Drake's Road to the BET Awards

Young Money's new kid on the block is all grown up now.

Overnight Sensation - Aubrey Drake Graham has come a long way from playing wheelchair-bound Jimmy Brooks on the Canadian TV show Degrassi: The Next Generation to becoming Young Money's Drizzy Drake. One minute the Toronto native was a virtual unknown, the next minute he was all over the radio. As he returns to the BET Awards for the second time, this "overnight sensation" has become a seasoned entertainer.(Photo: Jag Gundu/Getty Images)

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Overnight Sensation - Aubrey Drake Graham has come a long way from playing wheelchair-bound Jimmy Brooks on the Canadian TV show Degrassi: The Next Generation to becoming Young Money's Drizzy Drake. One minute the Toronto native was a virtual unknown, the next minute he was all over the radio. As he returns to the BET Awards for the second time, this "overnight sensation" has become a seasoned entertainer.(Photo: Jag Gundu/Getty Images)

So Far Gone February 13. 2009 - The Canadian MC steps his game way up with the follow-up to his two previous mixtapes, Room for Improvement (2006) and Comeback Season (2007). The superior sound quality, original content and all-star features from Lil Wayne, Bun B, Omarion, Lloyd and Trey Songz give the mixtape album-level quality.(Photo: October's Very Own)

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So Far Gone February 13. 2009 - The Canadian MC steps his game way up with the follow-up to his two previous mixtapes, Room for Improvement (2006) and Comeback Season (2007). The superior sound quality, original content and all-star features from Lil Wayne, Bun B, Omarion, Lloyd and Trey Songz give the mixtape album-level quality.(Photo: October's Very Own)

Young Money Is The Monster CrewAugust 2009 - Nicki Minaj officially signs with Young Money/Cash Money  making her the crew’s first lady. “There’s so many people that kind of shut you down as a female before you even get your foot in the door,” Nicki told XXLMag.com. “So when you get moments like this it’s like ‘Yes, finally!’” (Photo: Amanda Edwards/Getty Images)

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Young MoneyJune 29, 2009 - After one of the fiercest hip-hop bidding wars in recent memory, Drizzy signs a recording contract with Lil Wayne's Young Money Entertainment, distributed through Universal. The signing comes as no surprise, since Drake had already been down with Weezy for a while. The Young Money militia is now poised to become a dynasty.

Rapper/Actor For Real - Before dropping "Best I Ever Had," his breakthrough single, Drake was a popular actor with his role on "Degrassi." (Photo: Jeff Daly/PictureGroup)

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Chart AttackJuly 25, 2009 - Just a month after he inks his deal, two singles off Drake’s mixtape, “Best I Ever Had” and “Every Girl,” enter the Top 10 on Billboard's singles chart. Drizzy goes on to receive Track of the Year for “Every Girl” and Rookie of the Year at the 2009 BET Hip-Hop Awards. Drake’s chart success—despite having no official album in stores—keeps the music industry buzzing.(Photo: Jeff Daly/PictureGroup)

Goin' InSeptember 15, 2009 - Building on the buzz of the singles “Best I Ever Had” and “Successful,” Drake releases the So Far Gone EP, a collection of five songs from the mixtape of the same name, plus two new ones: “I’m Goin’ In” and “Fear.” Although some question the idea of repackaging music that's already available for free, Drake's EP is certified gold, and the experiment is, well, successful.(Photo: Billboard Magazine)

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Goin' InSeptember 15, 2009 - Building on the buzz of the singles “Best I Ever Had” and “Successful,” Drake releases the So Far Gone EP, a collection of five songs from the mixtape of the same name, plus two new ones: “I’m Goin’ In” and “Fear.” Although some question the idea of repackaging music that's already available for free, Drake's EP is certified gold, and the experiment is, well, successful.(Photo: Billboard Magazine)

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Thank Me LaterJune 15, 2010 - By the time Drake is ready to drop his debut album, Thank Me Later, the buzz had become deafening. He's scheduled to celebrate the release at New York’s South Street Seaport, but when than crowd of 25,000 gets out of control, the performance is quickly canceled. The album debuted at #1 on the Billboard 200 on June 23, selling half a million copies in its first week. It goes on to be certified platinum. (Photo: Cash Money Records)

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Thank Me LaterJune 15, 2010 - By the time Drake is ready to drop his debut album, Thank Me Later, the buzz had become deafening. He's scheduled to celebrate the release at New York’s South Street Seaport, but when than crowd of 25,000 gets out of control, the performance is quickly canceled. The album debuted at #1 on the Billboard 200 on June 23, selling half a million copies in its first week. It goes on to be certified platinum. (Photo: Cash Money Records)

Grammy FamilyFebruary 13, 2011 - At a Grammy ceremony that was dominated by alternative acts, hip hop was proudly represented by Lil Wayne, Eminem and Drake as Lil Tunechi performed his Eminem-assisted single “Drop the World.” Then Drake joined the two superstars to perform his 2010 single “Forever.” Photo by Lester Cohen/WireImage

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Grammy AwardsFebruary 2010 - Drake performs at the 2010 Grammys alongside Eminem, Lil Wayne and Travis Barker. Though nominated for two Grammys that year, and another four in 2011, he has yet to walk away with one.(Photo: Lester Cohen/WireImage)

"Every Girl" - Every rapper has their posse, and Drake is no different. Young Money won the BET Award in 2010 for Best Group, due in part to their smash hit record "Every Girl." Drake joined Lil' Wayne, Mack Maine, Gudda Gudda and Jae Millz on the song that had the girls asking questions about this Young Money MC. (Photo: Vince Bucci/PictureGroup)

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2010 BET AwardsJune 27, 2010 - Drake returned to the BET Awards in 2010, this time to perform his chart-topping single "Over" and to join Jeezy onstage for the summer anthem "Lose My Mind (Remix)." Drake walked away with awards for Best Male Hip-Hop Artist and Best Group with Young Money at the BET Awards, as well as MVP of the Year at the 2010 BET Hip-Hop Awards. (Photo: Vince Bucci/PictureGroup)

Welcome BackJune 5, 2011 - Weezy made a triumphant return to the annual Summer Jam concert hosted by New York City radio station Hot 97. The self-professed best rapper alive thanked the 60,000 fans for their support while he was locked up before rocking a set alongside Rick Ross, Diddy, DJ Khaled, Drake and other Young Money crew members.(Photo: Sean O'Kane/BET)

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Road WarriorAugust 1, 2010 - Drake hosts the first October’s Very Own festival in Toronto, bringing out Jay-Z, Eminem, Rick Ross, Young Jeezy, Bun B and Fabolous to his hometown. Next he kicks off the Lights, Dreams and Nightmares Tour in Miami, Florida. The tour ends on Nov. 6 in Las Vegas with a special appearance from Lil Wayne, who had recently been freed from a New York prison.(Photo: Sean O'Kane for BET)

Photo By Sean O'Kane/BET

"Off That" - You've got to be a talented songwriter to even come close to working with Jay-Z. Drake and Jay-Z traded verses on the song "Off That" from The Blueprint 3. They've even performed on stage together.

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Make It All Light Up September 14, 2010 - During Jay-Z and Eminem's epic Yankee Stadium concerts, Drake joins Jigga to perform "Light Up" in the Boogie-Down Bronx, the birthplace of hip hop.

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The BreakoutDecember 2010 - GQ magazine's 15th annual Men of the Year Issue honors Drake as their "Breakout of the Year." Drake graces many other magazine covers as well: Fader (Sept. 2009), VIBE (Dec. 2009), Complex (Feb./March 2010), XXL (May 2010) and Billboard (May 25, 2010). (Photo: GQ Magazine)

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The BreakoutDecember 2010 - GQ magazine's 15th annual Men of the Year Issue honors Drake as their "Breakout of the Year." Drake graces many other magazine covers as well: Fader (Sept. 2009), VIBE (Dec. 2009), Complex (Feb./March 2010), XXL (May 2010) and Billboard (May 25, 2010). (Photo: GQ Magazine)

Drake x Sprite - Before Drake’s debut album dropped, he was already a hot commodity, projected to be the face of a new era of hip hop. The Toronto rapper signed a deal with Sprite to be the face of Spark, aimed to give teens a platform to express their creativity through music and film. He appeared in a series of commercials, which debuted during the 2010 Super Bowl and featured him performing his hit song "Forever." The deal was Drizzy's first worldwide endorsement.(Photo: Sprite)

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Still Thirsty February 7, 2010 - Drake is featured in a Sprite commercial that debuts during the Superbowl. The ad also runs during NBA All-Star Weekend, during which Drizzy joins Lebron James to judge Sprite’s Slam Dunk Showdown.

Special Chemistry - Nick and Drake even seem close when the jokes stop. Shortly after “Moment 4 Life” premiered, Nick spoke on her and Drake’s chemistry. “That energy’s amazing,” Minaj told MTV’s Rap Fix. “Out of everyone I’ve shot a video with, I was the most comfortable with him. I just really have a special place for him. ’”

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Moment 4 Life January 27, 2011 - Drake guest-stars as a dashing Prince Charming in Nicki Minaj's Cinderella story video "Moment 4 Life." He really gets folks talking when he raps, "Me and Nicki gettin' married today." Now that would be a moment!

Oh NaNa—What's My Name?February 11, 2011 - Rihanna brings out Drake as a surprise guest during her  2011 NBA All-Star game halftime performance. Going just ahead of Kanye performing "All of the Lights," Ri-Ri and Drizzy team up to perform "What's My Name?" for the first time on television.

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Oh NaNa—What's My Name?February 11, 2011 - Rihanna brings out Drake as a surprise guest during her  2011 NBA All-Star game halftime performance. Going just ahead of Kanye performing "All of the Lights," Ri-Ri and Drizzy team up to perform "What's My Name?" for the first time on television.

BET AwardsJune 26 2011 - Drake is nominated for four 2011 BET Awards, including Best Male Hip Hop Artist, Best Collaboration and two Coca-Cola Viewers Choice Awards. On June 13, he is announced as a performer on the awards, to be broadcast live from Los Angeles on June 26 at 8P/7C. (Photo: Vince Bucci/PictureGroup)

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BET AwardsJune 26 2011 - Drake is nominated for four 2011 BET Awards, including Best Male Hip Hop Artist, Best Collaboration and two Coca-Cola Viewers Choice Awards. On June 13, he is announced as a performer on the awards, to be broadcast live from Los Angeles on June 26 at 8P/7C. (Photo: Vince Bucci/PictureGroup)

Photo By Photo by Vince Bucci/PictureGroup