When it comes to pure fame and recognition, it’s hard to match Canadian superstar Drake.
With dozens of chart-smashing hits, multiple side businesses and a net worth of nearly $200 million, Aubrey Drake Graham has redefined the way we think of hip hop celebrities.
We all know that Drake “started from the bottom”, but how did he rise to fame so quickly and establish himself as a household name around the world?
Let’s map out Drake’s career from the very beginning and see exactly how he became such a shining star.
Toronto Origins
The young Aubrey Graham did not live in the lap of luxury as a kid.
In fact, things were a bit messy growing up in Toronto, where his parents got divorced when he was only five years old.
With dad out of the picture, Drake was driven to find success early on, and pursued acting in high school as a way to make a name for himself.
After lighting up the stage in high school theater productions, he connected with a local talent agent who booked him on the show Degrassi: The Next Generation.
The show was Drake’s big break, and helped his struggling family stay afloat during tough times. Luckily, his talent and desire for success fueled the fire within.
Appearing in 100 episodes of Degrassi, Drake demonstrated some serious stage presence and was a fan favorite.
He took that creative inspiration and channeled momentum into his musical efforts, which culminated in the 2006 release of his Room for Improvement mixtape.
Before long, major industry figures were battling over a contract with Drake, who was on his way to stardom after just his second mixtape.
Skyrocketing to Success
After navigating a major bidding war, Drake signed with Young Money Entertainment in 2009 and won the Juno award for Rap Recording of the Year in 2010.
With the release of Thank Me Later, the breakthrough artist made a powerful debut statement, introducing the rap game to a more emotional and reflective style of music.
As Drake became more confident in his abilities under the mic and in the production studio, his records gained even more widespread popularity and commercial success.
Take Care won him his first Grammy Award in 2013, and Nothing Was the Same earned him another Billboard Best-Selling Album.
After a couple of fun commercial mixtapes, Drake ran into a bit of controversy with the release of Views in 2016. Critics and fans questioned his new direction, but sales remained high.
Since then, Drake has stayed focused on steadily dropping hit after hit, despite many Twitter beefs and other controversial episodes.
One thing is for sure: Drake will always have a place on the charts, and his rabid fanbase will be there to support him through the wild drama that comes with being in the spotlight.
What’s Next for Drake?
How old is Drake exactly? The icon was born on October 24th, 1986, making him 33 years old at this time. Needless to say, the man is aging gracefully like fine champagne!
For now, he continues to pump out hits with other megastars like DJ Khaled and Bruno Mars.
In the meantime, he is putting up big business numbers in his various entrepreneurial ventures. OVO Sound, Apple Music and a partnership with the Toronto Raptors, just to name a few.
Drake is such a major figure that EVERYONE likes to speculate on his future plans.
More business ventures, return to acting, a spiritual awakening? Who knows! Just plan to hear him on the radio for a long time.
Stay tuned to RapTV to keep a pulse on where Drake goes next.