97 Fun Facts About Drake

What is the birth name of the artist known as Drake?

Drake's full birth name is Aubrey Drake Graham.

In which Canadian city was Drake born?

Aubrey Drake Graham was born in Toronto, Ontario, Canada.

Before rapping, Drake played which basketball star on the Canadian teen drama Degrassi: The Next Generation?

Drake played Jimmy Brooks, a basketball star left in a wheelchair after a school shooting, on Degrassi: The Next Generation from 2001 to 2009, his first taste of fame.

Which of these was Drake's debut mixtape, released in 2006?

Drake self-released his first mixtape, 'Room for Improvement,' on February 14, 2006, selling around 6,000 copies.

In what year did Drake release his debut studio album, 'Thank Me Later'?

'Thank Me Later,' Drake's debut studio album, was released on June 15, 2010, and debuted atop the Billboard 200.

Along with Drake and Noah '40' Shebib, who is recognized as a co-founder of the OVO Sound record label?

OVO Sound was founded by Drake, Noah '40' Shebib, and Oliver El-Khatib.

The album 'Views,' which featured hits like 'One Dance' and 'Hotline Bling,' was released in what year?

Drake's fourth studio album, 'Views,' was released on April 29, 2016, and led the Billboard 200 for 13 weeks.

What title has Drake held with the NBA's Toronto Raptors since 2013?

Drake was named the Raptors' Global Ambassador on September 30, 2013, joining the team's executive committee and fronting its rebrand and promotion.

What is the name of Drake's mother?

Drake's mother is Sandra 'Sandi' Graham (née Sher), a former English teacher and florist, who raised him in Toronto.

Before his incarceration, Drake's father, Dennis Graham, was a drummer for which legendary musician?

Drake's father, Dennis Graham, was a drummer who performed with rock and roll pioneer Jerry Lee Lewis and was jailed on drug charges during Drake's childhood.

Drake's critically acclaimed album 'Take Care' was released in what year?

'Take Care,' Drake's second studio album, was released in November 2011 and won a Grammy Award for Best Rap Album.

In what year did Drake release the double album 'Scorpion'?

'Scorpion,' Drake's fifth studio album, was released on June 29, 2018, as a 25-track double album split into a rap side and an R&B side.

Drake's album 'Certified Lover Boy' was released in what year?

'Certified Lover Boy' was released in September 2021 and set a then-record for most U.S. top-ten songs from one album with nine tracks.

The album 'Honestly, Nevermind' was released by Drake in which year?

'Honestly, Nevermind' is Drake's seventh studio album, released in 2022, which leaned heavily into house music influences.

Drake released the album 'For All The Dogs' in what year?

'For All The Dogs,' Drake's eighth studio album, was released in 2023 and featured collaborations with several artists.

Which 2009 Drake mixtape was repackaged as an EP after he signed with Young Money?

'So Far Gone' was Drake's third mixtape, released in 2009, and its success led to a major label deal and an EP release.

Which Toronto singer is featured on the 'Take Care' track 'Crew Love'?

The Weeknd sings the hook on 'Crew Love' and co-wrote several 'Take Care' tracks after Drake championed his 2011 mixtape 'House of Balloons'.

Drake's uncle Teenie Hodges co-wrote 'Take Me to the River' for which soul singer?

Teenie Hodges, guitarist in Memphis's Hi Rhythm Section, co-wrote 'Take Me to the River' with Al Green, who recorded it for his 1974 album 'Al Green Explores Your Mind'.

Alongside Nigerian star Wizkid, which British singer is featured on 'One Dance'?

Kyla's credit comes from the sample of her 2008 UK funky track 'Do You Mind', and the song went on to become the first to pass one billion Spotify streams.

What is the name of Drake's son?

Adonis, Drake's son with artist Sophie Brussaux, was born in October 2017 but stayed a rumour until Scorpion addressed it in 2018.

Which song from Drake's mixtape 'Comeback Season' became his first video aired on BET?

'Replacement Girl,' featuring Trey Songz, from the 2007 mixtape 'Comeback Season,' was a significant early career milestone for Drake.

Which 2015 joint mixtape by Drake and Future spawned the single 'Jumpman'?

What a Time to Be Alive, released in September 2015, paired Drake with Future and gave both rappers the hit 'Jumpman'.

Which 2020 mixtape of leaked tracks was Drake's warm-up to Certified Lover Boy?

Most of it had surfaced on SoundCloud or leaked before the May 2020 release, alongside some new songs.

In what year did Drake receive his high school diploma, years after dropping out to pursue acting?

Drake announced in October 2012 that he had officially earned his high school diploma at age 25, calling it 'one of the greatest feelings in my entire life'.

In which city does Drake hand out about a million dollars in the 'God's Plan' video?

Karena Evans shot the 'God's Plan' video in Miami in February 2018, handing its roughly $1 million budget to locals on camera, including a $50,000 scholarship at the University of Miami.

Drake's clothing brand OVO, launched in 2011, is short for what?

OVO stands for October's Very Own, a nod to Drake's October 24 birthday; the clothing line launched in 2011 and the OVO Sound label followed in 2012.

Which 2011 Drake song made 'YOLO' (You Only Live Once) a catchphrase across America?

'The Motto', a 2011 'Take Care' bonus track featuring Lil Wayne, spread 'YOLO' so widely that Drake later named his Hidden Hills compound the YOLO Estate.

Which 2015 Drake mixtape dropped as a surprise release with no prior announcement?

'If You're Reading This It's Too Late' was a surprise release in February 2015, blurring the lines between a mixtape and an album.

Whose chart-topping 2016 single 'Work' featured Drake?

Drake collaborated with Rihanna on her 2016 single 'Work,' which topped charts worldwide.

Directed by Karena Evans in 2018, which Drake video reunites him with the cast of Degrassi: The Next Generation?

'I'm Upset' took Drake back to Degrassi: the Karena Evans video reunites him with his former castmates from the show.

Drake's song 'Started From The Bottom' is from which album?

'Started From The Bottom' was released as the lead single from Drake's third studio album, 'Nothing Was the Same,' in 2013.

Drake's Bridle Path mansion, shown off in the 'Toosie Slide' video, goes by what nickname?

Drake calls his Bridle Path home The Embassy; the roughly $100 million build includes an NBA-regulation basketball court under a pyramid skylight.

Which Drake album includes 'In My Feelings', the song behind the viral Kiki dance challenge?

Scorpion, Drake's fifth studio album, gave the world 'In My Feelings' and the Kiki Challenge it spawned in 2018.

Drake's track 'Hold On, We're Going Home' features which Canadian R&B duo?

'Hold On, We're Going Home,' a soulful hit from 'Nothing Was the Same,' features the OVO Sound duo Majid Jordan.

Which 2019 compilation gathered Drake's 2010-2016 songs that had never been for sale?

'Care Package,' released in August 2019, debuted at number one on the Billboard 200.

Which single from 'Thank Me Later' peaked at number five on the Billboard Hot 100?

'Find Your Love' became a bigger success than 'Over,' reaching number five on the Hot 100.

Drake's uncle Larry Graham, bassist for Sly and the Family Stone, pioneered which technique?

Larry Graham, Drake's uncle, pioneered slap bass, which he calls 'thumpin' and pluckin'', to cover for a missing drummer in his mother's band; Flea and Bootsy Collins borrowed it.

Which 'Take Care' single debuted at number 13 on the Billboard Hot 100 in August 2011?

Released through Drake's blog first, it opened at number 13 and its video was shot at Toronto's Rogers Centre with the album's release date lit up on the scoreboard.

Drake has been named Artist of the Decade for the 2010s by which music publication?

Billboard named Drake the Artist of the Decade for the 2010s, recognizing his immense commercial success and chart dominance.

Early in his career Drake formed a short-lived R&B duo with Melanie Fiona under what name?

Drake and Melanie Fiona briefly performed as The Renaissance in the mid-2000s; the duo never released an album, and Fiona went on to win two Grammys in 2012.

In what year was Drake's viral dance song 'Toosie Slide' released?

'Toosie Slide' was released in April 2020 and debuted at number one on the Billboard Hot 100, Drake's seventh chart-topper and his third to open at the top.

Which Drake producer was a child actor in Canadian shows like 'Goosebumps'?

Noah '40' Shebib, Drake's primary producer, was a child actor in Canada before pursuing music production.

Who painted the cover of Drake's 2013 album 'Nothing Was the Same'?

The iconic album cover for 'Nothing Was the Same,' featuring a younger and older Drake, was painted by artist Kadir Nelson.

Which 2017 Drake single was the follow-up to 'Fake Love' on More Life?

'Passionfruit' followed 'Fake Love' as More Life's second single in March 2017; its tropical house beat came from Nana Rogues and it opens with a spoken intro from DJ Moodymann.

Which Drake debut single from 'Thank Me Later' peaked at number 14 on the Hot 100 in 2010?

'Over' was released on March 9, 2010, and received a Grammy nomination for Best Rap Solo Performance.

What is the title of the track where Drake raps 'Last name ever, first name greatest'?

This famous line comes from 'Forever,' a 2009 collaboration with Kanye West, Lil Wayne, and Eminem.

Drake's 'Nice for What', from Scorpion, is built on a sample of 'Ex-Factor' by which singer?

Lauryn Hill's 'Ex-Factor' is the sample under 'Nice for What', and 'Ex-Factor' itself samples Wu-Tang Clan's 'Can It Be All So Simple'.

Which British pop star sold Drake a Beverly Crest mansion in 2022?

Robbie Williams sold Drake his Beverly Crest mansion in March 2022 for a reported price above $70 million, the same year Drake put his Hidden Hills 'YOLO Estate' up for sale.

In which year was Drake born?

Drake was born Aubrey Drake Graham on October 24, 1986, in Toronto, an October birthday that made him a Scorpio.

Drake's father Dennis Graham is a drummer originally from which US city?

After his parents divorced when he was five, Drake spent summers in Memphis with his father before Graham's incarceration.

Drake played minor hockey as a boy for which Toronto-area team?

Drake played minor hockey for the Weston Red Wings and reached the Upper Canada College hockey camp before a vicious cross-check to the neck ended his playing days.

In 2000, Drake and his mother moved to which affluent Toronto neighbourhood?

In 2000 Drake and his mother moved to Forest Hill, renting the bottom half of a house where he lived in the basement and she took the first floor.

Drake performed his first concert in 2006 as a half-hour opening act for whom?

Drake's first concert was a 2006 opening slot for Ice Cube at Toronto's Kool Haus, for which he was paid $100.

Drake's debut mixtape sold about 6,000 copies and earned him roughly how much in royalties?

'Room for Improvement' sold about 6,000 copies and earned Drake $304.04 in royalties; he later called it 'pretty straightforward, radio friendly, [and] not much content to it'.

Which knee ligament did Drake tear after falling on stage in Camden, New Jersey, in 2009?

Drake tore his ACL falling on stage during 'Best I Ever Had' at a Young Money America's Most Wanted Tour stop in Camden in July 2009, weeks after signing his record deal.

A free 2010 Drake concert at which New York spot was cancelled by police after a near-riot?

About 25,000 fans packed Manhattan's South Street Seaport for the free June 2010 show with Hanson, and police cancelled it before Drake could perform.

Drake voiced the character Ethan in which animated sequel?

Drake voiced Ethan, the teenage mammoth Peaches has a crush on, in 2012's 'Ice Age: Continental Drift'.

Which 2012 Drake outing grossed over $42M, that year's top-grossing hip-hop run?

The 2012 Club Paradise Tour grossed over $42 million, hip-hop's biggest run that year, with Kendrick Lamar among the openers a year before his 'Control' verse soured things.

Drake popularized which nickname for Toronto in 2015?

The Six nods to Toronto's 416 and 647 area codes, and Drake's album Views was nearly titled Views from the 6.

'Hotline Bling' is built on a sample of a 1972 song by which soul singer?

'Hotline Bling' is built on a sample of Timmy Thomas's 1972 hit 'Why Can't We Live Together', borrowing its organ riff and drum-machine beat.

How many non-consecutive weeks did 'One Dance' spend atop the Billboard Hot 100?

'One Dance' spent 10 non-consecutive weeks at number one on the Hot 100 in 2016 and held the UK number one for 15 straight weeks.

Drake sits atop which landmark on the cover of Views?

Drake is perched on the CN Tower on the Views cover; his figure was so oversized that the tower's own Twitter account confirmed the image was photoshopped.

Which late superstar makes a posthumous appearance on Scorpion's 'Don't Matter to Me'?

'Don't Matter to Me' uses unreleased Michael Jackson vocals recorded with Paul Anka in 1983; Static Major also appears posthumously on the 25-track album.

Which English artist designed the Certified Lover Boy cover of 12 pregnant-woman emojis?

Damien Hirst created the Certified Lover Boy cover of 12 pregnant-woman emojis; it was widely mocked online, though the album still opened with 613,000 units.

Drake's 2021 number one with Future and Young Thug samples which Right Said Fred hit?

'Way 2 Sexy' (2021) flips Right Said Fred's 1991 novelty hit 'I'm Too Sexy' into a Future-sung hook and debuted at number one on the Hot 100.

Honestly, Nevermind is dedicated to which fashion designer, who died in 2021?

Honestly, Nevermind is dedicated to Virgil Abloh, the Off-White founder and Louis Vuitton menswear designer who died in November 2021; it was announced on Instagram hours before its midnight release.

Drake's 2022 collaborative album Her Loss was made with which rapper?

Her Loss was announced mid-way through the 'Jimmy Cooks' music video, and 21 Savage is Drake's partner on the 2022 album.

Condé Nast sued over a fake cover of which magazine used to promote Her Loss?

Drake and 21 Savage printed a fake Vogue cover to promote Her Loss and Condé Nast sued for $4 million; the spoof rollout also included a fake Tiny Desk Concert and a mock Howard Stern interview.

Who drew the cover art for For All the Dogs?

The Instagram reveal was captioned 'Cover by Adonis'; the album opened with 402,000 units.

Which rapper joins Drake on the chart-topping 'First Person Shooter'?

Cole's 'big three' line on the track helped spark the 2024 feud with Kendrick Lamar.

What is the title of Drake's 2023 poetry book?

'Titles Ruin Everything', co-written with Kenza Samir, arrived in June 2023, and its ads doubled as the announcement of For All the Dogs.

'Search & Rescue' drew attention for sampling a TV quote from which celebrity?

The clip is Kim Kardashian telling her mother she 'didn't come this far just to come this far', from a 2021 Keeping Up with the Kardashians episode about her divorce from Kanye West.

Kendrick Lamar's 2024 verse on which Future and Metro Boomin song reignited the feud?

Kendrick's verse on 'Like That' (March 2024) rejected the 'big three' idea; J. Cole answered first with '7 Minute Drill', then apologized and pulled it from streaming within days.

Drake pulled 'Taylor Made Freestyle' after whose estate objected to AI-generated vocals?

Tupac Shakur's estate sent a cease-and-desist over the AI-generated Tupac verse in April 2024; the track also used AI Snoop Dogg vocals and name-checked Taylor Swift twice.

Lamar answered Drake's 'Family Matters' within 20 minutes with which track?

'Meet the Grahams' dropped on May 3, 2024, minutes after 'Family Matters'; 'Not Like Us' followed the next day and Drake's 'The Heart Part 6' closed the exchange on May 5.

'The Heart Part 6' samples 'Prove It' by which soul legend?

Drake's 'The Heart Part 6' samples Aretha Franklin's 'Prove It' and borrows the title of Lamar's own 'The Heart' series; critics panned it and Drake later deleted the Instagram post promoting it.

How many Grammy Awards did 'Not Like Us' win at the 2025 ceremony?

It went five-for-five, tying 'Up, Up and Away' as the most-awarded song ever at the Grammys.

Pusha T revealed Drake's secret fatherhood on which 2018 diss track?

'The Story of Adidon' answered Drake's 'Duppy Freestyle' within four days in May 2018, exposing his son Adonis; Drake shelved his planned reply.

Meek Mill named which writer as Drake's alleged ghostwriter in 2015?

Funkmaster Flex aired Miller's reference tracks for 'R.I.C.O.', '10 Bands' and 'Know Yourself'.

Sean Combs reportedly punched Drake in 2014 over the instrumental to which song?

Combs claimed the '0 to 100 / The Catch Up' beat had been made for him first; the December 2014 confrontation outside Miami's LIV nightclub reportedly sent Drake to the emergency room.

Virginia Black, the spirit Drake launched in 2016, is what kind of drink?

Virginia Black is a bourbon whiskey Drake launched in 2016 with Brent Hocking; his father Dennis Graham starred in its ads as 'The Realest Dude Ever', spoofing the Dos Equis tagline.

Nocta, the apparel sub-label Drake announced in 2020, is a partnership with which brand?

Nocta is Drake's sub-label with Nike, announced in December 2020; the name refers to his 'nocturnal creative process' and the first collection sold out.

What is the name of the Toronto concert venue Drake opened with Live Nation in 2021?

History, a 2,500-capacity room in Toronto's Beaches neighbourhood, opened in November 2021 after three years of development, with Drake weighing in on the interior design.

Drake became a minority shareholder in which Italian football club in 2022?

Drake joined RedBird Capital's 2022 takeover of AC Milan as a minority investor through Main Street Advisors, the same investment group that brought in LeBron James.

OVO Sound Radio originally aired on which Apple Music station?

OVO Sound Radio launched on Apple Music's Beats 1 in July 2015 and later returned on Drake's SiriusXM channel Sound 42 in 2021.

Which HBO teen drama is produced by Drake's company DreamCrew?

Drake is an executive producer on HBO's Euphoria through DreamCrew, a credit that earned him a 2022 Primetime Emmy nomination for Outstanding Drama Series.

'Sicko Mode', on which Drake guests, is a number-one hit by which rapper?

'Sicko Mode' is credited solely to Travis Scott, so although Drake's verses anchor it and it topped the Hot 100 in December 2018, it sits outside Drake's official tally of number ones.

Drake's 2025 collaborative album Some Sexy Songs 4 U was made with which OVO artist?

PartyNextDoor, the first signee to OVO Sound, made '$ome $exy $ongs 4 U' with Drake in February 2025; it became Drake's fourteenth US number-one album, tying Jay-Z and Taylor Swift at the time.

Iceman arrived in 2026 alongside Habibti and which other surprise album?

The three debuted at one, two and three, making Drake the first artist to hold the Billboard 200's top three at once.

'Janice STFU' interpolates the chorus of which Lykke Li song?

Li had already been sampled on So Far Gone; she thought the new request was a troll at first.

Who produced 'Best I Ever Had', Drake's first top-ten US hit?

Boi-1da produced 'Best I Ever Had', which peaked at number two on the Hot 100 in 2009 and earned two Grammy nominations.

Which jazz musician's estate sued Drake over a sample on 'Pound Cake / Paris Morton Music 2'?

Drake won in 2017 when a judge ruled the 'Jimmy Smith Rap' sample was transformative.

In which year did Drake first host Saturday Night Live, also serving as musical guest?

Drake hosted and performed on SNL for the first time on January 18, 2014, and returned in May 2016, again pulling double duty.

The 'In My Feelings' dance craze was also named after which comedian's Instagram video?

The 'DoTheShiggy' clip sparked a global challenge of people hopping out of slow-moving cars.

What was the name of Drake's 2016 arena tour featuring Future?

The Summer Sixteen Tour ran from July to October 2016 with Future as special guest; its Des Moines stop is when Drake finally visited Drake University.

Drake's 2022 re-signing with Universal Music Group was reported to be worth up to how much?

Drake's 2022 deal with Universal Music Group was reported to be worth up to $400 million, described at the time as one of the largest recording contracts ever signed.

Stake, the online casino Drake promotes, title-sponsored which F1 team in 2024 and 2025?

Stake was title sponsor of the Sauber team, entered as Stake F1 Team Kick Sauber, for the 2024 and 2025 seasons before the outfit became Audi's works team in 2026.