If you walked into a Toronto basement in 2006, you might’ve caught a skinny kid named Aubrey Graham obsessing over a microphone. He wasn't the "6 God" then. He was just the guy from Degrassi who played Jimmy Brooks, the basketball star in a wheelchair. Most people thought he was just another actor trying to play rapper for a weekend. They were wrong. Fast forward to early 2026, and the landscape has shifted so much it’s almost unrecognizable.
Comparing Drake then and now isn't just about looking at a bank account that grew from a $40,000 acting salary to a net worth that rivals small nations. It’s about how one person basically rewrote the rules of what a "rapper" is allowed to be.
The Degrassi Days and the Mixtape Grind
Back in the mid-2000s, Drake was a bit of an anomaly. He was biracial, Jewish, Canadian, and came from a teen soap opera. That wasn't exactly the "street cred" recipe for hip-hop success in an era still dominated by the tail end of the G-Unit grit. When he dropped Room for Improvement in 2006, it only sold about 6,000 copies.
He was hungry, though.
He’d spend all day on the Degrassi set and then pull all-nighters in the studio until 4:00 AM. Honestly, that work ethic is the one thing that hasn't changed. You’ve seen the photos of him back then—the baggy jeans, the slightly awkward poses, the hairline that hadn't quite met a world-class barber yet. He was the underdog. Even when So Far Gone hit in 2009 and "Best I Ever Had" started blasting out of every car window, people still treated him like a guest in the house of hip-hop.
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The Turning Point
Everything flipped when Lil Wayne flew him out to Houston. That co-sign from Young Money changed the trajectory of music history. Suddenly, the "singing rapper" wasn't a gimmick; it was the blueprint. Drake started blending R&B vulnerabilities with sharp-as-hell bars, and the industry didn't know whether to hate him or hire him. Most chose both.
The Streaming King and the 120 Billion Mark
Let’s talk numbers because they're honestly staggering. By late 2025, Drake became the first artist in history to cross 120 billion streams on Spotify. Think about that. That’s not just "popular." That’s a global utility.
When we look at Drake then and now, the most obvious change is his role as the "final boss" of the charts. In 2010, he was hoping for a Gold plaque. By 2026, he’s tying or breaking records set by Michael Jackson. His eighth studio album, For All the Dogs, and the more recent 2025 collaborative project with PartyNextDoor, $ome $exy $ongs 4 U, proved that even when critics say he’s "stale," the listeners don't care. They press play. Every single time.
He’s moved from being a participant in the culture to being the culture’s primary weather vane. If Drake tries a new sound—whether it’s UK Drill, Afrobeats, or the "Honestly, Nevermind" house vibes—the rest of the industry follows suit six months later.
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The 2026 Reality: Lawsuits and Legacy
It hasn't been all "God’s Plan" and celebrations lately, though. The 2024 feud with Kendrick Lamar was a massive cultural earthquake that forced everyone to pick a side. It was the first time Drake’s "invincibility" felt like it had a few cracks.
Then came the legal headaches.
As of January 2026, he’s been navigating a significant legal dispute with Universal Music Group. There’s also been noise about lawsuits involving online gambling platforms and allegations about "inflated" streaming numbers. It's messy. But that’s the reality of being at the top for nearly two decades. You don't get to stay the "Certified Lover Boy" forever without catching some heat.
The Business Architecture
Drake’s OVO empire is basically a masterclass in diversification. It’s not just a record label anymore. We’re talking:
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- Nike/Nocta: His sportswear line that’s actually taken seriously by gearheads.
- The Toronto Raptors: He went from a fan to a "Global Ambassador" with his own practice facility naming rights.
- DreamCrew: His production company responsible for hits like Euphoria and Top Boy.
- Better World Fragrance House: Because apparently, we all want to know what he smells like (which is "Carby Musk," by the way).
What Most People Get Wrong
The biggest misconception about Drake then and now is that he "sold out" to get big. If you go back and listen to his 2007 mixtape Comeback Season, the themes are the same. He was talking about girls who did him wrong, the pressure of Toronto, and wanting to be the greatest.
He didn't change his soul; he just scaled his life.
The "then" Drake was worried about making rent and getting BET to play his music video. The "now" Drake is worried about his $100 million "Air Drake" Boeing 767 and maintaining a legacy that spans three different decades of dominance. He’s evolved from a rapper into an asset manager who happens to make hits.
How to Navigate the "Drake Blueprint" in 2026
If you’re looking at Drake’s trajectory to figure out your own moves—whether in music, business, or just branding—here’s the actual takeaway:
- Own your multi-hyphenate status. Don't let people box you in. If you want to be an actor who raps who also owns a whiskey brand, do it. The "Jack of all trades" stigma is dead.
- Consistency beats perfection. Drake drops constantly. Some of it is "mid," some of it is classic, but he never leaves the conversation. In the digital age, silence is a career killer.
- Build a "Modular" brand. Look at OVO. If the music stopped tomorrow, the clothing line and the production house would keep him in the 1%.
- Leverage your roots. He turned Toronto (The 6) into a global brand. Whatever your "home base" is, make it part of your identity.
Drake is currently prepping for his Anita Max Wynn world tour and another solo album that he’s described as a "slap." Whether you love him or think he’s had his time, the numbers don't lie. He’s still the one everyone is chasing.
The best way to keep up with his current moves is to track the OVO Sound radio updates or check the latest Nocta drops, as those usually signal where his creative head is at before the music even hits the speakers.