Aubrey Drake Graham, known professionally as Drake, is a Canadian rapper, singer, songwriter, actor, and record executive. He is widely regarded as one of the most influential artists of his generation. Drake has won four Grammy Awards, a record six American Music Awards, and a record 23 Billboard Music Awards, among other accolades.
Drake was born on October 24, 1986, in Toronto, Ontario. His father, Dennis Graham, is an African-American drummer who worked with Jerry Lee Lewis, and his mother, Sandi Sher, is a white Canadian Jewish educator. Drake's parents divorced when he was five years old, and he was raised by his mother in a working-class neighborhood in Toronto. Drake began acting at the age of ten, appearing in the Canadian teen drama series Degrassi: The Next Generation. He played the role of Jimmy Brooks, a popular basketball player who is paralyzed from the waist down after being shot by a classmate. Drake left Degrassi after eight seasons to pursue a career in music. In 2006, Drake released his debut mixtape, Room for Improvement. The mixtape was a moderate success, and it helped to establish Drake as a rising star in the Toronto hip hop scene. Drake followed up Room for Improvement with two more mixtapes, Comeback Season (2007) and So Far Gone (2009). So Far Gone was a critical and commercial success, and it featured the hit singles "Best I Ever Had" and "Successful." In 2009, Drake signed a recording contract with Lil Wayne's Young Money Entertainment. He released his debut studio album, Thank Me Later, in 2010. The album was a commercial success, and it featured the hit singles "Over" and "Find Your Love." Drake's second studio album, Take Care, was released in 2011. The album was a critical and commercial success, and it won the Grammy Award for Best Rap Album. Take Care featured the hit singles "Headlines," "Make Me Proud," and "The Motto." Drake has released six more studio albums since 2011: Nothing Was the Same (2013), Views (2016), More Life (2017), Scorpion (2018), Certified Lover Boy (2021), and Honestly, Nevermind (2022). All of his studio albums have been commercially successful, and they have featured numerous hit singles. Drake is also a successful actor. He has appeared in the films Anchorman 2: The Legend Continues (2013), Popstar: Never Stop Never Stopping (2016), and Top Boy (2019). Drake is one of the most popular and successful artists in the world. He has sold over 170 million records worldwide, making him one of the best-selling music artists of all time. Drake is also a successful entrepreneur. He has his own record label, OVO Sound, and his own clothing line, October's Very Own. Drake is a controversial figure, but there is no doubt that he is one of the most influential artists of his generation. He has been praised for his catchy melodies, his clever lyrics, and his ability to connect with his fans. Drake is a true global superstar, and his music continues to inspire and entertain millions of people around the world. Drake has been involved in a recent controversy surrounding a new song created by AI, titled "Heart on My Sleeve." The song features AI-generated vocals that sound like Drake and The Weeknd. The song was released on TikTok and Spotify in April 2023, and it quickly went viral. However, Universal Music Group, the record label for Drake and The Weeknd, had the song removed from these platforms, claiming that it violated their artists' copyrights. The creator of the song, Ghostwriter, has denied that the song violates any copyrights. He has argued that he is simply using technology to create new forms of art and music. He has also argued that Drake and The Weeknd should be grateful for the free publicity that the song has given them. The controversy over "Heart on My Sleeve" raises a number of important questions about the future of music and copyright law. If AI can be used to create music that is indistinguishable from human-created music, then who owns the copyright to that music? And how should copyright law be adapted to address this new reality? Drake has not commented publicly on the controversy. However, it is clear that he is aware of it. In a recent interview, he said that he is "keeping an eye on" AI-generated music. He also said that he is "interested in seeing how it develops." It is still too early to say how the controversy over "Heart on My Sleeve" will be resolved. However, it is clear that AI-generated music is a new and emerging form of art that is challenging the traditional way that music is created and consumed. It will be interesting to see how the music industry and copyright law adapt to this new reality. In addition to the controversy over "Heart on My Sleeve," Drake has also been criticized for his use of ghostwriters. In 2015, rapper Meek Mill accused Drake of using Quentin Miller to write his songs. Drake denied the allegations, but he later admitted that he had used ghostwriters in the past. The use of ghostwriters is a common practice in the music industry. However, it is often seen as a form of cheating, especially when artists like Drake claim to be "self-made." The controversy over Drake's use of ghostwriters has raised questions about the authenticity of hip-hop music and the role of ghostwriters in the industry. Drake is a complex and controversial figure. He is one of the most successful artists in the world, but he is also a target of criticism. It remains to be seen how the controversy over AI-generated music and ghostwriting will affect his career. Thanks for listening to Quite Please. remember to like and share wherever you get your podcasts.