He started from the bottom, now he's here — yet somehow Drake has managed to keep a charming sense of mystery about him. Maybe it's because he went from Canadian teen soap star to international household name pretty much overnight, but we still can't really figure this guy out.
Drake's chart-topping hits keep coming year after year, but even his revealing rhymes don't answer the question: Who's the guy behind those dark and smoldery eyes? Now that he is reportedly hot and heavy with Jennifer Lopez, the public's need to know anything and everything about him has hit a fever pitch. So let's dig into the little that we do know, shall we?
1. He broke an American Music Awards record
In October 2016, Drake set the record for most AMA nominations. He raked in 13 noms — beating Michael Jackson's 11 nominations from 1984. Drake's nominated for Artist of the Year, Favorite Male Artist, Favorite Rap Artist and more. And if he wins just one award, it'll be his first AMA win ever.
2. Drake rose to fame as a Canadian TV star
Drake joined the cast of Degrassi: The Next Generation in 2001, when he was only 15 years old. He played Jimmy Brooks, a basketball star who had to use a wheelchair after being shot.
3. His real name is Aubrey Graham
Drake is actually his middle name. And we get it — Aubrey Graham just isn't a great rapper name, TBH.
4. He's the biggest chart topper — for men
It's not just all talk and humble brags. As of August 2016, the indomitable Drake has spent 46 consecutive weeks on the top 10 singles chart, setting a new record for male artists. Before Drake broke the mold, The Weeknd was close behind at 45 consecutive weeks in 2015.
5. He dated Rihanna (probably)
While many people remember the infamous fight between Chris Brown and Drake at a nightclub, not as many people remember the reason for the fight. "It's embarrassing, the amount of media coverage,” he said, according to the New York Daily News. “Two rappers fighting over the woman. He's not even a rapper, but still, it's the last way you want your name out there. It distracts from the music. But he's made me the enemy, and that's the way it's gonna stay, I guess."
The relationship was rumored, but the fight and the aftermath made it seem like he was protecting his girlfriend. As of 2016, reports of Drake and Rihanna's secret romance are still alive. Rihanna even kissed Drake in public after his very emotional ode to her during the 2016 MTV VMAs.
6. He hasn't been in love (yet)
When Drake spoke with GQ magazine in 2013 about his relationship with Rihanna, he said that he realized he'd never loved her.
"I had lunch the other day with someone I extremely look up to. I had lunch with Will Smith, and listening to him talk, it made me think I don't know what love is," he told GQ. "He said something profound. He said love is when you become one and you need that person. It's not about wanting any more — you need that person. Hearing that, I don't know if I've ever felt that way."
Could Lopez be the person who finally becomes one with Drake? Only time will tell.
7. He's a good skater
Hailing from Canada, does this even come as a surprise? Drake's a triple threat in the music, acting and (maybe) dancing department, and now he can add ice-skating to his showbiz resume. One of Drake's sources confirmed that he took Rihanna ice-skating on a friendly type of date to help her work on her moves. Swoon.
Next up: He's got a weird fan base
Originally published June 2013. Updated January 2017.
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8. He's got a weird fan base
And by weird, we mean weirdly wonderful. If it's not an internet tidal wave of playful haters poking fun at Drake's "Hotline Bling" dad dancing, it's hilarious fans who aspire to combine their love of rap with their love of baked goods. Just recently, a Drake-inspired foodie Instagram account surfaced, featuring adorable little cakes decorated with his song lyrics. (Because YOLO.)
9. He's a bad dancer IRL
Speaking of "Hotline Bling" (only the funniest meme fodder to hit the interwebs in 2015), Drake's viral dad dance may be an actual reflection of how he gets down in real life. MTV caught Drake awkwardly dancing to a courtside beat at the L.A. Clippers game that same year, and fans have witnessed plenty of his "unique" dance moves at his live shows.
10. He is Canadian
Drake was born in Toronto, Ontario, Canada in 1986 (and even played hockey as a child).
11. He was raised Jewish
Drake’s mother is a Jewish Canadian, and he attended a Jewish Day School and even had a bar mitzvah.
12. He makes his own whiskey
Canadian whiskey, Canadian rapper— surely you can see where this is heading. When Drake posted the first look at his new whiskey to his Instagram account, he was met with an overwhelming response. If all goes well, Drake's latest business venture, Virginia Black Whiskey, could be the new rap spirit of choice, though the word is still out on whether or not Drake's whiskey is actually Canadian.
13. He has appeared in children’s programs, including Ice Age: Continental Drift
Drake is not only still acting but he is doing some voice acting as well. He appeared in Ice Age: Continental Drift in 2012, as Ethan, the young mammoth.
Next up: He started his rap career through a series of mixtapes
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14. He started his rap career through a series of mixtapes
Drake began making mixtapes in 2006 and started gaining national attention. He was featured on BET and was supported by rappers Kanye West, Jay Z and Lil Wayne. He was finally signed to Universal Motown in 2009.
15. It runs in the family
Where did Drake get his ridiculous rap talent from? While he was raised by his single mother in Canada, his musical prowess might be all in the family. Drake's father, Dennis Graham, was a drummer who played with Jerry Lee Lewis, and Drake's uncle Larry Graham also played bass for Prince.
16. He has written songs for artists such as Alicia Keys and Jamie Foxx
Drake has won numerous awards for his songwriting abilities. He wrote "Un-Thinkable" for Alicia Keys and co-wrote "Fall For Your Type" for Jamie Foxx.
17. He has a crush on Nicki Minaj
Drake admitted back in 2010 that Nicki Minaj was his inspiration for "Un-Thinkable." He told MTV in 2010 about his crush.
"I've always really, actually, really had a crush on her, always really loved her, and she's always just looked at me as, like, her little brother," he said.
18. He is a fan of the Miami Heat
Drake was videotaped outside the Heat’s locker room after their victory in Game 7 of the NBA finals on June 20, 2013. The video shows Drake being denied access because he didn’t have a media pass.
19. He has a thing for gorgeous pools
Before he was a big deal, Drake spent a lot of time Googling epic residential pools and dreaming of his "someday" mansion when he made it big. Drake finally bought his first home in L.A. after becoming a multimillionaire. The home, worth $7.7 million, came with one of the same beautiful pools Drake had seen while Googling — with an 80-foot waterslide, flat-screen TVs in the grotto, elk statues and flame-spitting iron torches. Drake's property was aptly named "YOLO Estate."
20. He has a heart of gold
As if you needed one more reason to dig on Drake beyond his mad music skills, he's known for taking time out of his busy schedule to give back. While this story only adds fuel to the ongoing Drake-and-Rihanna rumor mill, the pair posted a picture of themselves visiting a fan who had cancer (and was also a Drake superfan), following Drake's surprise cameo at Rihanna's concert in Miami.
According to Drake's No. 1 fan, Megan, the visit was the "best day of [her] life."
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