Drake Explains Why He Didn’t Have an Easy Childhood, Contrary to Popular Belief

By: Amanda Anderson-Niles

Rapper Drake continues to find himself amongst those at the top of the Hip Hop game, however it hasn’t been the smoothest ride. He does have plenty to be proud of considering his latest album “Nothing Was the Same” has already outsold the total sales of his idol Kanye West’s latest album “Yeezus,” but he’s expressed recently that it annoys him of how so many of his critics view him as an artist who is always sad and lonely. In his recent interview with CBC, he revealed that he was growing tired of people viewing him as an emotional rapper. He says:

“I’m so sick of people saying that I’m lonely and emotional, and associating me with this longing for a woman…Yeah, I hate that, man. It bothers me so much. I do make music that makes you feel something. But I’m actually not that guy in real life. I’m very happy. I’m not content by any means, I mean, I want to keep working, but I’m a happy person. I’m very excited. My life is constantly exciting. It’s not some sad, depressing story.”

Drake also recently revealed in a previous interview that he’s proud he didn’t have to pretend to be a thug like some of his peers to sell lots of records, but he told CBC’s Jian Ghomeshi that despite what many people think, he didn’t have an easy childhood. He says:

“I didn’t grow up in a white neighborhood. I grew up on Weston Road for a lot of my life. I only moved to Forest Hill because my mother is an incredible woman who was willing to live far beyond her means for the sake of her family.

“We rented someone’s basement and the first floor. I didn’t have some mansion, I grew up with a mother that was deep in debt because she wanted the best for her family. Being bi-racial was tougher in Forest Hill than in the west end of the city. But I made friends as I could. I had a tough time, I definitely had a tough time.”

You can watch the very honest, full interview here.