TORONTO, ON - NOVEMBER 25 - Toronto Rapper Drake addresses media in a 'Hotline Bling' installation at the Air Canada Centre in Toronto on November 25, 2015, prior to a Toronto Raptors vs. Cleveland Cavaliers NBA game. (Cole Burston/Toronto Star via Getty Images)
It's been quite a year for Toronto's very own 6 God.
Below, we celebrate all things Drake by taking a look at his most newsworthy moments of 2015. From two new mixtapes to endless memes to an internet beef he clearly won, this year was truly a great year for the Canadian superstar.
February 2015: New Sounds
On Feb. 12, the Canadian rapper surprised fans with an unannounced mixtape, after teasing a new album since 2014 (which is yet to be dropped). The 17-track record (as well as two bonus songs), featured Lil Wayne, PartyNextDoor and newcomer Travi$ Scott. According to Billboard.com, Drake's mixtape became the first album in 2015 to sell a million copies and in August, it went platinum.
Shortly after the announcement of his record-breaking mixtape, the rapper released tour dates a for a mini six-city tour in May and June called the Jungle Tour. Heading home to Toronto on June 2, it was the rapper's first time performing "Know Yourself," to a Toronto crowd — a hit that instantly became a city anthem with the line, "running through the 6 with my woes" — and as expected, it was a crowdpleaser.
Following up to Mill's tweets and disses at several concert shows with girlfriend Nicki Minaj (he also got booed when Nicki's tour came to Toronto), Drake dropped not only one but two diss tracks in a matter of weeks. Both "Charged Up," and "Back To Back," freestyles became some of Drake's best hits and the internet continue to explode with memes and hilarity. And while we're pretty sure Drake won this battle (and keeps on winning), Mill did eventually drop a (terrible) comeback track.
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A Summer Romance?
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Drake's love life has been on the down-low for ages (we're still reminiscing about the possibility of true Canadian sweethearts Keshia Chante and Drake), but this summer, Drake was seen several times with longtime friend and tennis superstar Serena Williams. While the two never admitted to their relationship (and they probably never will), Drake was spotted at several of Serena's matches and her fashion show sitting next to Anna Wintour. Williams also came to Toronto to support Drake's new restaurant venture (read more about this later) and the two were seen chatting with Drake's mom, Sandi, most of the night. And on top of this, we've seen plenty of paparazzi shots of the two having dinner and driving together — but we're guessing this is just the friendship they both claim it to be.
For any true Drake fan, the rapper's two-day Toronto concert during Caribana weekend is a music festival like no other. Not advertising any guests until the night of, the rapper blew fans away this year by a pre-show with J. Cole and Big Sean, as well a 30-minute Kanye fest, just weeks after the rapper hit Toronto for the Pan Am 2015 games. And since this was the in midst of Drake's beef with Mill, it only made sense to perform "Back To Back" twice. Other guests this year included Pharrell Williams, Future, Skepta and Travi$ Scott.
September 2015: Drake Gets Introduced To The Culinary World
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Just when you thought all the surprises were over, the rapper teased the opening of a new Susur Lee restaurant in early fall. With just the name Fring's, there was no menu, no location and not even an opening date. Of course, this could've meant anything, and after a secret party launch in September (we were there!), turns out Drake joined the Toronto chef and his sons in a new culinary venture. Fring's opened later in the fall and features tapas and a full drink menu. And if you think the rapper is the kind of guy who just puts his name on something and leaves, he was even recently spotted playing ping pong with one of Lee's sons last week.
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September 2015: No Album, But Hey, More New Music
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Seriously, where's Drake's album? After waiting months and months for a new release, Drake went ahead and dropped another unexpected mixtape, this time a collaborative effort with rapper Future titled, "What A Time To Be Alive." The 11-track tape features hits like "Big Rings," and "Jumpman". It even debuted number one on US Billboard 200.
November 2015: He Continues To Be Toronto's #1 Fan
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One thing anyone can appreciate about Drake is his love for his home city — he even coined the term now ubiquitous term "the 6." And while we imagine his upcoming album "Views from the 6" is nothing less than a love letter to his favourite city, Drake goes above and beyond for his roots. From co-launching an official OVO storefront to supporting the Toronto Raptors whenever he can to showing up to a free Ryerson University concert to sticking with his oldest Toronto friends throughout his career, he's loyal to the core.
Although the rapper did get called out for not responding right away to a shooting that led to two deaths during an OVO Fest after party (Drake wasn't at the event), he later wrote a blog talking about his silence.
This article exists as part of the online archive for HuffPost Canada.
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