Aubrey Drake Graham (born October 24, 1986), who records under the mononym Drake, is a Canadian recording artist, rapper, songwriter, and actor. He was born in Toronto, Ontario, and became known for playing Jimmy Brooks on the television series Degrassi: The Next Generation. He later rose to prominence as a rapper, releasing several mixtapes before signing to Young Money Entertainment.
Drake's EP, So Far Gone (2009), spawned the smash single "Best I Ever Had" and moderate hit "Successful". His debut studio album, Thank Me Later (2010), debuted at number one on the Billboard 200 and spawned the successful singles "Over" and "Find Your Love". It was certified Platinum by the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA). His second album, Take Care (2011), is his most successful to date, topping charts in the United States and Canada and produced multiple smash singles, including "Headlines", "Take Care", "Make Me Proud", and "The Motto", the latter of which is also credited for popularizing the widely used acronym YOLO. He embarked on the worldwide Club Paradise Tour, which became the most successful hip-hop tour of 2012, grossing over $42 million.
Drake has sold over 5 million albums worldwide. His work has earned him three Juno Awards, three BET Awards, and holds several significant Billboard records. With twelve number-one singles, Drake has more than any other artist on Billboard's Rap Songs chart. With ten number-one singles he also has more than any other rapper on Billboard's R&B/Hip-Hop Songs chart, passing Jay-Z in August 2012. He is one of two artists (the other being 50 Cent) that has simultaneously occupied the chart's top three positions.
Drake also writes songs for other artists, including Alicia Keys and Jamie Foxx. He featured as a voice actor in Ice Age: Continental Drift. Drake was tied with Rihanna for the most nominees at the 2012 MTV VideoMusic Awards. He was ranked No. 2 on MTV's Hottest MCs In The Game VII list in 2012.Drake Album
- Thank Me Later (2010)
- Take Care (2011)
- Nothing Was the Same (2013)
