From Degrassi to global superstar
1986 - 2005
Aubrey Drake Graham born October 24 in Toronto, Ontario. Raised in Forest Hill neighborhood.
Parents separate when Drake is 5. Raised by mother Sandi in Toronto; father Dennis moves to Memphis.
Cast as Jimmy Brooks on "Degrassi: The Next Generation" at age 15. Character becomes wheelchair-bound after school shooting storyline.
2006 - 2009
First mixtape released. Independently distributed 6,000 physical copies in Toronto while still acting on Degrassi.
Second mixtape. "Replacement Girl" featuring Trey Songz becomes first unsigned Canadian rapper's music video on BET.
Mixtape released February 13 featuring "Best I Ever Had" and "Successful." Creates industry bidding war. Signs with Lil Wayne's Young Money Entertainment in June for reported $2M advance.
Final regular appearance on Degrassi to focus on music career full-time.
2010 - 2014
Debut studio album released June 15. Debuts at #1 on Billboard 200 with 447,000 first-week sales. Features "Over," "Find Your Love," "Miss Me."
First OVO Fest held in Toronto, becomes annual tradition.
Second album released November 15. Features Rihanna ("Take Care"), The Weeknd ("Crew Love"), Kendrick Lamar ("Buried Alive Interlude"). Establishes Drake's signature atmospheric sound.
Launches record label with Noah "40" Shebib and Oliver El-Khatib. First signee: PARTYNEXTDOOR.
Wins Best Rap Album at 55th Grammy Awards (February).
Third album released September 24. Features "Started From the Bottom," "Hold On, We're Going Home," "Worst Behavior." Cements superstar status.
Named Global Ambassador for NBA's Toronto Raptors.
2015 - 2018
Meek Mill accuses Drake of using ghostwriters on Twitter (July 21). Drake responds with "Charged Up" (July 25) and "Back to Back" (July 29). "Back to Back" nominated for Grammy.
Surprise collaborative mixtape with Future released September 20. Recorded in Atlanta in six days. Features "Jumpman."
Released October 2015. Music video (October 19) becomes viral sensation for Drake's dancing. Memes proliferate globally.
Fourth album released April 29. Features "One Dance" (first song to reach 1 billion Spotify streams), "Controlla," "Too Good." Iconic CN Tower cover art. Toronto-centric themes.
Joint tour with Future. Highest-grossing hip-hop tour of 2016 ($84.3 million).
22-track "playlist" released March 18. Features "Passionfruit," "Portland," "Fake Love." Incorporates UK grime, Afrobeat, dancehall influences.
Son Adonis Graham born October 11 to Sophie Brussaux. Drake keeps this private initially.
Released January 19. Becomes massive hit, #1 for 11 weeks. Music video shows Drake giving away $996,631.90 to Miami residents.
May: Pusha T releases "The Story of Adidon" exposing Drake's secret son. Drake does not release diss response; addresses on album instead.
Fifth album released June 29. Double album (Side A: rap, Side B: R&B). 25 tracks. Features "God's Plan," "In My Feelings," "Nice for What." "March 14" addresses fatherhood. Breaks streaming records.
"In My Feelings" spawns viral TikTok/#KekeChallenge dance craze. Song hits #1.
2019 - Present
Drake heavily involved in Raptors' first NBA championship run. Courtside throughout playoffs.
Compilation of loosies/unreleased tracks released August 2. Features fan favorites like "4PM in Calabasas."
Released May 1 during COVID-19 pandemic. Includes previously leaked tracks and demos. "Toosie Slide" becomes TikTok hit.
Becomes first artist to surpass 50 billion streams on Spotify.
Sixth album released September 3 after multiple delays. All 21 tracks chart on Billboard Hot 100 simultaneously (record). Damien Hirst pregnant emoji cover art sparks conversation.
Surprise seventh album released June 17. House/dance music pivot polarizes fans. Shows artistic risk-taking. Only rap track: "Jimmy Cooks" with 21 Savage.
Collaborative album with 21 Savage released November 4. Features "Rich Flex," "Spin Bout U."
Eighth album released October 6. Cover art created by his son Adonis. Features J. Cole ("First Person Shooter"), SZA ("Slime You Out"), Bad Bunny.
April-May: Explosive rap battle. Kendrick releases "Euphoria," "6:16 in LA," "Meet the Grahams," "Not Like Us." Drake responds with "Push Ups," "Taylor Made Freestyle," "Family Matters," "The Heart Part 6."