Drake’s devotion to the Lonestar State appears to be as big as Texas.
This week, newly leaked photos of the rapper’s official Texas ID card surfaced online, prominently displaying his signature beneath a head-on, chin-up image. Fans online were quick to react, with some celebrating the news while others criticized him, suggesting that Drake only uses the culture “for his own benefit,” implying that he fails to leave behind lasting opportunities to help out other artists.
His official residency might surprise some, but it’s been a long time coming. During a Houston concert last year, he confessed, “I’ve been trying to figure out… where I belong ... outside of Toronto,” and disclosed that he’d bought a home in the state. By May, images of his $15 million ranch had surfaced.
Here’s a list of moments that have strengthened Drake’s connection to Texas, ultimately leading to his official residency in the state.
Meeting his Mentor Lil Wayne
From the early days of his career, Drake has consistently praised the man who launched him into the music industry: Lil Wayne.
What many people might not realize, however, is that the two actually met in Houston, Texas.
In a 2009 exclusive interview with Complex, Drake recalled his first time in Houston and meeting Wayne, saying, “I hit Houston and got my swag back.” He added, “That was my first time in Houston, and the culture and the city were so overwhelming... I was single, I was with Wayne, and it was Houston — I was going nuts, sipping drank, smoking. It was fun to me.”
The two met on November 18, 2008 — 16 years later, Drake now calls the place where it all began his home, outside of Toronto.
Houston Appreciation Weekend
The love for Texas both starts and ends with Houston. In the summer of 2014, Drake announced a new music festival that would be known as Houston Appreciation Weekend.
Much like the OVO Fest that Drake hosts annually in Toronto, this festival spanned three days and featured artists such as Travis Scott, Wiz Khalifa and Houston’s own Slim Thug and Lil’ Flip.
Though the festival hasn’t returned since 2017, its impact was significant enough to earn Drake his own day in Houston. At the time, Mayor Annise D. Parker announced that June 10th would be officially recognized as “Drake Day.”
Music References
As one of the world’s bestselling artists with an extensive catalogue dating back to the 2000s, Drake’s references to Texas, particularly cities like Houston, are well-known to his fans. Here are some of his well known music references:
Track: “November 18”
Lyric: Up so high even when I’m coming down / Just met a girl, say she from the H-Town
It’s unclear who he’s talking about in this lyric but, according to Genius lyrics, he was likely referring to a woman named Maliah Michel, an adult-dancer from the Houston area who was also featured in the “Find your love” music video.
He also sampled Houston’s DJ Screw’s “Pimp the pen” record and “June 27th” freestyle both from 1996.
Track: “N 2 Deep”
Lyric: Kept the Galleria open ‘til ten for you and your friends / You know how I spend in H-O-U-S-T-O-N
The Galleria, Houston’s largest mall and the fourth largest in the U.S., typically closes at 9 p.m. on weekends and 8 p.m. on weekdays. In this reference, Drake boasts about shopping after hours and spending lavishly on his girl and her friends, according to Genius Lyrics.
Track: “TSU (Texas Southen University)”
In this song, Drake seems to sing about an adult dancer trying to get her life together. The title, “TSU,” commonly refers to Texas Southern University, suggesting the school this “mystery” woman attended.
Local Restaurants - Trill Burgers
In June 2023, Texas rapper Bun B opened his restaurant, Trill Burgers. The venue has become a hotspot for celebrities, hosting hip-hop icons like Ludacris, Rap-A-Lot CEO J Prince and now Drake.
In a video posted to his Instagram account (@champagnepapi), Drake can be heard praising the burger joint, calling it “the best burger I’ve ever had, for real.”
He also added, “I don’t like to use the term ‘OG.’ This is my mentor, one of my mentors, one of my favourite people in the world,” describing Bun B, who was notably featured on Drake’s breakthrough album “So Far Gone.”
Trill Burgers is located at the corner of Richmond Avenue and South Shepherd Drive, just outside Houston’s downtown core.
The Houston flood relief
In August 2017, when Hurricane Harvey devastated Houston, Drake stepped up in a big way to help those in need.
He donated $200,000 to a crowdfunding campaign started by Houston Texans star J.J. Watt. In a video posted on his Instagram account, Drake addressed “the resilient people of Houston and the entire state of Texas,” sending his love and prayers.
He also thanked former MP and Canadian businesswoman Belinda Stronach for making a donation as well.
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