Drake is a Canadian rapper, singer, and actor.
Renowned for his impact on modern popular music, he is often acknowledged for bringing R&B elements into hip hop culture.
Early life and Education
Aubrey Drake Graham, born on October 24, 1986, in Toronto, Ontario, hails from a diverse background. His father, Dennis Graham, a talented African-American drummer from Memphis, once collaborated with renowned musician Jerry Lee Lewis. Drake’s mother, Sandra “Sandi” Graham, a Canadian of Ashkenazi Jewish descent, worked as an English teacher and florist. Drake, a dual citizen of the United States and Canada, inherited his American citizenship from his father. Despite his parents’ divorce when he was young, Drake and his mother remained in Toronto while his father faced legal issues in the U.S. Drake’s upbringing spanned two contrasting neighborhoods in Toronto: the working-class west end and the affluent Forest Hill area. Despite facing challenges like financial constraints and bullying, Drake pursued his passion for music and acting, eventually becoming a prominent figure in the entertainment industry.
Career
At the age of 15, Drake’s entry into the entertainment industry came through a fortuitous connection with the father of a high school friend, who happened to be an acting agent. This opportunity led Drake to a role on the Canadian teen drama series “Degrassi: The Next Generation,” where he portrayed Jimmy Brooks, a basketball star whose life takes a dramatic turn after being shot by a classmate and becoming physically disabled. Reflecting on his early acting days, Drake recounted the financial struggles his family faced, emphasizing the importance of his income from Canadian television. Despite his commitment to the show, Drake’s burgeoning music career sometimes caused scheduling conflicts, leading to creative solutions such as negotiating access to the set after late-night recording sessions. His debut in the music scene came with the track “Do What You Do,” featured on The N Soundtrack, coinciding with Degrassi’s airing on the American network, The N.
Drawing inspiration from Jay-Z and Clipse, Drake independently released his debut mixtape, “Room for Improvement,” in 2006. Collaborating with artists like Trey Songz and Lupe Fiasco, the mixtape aimed for a radio-friendly sound with relatively light content. Despite selling around 6,000 copies, Drake earned a modest sum of $304.04 in royalties. His first live performance took place in 2006 at the Kool Haus nightclub, where he opened for Ice Cube and earned $100 for his half-hour set. In 2007, Drake launched his second mixtape, “Comeback Season,” under his newly established label, October’s Very Own (OVO). The mixtape’s single, “Replacement Girl,” featuring Trey Songz, gained traction and led to Drake joining Lil Wayne’s Tha Carter III tour after Lil Wayne heard the track. This tour collaboration resulted in several notable songs, including “Ransom,” “Forever,” and a remix of “Brand New.” 
In 2009, Drake released his third mixtape, “So Far Gone,” which marked a turning point in his career. Initially offered as a free download on his OVO blog, it quickly gained popularity, garnering over 2,000 downloads within the first two hours. The mixtape’s success was propelled by hit singles like “Best I Ever Had” and “Successful,” both achieving platinum status and receiving critical acclaim. This led to the mixtape’s re-release as an EP, which debuted at number six on the Billboard 200 chart and won the Rap Recording of the Year at the 2010 Juno Awards. Following the mixtape’s success, Drake became the focus of a high-profile bidding war among record labels, ultimately signing with Young Money Entertainment in 2009. However, his ascent to stardom faced a setback when he suffered a torn anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) during a performance of “Best I Ever Had” in New Jersey.
Drake initially planned to release his debut album, “Thank Me Later,” in late 2008, but due to various reasons, including artistic refinements, its release date was postponed multiple times until June 15, 2010. In the lead-up to the album’s release, Drake dropped the single “Over” on March 9, 2010, which achieved significant success, peaking at number fourteen on the Billboard Hot 100 and earning a Grammy nomination for Best Rap Solo Performance. The subsequent single, “Find Your Love,” became even more successful, reaching number five on the Hot 100 and earning a 3× Multi-Platinum certification. Despite facing criticism for the music video shot in Jamaica, the single resonated with audiences. “Thank Me Later” debuted at number one on the Billboard 200 chart, selling over 447,000 copies in its first week. The album featured collaborations with artists like Lil Wayne, Kanye West, and Jay-Z, cementing Drake’s status in the music industry.
Following the album’s success, Drake embarked on the Away from Home Tour, which saw him perform in 78 shows across four legs. This tour’s triumph led to the creation of the OVO Festival in 2010 and an eco-friendly college tour to further support the album. Drake’s next album, “Take Care,” was announced in November 2010, with a focus on creating a more cohesive sound with producer Noah “40” Shebib. The album was released on November 15, 2011, to positive reviews and commercial success, earning Drake a Grammy Award for Best Rap Album. The singles “Headlines,” “The Motto,” and “Take Care” all performed well on the charts, with “The Motto” popularizing the phrase “YOLO.” The album’s success propelled Drake’s Club Paradise Tour to become the most successful hip hop tour of 2012, grossing over $42 million. Additionally, Drake returned to acting, starring in “Ice Age: Continental Drift” as the character Ethan.
During the European leg of the Club Paradise Tour, Drake began crafting his third studio album, aiming for a departure from the ambient production and despondent themes of his previous work. He announced “Nothing Was the Same” after winning the Grammy for Best Rap Album in February 2013. The album’s lead single, “Started from the Bottom,” and its follow-up, “Hold On, We’re Going Home,” achieved significant success. “Nothing Was the Same” debuted at number one on the US Billboard 200, selling over 658,000 copies in its first week and receiving favorable reviews from critics.
Drake’s “Would You like a Tour?” promoted the album, becoming one of the most successful tours of 2013-2014, grossing over $46 million. Following his musical endeavors, Drake returned to acting, showcasing his versatility by hosting and performing on Saturday Night Live in January 2014. In late 2014, he began recording his fourth studio album, which unexpectedly dropped on iTunes in February 2015 under the title “If You’re Reading This It’s Too Late.” Despite the debate over its classification as an album or mixtape, it sold over a million units in 2015.
Drake’s prolific output continued with the release of several singles in 2015, including “Back to Back” and “Hotline Bling.” Collaborating with Future on a mixtape, “What a Time to Be Alive,” further solidified his dominance in the music industry. In January 2016, Drake announced his fourth studio album, “Views,” originally titled “Views from the 6,” which premiered to commercial and critical acclaim. The album topped the Billboard 200 for thirteen weeks and achieved sextuple-platinum status in the US.
Despite mixed critical reception, “Views” solidified Drake’s position as a chart-topping artist. He embarked on the Summer Sixteen Tour with Future, breaking records as the highest-grossing hip-hop tour of all time. Amidst his touring schedule, Drake hinted at new projects and collaborations, including a joint album with Kanye West. Awards and accolades continued to pour in for Drake, further establishing him as one of the most influential figures in contemporary music.
Drake confirmed the release of “More Life” during an episode of OVO Sound Radio, describing it as a “playlist of original music.” The project debuted at number one on the Billboard 200, setting streaming records with nearly 90 million streams in its first 24 hours. Following this success, Drake won 13 awards at the 2017 Billboard Music Awards and continued to dominate the charts with hits like “God’s Plan” and “In My Feelings.” He also expanded his endeavors into television and film production while embarking on successful tours and collaborations with other artists.
Drake’s subsequent releases, including “Scorpion” and “Certified Lover Boy,” further solidified his position as one of the most influential figures in music. He consistently broke records and received numerous accolades, such as being named Artist of the Decade at the Billboard Music Awards. Additionally, Drake’s business acumen was evident in his lucrative deals with Universal Music Group and his successful ventures into other industries, like his poetry book announcement.
As Drake continues to innovate and dominate the music industry, his impact remains unparalleled, with each new release eagerly anticipated by fans worldwide.
Feuds
On March 22, 2024, Kendrick Lamar initiated a feud with Drake and J. Cole by dissing them on Future and Metro Boomin’s track “Like That.” This sparked a series of diss tracks and responses between the artists. Future, ASAP Rocky, and The Weeknd also joined in with their own disses towards Drake.
Drake responded with the release of “Push Ups” on April 19, 2024, addressing Lamar, Future, and Rick Ross. He followed up with “Taylor Made Freestyle” later that day. In retaliation, Lamar released a diss track titled “Euphoria” on April 30, 2024, followed by “6:16 in LA” exclusively on Instagram on May 3, 2024.
Drake countered with “Family Matters,” released exclusively on YouTube on the same day as Lamar’s “6:16 in LA.” Lamar then released “Meet the Grahams” 20 minutes later, followed by “Not Like Us” the next day.
On May 5, 2024, Drake released “The Heart Part 6,” referencing Lamar’s previous track “The Heart Part 5” from 2022, further escalating the feud between the two artists.
In June 2012, Drake and Chris Brown were reportedly involved in a physical altercation in a SoHo nightclub in Manhattan, New York City. This led to a public feud between the two, with Chris Brown criticizing Drake in his music until 2013. However, the dispute ended when both appeared in a comedic skit for the 2014 ESPY Awards.
In December 2014, Drake was punched by Puff Daddy outside a nightclub in Miami, Florida, reportedly over Drake’s usage of an instrumental produced by Boi-1da. Drake aggravated an old arm injury during the altercation.
Drake also had a feud with Tyga, sparked by Tyga’s negative comments about him in an interview with Vibe magazine. Drake responded with diss tracks, which some interpreted as contributing to Tyga’s departure from Young Money Entertainment.
In July 2015, Meek Mill accused Drake of using ghostwriters during recording sessions for “RICO.” This led to a public feud between them, with Drake responding with diss tracks “Charged Up” and “Back to Back.” The feud ended after Mill’s prison sentencing, and they later collaborated on “Going Bad” in 2019.
In 2018, Pusha T criticized Drake on “Infrared,” leading to Drake’s response with the “Duppy Freestyle” diss track. Pusha T then retaliated with “The Story of Adidon,” revealing personal details about Drake, but Drake has yet to respond.
Drake also feuded with Joe Budden in 2016, with Budden making derogatory comments about Views. Drake allegedly responded with “4PM in Calabasas,” prompting Budden to release two diss tracks. Despite further responses from Budden, Drake has not officially responded.
Drake dissed Kid Cudi on “Two Birds, One Stone” in 2016 after Cudi criticized him on Twitter. They later resolved their feud and collaborated on a song in 2021.
In 2018, Drake had a feud with Kanye West, stemming from conflicting collaborations and personal issues. This led to exchanges on social media and in music, including Drake leaking West’s song “Life of the Party.”
Personal life 
Drake resides in Toronto, Ontario, in a sprawling estate known as “The Embassy,” covering 35,000 square feet and valued at $100 million. Constructed from scratch in 2017, the estate is prominently featured in the music video for his track “Toosie Slide.” He previously owned a property in Hidden Hills, California, called the “YOLO Estate” from 2012 to 2022, and in 2022, he purchased a Beverly Crest home from Robbie Williams for $70 million. Additionally, he possesses a condominium adjacent to the CN Tower. Furthermore, Drake owns a Boeing 767 and, in 2021, leased a versatile property in Beverly Hills worth $65 million.
Drake’s body is adorned with various tattoos, each holding personal significance. Among them are symbols commemorating his achievements, such as a jack-o-lantern, “October Lejonhjärta” (translated as “October Lionheart”), owls, and a controversial Abbey Road (1969) inspired depiction of himself alongside the Beatles. Notably, he has portraits inked of individuals like Lil Wayne, Sade, Aaliyah, Jesús Malverde, Denzel Washington, his close associate 40, as well as family members including his parents, grandmother, maternal uncle, and son. Several tattoos pay homage to his hometown of Toronto, including depictions of the CN Tower and the number “416.”
On August 18, 2021, Drake disclosed that he had contracted COVID-19 during the pandemic, which resulted in temporary hair loss. He was also among the first celebrities to publicly announce his testing for the virus in March 2020. In 2022, he experienced a second bout of the illness, leading to the postponement of anticipated reunion concerts with Lil Wayne and Nicki Minaj.
Drake is a proud father to a son named Adonis, born on October 11, 2017, to French artist and former model Sophie Brussaux. Speculation surrounding Brussaux’s pregnancy arose after she was featured in a TMZ article in early 2017. Following discussions about his fatherhood in Pusha T’s “The Story of Adidon,” Drake confirmed his status as a father on his 2018 album Scorpion, emphasizing his commitment to protecting his child’s privacy. Kendrick Lamar’s assertion in the diss track “Meet The Grahams” that Drake has another daughter was promptly denied by Drake upon the track’s release, and remains unconfirmed.
Legal issues and Controversies
In 2012, a lawsuit was filed against Drake by Erica lee, claiming her voice was used without permission on “Marvins Room.” She alleged she deserved songwriting credits and royalties. The matter was settled out of court in 2013.
In 2014, Drake was sued for sampling Jimmy Smith’s “Jimmy Smith Rap” without permission for “Pound Cake / Paris Morton Music 2.” Drake won the lawsuit in 2017, with the court ruling in his favor.
Also in 2014, rapper Rappin’ 4-Tay sued Drake for misusing his lyrics in “Who Do You Love?” Drake settled the lawsuit by paying $100,000.
In 2016, Drake’s usage of marijuana caused a nightclub in Oklahoma City to close down.
In December 2021, Drake sued jeweler Ori Vechler for incorrectly using his likeness in promotional material.
In December 2022, a lawsuit against Drake by rapper Angelou Skywalker, alleging Drake stole his song “Reach for Skies” for “Way 2 Sexy,” was dismissed due to Skywalker’s misconduct.
In 2017, producer Detail sued Drake over an alleged assault by Drake’s bodyguard in 2014. The case was dismissed in 2018.
In January 2019, Drake, Odell Beckham Jr., and Younes Bendjima were sued for an alleged assault outside an L.A. nightclub in 2018. The suit was settled out of court.
Drake paid a $350,000 settlement in 2019 to a woman who accused him of sexual assault.
In October 2021, Drake was sued for copyright infringement over his song “No Guidance.” He was later dropped from the lawsuit.
In November 2021, Drake was named in a lawsuit for inciting violence at the Astroworld Festival.
In July 2022, Drake was detained by Swedish police for drugs found in a Stockholm nightclub.
In November 2022, Drake and 21 Savage were sued by Vogue publisher Condé Nast for using the Vogue name without permission. They reached a settlement later.
In February 2023, Drake was ordered to appear for a deposition in the XXXTentacion murder trial but failed to show. The deposition was dismissed due to improper service.
Net Worth
Estimated to be over 250 million dollars