Drake

Born Aubrey Drake Graham. Drake is a Canadian- American rapper, singer and actor. He first garnered recognition for his role as Jimmy Brooks on the television series Degrassi: The Next Generation. He started professional music in 2006 with series of mixtapes. In 2007 his cocky and laid-back track “Replacement Girl,” featuring Trey Songz was featured on BET’s 106 & Park Program as its “Joint of the Day”. This raised his profile and he soon became one of the most talked about artists in the industry in spite not belonging to any record label.

Drake Makes Forbes Five Hip-Hop's Wealthiest Artists of 2016

Drake's EP, “So Far Gone” (2009), spawned the hit single "Best I Ever Had" and the moderate hit "Successful". His first studio album, “Thank Me Later” (2010), debuted at number one on the Billboard 2009 and generated notable singles, "Over" and "Find Your Love". It was certified Platinum by the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA). His second album, Take Care (2011), is his most successful to date, topping charts in the United States and Canada and producing multiple hit singles, including "Headlines", "Take Care", "Make Me Proud", and "The Motto", the last of which is also credited for popularizing the widely used acronym “YOLO”. In promotion of “Take Care”, Drake embarked on the worldwide Club Paradise Tour, which became the most successful hip-hop tour of 2012, grossing over $42 million. His third studio album “Nothing Was the Same” which was released on September 24, 2013. It has so far been supported by the singles "Started from the Bottom" and "Hold On, We're Going Home".

Drake has sold over 5 million albums worldwide. His work has earned him a Grammy Award, three Juno Awards, six BET Awards, and set several significant Billboard records. With twelve number-one singles, Drake has more than any other artist on Billboard's Hot Rap Songs chart. With ten number-one singles, he also has more than any other rapper on Billboard's Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs chart, passing Jay-Z in August 2012. He is one of two artists (the other being 50 Cent) that has simultaneously occupied the chart's top three positions.

Drake, along with being a record producer under the pseudonym C. Papi, has also written songs for other artists, including Alicia Keys ("Un-Thinkable (I'm Ready)"), Rita Ora ("R.I.P."), Jamie Foxx and Trey Songz. He featured as a voice actor in Ice Age: Continental Drift as the mammoth Ethan. Drake was tied with Rihanna for the most nominations at the 2012 MTV Video Music Awards. He was ranked No. 2 on MTV's Hottest MCs in the Game VII list in 2012. Drake became the #1 Rhythmic artist of 2012 based on Mediabase.

Background

Aubrey Drake Graham was born on October 24, 1986, in Toronto, Ontario, to parents Sandi Graham (née Sher), an educator, and Dennis Graham, a drummer who worked with Jerry Lee Lewis. Two of his uncles, Larry Graham and Teenie Hodges, are also musicians. Drake's father is an African-American from Memphis, Tennessee, and Drake's mother is a white Jewish Canadian. He attended a Jewish day school and had a Bar Mitzvah. His parents divorced when he was five years old, and he was raised by his mother in two Toronto neighborhoods; he lived on Weston Road in the city's west end, until the sixth grade, when he moved to the affluent Forest Hill. As a youth, he played minor hockey with the Weston Red Wings.

He attended Vaughan Road Academy, but dropped out of high school, years later, he later graduated in October 2012.

At the age of 15, Drake met an agent, the father of a high school friend. The agent found Drake a role on the Canadian TV show Degrassi: The Next Generation as Jimmy Brooks. In the show, Brooks is a basketball star who became physically disabled after he was shot by a classmate.

Drake once dated songstress Keshia Chante. Following his break-up with her, he crafted a song called "Deceiving", making reference to her mother Tessa. He also remixed one of her songs "Fallen", adding lines, "Keshia, Keshia, do you remember the old us? They said we'd never be together that's what they told us. Immature kids, to entrepreneur kids," to the track.

In 2009, Drake was rumored embarking on a love relationship with Rihanna following her nasty split from Chris Brown.

Career Success and Earnings

Thank me Later was Drake’s first official album, which was released in June of 2010. Almost 450,000 albums were sold the very first week it was released, making it one of the most successful rap albums of all time. Take Care was Drake’s next album, which was released in October 2011. With the success of this album, Drake was able to continue working with up and coming rappers as well as those that were already mega-stars.

By the end of 2012 Drake had his own record label, October’s very Own as well as his third album, Nothing Was the Same. He also won Best Rap Album at the 55th Grammy Awards and his label struck a deal with Warner Bros. Records, taking his career to the next level.

Drake’s net worth is currently at $30 million dollars, but this number will rise in the future as he releases more singles and continues to collaborate with new artists. In 2012 he grossed just over $42 million dollars from the Club Paradise Tour, which may take place again in the future. Drake is also expected to continue making money through his songwriting skills, which led him to writing songs for singers including Jamie Foxx to Alicia Keys.

Drakes House

Drake owns multiple properties, including two that are currently for sale in Miami. He recently moved into a $9 million dollar mansion in Hollywood, which is equipped with everything from a cave where the pool is to a wine cellar in the basement. This mansion also has six bedrooms, 10 bathrooms, a theater with 24 seats and an ATM!

Quotes Credited to Drake

Sometimes it's the journey that teaches you a lot about your destination.
I'm actually a very honest person, and sometimes I end up like, 'Man, I said too much.' It's hard for me not to tell the truth when you ask me.
Me and my dad are friends. We're cool. I'll never be disappointed again, because I don't expect anything anymore from him. I just let him exist, and that's how we get along.
Jealousy is just love and hate at the same time.

A relationship can give you a gut wrenching feeling sometimes. It's a real emotional ride

Sources:
Ace ShowBiz
ALLMusic
Wikipedia
The Richest

Category: Celebrity/Entertainers

Drake

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