Let’s Talk About Drake’s Musical Success with ‘Thank Me Later’

In 2010, the Canadian rapper, singer, and songwriter Drake released his first studio album, Thank Me Later, when he was just 23 years old. Fast forward to now, he’s collaborated with some of the biggest names in hip-hop and rap, including Rihanna, Big Sean, Jay-Z, Lil Wayne, 2 Chainz, and Nicki Minaj.

Let’s talk about Thank Me Later and the musical success for Drake that followed.

From teenage actor to rap and hip-hop superstar

In his teens, Drake was best known for appearing on the long-running Canadian show Degrassi, which also featured other actors like Nina Dobrev. When he released his first album, it had an impressive response from fans, debuting at the number one spot on the Billboard 200 chart in the United States. By mid-2015, the album had sold a record 1.8 million copies in the United States alone.

Continued success and emergence as a hip-hop icon

Described by critics as a “stellar” debut, Thank Me Later proved to be a cultural reset in the hip-hop genre. Many contend that he inspired the style of other contemporary artists like The Weeknd with his more emotional and sensitive style, unlike Kanye West, who was also ruling the roost at the time but was known for producing “gangster rap.”

Since 2010, Drake has enjoyed a string of other hit songs like “Hotline Bling,” “One Dance,” and “Work,” which he released with Rihanna.

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