DISCOVERING DRAKE: THE ACTOR, THE SINGER, THE STAR

The word is out people! Drizzy Drake is OFFICIALLY the #2 Hottest MC in the game. MTV has ranked him next only to Rick Ross, giving recognition to his extraordinary talent and the unique blend of rap and R&B-that is his music. No surprises there, considering the fact that Drake songs have been all over the radio even when he didn’t get an album out until late last year.

Surely this is just another milestone in what has been a thrilling ride to success for this rapper. From becoming a prominent TV actor at the age of 15 to being the most talked about rappers in the industry- Drake’s journey to fame and glory has been like no other. Known initially for playing the role of Jimmy Brooks in the television series Degrassi: the next generation, Drake initiated a series of mixed tapes in 2006 which not only got him noticed by his mentor Lil’ Wayne but also gave him the credit of being the first unsigned Canadian rapper to be featured on BET when the drake music video ‘Replacement Girl’ was featured as the "New Joint of the Day" on April 30, 2007. MTV named his third official mixed tape-‘ So Far Gone’ The Hottest Mixtape of 2009 (So Far). And this is just the story BEFORE he got signed by a major record label!

In 2008, Lil Wayne was given some of Drake's music and he immediately invited him to fly to Houston and tour with him. And as rumors swirled about contract offers from labels, he gradually became one of the most talked-about artists in the industry. Continued support from the likes of Kanye West, Jay-Z, Trey Songz and Lil Wayne helped establish him as a major player in the hip hop game. Finally in what Billboard purported to be "one of the biggest bidding wars ever", Drake got signed with Universal Motown and released an EP (So Far Gone) made up of songs from his popular So Far Gone mixtape. And he hasn’t looked back since.

Since So Far Gone, Drake has worked with DJ Khaled, Young Money, Jay-Z, Kanye West, Eminem, Young Jeezy, Mary J. Blige, Timbaland, Birdman, Trey Songz, and Jamie Foxx and has also written the likes of Alicia Keys, and Dr. Dre. In late 2009, he released his official debut album Thank me later featuring songs with Kanye West, Jay-Z and his mentor Lil’ Wayne. His sophomore album Take care has contributions from hip hop heavyweights such as Rihanna, Nicki Minaj, Lil Wayne, Andre 3000, Rick Ross, and Birdman. Some of the top Drake music videos include Replacement Girl (featuring Trey Songz), Forever (featuring Kanye West, Lil Wayne and Eminem), Take care (Featuring Rihanna) and of course Best I ever had which was directed by none other tha
Kanye West and which went on to be named the hottest rap record of the year by Billboard.

Drake's dominance is well-documented, from his SoundScan success to the extensive radio play. His music blends R&B melody and alternative sensibilities with an MC's bravado. That combined with his emotive writing has been a major selling point and helped him carve out his own space in the industry. Truly Drake is here to stay.

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