Drake

Drake is a Canadian rapper, singer, and actor recognized for his impact on contemporary hip-hop and R&B. Drake first gained attention portraying Jimmy Brooks in the CTV teen drama series "Degrassi: The Next Generation" before transitioning to music, independently releasing the mixtapes "Room for Improvement," "Comeback Season," and "So Far Gone." His breakthrough came with the mixtape "So Far Gone" and the single "Best I Ever Had," which led to a contract with Young Money Entertainment.

Drake's debut album, "Thank Me Later," debuted at No. 1 on the Billboard 200. He followed with "Take Care" and "Nothing Was the Same," with "Take Care" earning a place on Rolling Stone's "500 Greatest Albums of All Time" list and securing his first Grammy Award for Best Rap Album. His fourth studio album, "Views," led the Billboard 200 for 13 weeks and featured his first Billboard Hot 100 chart-topper as a lead artist. Drake's Grammy Awards include Best Rap Album for "Take Care," Best Rap/Sung Performance for "Hotline Bling," Best Rap Song for "God's Plan," and Best Melodic Rap Performance for "Wait for U." Billboard has named him Artist of the Decade for the 2010s, the highest-grossing hip-hop touring artist, and the fourth greatest pop star of the 21st century.

In addition to his music career, Drake has established a business presence through his October's Very Own (OVO) brand. He founded the record label OVO Sound, production company DreamCrew, and the fragrance house Better World. Drake serves as the global ambassador for the Toronto Raptors, sits on their executive committee, and holds naming rights to the OVO Athletic Centre. He is also a co-owner of the gaming organization 100 Thieves and leads the OVO fashion label and the NOCTA collaboration with Nike. Alongside Adel Nur, Drake co-founded DreamCrew, which has produced television series including "Euphoria" and "Top Boy."

Drake is among the world's best-selling music artists, with over 170 million units sold, and is the highest-certified digital singles artist in the United States. His music has accumulated billions of streams, setting records on platforms such as Spotify. Drake signed a multifaceted deal with Universal Music Group, reported as one of the largest recording contracts in history. His discography includes albums such as "Iceman," "Maid of Honour," "Habibti," and "For All the Dogs." Drake's career reflects ongoing innovation in hip-hop, R&B, and pop music, as well as influence in entertainment, fashion, and sports business.