Drake
Oct 31, 2011
Known initially for his role as Jimmy Brooks on Degrassi: The Next Generation, Toronto native Drake (born Aubrey Drake Graham) stepped out as a rapper and singer with pop appeal in 2006, when he initiated a series of mixtapes. A year later, despite being unsigned, he scored major exposure when his cocky and laid-back track "Replacement Girl," featuring Trey Songz, was featured on BET's 106 & Park program as its "Joint of the Day."
He raised his profile throughout the next several months by popping up on countless mixtapes and remixes, and as rumors swirled about contract offers from labels, he gradually became one of the most talked-about artists in the industry. It did not hurt that he had support from the likes of Kanye West, Jay-Z, and Lil Wayne. By the end of June 2009, "Best I Ever Had," a promotional single, had climbed to number two on Billboard's Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs chart. After an intense bidding war, Drake signed with Universal Motown in late summer and released an EP (So Far Gone) made up of songs from his popular So Far Gone mixtape. It peaked at number six on the U.S. Billboard 200 chart and won a 2010 Juno Award for Rap Recording of the Year.
Thank Me Later, a full-length album featuring collaborations with the Kings of Leon, the-Dream, Jay-Z, Kanye West, and Lil Wayne, was issued through Young Money on June 15, 2010. On March 9, 2010, Drake released the first single from his album, "Over", and it reached No. 14 on the Billboard Hot 100. "Find Your Love" was released as the second single on May 5, 2010, and has become the most successful single from the album, as it has peaked at number 5 on the Hot 100. The third single from the album, "Miss Me", featuring Lil Wayne, was released on June 1, 2010 and it reached No. 15 on the Hot 100.
Take Care, Drake's second studio album is set to be released on November 15th. The first single from the album is "Headlines", was released to Urban Radio on August 9th. The song debuted and peaked on the Billboard charts at number 13, his second highest debut.