Drake, born Aubrey Drake Graham on October 24, 1986, in Toronto, Canada, first found fame playing Jimmy Brookson the Canadian teen drama Degrassi: The Next Generation. His move from television star to hip-hop icon marked one of the most successful career transitions in modern entertainment.
After signing with Lil Wayne’s Young Money Entertainment in 2009, Drake released his debut studio album, Thank Me Later, in 2010, which debuted at No. 1 on the Billboard 200. He followed it with Take Care (2011), an introspective and genre-blending project that earned him his first Grammy Award and cemented his place in music history. His next album, Nothing Was the Same (2013), further showcased his versatility and emotional lyricism.
Drake’s success continued with a string of chart-topping releases, including If You’re Reading This It’s Too Late and What a Time to Be Alive (with Future) in 2015, followed by Views (2016), which featured the global smash hit “One Dance.” He then released More Life (2017) and Scorpion (2018), both of which dominated streaming platforms and solidified him as one of the most streamed artists of all time. Since then, Drake has continued to evolve. He dropped Certified Lover Boy in 2021, Honestly, Nevermind in 2022, the collaborative album Her Loss with 21 Savage that same year, and For All the Dogs in 2023. Most recently, he teamed up with PARTYNEXTDOOR for the 2025 project $ome $exy $ongs 4 U, continuing his reign as one of hip-hop’s most prolific artists.
Beyond his music, Drake’s personal life often makes headlines — from his high-profile past relationship with Rihanna to fatherhood, after he confirmed in 2018 that he shares a son, Adonis, with artist Sophie Brussaux.
Want to see Drake’s evolution from his Degrassi days to global superstardom? Scroll through the gallery to see photos of him.
