WOW. What a series we just witnessed between the Texas Rangers and the Toronto Blue Jays. Specifically, Game 5. If you happened to miss this instant classic of a game, I STRONGLY encourage you to watch these highlights before reading any more (skip to 2:05 for the really exciting stuff). It was just one of those games that you will forever remember where you were when you watched it. I was in my dorm room eating up the entire scene. Now, I’ve been working on this piece for the past week to fit the theme of Drake performing at ACL and the Blue Jays being in the playoffs. Never would I expect, however, for such an insane series to erupt just in time for my posting. For that reason, I’m writing this introductory paragraph last. I just had to fill in my thoughts of what happened in Toronto this past week. That being said, let’s continue.
Before we go any further, I’d like to clear something up regarding the title of this post. As of late, a lot of Drake’s lyrics involves “The Six”. Many thoughts and speculations have been put into effect as an effort to solve what “The Six” may be referencing to. The answer is actually pretty simple: “The Six” is a hint to the city of Toronto, the birth city of Drake. The area codes in Toronto are 416 and 617. It’s all coming together now, isn’t it?
Drake’s famous logo “6 God” prefacing his 2014 mixtape, “If You’re Reading This It’s Too Late”.
Now that we’ve figured that out, I’d like to outline the subject of discussion for today. Since the dawn of entertainment, the collaboration of two entities that specialize in different methods of human amusement has proven to produce a greater appreciation for both parties involved. In short, when people that do different things to make people happy come and work together, both of their fan bases benefit and ultimately grow. In this instance, we are talking about one of the biggest icons of the 21st century and his support for his home town’s professional sports. This would be none other than Aubrey Drake Graham himself.
“if i die, i’m a legend”
As you music lovers might know, the Austin City Limits music festival concluded this past weekend. Personally, I went to Saturday of Weekend One. On this day, Drake was the final act on the Samsung stage (the biggest platform of the festival). I had already been a fan of his music for some time, and seeing him perform live only added to my enjoyment. After seeing him in person, I felt inclined to look back on his career. Although most of you will know that he is highly successful, I think you will be astounded by the accomplishments this man has obtained. These include:
- “Best Ensemble in a TV Series” for his role of Jimmy in Degrassi (2002)
- Platinum status for all 3 of his studio albums (at least 1 million copies sold)
- BET “Rookie of the Year” award (2009)
- BET “Best Male Hip-Hop Artist” (2010)
- 100+ Hot 100 Hits
- $75 million net worth
- 45 total awards won from 252 total nominations
(By the way, he is only 28 years old)
Now, if you’ve lived through the 70s and the 80s, please do not be offended by what I am about to say. For this generation, the Millennials, Drake takes on the social figurehead similar to that held by Michael Jackson in his prime. Before you spite me, hear me out. There are certain artists that come across each generation that will forever help paint the picture of that time period of their youth and early adulthood. They are forces that are impossible to ignore. For Generation X, this would involve icons such as Michael Jackson, the Beatles, the Rolling Stones, etc. The ballots and classic hits of these musicians have earned their rightful place in most of this demographic’s 2015 iTunes library, am I wrong?
Carrying this same thought process, riddle me this: Will we, the Millennials, NOT be seen playing the sing along that everyone loves in “Legend” when we are fifty years old? Are we not going to show our kids the anthem that is “Know Yourself”? (Notice the Parental Advisory: Explicit Content tag for these songs) I don’t know about my peers, but I look forward to still getting hype to Drizzy well into the process of me becoming a grandparent. I’ll be that grandfather. The point is, each new generation has a new style and main acts that exhibit that style. For our generation, I can’t think of a more prominent face on this style than Drake.
but… sports?
I’m not just rambling or being a fanboy, I promise. I wanted to set the preface of just how much of an impact that Drake has on today’s world of entertainment. With this kind of power, let’s be honest, you can do a lot of things that others can’t and behave in a way that most people can’t afford to deal with. Too many times, I believe that we as a society witness sources of success in the entertainment industry that are completely engulfed with themselves. Any seemingly noble or generous gesture appears false as a ploy to build credit and a fanbase. Sources of authenticity can be hard to find from these big names.
That is why I would like to credit Drake with being one of the most genuine artists of this day in age. His effective use of collaboration has broadened his fanbase to unbelievable heights. Since becoming the figurehead that he is today, he’s helped a number of rappers and hip hop performers gain credibility. These acts of reaching out have all but given him a label of “Big Brother”. We are going to specifically talk about his role in the sports world.
We all know that guy who likes teams that are 2,000 miles from where he is living for no apparent reason. I won’t lie, I am one of them. I’ve been a Detroit Lions (cue the internal groaning) fan since my freshman year of high school. I also have no affiliations to the team whatsoever. In my eyes, this is a characteristic of sports that makes them so great; you can root for a team that is on the completely opposite end of the country from you.
However, the type of fan that I admire most and that I believe deserves the most credibility is the fan that lives and dies every year with their team. The person that doesn’t flip flop or go in the closet when their team has a losing season. In my case, I couldn’t think of better examples than my buddies Tommy and Robert, who go through the same heartbreak with the Dallas Cowboys every year with the same amount of zeal. There is nobility in choosing a team and sticking with them. In Drake’s case, he has decided to put the professional teams of Toronto on his back and piggyback them into mainstream media.
how does he do it?
I’m sure plenty of you have noticed the increase in Drake’s engagement with the sports teams of Toronto. It’s a large city, and in effect there are a number of professional sports to enjoy. In 2013, Drake became the global ambassador for the Toronto Raptors NBA team. His mission was to, literally, “make the team hip”. When you are called to be given the job of making a professional basketball team “cool”, you must be doing something right. This involvement has led to everything from debuting a new black and gold OVO style uniform at OVO Fest in Toronto to a connection in online trends interlacing Drake with the franchise. From now on, the Raptors will be closely associated with Drake’s success.
Let’s explore other ways that Drake has integrated Toronto sports with his music. In his recent verbal exchange with rapper Meek Mill, he released perhaps the most brilliantly thought out diss track of this decade in “Back to Back”. The cover for this single was a picture of Joe Carter celebrating his walk off World Series winning home run for the Toronto Blue Jays in 1993 against Meek’s hometown team, the Philadelphia Phillies. Per convenience to the 2015 song title, this home run would mark the second World Series that the Blue Jays would win in a row. Back to back, if you will.
Different decades of Blue Jays players (Joe Carter, 1991-1997, and Marcus Stroman, 2014-present) tweeting in regards to Drake’s single, “Back to Back”.
This would lead to responses from Joe Carter himself and members of the 2015 Blue Jays team, including Marcus Stroman. The Jays winning their division and making a post season run this year helps matters as well. (Just a quick fun fact, Joe Carter’s walk off home run in 1993 would mark the last playoff game that the Blue Jays had won at home before this past Wednesday, when they beat the Rangers in Game 5 of the American League Division Series.) When sports teams start receiving positive attention, they tend to generate positive output. Don’t be surprised if this increase in the interest of Toronto teams leads to a more prominent mark of their place in this time of sports.
Drake’s personal Instagram (@champagnepapi) response to the Blue Jay’s winning Game 5 on Wednesday. Check the number of likes on those. He has an insane following.
Before “Back to Back”, there was “Charged Up”, the set up song to the diss track. Inlaid in this beat are the lyrics, “I get a ring and I bring it home like I’m Corey Joe.” This is a reference to the Toronto Raptor’s basketball team signing free agent Corey Joseph this off-season to a 4 year, $30 million dollar contract. In these 13 words, a hype is created for a new dynamic to the team and the potential benefits that it could bring.
What we are seeing here is a bridge being formed of the new and the old Toronto sports icons through an alternative method of social connectivity. Drake’s lyrics and involvement is attracting the personnel and charisma that have shaped Toronto’s sports scene to this point. An epicenter is building in Canada, and we might be lucky enough to witness something special in the near future.
to wrap things up
The first personality to really connect all four corners of the nation in a truly American sentiment was Babe Ruth in the 1920s. People loved him for the attitude and enjoyment he would bring to the game. Since that time, sports have been shaped by the personalities that draw attention to the teams. Larger than life figures help create an icon and an image of successful figures for people of all ethnicities and interests to look up to. A new figure is growing in this sense that doesn’t even play sports. Drake is changing the game in the way that sports teams are represented and pushed out to the public. His massive success in the music industry is leaking to new horizons that, at this point in time, see no boundaries. Although he is advocating for a city in a neighboring country, the effects that he is having are influencing America heavily. Whether you’re a sports fan or a music fan, or just a fan of pop culture, you simply cannot avoid this new dynamic. I’m not sure why’d you’d want to. This partnership is highlighting the change in American consumer culture. Bridges are being formed between entertainment entities. Exciting things are taking place, and I hope that you’re as ready as I am to see what they bring.
The Case For Sports 