Image via Complex Original
Earlier this week, Drake released the video for "Worst Behavior," a track off his latest album Nothing Was The Same. Directed by Director X (formerly known as Little X) and shot in Memphis, the soul-extravaganza of a music video features cameos from MJG, Juicy J and Project Pat ("Patty Cakes") and Drake's OVO boys OB O'Brien and Ryan Silverstein in a long, long (too long? yeah, maybe a little) mid-song interlude.
But the video is great. And amidst all that's going on throughout its 10-minute span (and there is a lot going on!) the standout is undeniably Drake's father, Memphis native, Dennis Graham. Between his flawless white suit, his audacious dance moves and his performance at the mic, it's hard not to walk away from the "Worst Behavior" video thinking you'd just witnessed the birth of a whole new (though much older) star.
Have you been hearing the stories of how Drake's dad has been living it up on the Would You Like a Tour? tour with his son? Or that the two recently recorded a song together? Have you noticed the impact he seems to be having with all the fans that he's been meeting. Well, there's a lot more to Dennis Graham than most people think. Would you like to get to know him better? Here are 10 Reasons Why Drake's Dad Is Cooler Than Your Dad.
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The mustache game is just too strong.
Seriously. Just look at that thing. If your dad tried to grow a mustache that big, he'd fall face first into a plate of spaghetti.
He's related to (or at least very tight with) Larry Graham, Mabon "Teenie" Hodges, and Willie Mitchell.
Dennis Graham comes from a family of American-music royalty. In his younger years, he played drums for "The Killer," Jerry Lee Lewis.
Drake has often talked about his uncle, legendary funk bassist Larry Graham. (Nardwuar brought a couple of Larry's old records as a gift when he interviewed Drake.) In a 2011 interview with 98.7 KISS FM's Lenny Green, Larry confirmed that although he hasn't met Drake, he does believe the rapper is his nephew. Formerly a member of Sly and the Family Stone, Larry Graham is the frontman of funk band Graham Central Station. In 1998 he released GCS 2000, a collaborative album with Prince. In recent years he has toured with Prince as an opening act and has performed as recently as June during Bonarroo 2013.
Mabon "Teenie" Hodges helped write 12 of Al Green's million-selling singles in the early '70s, including "Love & Happiness" and "Take Me To The River." In the interview with Nardwuar, Drake talks about his Uncle Teenie as well as Green's longtime producer, "Uncle Willie" Mitchell, who ran the famed Royal Studios in Memphis—which is featured in the "Worst Behavior" video. If you watch the opening scenes closely, that's Teenie playing guitar while Dennis sings.
Your dad probably played records made by Dennis Graham's people when he was trying to get your mom to kiss him after their third date.
His hometown had a major influence on Drake's music.
Dennis Graham's hometown of Memphis, Tennessee is home to as rich a history of funk, rock, soul, and country music as any city in the world. When Drake was a kid, he would visit his father in the summers, and both have said that these trips are what helped mold Drake's taste in music and, subsequently, his rap and singing style.
Where's your dad from? Newark?
He's a Ladies Man.
"Damn where I get it from? These niggas always wonder who/Then they meet my pop and tell him, 'Drake is just a younger you.'"
People probably say the same thing to your dad about you.
Celebrities adore him.
Miguel, Timbaland, Rozanda "Chili" Thomas, Jhené Aiko, Cedric The Entertainer...
Your dad can't even work the remote to turn on the TV and watch these people.
He's mended a rough relationship with his son.
The not-always great relationship between Drake and his father has been a theme in Drake's music throughout the years. On "The Calm" from his breakthrough mixtape So Far Gone, he expressed doubts about his father's intentions regarding his fame: "He say he love me, I just hope he doesn't say that shit in vain."
On "Fireworks" from his debut album, Thank Me Later Drake expressed acceptance but also wariness: "Everything's the same, but it feels different/My dad called me up knowing that I still listen/And he's still got his foot out, guilt tripping/It's been years, though, I just learn to deal with it."
Judging by the video, the tour, and the trips to the strip club, it's obvious the two have mended their relationship. And Drake even raps about it on his new album, Nothing Was the Same, on his song with Jhené Aiko, "From Time": "Just me and my old man getting back to basics/We been talking 'bout the future and the time that we wasted..."
(It's okay if you don't go to strip clubs with your dad. In fact, it might be better that way.)
He plays the drums.
Drummers are always the coolest guy in the band. Everyone knows that.
Your dad played clarinet, right?
He got an OVO tattoo.
So he's basically as cool as Johnny Manziel.
Your dad has a tattoo that says O-L-D.
He's winning over all of Drake's fans.
Have you been on Twitter lately? Apparently, all Drake's fans are becoming Drake's dad's fans.
Someone was like "ERMAHGERD!" when they saw your dad at the mall today, too. But that's because your dad had a long sheet of toilet paper hanging out of the back of his pants.
Can your dad do this?
No.