Image via Complex Original
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.
Roadman Drake
Rap Artifact(s) Collected: N/A
Homage or Cosplay? Cosplay
During his More Life era, where he collabed with the likes of Giggs and Skepta, Drake got in his roadman bag, innit. He was wearing Nike tracksuits and Stone Island provided him tour outfits. He and his business partner Future the Prince also saved Netflix crime drama Top Boy from cancellation. Listen, that show gets me gassed up too, asking where the food and the Ps are every five minutes. We need to see Drake pull the toolie out of the Nike crossbody while driving down the wrong side of the street.
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.
Canadian Birdie
Rap Artifact(s) Collected: 1
Homage or Cosplay? Cosplay
During Game 6 of the 2019 NBA Playoffs, Drake channeled Pac in Above the Rim with this black 100 Miles hoodie. This was an emotional game as the Toronto Raptors were one win away from beating the Milwaukee Bucks and heading to their first Finals appearance, so naturally Drake was literally running up and down the sidelines like he was Pac in Above the Rim. He was complaining about calls, talking shit to players, all that was missing was the cigar.
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.
Skateboard D
Rap Artifact(s) Collected: 6
Homage or Cosplay? N/A
Folks had hella opinions on this reveal. Pharrell had an auction on his new platform Joopiter, where 52 of his personal items were up for grabs. Little did we know Drake would come away with some of the collection’s most treasured items, and the way we found out about it was in his latest video “Jumbotron Shit Poppin.” He copped six items totalling around $3 million. Now some think this move was a slight at both Pharrell and Pusha T. In fact, Drake once rapped, “I plan to buy your most personal belongings when they up for auction” on 2019’s “Omertà” which makes this seem like an elaborate (and expensive) troll. But there’s another school of thought that feels like it makes him look like “Mr. Me Too.” Does Drake have a beef with Pharrell because of his proximity to Push? It’s all speculation.
Pink Fur Drake
Rap Artifact(s) Collected: 3
Homage or Cosplay? Homage
Drake recently performed two nights at the legendary Apollo in Harlem and had the Diplomats as special guests. During parts of the show, he wore multiple Killa Cam artifacts. He pulled out Cam’s Jeff Hamilton Diplomats jacket made famous in the “Get Em Girls” video as well as the pink fur coat and headband that everyone was talking about. He also had the same set the Dips used during the Source Awards. I know people had jokes when he walked out with the pink fur, but this felt like more of a homage if anything. Drake is a fan just like us.