Drake is one of the most famous rappers internationally. Many of Drake’s die-hard fans will know that he has never been shy about taking his parents along and attending events with them.
Both Dennis and Sandy met at a Toronto nightclub where she was performing in the early 80s. The couple separated when the One Dance singer was 5 years old. According to People magazine, in an interview, Drake had openly revealed that his parents could have done a better job after their separation.
It is not uncommon in the media when headlines include the names of both individuals. If you want to know about them, you are where you need to be. Here is everything you need to know about Drake’s parents.
How did Drake’s parents Sandy and Dennis meet?
In 2016, Dennis told Office Magazine that he met Sandy during his first trip to Canada. He was doing a show with Jerry Lewis. Dennis said that he was looking for cigarettes and Sandy offered him a cigarette.
He said, “I was at the bar and was asking the bartender where I could get cigarettes. So, she went over — Sandy, that’s her name — she said, ‘Here, have one of my cigarettes.’ And that was it,” After that, he moved to Toronto and tied the knot with Drake’s mother and the couple gave birth to the rapper in October 1986.
Drake was originally going to be named something else
Dennis told the outlet that Drake’s mother was Jewish and his mother wanted Drake to be named Abraham. But Dennis didn’t like that idea so they chose the name Aubrey and Dennis chose the middle name Drake based on his previous stage name, which was Drake Madison. He used it while training in acting under Lee Strasberg in Los Angeles and Toronto.
Sandy and Dennis separated when Drake was 5 years old
according to According to People magazine, Drake’s parents’ marriage didn’t last long and they separated when he was just 5 years old. Sandy took full custody of the Hotline Bling artist by 1991. Drake visited his parents mostly in the summers.
During his appearance on The Shop, the singer said he was very hard on his parents because they gave him a childhood that he had to think about as he grew up. “Many times I suggested they could have done a better job at co-parenting, stayed together, not been so divided,” he said.
Speaking on being a single father and setting a better example for his son Adonis, he further said that no matter what, he has “unconditional love” for the mother of his child (Sophia Brussaux) because he wants her to love him and the rapper has to display that “energy” Drake further said that he doesn’t come from that peace. He mentioned that he comes from his mother who would say, “Your father is like that.” His father would never speak ill of Sandy.
Speaking about Sandy, the Signs singer said, “My mom is the nicest, kindest, sweetest woman, but she’s a neglected woman and she’s a tired woman.”
Dennis is also a part of the music industry
Many people are unaware of this fact, but Dennis is also a musician. According to the publication, he was the drummer for his band, Dennis Graham and the North Memphis Bunnyads, and Jerry Lee Lewis.
He had been serving the music industry for several decades. In 2016, he once again took up music and ventured into singing and songwriting in the R&B genre. He released Kinda Crazy and recorded several songs.
On Father’s Day in 2021, he released a song called Father and Son, which showcased the strong bond between him and his son. Speaking to The Fader in 2016, Denis said that he felt he had to help his son and make sure he wasn’t taken advantage of.
But he soon realized that Drake is smart and knows what he is doing and is aware of every step he is taking. Dennis said that he never had to “worry” about the rapper and he is happy with that.
Drake has been honest about his relationship with his parents
Most of Drake’s fans got to know about the rapper’s relationship with his parents through his songs. The Canadian singer has never shied away from talking about intimate family issues in his songs.
In 2009, he released a song called The Calm, in which he vowed that he would be able to help them during financial difficulties. In 2015, he released You and the 6, in which he talked about his struggles with fame and how he raised them the right way. He also talked about his parents’ relationship in the track.
Drake has face tattoos of his parents as well as other family members
The God’s Plan rapper is notorious for having many tattoos. But very few people know that he has got a picture of his father and a picture of Sandy permanently tattooed on his back.
Apart from this, the singer also has pictures of his late uncle and grandmother tattooed. In 2017, Dennis got a large picture of Drake’s face tattooed on his bicep. In August 2022, he got SG (his mother’s initials – Sandy Gale) tattooed just below his eye.
Drake and his father attended several events together
It’s now common for rappers to bring their parents along to attend events. In 2016, his father joined the artist on tour for a month. He told Fader that he loves watching the rapper on stage and that seeing him perform means a lot to him.
Drake and his father shocked everyone in 2017 when they did a commercial together for the rapper’s whiskey brand Virginia Black. In 2019, Drake dressed up just like his father. He even dressed up exactly like him during Halloween.
The rapper accompanied his parents and Adonis on the red carpet during the 2021 Billboard Music Awards, where he won the Artist of the Decade award.
Drake and his relationship with Sandy
It is very evident that Drake is very attached to his mother, he loves her unconditionally. In 2022, he made headlines when he gifted her a custom-made Nike Air Force 1 pair. It had “Love You Forever” written on the side, which is a reference to a book of the same name written by Robert Munsch.
During his performance at Madison Square Garden in July, he paid tribute to his mother during the concert. According to People, Sandy was seen getting emotional when she joined the rapper on stage. In February 2024, he shared a photo of a text message his mother sent to his friend, which read, “I always cry when I come to her concerts… I’m so proud of her.”
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