Drake

Canadian (t)rapper and singer, extremely famous and influential especially in the 2010s. A crossover figure between r’n’b, pop and hip-hop, he’s the flip side of fellow countryman Justin Bieber: where Bieber is childish he is adult; where Bieber flirts with pop he craves street credibility; where Bieber is white he is black. He recounts the filth of fame, money and sex with hyperrealism and emotional commitment, stripping away all shame. Very good-looking and just as self-satisfied, he sparked gossip over a torrid flirtation with Rihanna that went on between 2009 and 2016.

The market is flooded with his music: 7 albums, 7 mixtapes, more than 80 videos, over 140 (!) singles between his own and collaborations. The intimate, laid-back narrative of “Thank Me Later” (2010) and above all the kaleidoscopic “Take Care” (2011) mark his artistic rise, accompanied by widespread public enthusiasm, rewarding him with numerous platinum records. He has the power to breathe life into hip-hop braggadocio, laying bare his own humanity. He perhaps reaches his peak with the two mixtapes “If You’re Reading This It’s Too Late” (2015) and (with Future) “What A Time To Be Alive” (2015).

Having become an institution through sheer record-breaking, he churns out the killer single “Hotline Bling” (2015) and the danceable “One Dance” (2016, which becomes the most streamed song on Spotify), becoming the most famous rapper in the world thanks to new dancehall influences. His personal discography is just a fragment of a universe of successful collaborations and guest appearances. His subsequent albums are “Views” (2016) and “Scorpion” (2018), major commercial hits, but his sixth album “Certified Lover Boy” (2021) shows a dip in public interest, to the point that “Honestly, Nevermind” (2022) attempts the uncharted path of a house album.

He boasts numerous and surprising Billboard records, such as the staggering total of over 250 songs on the Hot 100, once 27 simultaneously. It's no surprise he has over 30 Billboard Music Awards and four Grammys, alongside countless other honors. Stellar sales: over 170 million copies sold. He has racked up something like 50 billion streams on Spotify.

In 2023 his new album came out, “For All The Dogs“.

(Antonio Silvestri)