Drake (musician) facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Drake
Drake at the 2017 Toronto Film Festival
Born	Aubrey Drake Graham (1986-10-24) October 24, 1986 (age 39) Toronto, Ontario, Canada
Other names	Champagne Papi Drizzy 6 God The Boy
Citizenship	Canada United States
Occupation	Rapper singer songwriter entrepreneur actor
Years active	2001–present
Works	Singles albums videography
Children	1
Relatives	Larry Graham (uncle) Teenie Hodges (uncle)
Awards	Full list
Musical career
Genres	Hip-hop R&B pop trap
Instruments	Vocals
Labels	OVO Sound Republic Young Money Cash Money Aspire
Signature

Aubrey Drake Graham (born October 24, 1986) is a famous Canadian rapper, singer, and actor. He is known for blending R&B sounds into hip-hop music. Drake first became well-known as Jimmy Brooks in the teen TV show Degrassi: The Next Generation from 2001 to 2008. He started his music journey by releasing mixtapes like Room for Improvement (2006) and So Far Gone (2009). Later, he signed with Young Money Entertainment.

Drake's first album, Thank Me Later (2010), quickly reached the top of the Billboard 200 chart. It featured popular songs like "Best I Ever Had". His albums Take Care (2011) and Nothing Was the Same (2013) also hit number one. These albums included hit singles such as "Started from the Bottom" and "Hold On, We're Going Home". In 2016, his album Views stayed at number one on the Billboard 200 for 13 weeks. It featured the global hit "One Dance", which was his first number-one song as a main artist on the Billboard Hot 100. "One Dance" also broke records for being the most-streamed song on Spotify at that time.

In 2018, Drake released the album Scorpion, which had several number-one songs like "God's Plan" and "In My Feelings". His mixtape Dark Lane Demo Tapes (2020) included another number-one hit, "Toosie Slide". His album Certified Lover Boy (2021) set a record for having the most top-ten songs from one album. More recently, his albums Honestly, Nevermind (2022), Her Loss (2022), For All the Dogs (2023), and Some ... Songs 4 U (2025) helped him share the record for the most number-one albums on the Billboard 200 chart.

Beyond music, Drake is also a successful businessman. He founded the OVO Sound record label in 2012. He also became a "global ambassador" for the Toronto Raptors basketball team. Drake has his own fashion line, OVO, and a partnership with Nike, Inc. called Nocta. He also started a production company called DreamCrew. His popularity and musical rivalries have often been in the news.

Drake is one of the best-selling music artists in the world, with over 170 million units sold. He is also the highest-certified digital singles artist in the United States. He has won many awards, including 5 Grammy Awards and 41 Billboard Music Awards. Billboard magazine named him the Artist of the Decade (2010s). He holds many Billboard chart records, including the most number-one albums and singles for a male solo artist.

Drake's Early Life and Education

For high school, Drake attended Forest Hill Collegiate Institute (left) and Vaughan Road Academy (right)

Aubrey Drake Graham was born in Toronto, Ontario, on October 24, 1986. His father, Dennis Graham, is an African-American drummer from Memphis, Tennessee. His mother, Sandra "Sandi" Graham, is a Canadian Ashkenazi Jew. She worked as an English teacher and florist. Drake has dual citizenship in Canada and the United States. When he was young, he attended a Jewish day school and had his bar mitzvah.

Drake's parents divorced when he was five years old. After the divorce, he and his mother stayed in Toronto. His father returned to Memphis and faced legal challenges for several years. Before this, his father would visit Toronto and take Drake to Memphis every summer.

Drake grew up in two different neighborhoods in Toronto. He lived in the working-class west end until grade six. He played minor hockey with the Weston Red Wings. He was a good player but stopped after a neck injury during a game. In 2000, he moved to Forest Hill, a more affluent area. He described living in the basement of a shared house there. At age 10, Drake appeared in a funny TV sketch during the 1997 NHL Awards.

He went to Forest Hill Collegiate Institute and later Vaughan Road Academy for high school. Drake said he was bullied at school because of his background. He decided to leave school to focus on his acting career. He later earned his high school diploma in October 2012, when he was 25.

Drake's Career Beginnings (2001–2009)

At 15, Drake got a role on the Canadian teen drama series Degrassi: The Next Generation. He played Jimmy Brooks, a basketball star who became disabled after being shot. Drake said this acting job helped his family financially because his mother was ill. He often recorded music at night and would sleep in a dressing room on set. His first recorded song, "Do What You Do," was on The N Soundtrack.

Lil Wayne, the founder of Young Money Entertainment, signed Drake to the label in 2009.

Drake released his first mixtape, Room for Improvement, in 2006. He described it as "radio friendly." It sold about 6,000 copies. His first concert was in August 2006, opening for Ice Cube. In 2007, he released his second mixtape, Comeback Season. This mixtape included the song "Replacement Girl," which caught the attention of rapper Lil Wayne. Lil Wayne invited Drake to join his tour, and they recorded several songs together.

In 2009, Drake released his third mixtape, So Far Gone. It was available for free online and quickly gained popularity. It featured hit singles like "Best I Ever Had" and "Successful". These songs became very successful, leading to the mixtape being re-released as an EP. It reached number six on the Billboard 200 and won a Rap Recording of the Year award.

The success of So Far Gone led to many record labels wanting to sign Drake. He signed with Young Money Entertainment in June 2009. While on tour, Drake unfortunately fell on stage and injured his knee.

Musical Breakthrough with Thank Me Later and Take Care (2010–2012)

Drake at Bumbershoot in 2010

Drake's first official album, Thank Me Later, was released on June 15, 2010. It debuted at number one on the Billboard 200, selling over 447,000 copies in its first week. This made it the top-selling debut album of 2010. The album featured popular songs like "Over" and "Find Your Love". Drake started his Away from Home Tour in September 2010. He also hosted the first OVO Festival that year.

Drake wanted his next album to have a more unified sound. In November 2010, he announced his second album would be called Take Care. He aimed to create a smooth, grand sound by mixing hip-hop, R&B, and pop music.

Drake performing in 2011

Promotional songs like "Marvins Room" were released before the album. The lead single, "Headlines", was very successful, reaching number thirteen on the Hot 100. Take Care was released on November 15, 2011. It received positive reviews and won the Grammy Award for Best Rap Album. The album's singles, "The Motto" and "Take Care", were also big hits. "The Motto" helped popularize the phrase "YOLO" in the United States.

In 2012, Drake went on the worldwide Club Paradise Tour, which became the most successful hip-hop tour of the year. He also returned to acting, lending his voice to the character Ethan in the movie Ice Age: Continental Drift.

Continued Success and New Projects (2013–2017)

While on tour, Drake began working on his third album, Nothing Was the Same. He wanted this album to have a different style from Take Care. After winning a Grammy in February 2013, he officially announced the album. Its second single, "Hold On, We're Going Home", became a number-one hit. Nothing Was the Same was released on September 24, 2013, and debuted at number one in several countries. Critics praised the album's new sound and themes.

The album was supported by the "Would You like a Tour?" tour. In January 2014, Drake hosted Saturday Night Live and was also the musical guest. Critics praised his acting and comedic skills.

In February 2015, Drake surprised fans by releasing If You're Reading This It's Too Late without any prior announcement. This project sold over 1 million copies that year.

Collaborations and Views Album (2015–2017)

Drake performing at the Summer Sixteen Tour in Toronto in 2016

In July 2015, Drake released several singles, including "Hotline Bling". In September, he released a collaborative mixtape with Future called What a Time to Be Alive. This mixtape also debuted at number one, making Drake the first hip-hop artist to have two number-one projects in the same year since 2004.

In January 2016, Drake announced his fourth studio album, Views. He released the singles "Pop Style" and "One Dance". "One Dance" became Drake's first number-one single as a lead artist in Canada, the US, and the UK. Views was released in April 2016 and became Drake's most successful album. It stayed at number one on the Billboard 200 for thirteen weeks and earned over 1 million sales in its first week.

Drake and Future then went on the Summer Sixteen Tour. This tour became the highest-grossing hip-hop tour of all time. In 2017, Drake released a project called More Life, which he described as a "playlist of original music." It debuted at number one and set streaming records on Apple Music and Spotify. Drake won a record 13 awards at the 2017 Billboard Music Awards. He also hosted the first annual NBA Awards.

Scorpion and Care Package (2018–2019)

In January 2018, Drake released a mini EP called Scary Hours. It featured the song "God's Plan", which debuted at number one on the Billboard Hot 100. This was Drake's first solo song to reach number one. He then released "Nice for What" in April, which also debuted at number one, replacing "God's Plan". This made Drake the first artist to have a new number-one song replace his own previous number-one song.

Drake announced his fifth album, Scorpion, which was released on June 29, 2018. It was his longest project and broke global streaming records on Spotify and Apple Music. The album debuted at number one on the Billboard 200. Drake earned his sixth US number-one hit with "In My Feelings" from the album.

In July 2018, Drake announced he would take time to focus on television and films. He became a producer for the TV series Euphoria and Top Boy. He also went on the Aubrey & the Three Migos Tour with Migos. In February 2019, he won a Grammy Award for Best Rap Song for "God's Plan".

To celebrate its 10-year anniversary, Drake re-released his mixtape So Far Gone on streaming services in February 2019. In August, he released the compilation album Care Package, which included older songs that were not available for streaming before. It debuted at number one on the Billboard 200.

Recent Music and Achievements (2019–2026)

In December 2019, Drake released the song "War". He also shared that he was working on his sixth studio album. On April 3, 2020, he released "Toosie Slide" with a music video featuring a dance challenge. It debuted at number one on the Billboard Hot 100. In May 2020, Drake released the mixtape Dark Lane Demo Tapes, which included new songs and leaked tracks.

In January 2021, Drake became the first artist to reach over 50 billion combined streams on Spotify. In March, he released an EP called Scary Hours 2 with three songs. All three songs debuted in the top three on the Billboard Hot 100, a first for any artist. He was named Artist of the Decade at the 2021 Billboard Music Awards.

His album Certified Lover Boy was released on September 3, 2021. It became his tenth number-one album. Every song from the album appeared on the Billboard Hot 100, and it was the first album to have nine songs in the top 10. He was also the most streamed rapper on Spotify that year.

In 2022, Drake released two more albums: Honestly, Nevermind and Her Loss (with 21 Savage). In 2023, he released For All the Dogs. His album Some ... Songs 4 U (with PartyNextDoor) was released in 2025, and Iceman was released in 2026. These albums have continued his success on the charts.

Drake's Musical Style and Influences

Musical Inspirations

Drake has credited Kanye West (left) and Aaliyah (right) as being his biggest musical influences.

Drake has mentioned several hip-hop artists who influenced his rapping style, including Kanye West, Jay-Z, and Lil Wayne. He also credits R&B artists like Aaliyah and Usher for inspiring the R&B sound in his music. Later, dancehall artists like Vybz Kartel influenced his Caribbean-inspired style.

Unique Sound and Lyrical Themes

Drake is known as a pop rap artist. His early music was mostly hip-hop and R&B. Over time, his music has also included pop and trap sounds. He also draws inspiration from different music scenes, like Jamaican dancehall and UK drill.

Drake's lyrics often show confidence and tell personal stories about relationships. His singing and rapping style is unique. He often combines strong rap verses with softer, melodic singing. This blend of sounds has become a key part of his music.

His songs sometimes feature different ways of speaking, reflecting his upbringing in Toronto and connections to Caribbean cultures. Many of his songs mix R&B and Canadian hip-hop. He credits his father for encouraging him to sing in his mixtapes, which is now a signature part of his music. Drake's R&B style often uses calm beats and a mix of rapping and singing. This has been very popular and inspired many other artists.

Drake's lyrics are often emotional or boastful. He is known for taking everyday themes and presenting them in new ways. His songs often create a balance between quiet moments and fast-paced sections. Drake is also recognized for creating "hyper-reality rap," which focuses on themes of celebrity life.

Drake's Impact on Music and Culture

Drake is a very important figure in pop culture and hip-hop. Many people praise him for influencing modern rappers, especially his use of singing over hip-hop beats. He is widely credited with making the Toronto sound popular in the music industry. He also led a "Canadian Invasion" of the American charts, alongside artists like Justin Bieber and the Weeknd.

The music recognition app Shazam revealed Drake as their most searched artist. His music has been recognized over 350 million times by users. His 2016 song "One Dance" alone had 17 million recognitions. The Guardian and Rolling Stone magazines have called him "the definitive pop star of his generation."

The Insider named Drake the artist of the decade (2010s). They noted that he brought a unique blend of rapping and smooth R&B singing to mainstream hip-hop. Many artists have since copied his style. Aaron Williams of Uproxx said Drake helped start the "emotional rap" trend. He also helped renew interest in UK grime and Caribbean dancehall music. BBC Radio 1Xtra believes his support helped British hip-hop reach a wider international audience.

In 2022, Toronto Metropolitan University began teaching courses about Drake and the Weeknd. These courses use their music to explore topics like the Canadian music industry, race, and globalization. With his 2022 album Honestly, Nevermind, Drake explored house music. This genre has roots in Black and queer communities. This helped introduce these subcultures to younger music listeners.

Drake's Achievements and Records

Drake is the highest-certified digital singles artist in the United States. He has sold over 142 million units through combined sales and streams. His song "God's Plan" is his highest-certified single. Drake was Spotify's most streamed artist of the 2010s.

He holds many records on the Billboard Hot 100 chart. He has the most charted songs of any artist (359). He also has the most top 10 hits (81) and the most number-one songs for a rapper (13, or 14 including an uncredited feature). In 2021, Drake became only the second artist to have all five top spots on the Hot 100 in a single week. He also has the most number-one singles on the Hot Rap Songs and Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs charts.

As of 2021, Drake has won four Grammy Awards from 47 nominations. He has also won a record 29 Billboard Music Awards. In 2017, he won 13 awards in one night at the Billboard Music Awards, breaking Adele's record. Billboard named him Artist of the Decade in 2021. He was also named the IFPI Global Recording Artist in 2016 and 2018.

Rolling Stone magazine ranked his album Take Care at number 95 on their list of the 500 Greatest Albums of All Time in 2020. Complex magazine has named Drake the "Best Rapper Alive" in 2011, 2012, and 2015.

Drake's Business Ventures

Brand Partnerships

Drake has partnered with several companies. He had a notable deal with Sprite. Forbes magazine reported that his partnerships contributed significantly to his earnings. Drake also has a partnership with the online platform Stake.com. In January 2022, Drake announced Stake's sponsorship of the Sauber Formula 1 racing team.

OVO Sound Record Label

The logo of Drake's OVO Sound imprint

In late 2012, Drake started his own record label, OVO Sound, with producer Noah "40" Shebib and business partner Oliver El-Khatib. They wanted a way to release Drake's music and help new artists. The name OVO comes from Drake's earlier projects, "October's Very Own." The label is currently distributed by Warner Bros. Records.

Drake, 40, and PartyNextDoor were the first artists on the label. OVO Sound is home to artists like Drake, PartyNextDoor, Majid Jordan, Roy Woods, and dvsn. It also includes producers such as 40 and Boi-1da.

Involvement with the Toronto Raptors

On September 30, 2013, Drake was announced as the new "global ambassador" for the Toronto Raptors basketball team. He joined the executive committee of the NBA franchise. This announcement happened when Toronto was chosen to host the 2016 NBA All-Star Game. Drake was given The Key to the City at this event. In his role, Drake helps promote the team and redesign its image and clothing line. He also hosts an annual "Drake Night" with the team.

Entertainment and Investments

Apple Music Partnership

When Apple Music launched, Drake became a key figure for the streaming service. He signed an exclusive deal, meaning his new solo music would first be available on Apple Music. Drake also created the OVO Sound Radio station on Beats 1. This station is often used to debut new songs and projects. His partnership with Apple Music helped the platform grow quickly.

DreamCrew Production Company

In 2017, Drake and Adel "Future" Nur co-founded DreamCrew, a company for management and entertainment. DreamCrew has produced TV series like Euphoria and Top Boy. Their first film was The Carter Effect, a documentary about basketball player Vince Carter. In August 2022, Drake was nominated for a Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Drama Series as a producer for Euphoria.

DreamCrew also produced the documentary film Black Ice, about Black ice hockey players. In June 2021, Drake partnered with Live Nation to open History, a new live-entertainment venue in Toronto. In November 2022, DreamCrew invested in reviving Luna Luna, an art amusement park, for a worldwide tour.

Drake has also invested in various companies. In August 2022, Drake and LeBron James were part of a group that purchased a minority stake in the Italian soccer club AC Milan.

100 Thieves Gaming Organization

In 2018, Drake became a co-founder and co-owner of the gaming organization 100 Thieves. This investment was supported by music executive Scooter Braun and Cleveland Cavaliers owner Dan Gilbert.

Food Ventures

Drake has explored ventures in the food industry. He previously partnered with chef Susur Lee to open Fring's Restaurant and Antonio Park to open the sports bar Pick 6ix in Toronto. In 2021, he invested in Daring Foods Inc., a company that makes vegan meat alternatives. In September 2021, he bought a minority stake in the Californian food chain Dave's Hot Chicken. He even organized a promotion to give away free chicken in Toronto on his 36th birthday in October 2022.

Fashion and Apparel

In December 2013, Drake announced his partnership with Nike and Air Jordan. He released his own collection of Air Jordans, called "Air Jordan OVOs." This led to collaborations between OVO and Canada Goose for clothing items. In 2020, A Bathing Ape collaborated with Drake for an OVO x BAPE clothing collection. He also partnered with Revolve to create "Better World Fragrance," a line of scented candles.

In December 2020, Drake announced Nocta, a sub-label with Nike. The clothing line is named after Drake's "nocturnal creative process." Nike described it as "fashion-forward, minimal-inspired sportswear." After the first collection sold out, more items were released. OVO has also released various collections, including a "Weekender Collection" and a "Winter Survival Collection."

In July 2022, OVO released a collection inspired by Mike Tyson. In October 2022, FC Barcelona wore special OVO-branded jerseys during their match against Real Madrid CF. OVO also partnered with former ice hockey player Tie Domi and Roots Canada for a capsule collection.

Drake's Personal Life

Health and Homes

A Boeing 767-200 airplane similar to the one Drake acquired in 2020

Drake lives in Toronto, Ontario, in a large 35,000-square-foot estate called "The Embassy." This home was built in 2017 and can be seen in the music video for his song "Toosie Slide". He also owned a home in Hidden Hills, California, and bought a Beverly Crest home in 2022. He owns a condominium near the CN Tower in Toronto. Drake also owns a Boeing 767 airplane.

Drake has many tattoos. Some represent personal achievements, like a jack-o-lantern and owls. He has portraits of people important to him, including Lil Wayne, Sade, Aaliyah, Denzel Washington, his parents, and his son. He also has tattoos related to Toronto, like the CN Tower.

In August 2021, Drake shared that he had COVID-19, which caused temporary hair loss. He also tested publicly for the virus in March 2020. He had COVID-19 again in 2022, which led to postponing concerts.

Family and Relationships

Drake's paternal uncles are musicians Larry Graham and Teenie Hodges. Larry Graham was a member of Sly and the Family Stone. Teenie Hodges contributed to songs for Al Green.

Drake dated SZA between 2008 and 2009. In 2011, there were reports that he was dating Serena Williams.

Drake had an on-again, off-again relationship with Rihanna from 2009 to 2016. He has mentioned their relationship in his albums. When he presented Rihanna with an award in 2016, he said he had been in love with her since he was 22.

Drake is a father to a son, who was born on October 11, 2017. His son's mother is French painter Sophie Brussaux. Drake confirmed his fatherhood on his album Scorpion in 2018.

Discography

Solo Studio Albums

Collaborative Studio Albums

• Her Loss (with 21 Savage) (2022)
• Some ... Songs 4 U (with PartyNextDoor) (2025)

Tours

Headlining Tours

• Away from Home Tour (2010)
• Club Paradise Tour (2012)
• Would You Like a Tour? (2013–2015)
• Boy Meets World Tour (2017)
• Assassination Vacation Tour (2019)
• Anita Max Win Tour (2025)

Co-Headlining Tours

• America's Most Wanted Tour (with Young Money) (2009)
• Drake vs. Lil Wayne (with Lil Wayne) (2014)
• Summer Sixteen Tour (with Future) (2016)
• Aubrey & the Three Migos Tour (with Migos) (2018)
• It's All a Blur Tour (with 21 Savage & J. Cole) (2023–2024)
• Some Special Shows 4 U (with PartyNextDoor) (2025)

Filmography

Film Appearances

Television Appearances

See also

In Spanish: Drake (músico) para niños