Drake

Aubrey Drake Graham (born October 24, 1986), known professionally as Drake, is a Canadian rapper, singer, songwriter, actor, and entrepreneur. Initially gaining recognition as Jimmy Brooks on "Degrassi: The Next Generation" (2001-2008), Drake transitioned to music with mixtapes "Room for Improvement" (2006), "Comeback Season" (2007), and "So Far Gone" (2009), which led to signing with Lil Wayne's Young Money Entertainment. His studio albums—"Thank Me Later" (2010), Grammy-winning "Take Care" (2011), "Nothing Was the Same" (2013), "Views" (2016), "Scorpion" (2018), "Certified Lover Boy" (2021), "Honestly, Nevermind" (2022), "For All the Dogs" (2023), and collaborative albums "Her Loss" (with 21 Savage, 2022) and "Some Sexy Songs 4 U" (with PartyNextDoor, 2025)—have consistently topped charts, establishing him as one of music's most influential figures.Drake's signature sound blends melodic singing with technical rapping, emotional vulnerability with braggadocio, drawing from hip-hop, R&B, pop, trap, dancehall, and UK drill influences. Billboard named him among the greatest rappers of all time, crediting him with popularizing R&B sensibilities in hip-hop. His hit singles—including "Hotline Bling," "God's Plan," "One Dance," "Started from the Bottom," "In My Feelings," and "Nice for What"—showcase his versatility and have earned him numerous Billboard records: most Hot 100 entries (358), most top 10 hits (80), most consecutive weeks on the chart (431), and most number-one singles for a rapper (13). The Recording Industry Association of America recognizes Drake as the highest-certified digital singles artist in U.S. history, with over 200 million units sold worldwide.Drake's business ventures span multiple industries. In 2012, he co-founded OVO Sound record label with Noah "40" Shebib, representing artists including PartyNextDoor, Majid Jordan, and dvsn. Since 2013, he has served as global ambassador for the Toronto Raptors, with naming rights to their practice facility (OVO Athletic Centre). Other ventures include Virginia Black bourbon whiskey (2016), Better World fragrance house, Nocta sub-label with Nike (2020), and production company DreamCrew, which produces series like HBO's "Euphoria" and "Top Boy." He has investments in Players' Lounge, AC Milan soccer club, Luna Luna art exhibition, and partnerships with Stake.com and 100 Thieves gaming organization.Born in Toronto to musician Dennis Graham and Canadian teacher Sandra Graham (née Sher), Drake was raised with dual Canadian-American citizenship. His parents divorced when he was five, after which he lived with his mother in Toronto while visiting his father in Memphis during summers. Drake attended Jewish day school and became a bar mitzvah, reflecting his Jewish heritage through his mother. After dropping out of high school to pursue acting and music, he eventually earned his diploma in 2012 at age 25. His personal life includes relationships with Rihanna (2009-2016) and fatherhood to a son born in October 2017 to French painter Sophie Brussaux, which became public knowledge during his feud with Pusha T from the diss track "The Story Of Adidon," and was later confirmed on his album "Scorpion" on the song "March 14th."Drake's accolades include five Grammy Awards (from 47 nominations), six American Music Awards, a record 29 Billboard Music Awards (including Artist of the Decade for 2010-2020), two Brit Awards, and three Juno Awards. He holds numerous chart records, including most number-one albums on the Billboard 200 (11, tying him with Jay-Z and Taylor Swift for most number one albums by a solo artist), most simultaneous entries on the Hot 100, and most top 40 singles (217). In 2021, he became the first artist to surpass 50 billion combined Spotify streams, and was named IFPI Global Recording Artist in 2016 and 2018.Drake's career has featured several high-profile feuds that have shaped hip-hop culture. Notable conflicts include those with Chris Brown, Meek Mill (over ghostwriting allegations involving Quentin Miller), Pusha T, Kanye West, and most recently, his 2024 battle with Kendrick Lamar. This rap feud produced tracks including Drake's "Push Ups," "Taylor Made Freestyle," and "The Heart Part 6" against Lamar's "Not Like Us," "Meet the Grahams," and "Euphoria," featuring serious allegations from both artists and even incorporating artificial intelligence technology when Drake used AI to imitate Tupac Shakur's voice.Drake's cultural impact extends beyond music. He popularized phrases like "YOLO" ("The Motto") and "The Six" (referring to Toronto), while his lyrics frequently become social media captions. The "Drake curse"—a phenomenon where teams or athletes lose after Drake supports them—became a recognized superstition. His luxury lifestyle includes a 35,000-square-foot Toronto mansion nicknamed "The Embassy," properties in Beverly Hills, and a Boeing 767 airplane. Drake's philanthropy includes giving money to Toronto residents, advocating for WNBA expansion in Toronto, and signing a letter calling for ceasefire in the 2023 Israel–Hamas war. In 2022, Toronto Metropolitan University began teaching courses analyzing his cultural impact.Drake's legacy as one of the 21st century's most commercially successful and culturally significant artists continues expanding through his music innovation, business ventures, and cultural influence. His trademark sound—characterized by vulnerable lyricism, technical ability, and integration of singing into rap—has influenced countless artists and expanded hip-hop's emotional range. Described as "the definitive pop star of his generation" by The Guardian and credited with leading the "Canadian Invasion" of American charts alongside Justin Bieber and The Weeknd, Drake has transformed from Canadian child actor to global superstar, reshaping hip-hop's sound and business model while maintaining his position at the forefront of music and popular culture.Sources: Wikipedia), Britannica*There may be errors on this page.