My introduction to Drake as a musician came from an episode of Degrassi: The Next Generation. His relevancy as the actor Aubrey Graham gave him a platform to promote his music. On the show, his character Jimmy’s longtime girlfriend Ashley gives a poorly received performance at the school talent show. Jimmy takes the stage and wins over the audience, much to Ashley’s embarrassment.
After watching him rap on Degrassi, I was intrigued and downloaded every song of his available online straight to my iPod nano. I remember preparing for my seventh-grade lacrosse tryouts to the tune of some of his first mixtapes, Comeback Season (2007) and Heartbreak Drake (2009). Four years later, I saw him on his joint tour with his mentor Lil Wayne, in the “Drake vs. Lil Wayne Tour" at the Susquehanna Bank Center in Camden, New Jersey in what was one of my favorite performances of all time. The following year, I ditched my senior prom to see him on Randall’s Island when he headlined Governor’s Ball Music Festival in New York City to promote his mixtape If You’re Reading This It’s Too Late (2015).
As someone who’s been following hip-hop for the past twelve years, it’s been interesting to see how the trajectory of Drake’s career has impacted the genre as a whole. Over the course of his career, he has transitioned from child actor to cultural icon. He bridged the gap between pop and rap, allowing himself and many other artists to see mainstream fame outside of the confines of the hip-hop world.
While Dr. Dre's artists from Aftermath Records helped make hip-hop relevant with club hits like Eminem's witty song “Ass Like That” (2004) and 50 Cent's sexually charged track “Candy Shop” (2005) Drake offers a more radio-friendly sound. Eminem and 50 Cent faced criticisms for being too vulgar, violent or sexually explicit, all of which was off-putting to the general public. Drake’s tamer sound makes him appealing to a wider audience. He stayed away from the subject matter that was typical of rap music at the time, and instead pushed a sound that was more relatable to suburban America. At the time, hip-hop was known for its exploration of heavier topics, like substance abuse or volatile relationships such as in tracks like "Addiction" by Kanye West (2005) or "Crazy in Love" by Eminem (2004). Drake chose to focus on lighter things, like his pride for Toronto in "The City is Mine (Remix)" (2009) and his romantic endeavors in "A Little Bit (ft Lykke Li)" (2009).
Rather than transitioning from one genre into the next, Drake is unique in his ability to be simultaneously a hip-hop and pop artist while still maintaining a sound that is authentic. For every track like “Draft Day” (2014) or “Back to Back” (2014), he has a tamer one, like “Hold On, We’re Going Home” (2013). He is able to be marketable without "selling out".
Drake is able to differentiate himself from other artists because he embodies what it means to be a heartthrob while still maintaining respect and credibility in rap. A large portion of his discography is comprised of love ballads like "Connect" (2013) and "I Hate Sleeping Alone" (2011). Unlike other rappers, he tends to address his female listeners directly, so that they feel like he is talking to them rather than about someone from his life. During his 2013 "Would You Like a Tour?" he would bring females up on stage with him. The following year, on his 2014 "Drake vs. Lil Wayne" tour, there would be a portion of the show in which he would be suspended in the air, over the audience. During his performance, he would point to specific females in the audience and sing directly to them. He has attracted female listeners with his romantic lyrics and good looks but is still able to put out tracks that keep him on the top of the hip-hop charts.
When I saw Drake in concert for the first time back in 2014, Philadelphia rapper Meek Mill was locked up on the other side of the river, serving time after being charged with violating his probation. Despite being from the area, this was the first time I was hearing of the artist (who I would a year later, see perform at the same venue). The two were friends at the time, and in a show of support for his friend, Drake not only wore a "Free Meek" tee shirt on stage but also ended his show by covering some of Meek's hits.
Their friendship ended the following summer, as did Meek's success. After Meek took to Twitter to accuse Drake of using ghostwriters, the Toronto rapper quickly fired back with a series of diss tracks that completely annihilated Meek’s budding career. The fight showcased Drake’s abilities as a rapper and earned him respect in the hip-hop community.
Because of his success on mainstream radio, Drake has helped exposed listeners to hip-hop who wouldn’t otherwise be interested in the genre. He has helped give exposure to more traditional hip-hop artists like Kendrick Lamar and J. Cole and allowed them to have airplay on mainstream radio without having to sacrifice their sound or lyrical content. I credit Drake for bringing hip-hop to the mainstream through his ability to master multiple genres while still maintaining an identity that is truly his.
