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Full Name: Aubrey Drake Graham
Also Known As: Drake, Drizzy, Champagne Papi, The Boy, 6 God
Born: October 24, 1986, in Toronto, Ontario, Canada
Occupation: Rapper, singer, songwriter, record producer, actor, entrepreneur
Net Worth: Estimated at over $250 million (as of 2025).

Aubrey Drake Graham's story began in Toronto, Ontario, where he was born to a single mother, Sandi Graham, a Canadian Ashkenazi Jew. His father, Dennis Graham, is an African-American drummer from Memphis, Tennessee, who performed with music legend Jerry Lee Lewis. Drake’s parents divorced when he was five, and he spent his childhood navigating two distinct environments: a working-class neighborhood of Toronto and the more affluent suburb of Forest Hill. This dual experience, along with his mixed racial and religious heritage, has been a recurring theme in his music.

He began his career as an actor at the age of 15, landing a role on the Canadian teen drama Degrassi: The Next Generation as Jimmy Brooks. He remained on the show for seven years, from 2001 to 2008, using his salary to support his mother. During this time, he began pursuing his passion for music, independently releasing two mixtapes, Room for Improvement (2006) and Comeback Season (2007). The latter featured the single "Replacement Girl," which helped him gain national attention on BET and ultimately led to his pivotal mentorship by rapper Lil Wayne.

Drake's career exploded after he signed with Lil Wayne's Young Money Entertainment. His third mixtape, So Far Gone (2009), became his major breakthrough. Its success was so immense that it was re-released as an EP by the label and earned him a major fan base.

• Thank Me Later (2010): His official debut album, it instantly topped the Billboard 200 chart.
• Take Care (2011): This album is considered a landmark project. Its moody, melodic, and introspective sound blended rapping and singing in a way that had rarely been done before on a mainstream level, cementing his unique style. It also earned him his first Grammy Award for Best Rap Album.
• Views (2016): A commercial juggernaut, the album spent 13 weeks at number one on the Billboard 200 and featured the global smash hit "One Dance."
• Scorpion (2018): A sprawling double album that broke one-day global streaming records on both Spotify and Apple Music.
• Certified Lover Boy (2021)
• Her Loss (2022): A collaborative album with rapper 21 Savage.
• Honestly, Nevermind (2022)
• For All the Dogs (2023)

Drake is widely credited with reshaping the sound and thematic content of mainstream hip-hop. He popularized a more emotional, vulnerable, and melodic style, which departed from the traditional bravado of the genre. His music often blurs the lines between R&B and hip-hop, and his lyrical themes frequently explore relationships, fame, and personal struggles. He holds numerous chart records, including the most top 10 singles on the Billboard Hot 100.

Drake has parlayed his musical success into a vast and lucrative business portfolio.

• OVO (October's Very Own): He co-founded the Toronto-based collective OVO with producer Noah "40" Shebib and manager Oliver El-Khatib. The collective has since expanded into a record label, a hugely successful streetwear clothing brand, and a popular radio station.
• Nike and NOCTA: His long-standing partnership with Nike led to the creation of his own sub-label, NOCTA, in 2020. The brand focuses on sleek, performance-inspired apparel that has become a sensation, with new drops consistently selling out.
• DreamCrew: Co-founded with Adel "Future" Nur, this production company has a portfolio that includes producing popular television series such as the Netflix show Top Boy and HBO's Euphoria.
• Other Investments: His entrepreneurial endeavors are diverse, including stakes in the whiskey brand Virginia Black, the e-sports organization 100 Thieves, the restaurant chain Dave's Hot Chicken, and a stake in Major League Pickleball's Brooklyn Aces. He also holds a key role as the "global ambassador" for the NBA's Toronto Raptors.

Drake is one of the most decorated artists in modern music history. He was named Billboard's Artist of the Decade for the 2010s, a testament to his decade-long dominance on the charts.

• Grammy Awards: He has received 5 Grammys from 55 nominations, winning for Best Rap Album for Take Care and Best Rap Song for "God's Plan," among others.
• Billboard Music Awards: He holds a record for the most Billboard Music Awards with an impressive 41 wins.
• American Music Awards: He has won 7 American Music Awards.
• Streaming Records: Drake has set numerous streaming records, including the most streams in a single day for an album on both Spotify and Apple Music with Scorpion.

The success of Drake's music has been an undeniable force in the industry, and his business acumen has cemented his status as a global cultural and financial force.