The art of becoming an icon: how Drake focused his vision
'There's a desire to push boundaries.' — Fleur Fortuné
Since his breakout mixtape, So Far Gone, Drake has established himself as a global superstar, and that's due in equal parts to his music as well as the remarkable virality of his visual and creative endeavours. His song lyrics have entered our lexicon (remember "YOLO"?), but his music videos have also launched millions of memes. The young actor-turned-musician-turned-mogul has only been around for 10 years, but his influence is already epic, which is why he is the subject of CBC Music's ongoing retrospective, Decade of Drake.
Part of that retrospective is Drake's Plan, an eight-part, weekly documentary series on CBC Gem.
Episode 4, "Expanding the Sound," focused on the evolution of Drake's music and its assimilation of dancehall, reggae and soca styles en route to the eclectic, versatile sound that made 2017's More Life such a global, record-crushing success. Episode 5, "Focusing on the Vision," explores Drake's artistry and the talents of the creative teams behind his wildly successful and influential music videos, including acclaimed visionaries Director X, Karina Evans, and Fleur Fortuné.
The episode also covers Drake's album art and how he communicates a singular vision through his personal esthetic: strong, iconic images, documenting his own evolution, creating a visual archive as part of his musical legacy.
"I think Drake's album covers really depict what album you're getting from him," says journalist Erin Lowers.
Watch a clip from the episode, above, and head to CBC Gem to view the full thing. For all of our Decade of Drake coverage, go to cbc.ca/music/decadeofdrake.