Drake Biography

Drake is the hip-hop performing name of actor Aubrey Graham, once known to TV audiences in Canada and the United States for his eight seasons on the series Degrassi: The Next Generation (2001-09).

Graham grew up in Toronto and Memphis, Tennessee, and started working in television in his teens. Jimmy in Degrassi was one of the more likable characters, though he was naturally dogged by dramatic teen conflict (he was paralyzed by gunshot in the show’s fourth season).

While working as an actor, Graham began recording pop rap on his own. He released his own mixed tapes as Drake beginning in the late 2000s; his 2009 release, So Far Gone, earned him a tour and led to his 2010 major label debut, Thank Me Later.

The next decade saw Drake ascend to the top of the pop rap world, with bestselling albums and enough hit singles to make him the top male solo artist on the rap and hip-hop pop charts.

Drake’s singles include “Headlines” (2011); “Take Care” (with Rihanna, 2012); “Hotline Bling” (2105); “Nice For What” and “God’s Plan” (2017); “In My Feeling” (2018); “Toosie Slide” (2020); “What’s Next” (2021); and “Jimmy Cook” (2022).