DRAKE

Drake first rose to prominence as an actor, portraying Jimmy Brooks, a physically disabled basketball player, on the teen drama Degrassi: The Next Generation (2001–2008). Despite financial hardship during his early life, Drake juggled acting and music, often recording songs late into the night and even sleeping on set to make filming the next day.

Inspired by artists like Jay-Z and Clipse, he released his debut mixtape Room for Improvement in 2006, followed by Comeback Season in 2007 and So Far Gone in 2009. These projects established him as a promising voice in hip-hop, catching the attention of Lil Wayne, who invited Drake to join his Tha Carter III tour. This mentorship led to Drake signing with Young Money Entertainment.

His debut album Thank Me Later (2010) debuted at #1 on the Billboard 200, and each of his subsequent albums—including Take Care, Nothing Was the Same, Views, Scorpion, Certified Lover Boy, Honestly, Nevermind, and For All the Dogs—have topped charts and pushed boundaries. Views held the Billboard 200’s top spot for 13 weeks, and Certified Lover Boy broke records for most U.S. top-ten songs from a single album.

Drake’s chart-topping hits include “Best I Ever Had,” “Hotline Bling,” “One Dance,” “God’s Plan,” “In My Feelings,” and “First Person Shooter.” He has collaborated with numerous artists, from Rihanna and Future to 21 Savage (Her Loss) and PartyNextDoor (Some Sexy Songs 4 U, 2025).

Beyond music, Drake is a savvy entrepreneur. He co-founded OVO Sound with longtime producer 40, and heads ventures including the OVO fashion label, Nocta (with Nike), DreamCrew (production company), and Virginia Black (bourbon whiskey). He is also the global ambassador for the Toronto Raptors, contributing significantly to the city’s cultural and economic growth. In 2018, he was reportedly responsible for 5% of Toronto’s tourism revenue.

Drake’s cultural dominance is reflected in his accolades and records. With over 170 million records sold, he is the highest-certified digital singles artist in the U.S. per the RIAA. He has won 5 Grammy Awards, 39 Billboard Music Awards, 6 American Music Awards, 3 Juno Awards, and 2 Brit Awards. Drake holds numerous Billboard Hot 100 records, including the most top 10 singles (80), most charted songs (358), and most consecutive weeks on the chart (431). He also shares the record for most #1 singles on major genre-specific Billboard charts.

Despite his commercial success, Drake has often found himself at the center of public controversies, ranging from high-profile feuds with Kanye West and Kendrick Lamar, to debates over authenticity and cultural influence. Nevertheless, he continues to reinvent himself, remaining one of the most relevant and innovative forces in global music.

From Toronto to the world, Drake has cemented his status as a generational icon whose impact stretches far beyond hip-hop.