Aubrey Drake Graham, known mononymously as Drake, is a Canadian rapper, singer, and actor born on October 24, 1986, in Toronto, Ontario. Drake first gained recognition as Jimmy Brooks in the CTV teen drama series Degrassi: The Next Generation (2001–2008). His portrayal of a basketball star confined to a wheelchair after a school shooting showcased his acting skills and made him a familiar face in Canadian households. However, it was his transition to music that cemented his place as one of the most influential figures in contemporary popular culture.
Drake’s musical career began in earnest with the release of his debut mixtape, Room for Improvement, in 2006. He followed this with Comeback Season (2007) and So Far Gone (2009), the latter of which garnered critical and commercial success. His burgeoning music career caught the attention of Lil Wayne, leading to Drake signing with Young Money Entertainment in 2009. This pivotal moment marked the beginning of a meteoric rise in the music industry.
Drake’s first three albums—Thank Me Later (2010), Take Care (2011), and Nothing Was the Same (2013)—each debuted atop the Billboard 200, producing numerous hit singles such as “Find Your Love,” “Take Care” featuring Rihanna, “Started from the Bottom,” and “Hold On, We’re Going Home” featuring Majid Jordan. These albums established Drake as a dominant force in hip-hop, blending R&B sensibilities into his music and influencing a generation of artists.
In 2016, Drake released Views, which dominated the Billboard 200 for 13 non-consecutive weeks. The album featured hits like “Hotline Bling” and the chart-topping “One Dance” featuring WizKid and Kyla, popularizing dancehall and Afrobeats in mainstream American music. He continued his success with the double album Scorpion (2018), which included three US number-one singles: “God’s Plan,” “Nice for What,” and “In My Feelings.”
Drake’s sixth album, Certified Lover Boy (2021), set a then-record with nine US top-ten songs from one album, including the number-one single “Way 2 Sexy” featuring Future and Young Thug. In 2022, he experimented with house music on Honestly, Nevermind and collaborated with 21 Savage on Her Loss, featuring the number-one hit “Jimmy Cooks.” His eighth album, For All the Dogs (2023), added two more number-one singles to his repertoire: “Slime You Out” featuring SZA and “First Person Shooter” featuring J. Cole. In 2024, he was involved in a high-profile rap feud with Kendrick Lamar, producing the song “Family Matters.”
Beyond music, Drake is a successful entrepreneur. He co-founded the OVO Sound record label with longtime collaborator Noah “40” Shebib in 2012. A year later, he became the “global ambassador” for the Toronto Raptors, joining their executive committee and securing naming rights for their practice facility, the OVO Athletic Centre. Drake’s ventures extend to fashion with the OVO label, a collaboration with Nike called Nocta, and his involvement in the bourbon whiskey brand Virginia Black. He also founded the production company DreamCrew and the fragrance house Better World.
Drake’s impact on popular music is profound, having sold over 170 million units worldwide. He holds numerous records, including the highest-certified digital singles artist in the United States by the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA). His accolades include five Grammy Awards, six American Music Awards, 39 Billboard Music Awards, two Brit Awards, and three Juno Awards. He has achieved 13 number-one hits on the Billboard Hot 100, tying with Michael Jackson for the most number-one singles by a male solo artist. Drake’s innovative blending of hip-hop, R&B, pop, and regional influences has made him a global icon, continually pushing the boundaries of modern music.
