his influence. He and his creative team have an uncanny knack for coming up with lyrics, melodies, dance moves, and videos that take the Internet by storm.

The popularity of the “YOLO” (You Live Only Once) mantra can be traced to Drake’s song “The Motto,” a bonus track on his second album, Take Care . Drake also got countless fans dancing to “Hotline Bling” and “In My Feelings,” as evidenced by hundreds upon hundreds of clips on TikTok and YouTube. In short, when it comes to building a buzz and creating a worldwide trend on social media, Drake is a master like no other.

Answer: To date, there have been no reports of Drake tying the knot with anyone. His dating history, on the other hand, has been well-publicized. Drake has been romantically linked to Rihanna, Jennifer Lopez, Kat Dennings, Tyra Banks, Zoe Kravitz, and Serena Williams, among others. (To add: the mother of his child Adonis is painter and former model Sophie Brussaux.)

Answer: In 2012, Drake was sued by singer (and alleged ex-girlfriend) Ericka Lee over co-writer royalties, supposedly stemming from her involvement in the production of the song “Marvin’s Room.” A settlement between Drake and Lee was reached the following year. Drake has also been on the receiving end of lawsuits pertaining to fair use and copyright infringement, though he has mostly made it through unscathed. In one instance—wherein he supposedly failed to ask permission for sampling a song from jazz artist Jimmy Smith—Drake actually won the lawsuit.

Answer: In 2008, Drake co-founded the lifestyle brand October’s Very Own (OVO) with Oliver El-Khatib and Noah “40” Shebib. Aside from Drake’s music pursuits (his record label and radio station), OVO produces clothing, accessories, and art. In 2016, he launched Virginia Black Whiskey, a collaborative venture with entrepreneur Brent Hocking. Aside from these, Drake has had a host of endorsements (including Apple Music, Sprite, and Burger King); and he is a fervent supporter of the NBA team Toronto Raptors.

Bottom Line

Answer: If hip hop were a school community, Drake would be that charismatic classmate whose every move charms a horde of onlookers. Though his peers have outdone him in certain elements of the craft (particularly the art of lyricism), he has undoubtedly risen above all of them as the most popular representative of the rap genre.

Music fans can do anything with Drake’s work: they can sing and rap along, dance to the beat, or just soak in the heartfelt emotion conveyed by each smash hit. In this sense, Drake has achieved something far greater than any of his commercial triumphs: the satisfaction of an artist whose masterpieces are genuinely appreciated by the world.

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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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“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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Francis Drake

(1540-1596)

Who Was Sir Francis Drake?

Like many of his contemporaries, no birth records exist for Drake. It is believed he was born between 1540 and 1544, based on dates of later events.

Drake was the eldest of 12 sons born to Mary Myllwaye (spelled "Mylwaye" in some cases) and Edmund Drake. Edmund was a farmer on the estate of Lord Francis Russell, the second earl of Bedford.

Drake was eventually apprenticed to a merchant who sailed coastal waters trading goods between England and France. He took to navigation well and was soon enlisted by his relatives, the Hawkinses. They were privateers who prowled the shipping lanes off the French coast, seizing merchant ships.

Work as a Slave Trader

By the 1560s, Drake was given command of his own ship, the Judith . With a small fleet, Drake and his cousin, John Hawkins, sailed to Africa and worked illegally as slave traders. They then sailed to New Spain to sell their captives to settlers, an action that was against Spanish law.

In 1568, Drake and Hawkins became trapped in the Mexican port of San Juan de Ulúa in a face-off with the newly established Spanish viceroy's forces. The two escaped on their respective ships while scores of their men were killed. The incident instilled in Drake a deep hatred of the Spanish crown.

First Commission from Queen Elizabeth I

In 1572, Drake obtained a privateer's commission from Queen Elizabeth I, which was essentially a license to plunder any property belonging to King Philip II of Spain. That year Drake embarked on his first independent voyage to Panama from Plymouth, England. He planned to attack the town of Nombre de Dios, a drop-off point for Spanish ships bringing silver and gold from Peru.

With two ships and a crew of 73 men, Drake captured the town. However, he was seriously wounded during the raid, so he and his men withdrew without much treasure. They stayed in the area for a time, and after Drake’s wounds healed, they raided several Spanish settlements, picking up much gold and silver. They returned to Plymouth in 1573.

Circumnavigating the Globe

With the success of the Panama expedition, Queen Elizabeth I sent Drake out against the Spanish along the Pacific coast of South America in late 1577. She also clandestinely assigned him the task of exploring the Northwestern coast of North America, seeking a Northwest passage.

Drake had five ships for the expedition. Among his men were John Winter, commander of one of the vessels, and officer Thomas Doughty. Major tensions flared between Drake and Doughty during the trip, potentially motivated by political intrigue. Upon arriving off the coast of Argentina, Drake had Doughty arrested with the accusation of planned mutiny. After a brief and possibly illegal trial, Doughty was convicted and beheaded.

Drake then led the fleet into the Strait of Magellan to reach the Pacific Ocean. They were soon caught in a storm, with Winter's ship reversing course and returning to England. Continuing to face stormy weather, Drake remained in his flagship, the newly dubbed Golden Hind and only remaining vessel from the original squad, sailing up the coasts of Chile and Peru and plundering an unprotected Spanish merchant ship full of bullion. Drake reputedly landed off the coast of California, claiming it for Queen Elizabeth I.

(There is some debate about Drake's voyages, with certain historians asserting that Drake deliberately recorded misleading geographical information to cover the true scope of his travels from the Spanish. There has been conjecture that Drake in fact reached the Oregon coast or even as far north as British Columbia and Alaska. Even with the continuing debate, in 2012 the U.S. government officially recognized a cove in California's Point Reyes Peninsula as Drake's landing site, an action championed by the Drake Navigators Guild.)

After repairing the ship and replenishing food supplies, Drake set sail across the Pacific, through the Indian Ocean and around the Cape of Good Hope back to England, landing at Plymouth in 1580. Drake had thus become the first Englishman to circumnavigate the world and the second person ever, after the Basque mariner Juan Sebastian Elcano (who took over Ferdinand Magellan ’s expedition after his death).

The treasure Drake captured made him a wealthy man, and the Queen Elizabeth I knighted him in 1581. That year he also was appointed mayor of Plymouth and became a member of the House of Commons.

Battle With the Spanish Armada

Between 1585 and 1586, relations between England and Spain grew worse. Queen Elizabeth I unleashed Drake on the Spanish in a series of raids that captured several cities in North and South America, taking treasure and inflicting damage on Spanish morale. These acts were part of what prompted Spain’s Philip II to invade England. He ordered the construction of a vast armada of warships, fully equipped and manned. In a preemptive strike, Drake conducted a raid on the Spanish city of Cadiz, destroying more than 30 ships and thousands of tons of supplies. English philosopher Francis Bacon would come to refer to this act as "singeing the king of Spain’s beard."

In 1588 Drake was appointed vice admiral of the English Navy, under Lord Charles Howard. On July 21, 130 ships of the Spanish Armada entered the English Channel in a crescent formation. The English fleet sailed out to meet them, relying upon long-range cannon fire to significantly damage the armada over the ensuing days.

On July 27th, Spanish commander Alonso Pérez de Guzmán, the duke of Medina Sidonia, anchored the armada off the coast of Calais, France, in hopes of meeting up with Spanish soldiers who would join in the invasion. The next evening, Lord Howard and Drake organized fire ships to sail right into the Spanish fleet. They did little damage, but the ensuing panic caused some of the Spanish captains to cut anchor and scatter. Strong winds carried many of the ships towards the North Sea, and the English followed in pursuit.

At the Battle of Gravelines, the English began getting the better of the Spaniards. With the armada formation broken, the lumbering Spanish galleons were easy targets for the English ships, which could quickly move in to fire one or two well-aimed broadsides before scurrying off to safety. By late afternoon, the English pulled back. Due to weather and the presence of enemy forces, Medina Sidonia was forced to take the armada north around Scotland and back to Spain. As the fleet sailed away from the Scottish coast, a strong gale drove many ships onto the Irish rocks. Thousands of Spaniards drowned, and those who reached land were later executed by English authorities. Less than half of the original fleet returned to Spain, sustaining huge casualties.

In 1589, Queen Elizabeth I ordered Drake to seek out and destroy any remaining ships of the armada and help Portuguese rebels in Lisbon fight against Spanish occupiers. The expedition instead sustained major losses in terms of lives and resources. Drake returned home, and for the next several years busied himself with duties as mayor of Plymouth.

In 1595, Queen Elizabeth I called upon Drake and his cousin, John Hawkins, to capture Spain's treasure supply in Panama, in hopes of cutting off revenue and ending the Anglo-Spanish War . After the defeat at Nombre de Dios, Drake's fleet moved farther west and anchored off the coast of Portobelo, Panama. There, Drake contracted dysentery and, on January 28, 1596, died of a fever. He was buried in a lead coffin at sea near Portobelo. Divers continue to search for the coffin.

QUICK FACTS

• Name: Francis Drake
• Birth Year: 1540
• Birth City: Tavistock, Devonshire
• Birth Country: England
• Gender: Male
• Best Known For: English admiral Sir Francis Drake circumnavigated the globe from 1577-1580, helped defeat the Spanish Armada of 1588 and was the most renowned seaman of the Elizabethan era.
• Interesting Facts
• Sir Francis Drake contracted dysentery and, on January 28, 1596, died of a fever. He was buried in a lead coffin at sea near Portobelo. Divers continue to search for the coffin.
• Death Year: 1596
• Death date: January 28, 1596
• Death City: Portobelo
• Death Country: Panama

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

CITATION INFORMATION

• Article Title: Francis Drake Biography
• Author: Biography.com Editors
• Website Name: The Biography.com website
• Url: https://www.biography.com/history-culture/francis-drake
• Access Date:
• Publisher: A&E; Television Networks
• Last Updated: May 27, 2021
• Original Published Date: April 2, 2014
• There is plenty of time to win this game, and to thrash the Spaniards too.
• There must be a beginning of any great matter, but the continuing unto the end until it be thoroughly finished yields the true glory.
• There is little friendship in the world, and least of all between equals.

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• Music Artist

IMDbPro Starmeter See rank

• Contact info
• 84 wins & 341 nominations total

• Jimmy Brooks (as Aubrey Graham)
• 2001–2009 • 145 eps

• Soul Brother (as Aubrey Drake Graham)

• Soundtrack ("Hold On, We're Going Home", as Aubrey Graham)
• Elu (English version, voice)
• In Production

• Dan Rider (voice)

• Drake (as Aubrey Graham)

• executive producer
• In Development
• Pre-production
• Post-production

• 25 episodes

• 17 episodes

• executive producer (as Aubrey "Drake" Graham)
• In-development projects at IMDbPro

Personal details

• Apple Music
• Aubrey "Drake" Graham
• 6′ (1.83 m)
• October 24 , 1986
• Toronto, Ontario, Canada
• Adonis Graham
• Parents Sandi Graham
• Larry Graham (Aunt or Uncle)
• Other works Music video: Appears in Chrisette Michele 's video for her single, "Epiphany".
• 1 Pictorial
• 4 Magazine Cover Photos

Did you know

• Trivia Favorite actor is Denzel Washington .
• Quotes [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.'
• Trademarks Bright smile
• Drizzy Drake
• Champagne Papi
• How old is Drake?
• When was Drake born?
• Where was Drake born?

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33 Facts About Drake

Written by Nelly Schulz

Modified & Updated: 01 Jun 2024

Reviewed by Jessica Corbett

Drake, the Canadian rapper, singer, and songwriter, has taken the music industry by storm with his irresistible beats, catchy hooks, and introspective lyrics. Known for his unique blend of hip-hop and R&B, Drake has amassed an enormous fan following and solidified his position as one of the most influential artists of our time.

In this article, we will explore 33 fascinating facts about Drake that highlight his rise to fame, his personal life, and his impressive accomplishments in the music industry. From his early beginnings as an actor on the hit TV show Degrassi: The Next Generation to his record-breaking chart success and his philanthropic endeavors, there is no shortage of intriguing details about this multi-talented artist.

So, buckle up and get ready to delve into the world of Drake as we uncover the secrets behind his journey to becoming a global superstar.

Key Takeaways:

• Drake, born in 1986, is a multi-talented artist known for his unique singing and rapping style, philanthropy, and record-breaking achievements, making him a cultural icon and trendsetter.
• With hit albums, successful collaborations, and a global ambassadorship, Drake’s impact extends beyond music, shaping modern hip-hop and R&B while captivating audiences with his emotional and versatile artistry.

Drake was born on October 24, 1986.

Drake, whose real name is Aubrey Drake Graham, was born on October 24, 1986, in Toronto, Canada .

Drake started his career as an actor.

Before his music career took off, Drake gained fame as an actor on the popular Canadian TV series, “Degrassi: The Next Generation.”

Drake is known for his unique singing and rapping style.

Drake’s signature style combines melodic singing with introspective and heartfelt rap lyrics, setting him apart from other artists in the industry.

Drake signed to Young Money Entertainment in 2009.

Drake gained recognition after being signed to Lil Wayne’s label, Young Money Entertainment, in 2009, which propelled his music career to new heights.

Drake’s debut studio album, “Thank Me Later,” was released in 2010.

“Thank Me Later” debuted at number one on the Billboard 200 and showcased Drake’s talent as both a rapper and singer.

Drake has won numerous awards throughout his career.

With four Grammy Awards, six American Music Awards, and multiple Billboard Music Awards, Drake has solidified his position as one of the most successful artists of his generation.

Drake holds several Billboard chart records.

Drake has smashed several records on the Billboard charts, including the most simultaneous top 10 entries on the Hot 100 and the most entries on the Hot 100 by a solo artist.

Drake is known for his philanthropic endeavors.

Drake has made significant contributions to various charitable causes, including donating money to schools and providing scholarships to students in need.

Drake is a global ambassador for the Toronto Raptors.

As a proud Toronto native, Drake has been appointed as a global ambassador for the city’s NBA team , the Toronto Raptors.

Drake’s mixtape, “So Far Gone,” helped propel his career.

So Far Gone” was critically acclaimed and played a significant role in showcasing Drake’s talent to a wider audience, leading to his mainstream success .

Drake has collaborated with many renowned artists.

Over the years, Drake has collaborated with artists such as Rihanna, Kanye West, Lil Wayne, and Jay-Z, among others.

Drake has his own record label, OVO Sound.

Drake founded OVO Sound in 2012, which has since signed artists like PartyNextDoor and Majid Jordan.

Drake has a large social media following.

With millions of followers on platforms like Instagram and Twitter, Drake is one of the most influential figures in the music industry on social media.

Drake has released several hit singles.

Songs like “Hotline Bling,” “God’s Plan,” and “One Dance” have topped charts worldwide and have become anthems of pop culture.

Drake is known for his emotional and introspective lyrics.

Drake’s vulnerability and willingness to open up about his personal experiences have resonated with fans who connect with his heartfelt lyrics.

Drake has his own clothing line called October’s Very Own (OVO).

Aside from music, Drake has ventured into the fashion industry with his clothing brand , October’s Very Own, known for its stylish and high-quality apparel.

Drake has acted in several films and TV shows.

In addition to his role on “Degrassi,” Drake has appeared in movies like “Charlie Bartlett” and “Ice Age: Continental Drift .

Drake has released multiple successful albums.

With albums like “Take Care” and “Nothing Was the Same,” Drake has consistently delivered chart-topping projects that resonate with a wide audience.

Drake frequently references his hometown of Toronto in his music.

Drake’s love for Toronto is evident in his songs, often mentioning iconic landmarks and neighborhoods in his lyrics.

Drake has a close friendship with fellow rapper, Lil Wayne.

Drake has been mentored by Lil Wayne since the early days of his career and considers him a close friend and collaborator.

Drake is exceptionally talented when it comes to freestyle rapping.

Drake has impressed audiences with his ability to freestyle rap effortlessly, showcasing his lyrical prowess .

Drake has his own music festival called OVO Fest.

Every year, Drake hosts the OVO Fest in Toronto, where he brings together renowned artists for a memorable music experience.

Drake’s music often addresses themes of love, fame, and success.

Drake’s lyrics often delve into personal experiences and touch upon universal themes that resonate with his audience.

Drake has been recognized as one of the best-selling music artists of all time.

With over 170 million records sold worldwide, Drake’s commercial success places him among the highest-selling artists in history.

Drake is an influential figure in shaping modern hip-hop and R&B.

Through his innovative sound and unique blend of genres, Drake has had a significant impact on the evolution of hip-hop and R&B music.

Drake has received praise for his live performances.

Known for his energetic stage presence and captivating performances, Drake has garnered acclaim for his live shows.

Drake’s album “Views” spent multiple weeks at number one on the Billboard 200.

“Views” became Drake’s first number one album on the Billboard 200, spending multiple weeks at the top spot.

Drake has released multiple successful collaborations with producer Noah “40” Shebib.

The partnership between Drake and producer Noah “40” Shebib has resulted in numerous hit songs and has played a pivotal role in shaping Drake’s sound.

Drake’s music often explores themes of relationships and heartbreak.

Drake is known for his emotionally charged songs that delve into the complexities of love, heartbreak, and relationships.

Drake’s album “Scorpion” broke streaming records upon its release.

Scorpion” generated over a billion streams in its first week, solidifying Drake’s influence in the streaming era of music.

Drake has been praised for his versatility as an artist.

From hard-hitting rap tracks to smooth R&B ballads, Drake showcases his versatility by seamlessly transitioning between different musical styles.

Drake is recognized as one of the most successful artists of the 2010s.

With multiple chart-topping hits and record-breaking achievements, Drake dominated the music industry throughout the 2010s.

Drake’s impact extends beyond music.

Drake’s influence reaches beyond the realms of music, as he has become a cultural phenomenon and a trendsetter in fashion and popular culture.

Drake is undoubtedly one of the most influential and successful musicians of our time. With his unique blend of rap and R&B, he has achieved countless chart-topping hits and established himself as a cultural icon. Through his music, Drake has captivated audiences around the world, bridging the gap between genres and breaking records in the process.

But Drake’s impact goes beyond his music. He has also made a name for himself as an entrepreneur, an actor, and a philanthropist. He has his own record label, October’s Very Own, and has ventured into the world of fashion and spirits with his clothing line and whiskey brand . Additionally, Drake has donated millions of dollars to various charitable causes, showing his commitment to making a difference.

As Drake continues to push the boundaries of the music industry, there’s no doubt that he will leave a lasting legacy. His versatility, talent, and sheer determination have solidified his place in the pantheon of modern-day celebrities.

1. Is Drake his real name?

No, Drake’s real name is Aubrey Drake Graham. He chose to use his middle name “Drake” as his stage name.

2. How many albums has Drake released?

As of now, Drake has released a total of nine studio albums, including “Thank Me Later,” “Take Care,” and “Views.”

3. Has Drake won any Grammy Awards?

Yes, Drake has won multiple Grammy Awards throughout his career, including Best Rap Album for “Take Care” and Best Rap Song for “God’s Plan.

4. Is Drake involved in any other business ventures?

Apart from his music career, Drake has ventured into various business ventures. He owns his own record label, October’s Very Own, and has a clothing line called OVO. He has also launched a whiskey brand called Virginia Black.

5. Has Drake acted in any movies or TV shows?

Yes, Drake has appeared in several movies and TV shows . He has acted in films like “ Charlie Bartlett ” and “Degrassi Goes Hollywood.” He has also made guest appearances in popular TV shows such as “Saturday Night Live” and “The Ellen DeGeneres Show.

6. Is Drake involved in any philanthropic work?

Yes, Drake is known for his philanthropy. He has donated millions of dollars to various causes, including educational initiatives, hurricane relief efforts, and supporting artists in need through his music label.

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Drake Height, Age, Girlfriend, Wife, Family, Biography & More

Some Lesser Known Facts About Drake

• Does Drake smoke?: Yes
• Does Drake drink alcohol?: Yes
• Before embarking on his solo career, Drake had appeared in the  Degrassi: The Next Generation  as soon as in 2000,   which brought him initial recognition. He was on the show for seven years and won several awards and honors for it.
• His debut album Thank Me Later  was ranked number one on Billboard 200 and was certified platinum by RIAA.
• He received a Grammy Award in the category Best Rap Album for his album ‘Take Care’.
• His album Views was ranked on the top ranking for 10 consecutive weeks making it the first album to achieve that in over 10 years.
• He also holds the record for having maximum number one listings on Billboard  Hot R&B/Hip-Hop  beating Jay Z.
• Drake currently co-owns OVO Sounds & OVO line of clothing in addition to his association in the production company  Champagne Papi . He also represents Canadian NBA team Toronto Raptors.
• His style of writing is egotistical and is known for his technique and putting in a emotional element to the songs.
• His rapping ability is known as Polarizing which could be because of growing up in two polarizing parts of Toronto. Lil Wayne has been a substantial part of his singles and albums.
• Drake popularized the term YOLO from his single “The Motto”. It stands for “ you only live once.”  He also coined the name “The Six” for Toronto .
• Drake has rendered his voice for Ethan, the young mammoth in  Ice Age: Continental Drift in (2012).
• Drake visited Lil Wayne three times when he was in New York’s Riker’s Island jail.
• He is also appreciated for his song-writing. He wrote the songs “Un-Thinkable” for Alicia Keys and “Fall For Your Type” for  Jamie Foxx.
• Drake is a big Miami Heat fan and was found waiting outside their locker room but was not allowed to enter because he did not have a media pass.
• His celebrity crushes are Kat Dennings, star of Two Broke Girls,  Meagan Good and Eva Mendes.
• He admitted that all his tweets could be tattoos on his body he was a tattoo kinda person.
• Drake was totally close to playing with Hanson, but their broke a riot in the heavily crowded audience and the show was cancelled.
• Drake writes his music straight on his BlackBerry instead of on a paper or notebook.
• Drake hosted and acted in the Saturday Nigh Live  show and was critically praised for his acting and comedic timing.
• He is not really happy with his record label Universe, as he tweeted “Stop taking my f***** songs down” and also said that “I am doing this for the people not your label”.
• His album Views  portrays the change of seasons in his hometown “The Six”, as he would like to call.
• He makes his own whisky and has a spirit business venture coming up too. He already has a label called ‘Virginia Black’ that is a North American bourbon.

Canadian Drake performing at a concert in Toronto, wearing a T-shirt with a picture of Sidhu Moose Wala

40 Distinct Facts About Drake

A Drake fan got his name tattooed across her forehead in capital letters, a move which Drake was not a fan of.

He’s a famous rapper from Canada, and you’re bound to have heard one of his numbers even if you don’t know who he is.

If you want to build your knowledge of Drake and the rap world, let’s look at some interesting facts about the man himself.

Drake’s full name is Aubrey Draka Graham. He also has a few nicknames including Drizzy and Champagne Papi.

Drake is 37 years old and was born on October 24 , 1986, in Toronto, Ontario in Canada .

Although he is now most famous as a rapper, he was first known for his role on Degrassi: The Next Generation , a popular American TV series.

His mother Sandi is from Canada and is Jewish; his father, Dennis Graham, is African American and was born in Memphis, Tennessee .

His father, Dennis Graham worked with the famous rock star Jerry Lee Lewis as a drummer.

It appears many of Drake’s family have been involved in music and the arts – his uncle Larry Graham was a bassist for Prince.

When Drake was just five years old, his parents divorced. Drake then lived with his mother, who raised him Jewish. Despite this, Drake is still very close with both his parents.

Drake lives in California most of the time but also owns a property in Toronto.

Drake is 5 feet 11 inches tall (182cm).

Drake has spoken about how it was difficult for him to fit in at school. Not only was he black, but he was Jewish too in a school of predominantly white children.

He dropped out of school to follow a career in acting, but he went back to school in later life and graduated in 2012 .

As well as awards for his music, Drake won a Young Artist Award in 2002.

His rapping work has earned him a prestigious Grammy award.

Drake combines rapping with singing in his songs, creating a warmer and softer rhythm and melody than many other rappers.

Kat Dennings is rumored to be one of Drake’s biggest celebrity crushes, alongside Eva Mendes.

Drake is on Twitter , and among his tweets are tattoos which he would have if he were a “tattoo person”.

In 2008, Drake didn’t have any acting work and was considering getting a regular job such as working in a restaurant or bar.

Kanye West directed the music video for Drake’s “Best I Ever Had”.

In the summer of 2009, Drake traveled with his “America’s Most Wanted” tour but unfortunately tore a ligament in his knee in an accident on stage.

Drake made his way into Rolling Stone’s “25 Best Songs of 2009” with his hit single “Successful.”

Drake’s first full studio album was released in 2010. It was titled “Thank Me Later” and topped the charts in both Canada and America.

The video game Gears of War 3 was expected to star Drake, but due to other commitments, it never became a reality.

Drake and Rihanna have recorded music together, namely “What’s My Name” and “Take Care.”

Lil Wayne, another famous rapper, has a record label which is called Young Money Entertainment. Drake first became famous through a record deal with this label.

Drake founded his own record label, OVO Sound, in 2012, but was still signed to Young Money.

It was alleged that Drake and Chris Brown were involved in an altercation in New York City in 2012. Drake is thought to have made the first move. The incident may have been related to the long-term feud about the fact that they have both dated singer Rihanna.

Not only has Drake been in legal trouble for his feud with Chris Brown, but he has been taken to court by ex-girlfriend Ericka Lee for not appropriately crediting her for work on the song “Marvin’s Room”.

Ludacris, Kanye West , and Pusha T are just a few of the other artists that Drake has fallen out with in the past.

In 2015, Drake posted just a few seconds of his single “Feel No Ways” on the now obsolete social media channel Vine before the single was released.

It is rumored that Drake types out lyrics on his phone first before recording them in the studio.

Drake said that his song “Hotline Bling” was not a rap song even though he is widely regarded as a rapper.

Drake has a long-term friendship with Nicky Minaj and has reportedly attempted to become romantically involved with her but to no avail.

“The Motto” is Drake’s single which references the phrase “YOLO” and “you only live once”. He is credited with the creation of the term “YOLO” in popular culture.

Drake’s 2016 album “Views” was created as a result of 81 different writers working on it.

On October 11 , 2017, Drake’s son with Sophie Brussaux, Adonis, was born. He is Drake’s only child.

Drake’s 2018 album “Scorpion” saw the rapper referencing his son Adonis, confirming rumors among fans.

As of 2023 , Drake is said to be worth around $250 million. This isn’t just due to his income as an entertainer, but also from OVO Sound record label and acting ventures.

Drake also has a clothing label, also called OVO, from which he generates further income.

In May 2018, Drake started dating Instagram & bikini model Malaika Terry.

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31 Interesting Facts About Drake

Table of Contents

Last updated on March 15th, 2023 at 11:04 pm

As one of the greatest rappers in modern pop music, Drake has continually redefined his image in the public eye.

Though his public image has been at the center of some controversies throughout the years, his music has continued to climb the pop charts at unprecedented rates.

However, there are still some things that a majority of people don’t know about the national pop star. To help you learn some new things about the rapper, we’ve compiled a list of 31 interesting facts about Drake.

Drake Isn’t His Real First Name

Drake’s real name is Aubrey Drake Graham.

Drake is from Canada

Drake was born in Toronto, Ontario Canada on October 24, 1986. His mother is white and Canadian while his father identifies as African-American.

Related: 19 Famous Artists You Didn’t Know Were From Canada

How did Drake become Famous?

Drake had his start in the entertainment industry as an actor on the Canadian tv series spin-off, Degrassi: The Next Generation . In fact, he didn’t even plan to be a musician due to the success of his work in television!

This would all change in 2008 when he was dropped from the show. After seven seasons the writers took his character, Jimmy Brooks off of the series. Want to know why? Scroll down.

Drake Dropped Out of School to Pursue Acting

Despite being enrolled at the Forest Hill Collegiate Institute in Toronto, Drake dropped out before he could finish his degree program. He only had one credit left, but decided that he should leave high school to focus on his acting career.

Drake Didn’t Like Acting in a Wheelchair

Drake fought with screenwriters and producers of Degrassi  asking them to take his character out of the wheelchair. He said his rapper friends were calling him “soft” because of it.

Drake eventually sent a letter to the producers that stated he would not return for season six as Jimmy Brooks unless they somehow healed the character’s injury so he no longer needed a wheelchair. They must not have liked that too much. 

He Almost Had to Give Up on His Dreams

When Drake was dropped from Degrassi , he almost had to take a day job a s a waiter.

Thankfully he got a call from Lil Wayne soon after leaving acting thanks to his mixtapes that he sent to Young Money Entertainment (which is owned by Lil Wayne).

In fact, the artist was so impressed with Drake’s single “Replacement Girl” that he immediately flew Drake out to Houston to perform on his Carter III tour.

Drake Hot Sauce & Condom

On Jan 12, 2022, news broke out about a model, whose identity has not been revealed to the public, may be taking legal action against Drake after having sex with him in a bathroom. 

The woman claimed she fished Drake’s used condom from the trash and attempted to put his sperm inside of her without him knowing so she could become impregnated with Drake’s child. Wtf.

          View this post on Instagram                       A post shared by Barstool Sports (@barstoolsports)

She stated it burned her insides, discovering he put hot sauce in the condom to kill his sperm.

Ouch! Also…can hot sauce kill sperm?!

Anyway, the model’s name has not been released to the public. If I were her, I’d keep it that way.

Drake Can Ice Skate

Being from a country well known for hockey, Drake knows his way around the ice.

Drake’s Favorite Sport is Basketball

You will often see drake sitting courtside at NBA games. His favorite team is the Toronto Raptors, though he is friends with many players, such as Lebron James.

Zodiac Sign

Drake’s zodiac sign is Scorpio.

Drake’s Influences

It should come as no surprise that someone with as many hits as Drake is influenced by other artists. To date, he claims his biggest influences are Jay Z, Aaliyah, and Lil Wayne. 

Drake is Jewish…and Catholic?

Despite Drake’s Catholic upbringing, Drake identifies as Jewish and had a Bar Mitzvah!

In retrospect, Drake believes that his early education at a mainly white and Christian school influenced him, as he learned to form his own identity by being different than the others.

Successful Made it to the Billboard Hot 100 Singles in 2009

Turns out Lil Wayne was right to take a chance on Canadian rapper Drake, and within a year of the fateful phone call, Drake’s first song “Successful” was a huge success!

This song also later made it to Rolling Stone’s 25 Best Songs of 2009 list, and he didn’t stop there, as in the years since he has continued to dominate charts around the world with his hip-hop and rap songs. 

Drake Tattoo

Drake has multiple tattoos. The weirdest tattoo would be a portrait of his mentor Lil Wayne on his arm. Drake also has a tattoo of Rihanna .

Drake Tore his ACL

As if some sort of universal karma was at play, Drake tore his ACL tendon in 2009 when he was on stage during his “America’s Most Wanted” Tour.

Drake Almost Used Kanye West’s Beat for “Lift Yourself”

A trip to Wyoming to work with Kanye on his album seemed to have had a negative effect on Drake and Kanye’s relationship.

Despite Kanye saying that Drake could use a new beat he named “Lift Yourself,” Kanye proceeded to release a song with the beat once Drake had left Wyoming.

In the days since, Kanye West and Drake have gone back and forth on MTV with jabs at one another, but they do seem to get along from time to time to put on charity shows together.

Additionally, Drake’s music video “The Best I Ever Had” was directed by none other than Kanye West. 

Drake’s First Studio Album was Released in 2010

​Although he started from the bottom, Drake quickly climbed the ladder to fame when he released his first studio album, Thank Me Later , not even two years after he was discovered.

This album topped the charts in both Canada and America.

He Has a Complicated Relationship with Rhianna

Rhianna and Drake dated for a few years, even recording a couple of songs together ( Take Care and “What’s My Name”). The couple would eventually break up and go their separate ways, which included Rihanna dating Chris Brown.

Despite Drake saying that he still loved Rhianna on social media, he would later admit in a conversation with Will Smith that he was never really “in love with her”. Ouch.

He’s Been in Legal Trouble

Besides rumors that he ended up in trouble with the law for an altercation with Chris Brown in 2012, Drake really has been in trouble because of his song “Marvin’s Room.”

Apparently his ex-girlfriend Erika Lee wrote the song, but Drake neglected to credit it to her. 

He Had Beef with the Grammy Awards

In 2017, Drake would win two awards for his hit song “ Hotline Bling .” However, the artist would go on to say that he felt insulted by the awards, accusing the Grammys for “shoehorning” him into a specific category.

He felt that he was only placed into the rap category because of his race due to the fact that “Hotline Bling” is not even a rap song.

Drake Has the Record for Most Number One Rap Singles

Drake is currently the artist who has held the most number one rap singles, with 12 record-breaking songs under his belt.

Drake is an Entrepreneur

Something important to understand about Drake is that he is so much more than just a musician. Drake is also an entrepreneur, having launched a successful lifestyle blog called October’s Very Own (OVO).

He also does separate promotional work with his music festival, OVOFEST. He even created his own whiskey, Virginia Black.

Drake was a Voice Actor for a Popular Animated Film

Taking up music did not mean that Drake left acting behind. In fact, he even voiced a mammoth in the film Ice Age: Continental Drift !

He Doesn’t Play Well With Others

Besides his beef with Kanye West and his various ex-girlfriends, Drake has also had a falling out with Pusha T and Ludacris.

Music Runs in His Family

Not only did Drake’s father, Dennis Graham, play drums with Jerry Lee Lewis, but his uncle, Larry Graham, played bass for Prince !

Drake Works Under a Pseudonym

When Drake is not working on his own music he can be seen working as a producer for his own record label, OVO Sound, under the pseudonym Champagne Papi.

He Has Won Numerous Awards

Drake has won so many American Music Award Nominations that he actually broke a world record in 2016. The person he beat? None other than Michael Jackson , who had held the record since 1984. 

Jackson isn’t the only artist Drake has walked all over, as he has also beat Justin Bieber for the most Billboard Hot 100 entries within one week. Bieber had 17, Drake had 20. 

He Wanted to Date Nicki Minaj

At the Billboard Music Awards in 2017, Drake shocked the crowd when he declared his love for Nicki Minaj , whom he had been friends with since 2010.

The friendship was rocky, however, and despite many periods of bliss, the couple was never really official. Drake went on to try and get the attention of Cardi B. 

He Created the Term YOLO

Drake’s song “The Motto” is one of the earliest appearances in pop culture of the abbreviation YOLO, and thus Drake is credited with its invention. Keep that in mind next time you post YOLO on social media. 

Drake Has a Son

On October 11, 2017, Sophie Brussaux gave birth to Drake’s son. He is Drake’s only child to date and his name is Adonis.

Drake Accused of Grooming Underage Women

As a famous pop star, Drake is often scrutinized for his public behavior. For example, in 2018 allegations began pouring in about the rapper associating with and grooming minors, a practice that has resulted in a number of mainstream celebrities disavowing the artist. There have been no trials or convictions yet.

Written by Bo Weber

Supporting artists since 2014

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Kendrick Lamar Unveils New Verse in Drake Diss ‘Euphoria’ at ‘Pop Out’ Concert in Los Angeles

By Jem Aswad

Executive Editor, Music

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Kendrick Lamar did not half-step during the opening of his “Pop Out” concert in Los Angeles on Wednesday night: He not only opened his set with the Drake diss “Euphoria,” he rolled out a new verse for it:

““Give me Tupac’s ring back and I might give you a little respect.”

KENDRICK OPENING UP WITH PERFORMING EUPHORIA FOR THE FIRST TIME WITH EVERY ONE SINGING ALONG THIS IS LEGENDARY SHIT 😭😭😭 pic.twitter.com/KGOQPrewV5 — Big Boss 🇵🇸 (@LordBalvin) June 20, 2024

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The concert, titled “The Pop Out — Ken and Friends,” takes its name from a different song in the feud, Lamar’s “Not Like Us,” where he raps, “Sometimes you gotta pop out and show n—s / Certified boogeyman, I’m the one that up the score with ’em.” The song was a diss directed at Drake that released a month ago and has continued on to scale the top of the charts, arguably becoming the most successful of the songs released between Drake and Lamar.

Forever a classic @kendricklamar pic.twitter.com/wkGCeCD8gF — Amazon Music (@amazonmusic) June 20, 2024

Throughout the battle, the two rappers went at each other’s physical appearances, lobbed accusations of pedophilia and made claims of hidden children. It ended with Drake’s “The Heart Part 6,” a play on Lamar’s long-running song series of the same name, and showed that Drake was tiring of the beef between them.

Whole city outside @kendricklamar pic.twitter.com/0nlHDE8lvj — Amazon Music (@amazonmusic) June 20, 2024

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Triple murder suspect on the loose in Arkansas: Police

Stacy Lee Drake is considered armed and dangerous, according to investigators.

An "armed and dangerous" suspect connected to three murders and a slew of other crimes across the country is on the loose in Arkansas, according to authorities.

Stacy Lee Drake, 50, is wanted in connection with three homicides in Oklahoma, stemming from two separate carjackings, according to Arkansas State Police.

"Drake is separately wanted on multiple felony warrants from multiple jurisdictions, with charges including aggravated robbery, carjacking, and murder," investigators said in a statement.

The Oklahoma State Bureau of Investigation gave more details Wednesday about two of the homicides that took place in Sequoyah County. Officers discovered a man and woman dead inside a business Tuesday.

MORE: Suspect arrested in 2023 murder of mother of 5 killed while hiking in Maryland

The victims' identities were not immediately released.

Although the victims' causes of death are still being determined by the medical examiner, Oklahoma investigators said, "both sustained injuries consistent with homicide."

Drake was last seen on foot outside a motel in Morrilton, Arkansas, roughly 53 miles northwest of Little Rock, according to police. Oklahoma investigators said a car he had allegedly stolen was found in Morrilton, which is roughly 130 miles east of where the bodies were found in Sequoyah County, Oklahoma, on Tuesday night.

Investigators provided an update later Wednesday evening where they said the suspect was known to have purchased camping gear and all indications are he is still in the Morrilton area.

Drake, a Birmingham, Alabama, resident, was described as having brown hair and brown eyes, standing about 5 feet, 11 inches tall and and weighing 185 pounds, according to state police.

"Anyone who sees Drake should not approach him and should call 911 immediately," Arkansas State Police said in a statement.

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