Drake is part of a generation of new rappers, along with Wiz Khalifa, Kid Cudi and others, who came up through internet mixtapes and have no connection to the streets, gang violence, or the drug game. In fact, Drake’s real name is Aubrey Drake Graham, he grew up in a posh suburb of Toronto, and he had a bar mitzvah. Not only that, but he got his break in the entertainment biz starring on Canadian teen drama DeGrassi: The Next Generation at the age of 15. So he won’t exactly be, “Thinking back on my one-room shack”
But Drake still had to work hard for his success, putting out three mixtapes from 2006 to 2009. These mixtapes got him the attention of Lil Wayne, and spawned the hit singles “Forever” and “Best I Ever Had.” During this period, Drake also made a slew of guest appearances on tracks by artists from DJ Khaled to Jay-Z
After years without a record deal, Drake finally signed to Lil Wayne’s Young Money Entertainment label in 2009. And in 2010, Drake released his debut album Thank Me Later to critical acclaim. His next album, Take Care, dropped in November 2011
