Drake’s Impact on Hip Hop/R&B

The Hip Hop/R&B genre is now more popular than ever before. The cultural impact of Hip Hop can be seen throughout nearly every aspect of society from social issues to political issues. This genre tends to be brutally honest and seemingly rebellious, which has relatable tones to millions of listeners. However, only very view artists have mastered the ability to tap into both Hip Hop AND R&B. And only one has been able to conquer both simultaneously for more than a decade….and that is Aubrey Drake Graham (DRAKE).

Beginnings

Drake was born in Toronto in October of 1986. He received his first taste of Hollywood success with his regular appearance on hit teen show, Degrassi. After showcasing his talents as an actor, Drake quickly became more interested in advancing his career as a musician. On Degrassi, his character, Jimmy, would be remembered for his musical performances within the show. Many began to wonder when Drake would attempt music artistry as a primary career. Shortly after, he would release his first hit single, “Best I Ever Had”, and the rest is history.

After Discovery

Drake would soon be discovered by legendary rapper Lil Wayne, who invited him on his world tour. At the conclusion of the tour, Wayne would go on to sign Drake to the notorious Young Money music label. After joining forces with Young Money, Drake was catapulted into superstardom along side Lil Wayne and Nicki Minaj. He released his first album “Thank Me Later” and received platinum accreditation within months of release. Within that same year, Drake featured on a track with Rihanna titled “What’s My Name” and reached #1 on the Billboard charts for the first time in his career.

Emergence into Stardom

Following up on his initial success with mixtapes and his debut album, Drake began to raise the bar for himself after the release of his second studio album, Take Care. This album revolutionized the entire music industry and impacted the state of modern-day Hip Hop/R&B. Prior to Drake, it was considered “soft” and “feminine” for a rapper to make any song confessing his feelings about women and toxic traits within relationships. Drake’s Take Care album was solely a Hip Hop confessional that destroyed the barriers of rappers and the style of music they can create. Take Care was very well received domestically and internationally, which led to Drake’s solidification as a living legend in Hip Hop.

Drake’s accomplishments and cultural impact in music cannot be properly explained in one short blog piece. He has amassed over 30 billion streams on Spotify alone and has been on the Billboard charts every week since its inception! Drake has drawn similar comparisons to the likes of Michael Jackson as far as superstardom and continues to expand his legacy. With no signs of retiring any time soon, we can only be entertained as we observe Drake change music forever.