The Talented Mr. Drizzy: Every Hip-Hop Persona Drake Has Put On

Rap fans have been arguing over whether Drake’s propensity to pay homage is actually obsessive cosplay since he walked out on that Apollo stage dipped in Cam’ron’s fabled pink fur. Prior to his two nights at the historic Harlem venue, he revealed in his latest video that he purchased Pharrell’s N.E.R.D. chains. There’s also the time Drake purchased a microphone allegedly signed by Push, so this has been an ongoing hobby of his apparently. Someone on Twitter said he’s collecting rap artifacts like Infinity Stones. Whatever the case, he seems to be enjoying himself these days as he’s living out his dreams while sitting on top of the game. Here we’re gonna run down a list of instances he styled himself in iconic hip-hop attire and/or collected rap artifacts, and guess whether he’s paying homage, doing cosplay, or both.

Rap Artifact(s) Collected: 1

Homage or Cosplay? Both but mostly cosplay.

Years ago Drake told a story about the time he bought a microphone off the Internet allegedly signed by Pusha T for $200. He mentions that he practiced performing Clipse songs in the mirror so much that the autograph had become faded. He also refers to this in his Push diss “Duppy Freestyle” rapping, “I had a microphone of yours but the signature faded.” Drake has been a rap historian.

Rap Artifact(s) Collected: 1

Homage or Cosplay? Homage

Man, these were simpler times on the internet, weren’t they? Shiggy made this song go viral all over social media with his dance challenge and even landed himself a spot in the music video. The track’s New Orleans Bounce influence had Drake in the N.O. wearing gold grills like Wayne and the Hot Boys once did.

Rap Artifact(s) Collected: 4

Homage or Cosplay? Both but mostly cosplay.

Drake rolled out two fits at this 2000s-themed party. First he did his best Puff Daddy impersonation with a navy blue Sean John velour suit (I have a grey one in my closet somewhere) complete with a headband and flip phone. The LL Cool J pant leg was a nice touch as were the all white Air Force 1s. I wonder if he walked around the party Diddy-boppin’.

Rap Artifact(s) Collected: 5

Homage or Cosplay? Both but mostly cosplay.

He then had an outfit change and channeled Fabolous Sport with the same fit Fab wore in the “Trade It All Part 2” video. The bandana over the fitted was certainly a wild era that the right person can maybe revisit. Maybe Drake can bring it back? The twin Jesus pieces and the Kobe throwback really bring it all together, though. We need to bring the Jesus pieces back and get off the iced out chokers.

Rap Artifact(s) Collected: 0

Homage or Cosplay? Homage

Now here he didn’t really dress up as the Jiggaman, but he did sample “Song Cry” and shot the video for “When to Say When” in front of Marcy Projects in Brooklyn. He had on a Yankee jacket, though, and visited Jacob the Jeweler, which ties his homage to Jay all together.