Drake: The Most Profitable Meme
“Opinions over statistics, of course, Gassed off journalistic, Come at me and all you’ll get is the ballistic report” are lyrics from the song “Diplomatic Immunity” the latest track from the rapper Drake. This song dropped at Midnight on January 19th,2018 from his surprize project Scary Hours. This project broke streaming records for both Spotify and Apple Music.
Aubrey “Drake” Graham, aka Drizzy, aka Champagne Papi, aka 6 God is the biggest Meme in current popular culture. The rapper/ singer/ actor/ businessman knows his brand and he has made a huge profit off of his culutral significance. Drake’s music, rapper feuds,restaurants, multi-dimensional label, dance moves and his Toronto is all apart of how he is identifiable to the world. Drake has recognized, curated and created a business based on his onlifne presence and position. His meme status is due to three things, his music,physical apperance and who he associates himself with.
An Internet meme is defined as “a virtually transmitted cultural symbol or social idea, that is shared on social media and is spread rapidly by Internet users.” Drake is a cultural symbol that is shared through his music.His music is known for being emotional and somber which was unique to the rap game at the time of his debut album. This shocked the industry and intrigued the fans. On the Internet Drake is know known as the emotional rapper.
Drake has also been able to keep his meme status through his music by being able to identify who and collabroate with the next big thing in the industry. He did this with the Altanta rap group Migos in 2013 on their song Versace. He also worked with the Canadian R&B singer The Weekend back in 2013 on the song Crew Love. He has even worked with the Nigerian Superstar, Wizkid on mutiple songs. He has also been able to “copy” different flows from various sub-genres in rap and music including the U.K Grime style of rap and having big Grime stars such as Giggs featured on his music.He coined the term The 6 as a nickname for the City of Toronto and now people everywhere call Toronto, The 6 and Drake is called the 6 God. Drake also has the ability to write “fire” lines which people use in memes and to caption their photos. Now when Drake is the featured artist on a track, its no longer the other artist song its Drake’s song.His music styles, capability and messages has created a global audience.
Drake’s physical appearance is a big part of his brand. His perfectly trimmed beard, muscular physique, big goofy grin, interesting dance moves and unique style choice, help to boost his meme status. Drakes puffy jacket in the Started from the Bottom music video or his dance moves in the Hotline Bling music video and even him sitting courtside at a Raptors game wearing glasses and a turutlneck all became internet memes.
Drake now has a clothing line OVO (October Very Own), with store fronts in Toronto,London and New York. He has whiskey named Virginia Black and has two restaurants in Toronto, Frings and 6pick. He was also the Toronto Raptors Global Ambassador. Drake has used his physical appearance especially on the social media platform, Instagram and post pictures captioning them with statements that highlight what the world already tginks of him. In the 2016 apple music commercial you see Drake working out and showing off his unique dance moves. He is able to make money just off of how he looks and how he percieved by the world.
Lastly Drake has been able to profit off of who and what he associates himself with. Drake has been known as a culture vulture. A culture vulture is someone who takes another culture and makes profit off it. Drake has done this with Jamaican music, Nigerian music, Grime music and Atlantean music. However he has done this with grace and style by working with some of the biggest names in those societies therefore, reiciving a blessing to use that specfic sound.
Drake even has had high profile romances with the most beautiful women on the planet. He’s been linked to singer Rihanna, pro-tennis play Serena Williams, R&B legend Jennifer Lopez and even supermodel Kendal Jenner. All of this is noticed and eaten up by pop-culture enthusiast, hiphop fans, celebrity gossip readers and even the local news.
Drake has even attached himself to a whole city.His love for Toronto also was appreciated,mocked and personified online.Always rapping about Toronto, shouting Toronto out in interviews and heavily featuring images of it on albums has put the city of Toronto on the map as well as made Drake the number one ambassdor for all things Toronto.
A lot of his empire’s success is due to his online pressence. Drake is very calculated and he has recognized his meme status and has profited majorly off of it. According to Forbes Drake is worth $90 Million (USD). Therefore making him the most profitable meme.
