Toronto rapper TVGucci may not be a household name just yet, but that hasn’t stopped his pal Drake from shouting him out more than once over the years.
The Jane Street native has been in The 6 God’s orbit for a minute, getting referenced on tracks, showing up at events, and even guesting in a music video. TVGucci is making waves of his own, performing at Rolling Loud TO in September, releasing full-length Big Screen in 2021 with single “Southern Talk,” and dropping “Gangsta Gentleman Remix” with Smiley. Unlike Smiley, TVGucci isn’t officially listed as OVO on their official site, even though he says he’s “O.V.O.” on his Instagram bio and is clearly tight with the boss.
“It’s my boy. It’s my brother,” TVGucci said in an interview with CBC at Rolling Loud TO.
Either way, it hasn’t stopped Drake from continually showing him love. Here are those moments.
“Middle of the Ocean”
Everyone’s talking about the Serena Williams line immediately after, but just prior to calling her hubby a groupie, Drake quite literally shouted out TVGucci.
Video for “Falling Back”
Date: June 2022
Guest appearance as partygoer
Drake’s video for “Falling Back” from 2022’s Honestly, Nevermind is a bizarre nine minutes at a wedding, but when it comes time to dim the lights and hit the dancefloor, TVGucci is front and centre.
Drake’s surprise appearance at a Toronto club
Date: April 2022
TVGucci partied with Drake in Toronto
This past April, Drake showed up unexpectedly at the 13th anniversary of “I Luv RNB” night at Love Child Social House, hosted by DJ Charlie B. Also there? TVGucci. TV also appeared on “No Gimmick” from Charlie B’s Across The Board.
“War”
Date: May 2020
Lyric: “Hawk and Sticks and Cash and Baka, Gucci, P, and Gilla”
On the Dark Lane Demo Tapes closer, Drake dropped a few names in rapid succession. Hawk Marley, Sticks, and Cash are all part of XO, and on the next line he referenced longtime frenemy The Weeknd. Baka Not Nice is a rapper with OVO (also Drake’s longtime pal and former bodyguard) who also got mentioned on Her Loss. Preme and Gilla are the founders of Reps Up, an OVO-affiliated crew that TVGucci is also with.
“No Stylist”
Date: September 2018
Lyric: “Don’t Need Gucci on my back, TVGucci got my back”
French Montana and Drake teamed up for this track in 2018. It’s a track that namedrops countless luxury brands, but Drake’s good as long as his buddy TVGucci has his back. And based on the reference on Her Loss, they’ve still got each other’s backs.
“Successful” (Demo)
Date: February 2009
Lyric: “Diddy here, O here, Skinny here, Rex here”
How far back do TVGucci and Drizzy go? According to a We Love Hip Hop podcast interview in 2019, TVGucci said he was mentioned, as “Skinny,” in an earlier version of “Successful” from the So Far Gone days that didn’t make the final cut.
