Drake

Who Is Drake?

Drake, born Aubrey Drake Graham, initially gained recognition for his role as Jimmy Brooks on the popular teen drama Degrassi: The Next Generation, where he portrayed a wheelchair-bound character for seven years. After his acting stint, Drake transitioned into music and swiftly rose to prominence as one of the biggest names in hip-hop. His breakthrough came after signing with Lil Wayne’s label, Young Money Entertainment. Beyond music, Drake is a constant figure in the headlines—whether for his high-profile relationships with celebrities like Rihanna and Jennifer Lopez, launching his own record label, OVO Sound, or serving as the global ambassador for the NBA’s Toronto Raptors. His success has been so influential that rap mogul Jay Z once referred to him as the “Kobe Bryant of hip-hop.”

Early Life

Drake was born on October 24, 1986, in Toronto, Canada, to a musically inclined family. His father, Dennis Graham, was a drummer for rock ‘n’ roll legend Jerry Lee Lewis, while his uncle, Larry Graham, played bass for the iconic funk band Sly and the Family Stone. His mother, Sandi Graham, also hailed from a musical family, and Drake fondly recalls that his grandmother babysat the legendary Aretha Franklin.

Drake’s upbringing was shaped by his diverse background. His father is African American and Catholic, and his mother is a white Canadian Jew. This unique blend of cultures played a significant role in his identity. Reflecting on his heritage, Drake has said, “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 just five years old, and he was primarily raised by his mother in Toronto’s affluent Forest Hill neighborhood, which is predominantly Jewish. He attended a Jewish day school, had a Bar Mitzvah at age 13, and celebrated Jewish holidays with his mother, recalling fond memories of Hanukkah and the fun traditions his mother upheld. However, despite his Jewish upbringing, Drake often felt out of place at his high school, Forest Hill Collegiate Institute, where he was one of the few students of color. This sense of isolation helped shape his resilience, with Drake noting, “Nobody understood what it was like to be Black and Jewish, but being different from everyone else just made me a lot stronger.”

‘Degrassi: The Next Generation’

Drake’s journey into entertainment began at Forest Hill Collegiate Institute, where a classmate introduced him to the industry. As Drake later recalled, “There was a kid in my class whose father was an agent. 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.”

In 2001, Drake landed his breakout role in the Canadian teen drama Degrassi: The Next Generation. The series followed the lives of high school students, and Drake portrayed Jimmy Brooks, a basketball star whose life changes after being shot by a classmate, leaving him wheelchair-bound. Known to many as “Wheelchair Jimmy,” Drake played the character for seven years (2001-2009), earning recognition, including a Young Artist Award in 2002. The show gained a dedicated fanbase, catapulting Drake to fame in Canada, though he remained largely unknown in the U.S. at the time.

Music Career

While still on Degrassi, Drake began exploring a music career, releasing his first mixtape, Room for Improvement, in 2006. Despite modest sales, he followed it with 2007’s Comeback Season, under his own imprint, October’s Very Own (OVO). The mixtape featured his first hit, “Replacement Girl,” and included a version of Brisco and Flo Rida’s “Man of the Year,” which caught the attention of Jas Prince, son of Rap-A-Lot Records founder James Prince. Jas introduced Drake to Lil Wayne, marking the beginning of his journey in the rap world.

In 2008, as Degrassi revamped its cast, Drake’s character was written out. Facing financial uncertainty, Drake considered a regular job. However, that same year, Lil Wayne invited him to join his Carter III tour. Drake’s third mixtape, So Far Gone (2009), featured the hit single “Best I Ever Had,” which reached No. 2 on Billboard’s Hot 100. The success of the mixtape, which also included “Successful,” ignited a bidding war among record labels. Ultimately, Drake signed with Lil Wayne’s Young Money Entertainment in mid-2009.

‘Thank Me Later’ and Grammy Wins

On June 15, 2010, Drake released his debut studio album, Thank Me Later, which debuted at No. 1 in both the U.S. and Canada, achieving platinum status. The album blended his middle-class Jewish background and early acting career with his new hip-hop persona. Collaborations with Jay Z and Kanye West on the album cemented Drake’s place in the music industry, with critics and fans embracing his unique fusion of introspection and bravado.

His second studio album, Take Care (2011), further solidified his dominance. It included hits like “Headlines,” “Make Me Proud,” and “The Motto.” The album won a Grammy Award for Best Rap Album in 2013, with critics praising Drake’s honest, introspective lyrics. His melancholic style, as described by the Chicago Tribune, set him apart from his contemporaries as a “melancholy hustler with a conscience.”

Feuds and Success

Despite his professional success, Drake faced personal conflicts, notably a highly publicized feud with Chris Brown over their mutual interest in singer Rihanna. This rivalry resulted in a nightclub altercation in 2012, leading to lawsuits and legal troubles. Drake also dealt with legal disputes involving former collaborators, including his ex-girlfriend Ericka Lee, as well as conflicts with fellow artists such as Tyga and Meek Mill. In 2015, he released diss tracks “Charged Up” and “Back to Back” in response to Meek Mill’s accusations of ghostwriting, further fueling their rivalry.

‘Views’ and “Hotline Bling”

Despite personal setbacks, Drake’s career continued to flourish. His 2013 single “Started From the Bottom” reflected his journey to success, and his 2016 album Views debuted at No. 1, remaining at the top of the Billboard charts for 13 weeks. The hit single “Hotline Bling” earned him two Grammy Awards, though Drake expressed frustration with being categorized as a rap artist, noting that the song was not rap.

In 2017, Drake’s “fairytale” rise continued at the Billboard Music Awards, where he won 13 awards, breaking Adele’s record for the most awards won in a single year. As Drake himself has said, “This whole thing is unusual at this point, so we’re just rolling with the fairytale vibe.”

Scorpion Album and Success

In early 2018, Drake set the stage for his highly anticipated fifth studio album Scorpion with the release of the Scary Hours EP, followed by the singles “Nice For What” and “I’m Upset.” Alongside this, he dropped the diss track “Duppy Freestyle” in response to accusations from rapper Pusha-T, who claimed Drake relied on ghostwriters for his lyrics.

Released on June 29, Scorpion did not disappoint. The album featured Drake’s confirmation of rumors about his newborn son in the song “March 14” and his reflections on moving away from feuds with Pusha-T and Meek Mill in “Survival.” Guest appearances by Jay-Z and Future added star power, while the track “Don’t Matter to Me” featured what was reported to be previously unreleased vocals from Michael Jackson.

Scorpion shattered streaming records, with the Associated Press reporting 170 million streams on Apple Music and 132 million on Spotify within 24 hours. Drake became the first artist to surpass 1 billion streams in a single week with this album.

In 2019, Drake won the Grammy Award for Best Rap Song for “God’s Plan,” a track included on both Scorpion and Scary Hours. His victory, however, was overshadowed by controversy when his acceptance speech, in which he downplayed the significance of Grammy honors, was abruptly cut off.

Drake later reconciled with Chris Brown, releasing the Top 5 hit “No Guidance.” He followed this with the EP The Best in the World Pack, featuring the singles “Omertà” and “Money in the Grave,” and the compilation album Care Package, which included unreleased songs from earlier in his career. In early 2020, Drake collaborated with Future on “Life is Good” and released the tracks “When To Say When” and “Chicago Freestyle.” His mixtape Dark Lane Demo Tapes arrived in May, featuring guest appearances from prominent artists such as Chris Brown, Giveon, Young Thug, and Playboi Carti.

Cannabis Ventures

In late 2019, Drake expanded his business portfolio by entering the cannabis industry. Partnering with the Canadian cannabis giant Canopy Growth, he launched More Life Growth Co., a company aimed at producing and distributing cannabis products in Toronto. The venture, according to a press release, is focused on promoting wellness, discovery, and personal growth, with the goal of fostering connections and shared experiences globally.

Personal Life

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