Drake

Born Aubrey Drake Graham on October 24, 1986, in Toronto, Canada, Drake was exposed to music from an early age. His father, Dennis Graham, was a drummer for Jerry Lee Lewis, and his uncle, Larry Graham, played bass for Sly and the Family Stone. His parents divorced when he was five, and he was raised by his mother, Sandi Graham, in an affluent neighborhood in Toronto. He attended Jewish day school and had a Bar Mitzvah at age 13.

Drake's acting career began in 2001 when he landed a role in the Canadian teen drama series "Degrassi: The Next Generation," playing Jimmy Brooks. He remained on the show for seven years, earning a Young Artist Award in 2002. During this time, he also began his journey into the world of hip-hop. His first mixtape, "Room for Improvement," was released in 2006, followed by "Comeback Season" in 2007.

In 2008, Drake was written out of "Degrassi," and he considered taking up a day job to sustain himself. However, an unexpected call from Lil Wayne changed the trajectory of his career. He joined Wayne's Carter III tour and later signed a deal with Young Money Entertainment in mid-2009. His third mixtape, "So Far Gone," released in February 2009, featured hits like "Best I Ever Had" and "Successful," earning him mainstream recognition.

Drake's debut studio album, "Thank Me Later," was released on June 15, 2010, and debuted at No. 1 on both American and Canadian album charts. His second studio album, "Take Care," released in November 2011, won the 2013 Grammy award for best rap album.

In 2012, Drake found himself embroiled in a legal battle with Chris Brown over their mutual interest in Rihanna, which resulted in a violent altercation at a New York nightclub. Around the same time, he also faced lawsuits from former girlfriend Ericka Lee and others over song credits and injuries sustained during the brawl with Brown.

Drake's 2013 album "Nothing Was the Same" included the hit song "Started From the Bottom." In 2016, his album "Views" shattered streaming records, and its single "Hotline Bling" won two Grammy awards in 2017. In 2018, he released "Scorpion," which also broke streaming records and confirmed rumors of his newborn son, Adonis, in the song "March 14."

In late 2019, Drake ventured into the cannabis industry, partnering with Canadian producer Canopy Growth to launch More Life Growth Co. in Toronto. He shares his son Adonis, born in October 2017, with artist Sophie Brussaux.

In 2020, the COVID-19 pandemic affected the music industry, but Drake managed to stay relevant. He released a mixtape titled "Dark Lane Demo Tapes" on May 1, 2020. The mixtape included the viral hit "Toosie Slide," which became popular on TikTok and debuted at No. 1 on the Billboard Hot 100.

In 2021, Drake released "Certified Lover Boy," an album that explored themes of love, relationships, and fame. The album received mixed reviews but was a commercial success, breaking several streaming records. It debuted at No. 1 on the Billboard 200 and was certified Platinum by the RIAA within three days of its release. The album featured collaborations with artists like Jay-Z, Lil Wayne, and Travis Scott.

Drake started 2022 with a bang, releasing two albums, "Honestly, Nevermind" and a collaborative project with 21 Savage titled "Her Loss." Both albums were commercial successes and showcased his ability to adapt and evolve. "Her Loss" debuted at No. 1 on the Billboard 200 and was certified Platinum within a week. The album featured hits like "No Cap" and "Savage Love," which topped various charts.

In October 2023, Drake released "For All the Dogs," a commercial success despite mixed reviews. The album debuted at No. 1 on the Billboard 200 and featured a host of collaborators, including Teezo Touchdown, 21 Savage, J. Cole, Yeat, SZA, PartyNextDoor, Chief Keef, Bad Bunny, Sexyy Red, and Lil Yachty. The album was preceded by three singles: "Slime You Out," "8AM in Charlotte," and "Rich Baby Daddy," each carving its own niche in the charts. The album's commercial performance was impressive, debuting with 402,000 album-equivalent units in the U.S., making it the largest streaming week of 2023 at the time of its release.

Outside of music, Drake has also ventured into acting, entrepreneurship, and sports. He has appeared in films like "Think Like a Man Too" and "Anchorman 2: The Legend Continues." He is also the co-founder of the OVO Sound record label and has a clothing line, October's Very Own. In 2013, he became the global ambassador for the Toronto Raptors, and in 2022, he obtained partial ownership of Italian soccer club A.C. Milan.

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