Gabriel Williams 4/4/17 1

TTP3

Drake the worlds only black Jewish-Canadian rap star was born Aubrey Drake Graham on
October 24, 1986, in Toronto, Canada. Drake grew up with music in his blood. His father, Dennis
Graham, was a drummer for legendary rock star Jerry Lee Lewis, and Drake says that his mother,
Sandi Graham, also hails from a "very musical" family. Drake comes from an eclectic and unique
racial and religious background. His father is an African American Cathloic and His mother is a
white Canadian Jew. Speaking about his personal identity , Drake says, At the end of the day I
consider myself black man because Im more immersed in black culture than any other . Being
jewish is kind of a cool twist. It makes me unique.

Drake's parents divorced when he was 5 years old, and he was raised by his mother in Forest
Hill, an affluent and predominantly Jewish Toronto neighborhood. He had a Bar Mitzvah at age 13
and observed the Jewish High Holy Days with his mother. "My mom has always made Hanukkah
fun," Drake recalls. "When I was younger, she gave cool gifts and she'd make latkes." Despite his
Jewish upbringing, Drake says he felt isolated at Forest Hill Collegiate Institute, his