Sam Drake

Verified Timeline

Lore & Background

Drake's early life was shaped by his parents' divorce when he was five. He was raised by his mother, Sandra, a Canadian Ashkenazi Jew who worked as an English teacher and florist, in two Toronto neighborhoods: working-class Weston Road until grade six, then affluent Forest Hill from 2000. His father, Dennis Graham, an African-American drummer from Memphis who performed with Jerry Lee Lewis, was incarcerated for drug-related charges for a number of years. Drake attended a Jewish day school and became a bar mitzvah. He worked at a Toronto furniture factory owned by his maternal grandfather during his teens. He dropped out of high school to pursue acting but received his diploma in October 2012 at age 25.

In Their Own Story

At 15, a friend's father, an acting agent, got Drake a role on Degrassi: The Next Generation as Jimmy Brooks, a basketball star who becomes disabled after being shot. Drake said, 'My mother was very sick. We were very poor, like broke. The only money I had coming in was [from] Canadian TV.' He often arrived late on set after recording music, striking an agreement with security guards to sleep in a dressing room. In 2009, his mixtape So Far Gone received over 2,000 downloads in the first 2 hours. Its single "Best I Ever Had" peaked at number two on the Billboard Hot 100. This success sparked a major bidding war, and he signed with Young Money Entertainment on June 29, 2009.

Reader's Guide

Drake's career is marked by record-breaking chart performance. His fourth album, Views (2016), led the Billboard 200 for 13 weeks. Its second single, "One Dance," became the first song to surpass 1 billion streams on Spotify. His fifth album, Scorpion (2018), spent 29 weeks atop the Billboard Hot 100 with its singles: "God's Plan," "Nice for What," and "In My Feelings." In 2026, he became the first artist to occupy the top three spots on the Billboard 200. He has achieved 15 Billboard 200 number-one albums and 14 Billboard Hot 100 number-one singles, both records among male solo artists. He also holds the most number-one singles on the R&B/Hip-Hop Airplay, Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs, Hot Rap Songs, and Rhythmic Airplay charts.

Did You Know?

• Drake is a dual citizen of the United States and Canada, derived from his American father.
• He played minor hockey with the Weston Red Wings and was a promising right winger until a vicious cross-check to his neck ended his hockey career.
• At age 10, Drake appeared in a comedic sketch that aired during the 1997 NHL Awards.
• His first recorded song, 'Do What You Do,' appeared on The N Soundtrack.
• Drake performed his first concert on August 19, 2006, at the Kool Haus nightclub as an opening act for Ice Cube, earning $100.

From Actor to Rap Icon

Aubrey Drake Graham initially entered the public eye not as a musician, but as a television actor portraying Jimmy Brooks on the Canadian teen drama Degrassi: The Next Generation. While playing a basketball star who suffered a life-altering shooting incident, Drake simultaneously nurtured his musical ambitions, often arriving late to set after recording sessions. His mother's illness and financial struggles during this period made the acting income vital for survival. These early projects showcased his unique ability to blend R&B sensibilities with hip-hop through a distinctive rap-singing style. The album immediately debuted at number one on the Billboard 200, featuring the breakthrough hit 'Best I Ever Had,' which solidified his status as a major force in the industry.

Unprecedented Chart Dominance

Drake's commercial trajectory is defined by record-breaking consistency and longevity across multiple decades. His fourth album, Views, spent thirteen weeks at the top of the Billboard 200 and produced 'One Dance,' the first song to surpass one billion streams on Spotify.

Entrepreneurial Ventures and Business Acumen

Beyond his musical output, Drake has established himself as a formidable entrepreneur with diverse business interests. He founded the record label OVO Sound and the production company DreamCrew while also launching the fragrance house Better World.

Critical Acclaim and Global Legacy

Widely recognized as one of the greatest rappers of all time, Drake has accumulated an extensive list of accolades that underscore his impact on modern music. His award cabinet includes five Grammy Awards, six American Music Awards, forty-one Billboard Music Awards, two Brit Awards, and three Juno Awards. Industry publications have further cemented his legacy; Billboard named him the Artist of the Decade for the 2010s, recognized him as the highest-grossing hip-hop touring artist, and ranked him as the fourth greatest pop star of the 21st century. Despite media coverage regarding his extravagant lifestyle and high-profile feuds with artists like Kanye West and Kendrick Lamar, his statistical achievements on airplay charts for R&B, Hip-Hop, and Rap songs remain unmatched.