Drake
Drake in 2011, photo by kathclick/bigstock.com
Birth Name: Aubrey Drake Graham
Place of Birth: Toronto, Ontario, Canada
Date of Birth: October 24, 1986
Ethnicity:
*African-American (father)
*Ashkenazi Jewish (mother)
Drake, also known by his birth name Aubrey Drake Graham, or as Champagne Papi, Drizzy, and 6 God, is a Canadian actor, rapper, singer, songwriter, record producer, and entrepreneur. Beginning as an actor, he starred as Jimmy Brooks on the show Degrassi: The Next Generation, and appeared in the films Charlie Bartlett and Ice Age: Continental Drift. He later released a popular mixtape, and has since had a successful musical career. His songs include “Best I Ever Had,” “Find Your Love,” “Take Care,” “Started from the Bottom,” “Hold On, We’re Going Home,” “Hotline Bling,” “Summer Sixteen,” “One Dance,” “God’s Plan,” “Nice for What,” “In My Feelings,” “Nonstop,” “Toosie Slide,” “Laugh Now Cry Later,” “What’s Next,” “Way 2 Sexy,” “Girls Want Girls,” “Jimmy Cooks,” and “Search & Rescue.” Drake founded the production company DreamCrew, and the fragrance house Better World; heads the OVO fashion label, co-founded the OVO Sound record label, and the bourbon whiskey Virginia Black; has collaborated with Nike, and is a part owner of Italian football club A.C. Milan.
Drake’s American father, Dennis Graham, a musician/drummer, is African-American. Drake’s Canadian mother, Sandi (Sher), a teacher and florist, is Ashkenazi Jewish, of Latvian Jewish and Russian Jewish descent. Drake was raised Jewish; he attended a Jewish day school and was Bar Mitzvah. Drake is a dual citizen of Canada and the U.S.
Drake has a son with French artist Sophie Brussaux.
On his father’s side, Drake is related to American musicians Teenie Hodges (born Mabon Lewis Hodges), a rhythm and lead guitarist and songwriter, and Larry Graham, a bass guitar player.
Drake’s father Dennis Graham in 2014, credit: Santiago Interiano / PRPhotos.com
Drake’s maternal grandfather was Reuben “Ruby” Sher (the son of Morris Sher and Julia Novick). Reuben was born in Toronto, to Latvian Jewish parents, from Riga. Julia was the daughter of Vichna Novick.
Drake’s maternal grandmother was Evelyn Etta Brontman (the daughter of Avraham/Abraham Brontman/Brantman and Lena/Leah/Lina Zlatka Osherenko/Osheronko/Usherenko). Evelyn was born in Toronto, to Russian Jewish/Polish Jewish parents. Abraham was the son of Israel Brantman and Rachel/Rachil Goldin. Lena was the daughter of Abram/Abie/Avrum Osherenko/Osheronko/Usherenko and Gitel/Gertie/Gitlya/Gittel Weinerman/Veynerman.
Drake with his mother Sandi Graham in 2010, photo Credit: Robin Wong / PR Photos
A DNA test taken by Drake’s father whose results Drake displayed on his Instagram page stated that Drake’s father’s genetic ancestry includes:
*30% Nigeria
*28% Cameroon, Congo & Western Bantu Peoples
*11% Ivory Coast & Ghana
*8% England & Northwestern Europe
Sources: Genealogy of Drake (focusing on his mother’s side) – https://www.geni.com
Drake’s maternal great-grandparents, Morris Sher and Julia Novick, on the 1911 Canadian Census – https://familysearch.org
Obituary of Drake’s maternal grandmother, Evelyn Etta (Brontman) Sher – http://www.legacy.com
Marriage records of Drake’s maternal great-grandparents, Avraham/Abraham Brontman/Brantman and Lena/Leah/Lina Zlatka Osherenko/Osheronko/Usherenko – https://www.familysearch.org
https://www.familysearch.org
DRAKE LOOKS JUST BLACK TO ME
AND
JEWISH ARE MIDDLE EAST PEOPLE
NOT
WHITE
lmfao you’re a joke. put drake next to a 100% black person like akon or some other african. he looks mixed. in fact he looks egyptian or arab…
and YES you dumbass bitch, jewish people are white.
Im sorry if this seems racist but how does a biracial child who was raised by a single white mother and barley knew their black father relate to their black side when they most likely lived in and attended predominatley white neighborhoods and schools. I don’t get it. Coming from the biracial child of a single black mother so don’t call me racist.
idk good question. that happens a lot. i’m biracial but i don’t have a white parent. both of my parents are mulattoes. anyway, i relate with both of my sides. i have a lot of biracial, latino, and asian friends. dark skinned black girls used to hate on me all the time, so i don’t really have any “black” girl friends. i think they’re intimidate by pretty light-skinned mixed girls because every race of men wants us. i’m not trying to sound like i’m a conceited bitch, but i’m just bein real. i keep it reall 100% of the time, even when the truth hurts. anyway, i think it also depends on which parent is black. i noticed that most of the time when a person has a black dad, they tend to act more “black”. they hang with the black crowd and are more “urban”. i’m not sayin that this is true for every single mixed person with a black dad. it’s just an observation. i have a few biracial friends with black dads and they act “white”, so yeah.. anyway, if they have a white dad they tend to act more “white” and have white friends. BUT again like i said, that’s not always the case. my friend has a white dad and a black mom and all her boyfriends were white. another one of my biracial friends has a white mom and a black dad, and she’s mostly dated black guys, but her current bf is filipino.
oh and one more thing i forgot to mention…. if their black dad was absent in their life, they tend to compensate. they feel like they have something to prove so they basically put on an act and pretend to be hood.
So he’s half Jewish and half black. I don’t think he’d fit in too well with white supremists lol. Drake’s awesome though, he’s one cool dude
He is one talented man,man i didnt know he was “26”!! You is one fine jewish man! Best i ever seen ,and if i had you i would of said best i ever had;)
I LOVE DRAKE! doesnt matter what race he is he is still FINEEEEEEEEE