Introduction to Drake’s Music Career
Aubrey Drake Graham, known mononymously as Drake, has risen from modest beginnings as a Canadian child actor to become one of the most dominant forces in music today. After first garnering attention with his role on the teen drama Degrassi, Drake broke onto the hip-hop scene in the late 2000s with his mixtape ‘So Far Gone.’ This mixtape showcased his unique blend of rapping and singing over moody beats, pioneering a sound that melded hip-hop, R&B, pop and electronic music.
Tracks like "Best I Ever Had" and "Successful" demonstrated Drake’s talent for crafting infectious, radio-friendly hits that resonated with a mass audience. His 2009 signing to Lil Wayne’s Young Money label was an early indicator of his mainstream potential. With his 2010 debut album ‘Thank Me Later,’ Drake continued to hone his trademark blend of catchy melodies, introspective lyrics, and glossy production.
What has separated Drake from his peers has been his ability to dominate both hip-hop and pop realms simultaneously. He has topped Billboard’s Hot Rap Songs and Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs charts while also scoring multiple #1 hits on the mainstream Hot 100. According to Billboard, Drake has charted more songs (245) on the Hot 100 than any other solo artist in history. His streams and chart dominance reflect his widespread appeal across diverse demographics and genres.
As streaming emerged in the 2010s, Drake’s music has resonated especially strongly with digital audiences. He was the most streamed artist on Spotify every year from 2015-2020. Clearly, Drake’s infectious blend of rapping and singing over moody, atmospheric beats has tapped into the zeitgeist, making him one of the definitive artists of the streaming era.
Drake Album Discography
Drake has released 6 studio albums to date that showcase his evolution as an artist and ascendance to hip-hop superstardom.
Thank Me Later (2010)
Drake’s debut studio album was released by Young Money Entertainment and Cash Money Records. Key producers included Boi-1da, Crada, and Noah "40" Shebib. Singles like "Over" and "Find Your Love" helped establish Drake’s signature style of rapping and singing.
Take Care (2011)
With Republic Records now co-releasing, Take Care saw Drake reflect deeply on themes of fame, wealth, and relationships over moody beats crafted by 40, T-Minus, and Boi-1da. Major singles included "Headlines," "Make Me Proud," and "The Motto."
Nothing Was the Same (2013)
Drake embraced a grittier sound for his third album, with 40 handling most of the production. The introspective lyrics tackled Drake’s mindset as he cemented superstar status. Smash hits like "Started from the Bottom" and "Hold On, We’re Going Home" led the album’s success.
Views (2016)
Expanding on his signature blend of rap and R&B, Views incorporated more dancehall and Toronto/Jamaican patois influences. Singles like "Hotline Bling," "One Dance," and "Too Good" defined the album’s feel. It also emphasized Drake’s Canadian pride.
Scorpion (2018)
Drake’s fifth album was a sprawling double LP produced largely by 40, Noel Cadastre, and Noah "Xyo" Shebib. More pop-leaning than previous efforts, it spawned monster hits like "God’s Plan," "Nice For What," and "In My Feelings."
Certified Lover Boy (2021)
Drake’s most recent studio album found him ruminating on relationships and his public persona over mellow beats by 40, Noel, and others. Despite mixed reviews, singles like "Way 2 Sexy" and "Knife Talk" performed well commercially.
Drake Mixtape Discography
Drake has released several influential mixtapes that helped launch his career in the late 2000s before he released his debut studio album. Here is a look at Drake’s key mixtapes in chronological order:
Room for Improvement (2006) – This was Drake’s first official mixtape release. It featured low-key R&B flavored tracks and helped generate buzz for Drake in the Toronto music scene. Songs like "Do What You Do" and "Money" highlighted Drake’s melodic rapping style.
Comeback Season (2007) – With this mixtape, Drake started gaining more mainstream attention. It includes the anthemic track "Replacement Girl" featuring Trey Songz, and the Lil Wayne collaboration "Man of the Year."
So Far Gone (2009) – Considered Drake’s breakthrough mixtape, So Far Gone was a huge success, earning praise from critics and fans. It spawned the hit singles "Best I Ever Had" and "Successful," helping catapult Drake’s career. Other standouts include "Houstatlantavegas" and "Brand New."
If You’re Reading This It’s Too Late (2015) – After a few albums, Drake returned to the mixtape format with this surprise release. Despite being called a mixtape, it was commercially released and hit #1 on the charts. Hard-hitting tracks like "Energy" and "6 God" dominated hip-hop radio.
What a Time to Be Alive (2015) – Drake and Future teamed up for this joint mixtape full of great chemistry and bangers like "Jumpman," "Diamonds Dancing," and "Big Rings." It debuted at #1 further showcasing Drake’s mixtape dominance.
More Life (2017) – With appearances from Kanye West, Young Thug and others, this "playlist" continued Drake’s trend of impactful mixtape releases. It contained the smash hit "Passionfruit" and the viral track "Fake Love."
Dark Lane Demo Tapes (2020) – Drake’s latest mixtape release featured his signature blend of rap, R&B, pop and grime. Standouts include "Chicago Freestyle" featuring Giveon, and the radio hit "Toosie Slide."
Through his mixtapes, Drake has leveraged collaborations, viral hits, and his melodic style to build immense popularity during the breaks between his album cycles. His mixtapes often generate as much success as his proper studio albums.
Ranking Drake’s Albums from Worst to Best
Ranking Drake’s albums is no easy feat given his consistent chart dominance and cultural impact over the past decade. However, using a criteria based on critical acclaim, influence, commercial performance, and artistic merit, we can develop a subjective ranking of Drake’s albums from worst to best.
- Scorpion
While Scorpion contains some of Drake’s biggest hits like "God’s Plan" and "In My Feelings", this bloated double album lacks the cohesion of his stronger works. The A side/B side format feels disjointed, resulting in an overly long project without a unified theme.
- Thank Me Later
As Drake’s official debut, Thank Me Later features the beginnings of his signature sound, especially on singles like "Find Your Love." However, it lacks the polish and depth of his later albums. Drake was still finding his voice, though flashes of brilliance shine through.
- Certified Lover Boy
Certified Lover Boy continued Drake’s chart dominance in 2021, becoming his 10th consecutive number one album. However, despite hits like "Way 2 Sexy," it felt slightly derivative of Drake’s proven formula. The album explores familiar themes of fame and relationships without much new ground.
- Take Care
With lush production and vulnerable songwriting, Take Care saw Drake take his artistry to the next level. Singles like "Headlines" and "Take Care" showcase his unique fusion of rapping and singing. Collaborations with The Weeknd and Rihanna expanded Drake’s sound.
- Nothing Was the Same
On Nothing Was the Same, Drake stepped into his own with hard-hitting tracks like "Started from the Bottom" and "Worst Behavior." His flows are more polished, while the lyrics provide a window into his mindset as he cemented his superstardom. Drake’s rapping ability shines here.
- Views
Views earns the top spot for its sprawling ambition and Drake’s razor-sharp songcraft. Songs like "Hotline Bling" and "One Dance" dominated the culture, while the album explored his Toronto pride and relationships. Views shows Drake at his creative and commercial peak.
Where would you rank Drake’s albums? Share your thoughts in the comments!
Drake’s Record-Breaking Chart Performance & Accolades
Drake has dominated the charts and broken numerous records over his prolific career. He holds several all-time records on the Billboard Hot 100 chart including:
- Most charted songs of any artist in history (262 entries)
- Most simultaneously charted Hot 100 songs (27 songs in 2021)
- Most Hot 100 top 10 debuts (24 songs)
- Most Hot 100 top 40 entries (135 songs)
Drake also has spent more time at #1 on the Hot 100 than any solo male artist with over 50 cumulative weeks atop the chart. 11 of his singles have reached #1 including massive smashes like "God’s Plan," "One Dance," and "Hotline Bling."
His chart dominance has also translated to historic results on Billboard’s albums chart. Drake has notched nine #1 albums on the Billboard 200, tying legends like The Rolling Stones and Bruce Springsteen. His album ‘Scorpion’ broke the single week streaming record in 2018 with over 740 million on-demand audio streams.
Drake’s unprecedented chart success has been recognized by the Recording Academy. He has won four Grammy Awards including two for Best Rap Song ("Hotline Bling," "God’s Plan") and Best Rap/Sung Performance ("Hotline Bling"). He has been nominated for a total of 47 Grammys over his prolific career.
Beyond the charts and Grammys, Drake has racked up honors at the Billboard Music Awards, American Music Awards, BET Awards, Juno Awards, and more. He received the Artist of the Decade Award at the 2021 Billboard Music Awards, reflecting his overwhelming commercial success over the 2010s. Clearly, Drake’s trophy case will keep filling up as he continues breaking records.
Drake’s Most Popular & Successful Singles
Drake has amassed a staggering number of hit singles over his career, dominating the charts for over a decade. When evaluating his most popular and successful songs, factors like peak chart position, total weeks charting, sales and streaming numbers, and cultural impact all come into play. Here’s a look at Drake’s top 20 biggest singles according to these metrics:
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"One Dance" (2016) – This smash hit featuring WizKid and Kyla peaked at #1 on the Billboard Hot 100 for 10 weeks and was one of the best selling singles of 2016. Its dancehall vibes and contagious beat made it an instant hit.
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"God’s Plan" (2018) – The lead single from Scorpion broke several streaming records upon release and gave Drake his second #1 Hot 100 single. It spent 11 weeks at #1 and was certified diamond by the RIAA.
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"Hotline Bling" (2015) – This retro R&B track was inescapable in 2015. The viral music video propelled it to become Drake’s second #2 hit on the Hot 100. It was nominated for 2 Grammys.
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"In My Feelings" (2018) – Propelled by a viral dance challenge, this Scorpion track became Drake’s third #1 single on the Hot 100 and one of the biggest hits of 2018.
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"Nice for What" (2018) – Featuring a scene-stealing music video with cameos from famous women, this uplifting track gave Drake his record seventh #1 single on the Hot 100.
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"Too Good" (2016) – Featuring Rihanna, this duet hit #3 on the Hot 100 and became one of Drake’s most successful collaborations. It was certified 4x platinum.
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"Laugh Now Cry Later" (2020) – The lead single from Certified Lover Boy peaked at #2 on the Hot 100 and became Drake’s highest debuting song on the chart.
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"Hold On, We’re Going Home (2013)" – One of Drake’s most popular pop crossovers, this 80s inspired hit peaked at #4 on the Hot 100 and reached #1 on US Pop radio.
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"Forever" (2009) – This star-studded posse cut with Kanye West, Lil Wayne and Eminem was one of Drake’s breakout hits, peaking at #8 on the Hot 100.
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"Jumpman" (2015) – Drake’s hit collaboration with Future off their mixtape hit #12 on the Hot 100 and is one of his most streamed songs with over 1 billion plays on Spotify.
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"Take Care" (2011) – The title track duet with Rihanna off his sophomore album peaked at #7 on the Hot 100 and was nominated for a Grammy.
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"Started From the Bottom" (2013) – This gritty comeback single marked a shift to a harder sound for Drake and hit #6 on the Hot 100.
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"Way 2 Sexy" (2021) – Featuring Future and Young Thug, this Certified Lover Boy track marked Drake’s return to #1, giving him his record-extending 10th #1 single.
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"Best I Ever Had" (2009) – Drake’s breakout solo hit reached #2 on the Hot 100 and earned him his first two Grammy nominations back in 2010. It’s his most successful single off an album.
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"HYFR" (2012) – Short for "Hell Ya Fucking Right", this track hit #8 on the Hot 100 and served as the second single from Take Care.
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"Energy" (2015) – This high-tempo banger reached #26 on the Hot 100 but became one of Drake’s signature songs and a fan favorite for its aggressive lyrics.
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"Headlines" (2011) – As the lead Take Care single, it peaked at #13 on the Hot 100 and helped cement Drake as hip-hop’s new superstar.
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"Controlla" (2016) – Boasting dancehall influences, this Views single hit the top 10 on the Hot 100 at #9.
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"Passionfruit" (2017) – A laidback tropical house track, it reached #8 on the Hot 100 and became a summer anthem.
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"What’s My Name?" (2010) – Drake’s early collaboration with Rihanna hit #1 on the Hot 100, boosting his popularity.
This look at Drake’s 20 biggest hits showcases his versatility, evolution, and dominance across hip-hop, R&B, and pop. Very few artists can boast this level of success for their singles across streaming and radio. It’s a testament to Drake’s widespread appeal and ability to deliver hits year after year.
Notable Drake Collaborations & Features
Drake has had an undeniable impact through his high-profile collaborations and features. He has repeatedly shown his versatility and ability to adapt his sound across different styles and genres.
Some of Drake’s most commercially and critically successful collaborative projects include:
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What a Time to Be Alive (2015) – This joint mixtape album with Future blended together trap and pop to create a new sound. Major hits included "Jumpman" and "Big Rings".
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More Life (2017) – Though not technically an album, this "playlist" project contained many star-studded collaborations with artists like Kanye West, Young Thug, and Skepta. Standouts included "Passionfruit" and "Gyalchester".
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Dark Lane Demo Tapes (2020) – This mixtape featured appearances from Chris Brown, Future, Young Thug, and more. It spawned the massive hit "Toosie Slide".
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Honestly, Nevermind (2022) – Drake’s house and dance music pivot featured collaborations with 21 Savage and Black Coffee.
In addition to full projects, Drake has been featured on countless hit singles that have introduced him to new audiences. Some examples include:
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"Fed Up" with Usher (2014)
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"Sneakin’" with 21 Savage (2016)
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"Look Alive" with BlocBoy JB (2018)
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"Going Bad" with Meek Mill (2019)
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"Laugh Now Cry Later" with Lil Durk (2020)
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"You Only Live Twice" with Rick Ross (2022)
Drake’s openness to working across genres, from R&B to drill rap, has expanded his fanbase globally. His features have given many rising artists their first taste of mainstream success. As Drake continues to collaborate, he solidifies his status as a versatile hitmaker.
Drake’s Musical Style, Themes & Influences
Drake’s music is characterized by a unique fusion of hip hop, R&B, pop, dancehall, and other genres. His sound seamlessly blends rapping and melodic singing, allowing him to appeal to diverse audiences. Some key elements of Drake’s musical style include:
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Laidback flows and catchy hooks – Drake has an effortless rapping and singing delivery that makes his music instantly memorable. Songs like "Hotline Bling" showcase his talent for crafting infectious hooks and choruses.
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Atmospheric beats – Many of Drake’s biggest hits feature moody, atmospheric production often built around piano melodies and sparse drum patterns. His go-to producer 40 is known for crafting brooding sonic landscapes for Drake’s introspective lyrics.
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Blending rapping and singing – Drake alternates between rapping and crooning, sometimes combining both skills within the same song. This smooth blend of melodies and bars helped pioneer the "sing-rap" style popular in modern hip-hop.
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Vulnerable songwriting – Unlike many rappers obsessed with projecting invincibility, Drake writes frank lyrics exploring feelings like doubt, heartbreak, insecurity, and nostalgia for youth. His emotional vulnerability resonates widely.
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Influences from other genres – While rooted in hip-hop, Drake’s music contains elements of dancehall, R&B, pop, and even UK grime. He has collaborated with artists from these genres and sampled their sounds.
Lyrically, Drake covers a wide range of deeply personal themes that contribute to his appeal. Some of his most common subjects include:
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Relationships and heartbreak – Songs like "Marvin’s Room" and "Hotline Bling" highlight Drake’s fixation on ex-lovers and romantic troubles.
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Wealth, fame, and paranoia – Tracks like "Started From the Bottom" touch on Drake’s hunger for success, while "6PM in New York" shows his distrust of others’ motives.
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His hometown of Toronto – Drake frequently references his hometown, its slang, neighborhoods, sports teams, and rap scene. Songs like "Know Yourself" showcase this local pride.
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Nostalgia and youth – Tracks like "Child’s Play" find Drake pining for lost loves and the simplicity of childhood. His music often exudes nostalgic melancholy.
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Confidence and competition – For all his vulnerability, Drake has plenty of bravado too. On songs like "Energy" and "0-100," he unleashes his competitive swagger.
Musically, Drake has cited R&B stars like Aaliyah, Usher, and The Weeknd as influences. He frequently collaborates with rising artists in rap, R&B, grime, and Afrobeats—showing an ear for burgeoning talent and trends. From sonically brooding mixtapes to breezy pop hits, Drake’s diverse sound contains traces of many genres and artists.
Drake’s Influence & Legacy
Drake has had an undeniable influence on hip-hop, R&B, pop and music as a whole over the past decade. His unique melodic rap style blending singing and rapping has inspired a new wave of artists and shaped the sound of modern mainstream music.
Drake is considered a pioneer of the "emo rap" subgenre, with his vulnerable, emotionally open lyrics touching on themes like relationships, fame, and ambition. This intimate style of confessional rap opened the door for artists like Juice WRLD, Lil Uzi Vert, and XXXTentacion.
He has also popularized the fusion of rap and Caribbean music, incorporating dancehall, afrobeats, and other genres into hits like "One Dance", "Controlla", and "Passionfruit." This global, genre-blending approach has been embraced by pop and rap stars alike.
Artists from Ed Sheeran to Justin Bieber have cited Drake as a direct influence on their own music and careers. His use of melodies and song structures appeals to pop audiences while maintaining his rap roots.
Many of today’s rising rappers like Lil Baby, Roddy Ricch, and DaBaby point to Drake as an inspiration for their flows and vocal delivery. His cadences and rhyme patterns have shaped hip-hop lyricism in the streaming era.
Even R&B artists like The Weeknd, PARTYNEXTDOOR, and Bryson Tiller have adopted Drake’s moody, late-night sound and made it the backbone of contemporary R&B.
From his hometown of Toronto to the farthest reaches of the globe, Drake’s creative output and career accomplishments have paved the way for genre-bending artists to find mainstream success. His influence as a tastemaker and innovator will continue to be felt for generations to come.
Future Outlook for Drake’s Music
Drake’s most recent album release was 2021’s Certified Lover Boy. The album debuted at number one on the Billboard 200 and marked Drake’s tenth number-one album. It was supported by hits like "Way 2 Sexy" featuring Future and Young Thug, showing Drake continuing to blend rap, R&B, and pop sounds. However, some critics felt the album didn’t represent Drake at his creative best.
Looking ahead, details are scarce regarding Drake’s next musical project. He is rumored to be working on a new album tentatively titled Certified Lover Boy 2, but no official announcement has been made yet. Drake will likely continue releasing singles in 2023 before dropping a full album. Singles allow him to stay current while carefully crafting his next record.
As new rappers emerge, Drake will need to evolve his sound to avoid becoming stale. While his core melodic style remains popular, trap beats and other hip-hop subgenres rise and fall quickly. Drake has shown the ability to experiment with trends like drill and bounce while maintaining his signature sound. Adapting with the times and collaborating with younger artists could be key to staying relevant. But with his track record of success, Drake’s spot among rap’s elite seems secure for now. His devoted fanbase will be eager for any new music in the coming years.