How Drake Has Been My Life's Biggest Inspiration
There are few things that toddlers are capable of remembering from their childhood. Ask anyone about their recollection from their infancy and they’re likely to bring up some hazy flashes from here and there. My memory from my youth is no different, except other than recalling my preschool talent shows or my first trip to Disney World, I think of my upbringing immersed in the world of rap music. I look back at the car rides with my mother and brother where I’d be too young to understand any of the obviously profane lyrics. It was in the car where my profound admiration for the rap genre was discovered, and my appreciation for certain rappers was developed. Apart from recalling the bass and 808-heavy beats from most rap tracks when I was young, the specific songs and artists remain a blur to me. However, there is one artist whose beats, songs, and lyrics have cemented their spot in my recollection, and that particular rapper is Drake. The artist who found his way into my heart and planted the seed for my passion of rap. All my life, Drake has been the only artist who I’ve felt can never disappoint or underdeliver, and it’s thanks to his integral part in my discovery of rap music.
It all started with my hip-hop-obsessed older brother who insisted I strayed from the classical and jazz music my mother was trying to force-feed me. Any chance that he got to bury me in rap, he took. It would be on our walks back home from school where he’d play all types of rap on his iPod, some which I grew to adore. Having been exposed to a myriad of rap artists while growing up, Drake was the only one whose beats I grew especially fond of. At a time when Drake was transitioning from Wheelchair Jimmy to the 6ix God, he dropped his third mixtape, So Far Gone, which became his first big hit. It was the unforgettable production and catchy hooks from "Best I Ever Had" and "Houstatlantavegas" which first piqued my passion for the rising rapper. Something about his seamless vocal delivery, authentic lyricism, and versatile flows was able to grasp my attention from my first listen.
Having been immersed in a crowd full of kindergarteners whose favorite music were kids songs and jingles, I stood out as the only one who took interest in rap music. Out of the many great memories that I have from my first year in elementary school, the summer that I spent sharing Drake’s Thank Me Later with my brother is one of the best. At five years of age, I still hadn’t the slightest clue what Drake was passionately expressing in his tracks, but whatever it was, I knew that it was something great. The quality of production and rapping was miles above other rappers that even a young, school-aged kid could recognize. My brother had the latest release on shuffle, repeating all summer long, and he gave me no reason to complain. The record gained enough traction that even the local radio stations started playing its best selling tracks, and now there was nothing that my mother could do to sway me away from the comfort of rap music, and above all, the comfort of Drake.
My obsession over the art that was Drake were mere sparks to the flame. My obsession at that young of an age wasn’t for the unique features of Drake as a rapper, but more so the craft behind his production. You could argue that I was more obsessed with Noah “OVO 40” Shebib, Drake’s producer, than Drake himself because as a five-year-old, his lyrics meant nothing to me. It wasn’t until the debut of his fourth studio album and his most commercially successful record, Views, that I started to thoroughly appreciate the aptitude behind Drake. The hype for the album started many months prior to its release, and my brother and I were all for it. It was the lyrically-investigative knack of my brother that first exposed me to the imminent release of Drake’s record. The braggadocious 2014 single “0 to 100 / The Catch Up” was the start of the antics for Drake’s upcoming record. All of his tweets, Instagram posts, and one-liners in his features were meticulously dissected by my brother, with me on the side waiting for any crucial updates. When Drake finally dropped Views in 2016, the elation shared between us both was fanatical. If I can take away one thing from the buildup to the record, it’s that the anticipation was well worth it. It was the first Drake album which I was able to consume with a sense of understanding and appreciation for more than just the beats and production. Above all else, I appreciated being able to fully experience Drake deliver one of his greatest projects.
Having been immersed in a crowd full of kindergarteners whose favorite music were kids songs and jingles, I stood out as the only one who took interest in rap music. Out of the many great memories that I have from my first year in elementary school, the summer that I spent sharing Drake’s Thank Me Later with my brother is one of the best. At five years of age, I still hadn’t the slightest clue what Drake was passionately expressing in his tracks, but whatever it was, I knew that it was something great. The quality of production and rapping was miles above other rappers that even a young, school-aged kid could recognize. My brother had the latest release on shuffle, repeating all summer long, and he gave me no reason to complain. The record gained enough traction that even the local radio stations started playing its best selling tracks, and now there was nothing that my mother could do to sway me away from the comfort of rap music, and above all, the comfort of Drake.
My obsession over the art that was Drake were mere sparks to the flame. My obsession at that young of an age wasn’t for the unique features of Drake as a rapper, but more so the craft behind his production. You could argue that I was more obsessed with Noah “OVO 40” Shebib, Drake’s producer, than Drake himself because as a five-year-old, his lyrics meant nothing to me. It wasn’t until the debut of his fourth studio album and his most commercially successful record, Views, that I started to thoroughly appreciate the aptitude behind Drake. The hype for the album started many months prior to its release, and my brother and I were all for it. It was the lyrically-investigative knack of my brother that first exposed me to the imminent release of Drake’s record. The braggadocious 2014 single “0 to 100 / The Catch Up” was the start of the antics for Drake’s upcoming record. All of his tweets, Instagram posts, and one-liners in his features were meticulously dissected by my brother, with me on the side waiting for any crucial updates. When Drake finally dropped Views in 2016, the elation shared between us both was fanatical. If I can take away one thing from the buildup to the record, it’s that the anticipation was well worth it. It was the first Drake album which I was able to consume with a sense of understanding and appreciation for more than just the beats and production. Above all else, I appreciated being able to fully experience Drake deliver one of his greatest projects.
With Drake continuing to reign above every other rapper, and me continuing to mature and cherish the works of the greatest artist of all time, the world still found ways to look down on him. It came to a point where it seemed like I was meeting more Drake haters than Drake fans. I took it on myself to change the ludicrous beliefs of anyone who took away from the art of the 6 God. With the release of Scorpion, haters thought they could seek refuge in the fact that it was regarded as one of his most disappointing releases. To the 12-year-old me, it was simply Drake being the consistent, chart-topping, and brilliant artist that he is. The lyrics, which I regard as some of his best, clearly exemplified everything that Drake stood for: a passionate and expressive rapper. When I was told that my mother bought tickets for Drake’s Aubrey and the Three Migos tour, I was lost for words. Literally speechless. Going to see Drake live was one of the highlights of my life. The energy which I felt in listening to Drake for the first time as a preschooler was the same energy flowing around the stadium. At this moment, Drake was more than beats and raps, he was an icon, a symbol of my love for rap, and the greatest of all time.
More than a decade later, Drake still hasn't lost his rhythm. The same songs I first listened to are some that I graciously revisit without ever worrying about them getting old. It’s clearer now than ever that Drake is the greatest to ever do it. Everything about his artistry, from his distinct sounds, his effortless flows, his quotable bars, and his versatile production, is noteworthy. Drake’s music has resonated with me, helped me persist through life’s challenges, guided me when anxious, and has been formative in making me the kind of person I am right now. Today, I am able to compare Drake to other rappers with a deeper, more conscious understanding of the genre, and still say that he is untouchable.
All my life, Drake has played a significant role in guiding, inspiring, and teaching me. His unparalleled impact on rap music has touched me, and countless others, in a variety of ways. I can attribute my affinity for rap music to the prodigy behind Drake. He was one of the first artists that I was ever exposed to, and my passion for his craft has only grown throughout the years. The satisfaction, contentment, and elation that his music provides has proven to be a developmental part of my life. His music has offered a common ground for me to get closer to my brother, my friends, and other fervent Drake fans. I’ve learned to appreciate the depth behind music and to not take the art for granted. Drake’s expressive style has opened my eyes to the reality that rap music is more than snappy hooks and memorable beats, something that I struggle to feel from other rappers. To me, Drake has been a role model, an inspiration, and a mentor that I can accredit for shaping the person I have grown to become.
#Drake #RapMusic #6God #SoFarGone #Views #Scorpion