Drake

Canadian rapper and vocalist Drake sustained a high-level commercial presence shortly after he hit the scene in 2006, whether with his own chart-topping releases or a long string of guest appearances on hits by the likes of Lil Wayne, Rihanna, and A$AP Rocky. Thanks to his introspective rap style, his sensitive R&B crooning, and his golden touch with songwriting, each one of his albums – from 2011’s Take Care to 2018’s trap-influenced Scorpion – topped charts worldwide, and singles like the Grammy-winning “Hotline Bling” and many of his mixtapes did too.

As his star rose, he helped others along, sponsoring the Weeknd’s early work, starting the OVO Sound label, and giving features on his records to up-and-coming acts. By the second decade of his career, Drake’s constant chart domination, his Grammy wins and nominations, and his meme-worthy cultural presence made him one of the world’s most popular musicians, and the release of albums like 2022’s Honestly, Nevermind and 2023’s For All the Dogs became cultural events.