Drake

AUBREY “ DRAKE” GRAHAM

By : Robert Brandt

Who is Drake?

Real Name: Aubrey Drake Graham Hometown: Toronto, Ontario Age: 27 Affiliation: Lil Wayne, Toronto Raptors,

Birdman, Nicki Minaj, Jay-Z Record Label: Republic Records First Album/Mixtape: Room for

Improvement

Why Drake?

I chose Drake because we both call Toronto Home.

He is the Global Ambassador for my favorite Basketball team, Toronto Raptors

No matter the fame or notoriety, always calls Toronto home

Put Canada on the hip-hop map

Drake & Social Media

Twitter : https://twitter.com/Drake Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Drake Instagram:

http://instagram.com/champagnepapi

Drake has a large follower base on all three social media outlets. Posts pictures and opinions mostly on twitter, uses all three as forums to communicate with fans or share important dates and locations for events or tours.

Online Community

Drake has a very large online fan base, with almost 5 million Instragram followers, 32 million likes on facebook and 14.3 million on twitter.

Drake has created this fan base by interacting with fans over social media as well as posting album/song releases allowing for his followers to be the first to get the inside information about Drake.

Talking about issues in the music industry with fans also allows him to maintain his large following fan base.

How it Started…

Degrassi: The Next Generation

Aubrey played Jimmy Brooks, a basketball star who gets shot by a classmate.

138 episodes until his character graduated

Collaborating with Lil Wayne

After hearing Drakes lyrics in 2008 from a music producer, Lil Wayne flew drake down to Houston, Texas to tour with him. After the tour, Drake’s hip hop career took off.

“ Forever “ and “ Ransom” were the first songs Lil Wayne collaborated with Drake

2009 – Drake signed with Young Money Entertainment – founded by Lil Wayne

After Collaborating with Lil Wayne

Since his rise to fame in 2009 after collaborating with Lil Wayne, Drake has released 4 albums

So Far Gone 2009 Thank me Later 2010 Take Care 2011 Nothing was the Same 2013

Global Ambassador

September 30, 2013 Drake is named the Global Ambassador for the Toronto Raptors. In coordination with is hometown basketball team, Drake will help re-brand the Raptors and help market the 2016 NBA All-Star in Toronto.

Given his own office next to MLSE Ceo Tim Leiweke

Find Your Audience

Drake was able to capitalize on the emerging hip hop market in Canada while tapping into the foreign markets that had made Lil Wayne so successful.

His ability to produce top tier lyrics while adding in some of todays current hip hip culture (sports, cars, women, etc)make him one of the most popular artists worldwide.

Being from Canada, Drake is already unique and different, but his music style as noted by Lil Wayne is what separates him from the rest of the industry making him an instant fan favorite.

Having a whole country behind his music, allowed Drake to gain a more complete audience, not just Canadian followers, but global followers

Meaningful Sharing

Although Drake has openly said he hates how social media has changed the world in terms of privacy and bullying, he still posts material that connects with his fans.

Being the Global Ambassador for the Raptors, he posts information regarding the Raptors that fans can read and comment on with other fans around the world. He is creating an avenue for all Raptors fans to communicate through.

He posts links regarding tours and appearance so fans can see him in other lights, not just as a hip-hop artist.

Posts pictures of his family and friends allowing the world to get a real understanding of who is he and what he cares about

Sends his prayers to families who lives have been altered by tragic events – Adrian Peterson – son died Philip Seymour Hoffman – passed away suddenly

Engage with Fans

Drake always posts about the Toronto Raptors and in a sense creates a forum for fans to discuss issues with the team that Drake could present to management if deemed creditable

Posting dates and events allow him to connect with fans in person at events as well as increase viewership for his events.

Re-tweeting fans who may be going through hard times shows he cares about his fan base

Posting pictures of with fans and giving shout outs to athletes, musicians etc who have achieved great success or overcome a hard battle

Online & Physical spaces

Drake continuously thanks his supporters after each event even re-tweeting some who were in attendance.

Following fans on twitter creates an instant connection that wasn’t possible 10 years ago without social media

Take pictures at events with star-strucken fans is a way Drake fuels the physical need of fans

Handing out t-shirts and posters at events allow for the physical connection to be fostered and allows it to grow each time the shirt is wore or the poster is seen

Consistency

Just by looking at Drakes Social Media avenues, its evident he posts often. Whether it be on twitter or instagram, Drake is very active on both sites

Posting after big Raptor wins, or if a favorite athlete has a big game, Drake is quick to congratulate them

Recently posted a picture with 2 former NCAA champions and former Kentucky Wildcats – John Wall and DeMarcus Cousins

The End

References

https://twitter.com/Drake https://www.facebook.com/Drake http://instagram.com/champagnepapi http://

www.aceshowbiz.com/celebrity/drake/biography.html

www.google.ca/drake