Little Known Secret

Dubbed "the most important and innovative new figure in hip-hop" by the New York Times, Aubrey "Drake" Graham is poised for music domination. His upbeat tempo and soulful lyrics are prominent playlist features, but what many people don't know about the Toronto-native is this: Drake is the world's first black Jewish hip hop star.


While his unique background should make him the ultimate outsider, Drake has exceeded everyones expectations. His fast rise to stardom, including his pre-album Grammy nominations, was a result of Drake's dedication to his craft and in part to mentor Lil Wayne. 


More interesting than his music career is his childhood. Born and raised in Toronto's Forest Hill, Drake attended Jewish day school and even danced all night long (to the Backstreet Boys!) at his Bar Mitzvah. He told Heeb Magazine, "I went to a Jewish school, where nobody understood what it was like to be black and Jewish. When kids are young it's hard for them to understand the make-up of religion and race." The Hollywood hotshot continues to display his affection for Judaism, often sporting a diamond chai necklace (see image). 


While my chai doesn't have the bling, it's nice to see Drake, a homegrown talent, sticking to his roots. Hollywood has gotten the best of so many young stars, so let's hope Drake remains on the straight and narrow.